Gone Fishing
I’m not a very patient fisherman. I love going to fish if the fish are biting really quickly. I can’t stand fishing where I’m catching 1 every hour. I want to fish when I’m catching a fish every 5 minutes. I struggle a bit with being patient – period. There are a lot of people I know that love to fish and they can go fishing all day and catch 10 fish and feel like they’ve had a good day. Fishing just doesn’t really relax me – I do like riding in the boat, now that’s relaxing.
Jesus’ disciples were mostly fishermen by trade. After His death and resurrection, they were hanging out and wondering what was next. Peter announces that he’s going fishing. The others decide that sounds like a good idea. They fished with nets, which I think would be much more productive and fast way to catch fish. They were not expecting what happened next. Check this out….
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. (John 21:4-9 NIV)These guys were doing what they were good at doing. I love how Peter doesn’t wait until they can get the boat to shore – He jumps in the water to go see Jesus. I was reminded of the time when Jesus walked on water and Peter was the first out of the boat! Jesus invites them to breakfast. He restores Peter – who loved Him deeply. John writes that if everything Jesus did were recorded the world wouldn’t hold the books.
This simple passage blessed me to know that Jesus will find me wherever I am or whatever I’m doing. He can speak into my life in so many ways and through so many different people. Fishing is therapy, but the Lord bring peace to my heart through His Word like nothing else.
Pressing On! Dwayne