I have this picture a simple meal of fish on the coals on a beach next to the Sea of Galilee. And yes, it is Jesus sitting next to it. Can this be the Creator of the whole universe, come down to relate to man on the most elemental level?
”My great desire from the beginning was to create a world for a being who would live in it and appreciate its beauty as coming from Me. Who would seek to have a relationship with Me on a level where he can be completely comfortable. So I have been working through the complicated process of bringing that about. Yes I want your awe and amazement, wonder and your complete worship. But the prize is that I can have that within a simple relationship of friends, of father and son, of loving Shepherd. So I invite you now in your mind, to share the simple meal of fish on the coals on the seashore with me.”
As we read on in John, chapter 21:1-14, we find the disciples have left Jerusalem and returned to their roots in Galilee. Since the central Motive for their lives had left them, they return to do what they have known before. To go fishing. This section has somewhat of a symbolic meaning as we reach the end of John’s gospel though.
Firstly there is the question in vs 12 “Who are you?” Looking back at the whole message of John that is the central question that has been addressed all along. Who is this man? We have read in ch 20 that Jesus did many miracles to demonstrate His supernatural divinity. John mentions 10 in his account which he calls “signs”. Here we have a description of a final miracle after the statement in ch 20 “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” And straight after that the final repetition of the question “Who are you?”
This is such an important question that we should ask ourselves regularly. Who do we believe Jesus really was/is? And similarly to share that question with others.
There is an additional message in this miracle as there has been in most of the other “signs” He performed. I wonder if you can see it?
The disciples had spent a fruitless night catching nothing. Jesus appears and through His intervention a super-abundant catch is made. The number of fish caught is actually given. What is the significance? The number 153 is regarded by many as a number of completeness. The catch of fish then represents all the people who will respond to the message of the gospel that the disciples will take out. However the reminder in this parable is that if they try and do it in their own strength it will bring only a meagre crop. True fruitfulness will only come when Jesus Himself is the One who gives the crop or catch as in this case. This is a sort of parallel to the great commission in Matthew’s gospel.
This is a timely warning to the disciples then, but equally for every one of us. True fruit that flows from our life is a result of the interaction with Jesus who produces the fruit of the Spirit through us.
Enjoy your week and be blessed.