Final Day; John 21; vv 1 - 14

This reading covers the period before Pentecost, and I believe that the disciples were probably feeling lost, confused, bereft and unsure of what to do next. In this situation many tend to fall back to old ingrained habits or familiar patterns and therefore the idea to go fishing would have been a natural one. We are told that Jesus appeared quiet often to his disciples before ascension during a period of 40 days.

The fishermen returning from a fruitless nights’ work would have been disheartened and tired. I think, had I been there, when I heard the man from the shore asking if we had anything (a legitimate question!) I would have felt a bit ‘narked off’ at him. When he instructed them to throw their net back in the water I am sure that they would have been unsure whether or not to do so, after all, what did this man know, that they, the professionals did not? This distrust would have turned to amazement and wonder with questions like “How on Earth did he know the fish were there?” when the net was so full of fish (153 large fish, so we are told!) that they could not pull it in.

The sudden realisation that this was their Lord, Jesus Christ would have caused excitement again, and true to form, Peter was the first to drop everything, without thinking, and rush to meet with his Rabboni. I can imagine the whispered conversations “Are you mad? it can’t be him!”, “It is him, Oh My!!” It was not until they were all in Jesus’ presence that they knew, without asking who it was.

I wonder what Peter’s motivation was to jump into the water and leave the hard work of bringing the fish back to shore? I think it may have been a need to repent his denial of Jesus, love, excitement and a need to speak with his teacher to make things better.

Jesus tells them to come and break fast with him. To me this affirms that Jesus Christ feeds us not only in body, but mind as well, given that we act out of trust and obedience.