John 21:1-12
1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples,
by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast. ”None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
Reflection
In today’s scripture the disciples are fishing and having no luck. But Jesus instructs them to try the other side of the boat. You may be thinking, “so what Jesus is better than Bill Dance.” But what if we think about the fact that Christ has called us as His disciples to fish for people. If we go about trying to go fishing for people without Jesus’ help we will continuously come up empty. Yet, if we recognize that it is not our church but Jesus’, and we listen to His call as to where and how to fish. We will make so many disciples that any net will barely hold all those who hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. How can we all give over control to our Lord Jesus Christ so that He may show us all how to fish for people?
