Preparing for Jesus - John 21 - Gone Fishin'

For some people fishing is more than just a pastime. Its an obsession. (And by some people I may be talking in the third person.) There isn't many things that compare to your rod tip beginning to bounce and then taking a plunge toward the water because a huge, massive gigantic (or at least that's how we fishermen tell the stories) finds your bait irresistible.

But then there are the other days, the ones I experience more often than I care to admit. The days that begin with such ambition but leave with you convincing yourself, that you almost caught one, or that if only you had just been there five minutes earlier... Its never the fisherman's fault when we don't catch fish. It could be that the wind was blowing from the wrong direction too hard or wasn't blowing at all, the water temp was too warm or too cold, there was a storm 6.5 weeks ago, or the air pressure had a barometric reading that was insurmountable. But it definitely NEVER the fishermen's fault.

I can tell you that being on a boat all day and not catching fish is frustrating. You try everything, different spots, the same spots with different techniques or with different bait. The disciples find themselves in that frustrating situation.

Days, after Jesus died, Peter, filled with the frustration of losing and disappointing his best friend said, "I'm going fishing" whether it was to pass the time or make a few dollars, the rest decide to follow him. And wouldn't you know it, they're not catching anything.

The next morning, the same story. Until they hear someone from the shore call out to them, "Throw off the right side of the boat."

Do you think they didn't try this? Do you they'd only tried the left side? Being a not-very-good fisherman myself I can say...they'd tried. But hey, whats one more shot?

But then after throwing their net off the right side, they're nets were filled, so much that they couldn't even haul it in, they had to get in the water to drag it to shore.

You know, there is just something about this story that resonates with me. The resurrected Jesus shows up and in an unexpected way provides fish for the fishermen. But the only way he could provide is if they obeyed.

The resurrected Jesus can and does stand on the shores in our lives and his desire is to fill your net. His desire is to provide what you need (Philippians 4:19). But only if we're obedient.

Could you imagine the lack of fulfillment, the disappointment, the regret, the what-ifs, had the disciples not thrown off the right side of the boat? Maybe you do. Maybe you live with those things because of your lack of faith.

The resurrection provides a new life, a new hope and most of all the resurrection provides a chance to dine with Jesus, although this time, it won't be at a fish breakfast, it'll be at the wedding banquet described here.

Today's Contributing Author: Roger Burns