Fishing and Feasting

The disciples had gone back to the Sea of Galilee to fish.

They went back because the angel told them to wait in Galilee, not to give up on the mission. (Matt. & Mark)

They went back to what was familiar, comfortable.

Peter could not be still (no surprise), so he went fishing and the others followed.

They didn’t catch any fish all night (the preferred time)

Just as they returned to the shore, someone just had to be there rubbing it in.

Then, he said something that would sound ridiculous to any waterman, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

As if a matter of feet wouldn’t make any difference.

Doing as the man suggested, gained them a large haul.

Because of this outcome, John knew, “It is the Lord!”

He had something to be excited about, but for Simon Peter, this was a bittersweet reunion.

I have tried and failed to catch fish many times while growing up.

I have tried with a fishing pole, with worms and lures of all types.

I have even tried with a net.

I haven’t caught a single fish.

I can sympathize with the disciples who spent all night trying to catch some fish and catching nothing.

Fishing can have many different purposes, the most obvious is to hunt for food.

But, when you were intending to come away with something, bringing home nothing can make you feel useless.

For some, fishing is a leisure activity, a past-time while they relax and pause from the relentless activity of life’s pursuits.

These few founding disciples returned to what they were most familiar with, fishing in the Sea of Galilee.

Even then, their failure to catch fish must have felt like compounding failure, rather than rest and relaxation.

Failure at any stage is harsh, but failure at the beginning of a mission can derail it from the beginning.

That’s when Jesus appeared to his disciples a third time

They still did not immediately recognize him.

Something was just that different about Jesus.

He had not been gone that long, so their minds must have returned to his crucifixion and resurrection many times.

He had changed that much, even his own close friends had questioned if this man was him.

When they saw the results of doing as he suggested, John knew with certainty who Jesus was.

Jesus was waiting preparing to feed them with fish and bread, like at the start of his ministry.

He set the table (charcoal fire) for them. (YUM! Grilled Fish!)

He said, “Come and have breakfast.”

He filled their nets, now he would fill their stomachs and their souls.

Hungry bodies often hold back hungry souls from hearing the Good News.

The symbol of burning coal was used to indicate purification and restoration through atonement.

Jesus was the atoning sacrifice.

Simon Peter had denied following Jesus at charcoal fire, three times on the night of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Simon Peter must have been carrying so much guilt since that moment, and he probably wouldn’t have blamed Jesus for judging him, he was already blaming himself.

Jesus invited Simon back to his mission.

Jesus asked, “Do you love me more than these?” – Simon Peter had previously claimed that he would follow him to the end, even over the others.

Simon said, “you know that I love you.” – Jesus knows, but asks anyway and repeats his expectations for Peter’s future.

Just as Jesus had told them at the beginning to feed the people, Jesus tells Peter to feed those who follow after him.

Then, Jesus makes a prophetic statement, telling Peter that he would die in the same manner, by crucifixion. As Peter would have wished he had done before.

Jesus ends by repeating what he had always instructed from the beginning, “Follow me!”

Peter’s repentance would be confirmed through his actions.

Like Peter, as disciples, we need to be ready for our mission.

We need to hear from God if we are to be effective.

God prepares and restores us to receive God’s direction.

God directs us to the time and place to be most effective.

God directs us to work with others to confirm what we have heard and to receive the harvest.

When we come together to learn from each other, we call it fellowship.

We call this kind of conversation about direction, discernment.

And we call our actions, a Co-mmission.

A mission with the direction of the Spirit of Jesus Christ to transform the world.

Sometimes, we do all this with food.

When in fellowship and when hunger is no longer a distraction, we discern the actions God would have us take in our mission, so that, we can be ready to speak and act in our faith, and receive those who choose to follow after Jesus Christ.

Jesus has one question, “Do you love me?”

Jesus accepts one necessary response, “Follow me!”