"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. John 21:3-6
This account is of seven of His disciples waiting for Jesus after He revealed Himself to them on two previous occasions following His resurrection.
The Apostles were ready to scatter and did so at Calvary, but after seeing Jesus’ resurrected body they were all believers and obedient ones at that. Peter convinced the others to go fishing.
The disciples were out fishing all night and caught nothing. As they were coming back, they were encountered by a figure of man on the shore yelling out, “Friend, haven’t you any fish?” “No”, they said and He tells them to “throw their nets on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
They are encountered by the Living Lord and don’t know it. They were not seeking Jesus. He sought them. He knew them and knew what they were doing and indeed He even knew the fact they hadn’t caught any fish. He asks them a question to reveal their own sense of need. Jesus gives them a command, “Cast on the other side.” The point is not where the work is to be done or how it is to be done, but whether it is being done under Christ’s direction and in obedience to Him or by our own wisdom and knowledge and efforts.
It wasn’t until the miracle occurred that John realized who it was at a distance.
I wonder how often Jesus encounters us and we don’t know Him, as He is watching us and realizes our failures, circumstances, and discouragement.
Most certainly our Christ encounters come when we knock on His door. We are praying, reading, worshiping and desirous to be with the Lord.
But what about when He knocks on our door? We don’t always see Him as Jesus. He may come as a poor person, a child, a lonely soul. “For as you do these things to the least of these you do them unto me.” (Mt. 25:40). He can come through the words and presence of others.
He can be the one who asks if you have caught anything. Jesus is alive around us in our everyday experiences and His work and ways are available more often than we might think. His voice may come from the voice of someone from whom you might least expect.
Then the eureka moment comes. “It is the Lord”.
He shows Himself.
Application: Keep your eyes open to where and when You are working and what You want me to do.
Prayer: Lord, that I may see You in the ordinary and encounter You in a way that moves me to obedience.
