The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
John 21:8-10
To All Our Friends,
We want to write and rejoice with you as we remember today the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead. He is risen indeed! All the hopes which we have enfolded in Jesus by faith are bound up in this fact--and it is symbolized in everything from our very baptism onwards. The fact that the divine Word who became truly human has conquered death itself means that as we are united with Him by faith, we have also been empowered to conquer sin and death.
I especially love the Resurrection account in which the above is found. The discouraged, hungry disciples decide to go fishing, apparently just to get something to eat. In spite of their own expertise in fishing (!), they fish through the night without any success. In the morning, Jesus appears, and following His empowering instructions, they catch a massive load of fish, much like they had at their initial calling as recorded in Luke 5:1-11.
As noted above, dragging this massive catch of fish to the shore, they are met not only by Jesus, but by fish and bread already baking on coals. This strikes me as a very surreal scene. Here these accomplished fishermen have sought for a catch all night long, and only finally succeed (spectacularly!) in the morning when following Messiah's directive. They gratefully, perhaps proudly, arrive at the shore dragging this net full of miraculously-caught fish, only to be confronted with an apparently also miraculous meal of fish and bread already waiting for them, ready to eat.
On one level, it must have seemed like some sort of joke. I think part of what Jesus is saying to his disciples, and perhaps to us, is that He doesn't need us. He could, in fact, do just do the work he has planned, and fulfill his plans on his own. The work is in effect symbolized in this "living parable" by the unbroken net containing "153 fish;" Jerome informs us that this was the number of kinds of fish thought to exist in that day--thus representing all of the nations.
But then, Jesus asks his disciples to bring some of the fish that they have caught (and that, too, under his power and direction). Though he doesn't approach us from a place of need, God invites us to participate in his Kingdom work throughout these nations thus represented. And in the midst of this, he provides for us and refreshes us as we enter into his purposes!
Even so, the grace and mercy by which we are saved (Eph. 2:8-9) flows and empowers us out into the works which God has prepared for us. May each of us follow the directive which he has given us, empowered by his Spirit to pursue his purposes.
May God's best and richest blessing be upon you and your families this Day of Resurrection! He is risen indeed!
