Slices
Prepare
Reflect on what Jesus has called you to – your hopes, experiences, the challenges, the celebrations.
Bible passage
Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish
21 Afterwards Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 ‘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.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’
‘No,’ they answered.
6 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.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment round him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred metres. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Explore
With the Passover festival over, the disciples are back in Galilee. Back home, back to all that had been familiar before the seismic shifts their world has undergone since they left. Was that why Peter wanted to get back to work, to get back to normal (v 3), to fill his hands and help him process all that filled his head and heart? Or was going fishing his best attempt at moving into his new mission? Whatever his motives, the scene that unfolded must have resonated clearly in Peter’s memory. Not so long ago, after another long and futile night on the same lake, Peter had obediently let down his nets on the other side of the boat and been overwhelmed by the catch (Luke 5:1–11). That was his first commissioning from Jesus.
When something similar happens at this stage, what is John trying to tell us? Yes, it is a symbolic recommissioning. Yes, it is a reminder to listen for Jesus’ voice and obey his words – no matter how counter-intuitive they seem. Yes, it is a promise of unimaginable – but not unbearable – fruitfulness as we work with him. But it is also an invitation to breakfast. Jesus loves partnering with us, receiving if not relying on our efforts (vs 9,10). But what he wants most is our presence.
Respond
What might it look like for you to accept Jesus’ invitation to breakfast – to bring yourself and your efforts and allow him to nourish you?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Joshua 8,9; Romans 12
Pray for Scripture Union
X: Site Keighley Easter holiday club is running this week sharing the good news of Jesus and providing children with breakfast and lunch. Please pray for great relationships to be built with the children and that they will experience God’s love for themselves.
