The Living Christ: Part 6

John 21: 4-14

“4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

The first time Peter, James and John encountered Christ they had a similar experience, with the exception that Christ was in the boat with them.  He asked them to cast their nets after they had already fished all night and caught nothing (Luke 5:1-11).

This time, Christ was on the shore, but they did not recognize him.  He told them to drop their nets on the right side of the boat, and even though they had already fished all night and caught nothing, they did as he told them. 

Both times they caught an abundance of fish.  In the Gospel of Luke, there were so many fish that they almost sank the boat.  In the scripture above, there were so many fish they could not haul it in.  

And in each case, this is how they recognized the Lord, by the abundance of fish they caught.  The promise of abundance was not that they would become great and prosperous fishermen.  They were promised an abundant spiritual life.  The nets full of fish were a sign of the abundant life Christ promised them as fishers of men.

The abundance of Christ is not found in money or material things; not in power; not in any worldly things.  

Christ offers us an abundance of Himself; his love, his teachings, his life.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)