OK, NOW WHAT?

OK, NOW WHAT?

John 21:1-6

21 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

          Both Matthew and Luke end their gospel with Jesus giving his Great Commission. Go ye into all the world was the final command and it has not been rescinded. John, however, personalizes it with this story. Simon Peter who denied that he knew the Lord three times was the first to express the thought. Thomas, who first doubted but was then given amazing personal evidence of Christ’s resurrection was there. Nathanael who wondered if anything good could come out of Nazareth was present along with the Sons of Thunder. These all decided to go fishing.

          Little is known and much is speculated about their motive for fishing on this day. We can imagine that even after all they had witnessed they still had no direction. We could compare it to a graduate who clutches his diploma or degree and says: “Ok, now what!” But a lack of clear direction never kept Peter from leading. He says: “I go a fishing.” The others agree to follow.

          Now that Jesus has died and rose again just what are you going to do with all that you have learned and experienced? Christianity was in danger of dying before it ever became a movement because the followers did not know how to transform experience into a lifestyle. Indeed many today leave a wonderful experience only to look for another experience. Their lives are not changed. They return to fishing but it is not the same. They catch nothing.

          For Peter, there was some unfinished business. His denial must be dealt with and Jesus dealt with Peter in the most tender yet forceful way. Three times he denied and three times Jesus urges him to “feed my sheep; feed my lambs; feed my sheep.” This ministry re-start was based upon Peter’s crippled love. What wonderful things might we do even though we are imperfect?

          The ship represented the division between the old life and the new. “Cast your nets on the other side!” The result was that they caught many fish. The point is obvious. Without Christ life is fruitless. With Him things are much different. Now that Easter is over, and as the experience begins to fade, let us live like a transformed people.

Dear Lord, Peter’s life would never be normal again. Let it not be normal for me either. AMEN