May 1 – John
Miracles and Blessing — St. John 21:1-19
Usually when we focus on this Gospel passage, we focus on verses 15 – 19 where Jesus tells Peter to Feed his sheep. However, I invite you to focus with me on the first section and the catch of fish which was both miraculous and a blessing to the disciples who had returned to fishing. In this story of miracle and blessing, we gain insight into the meaning of the Scripture and into what it proclaims about our own faith today.
As I read this story, two questions come to my mind, which help to clarify what is taking place. The first question centers on the section which reads:
When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. (St. John 21:7)
I don’t know if that raises a question for you, but it does for me. It almost seems as if Peter was naked when he was fishing. But in reality, fishermen wore only a loin cloth when they were working. In today’s idiom it may have been a pair of shorts or swimming trunks. Yet, if that’s the case – and it is – why did he put on his clothes when he went to meet Jesus? He would have gotten to him faster swimming in the loin cloth. What was wrong with greeting Jesus the way he worked? Peter’s action becomes clear if we understand the Jewish law. According to William Barclay:
it was the Jewish law that to offer a greeting was a religious act, and to carry out a religious act a man must be clothed… (The Daily Study Bible Series. The Gospel of John vol. 2. The Westminster Press: Philadelphia. P. 327)
Peter, who was impulsive, wanted to be the first to greet the risen Jesus and to show his devotion, so he did what the law required. He put on the fisherman’s tunic and went to greet Jesus.
The second question for me, at least, deals with the fish that were caught and brought to shore. The passage tells us that they weren’t able to haul the catch in because there were so many fish. Then again when Jesus tells them to bring some of the fish they caught to shore, the Gospel tells us:
So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though they were so many, the net was not torn.
There is a sense of surprise that the nets weren’t torn with so many fish in them. But why is the count of fish so specific at 153? It may be that this is simply the memory of an eyewitness. However, because John’s Gospel is so concerned with symbols and symbolic meaning, perhaps there’s another reason. It’s interesting that the Greek Zoologists – those who studied animals and fish – taught that there were 153 different kinds of fish. Since that’s the case, the 153 fish indicates that the catch included every kind of fish known to humans. Some commentators, I believe, rightly indicate that this symbolism indicates that some day the people of all nations will come to Jesus Christ. If we apply this implication to the Church, it means that the church is indeed, universal – it is and ought to be made up of all kinds of people. When we look at the whole Christian church throughout the world, we see this kind of experience happening. Almost every nation on the face of the earth has people who are Christian – who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. It was reported that when the Berlin Wall came down and the Iron Curtain was eliminated, the Christian faith was alive and flourishing in East Germany and in the former Soviet Union. I assume it still is today. Even in China today, Christians are making an impact on that society. The church includes the rich and poor, deep thinkers and shallow thinkers, young and old. People of all classes and conditions make up the Church of Jesus Christ. This miraculous catch of fish symbolizes this reality.
What this catch of all kinds of fish implies for local congregations is that each congregation needs to be open to accept all people who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, whether they are like us or different from us. I believe that each congregation, regardless of the denomination, needs to work to make this goal become a reality.
In addition to the questions this passage raises, it also makes some proclamations about our faith. The story proclaims, first and foremost, the greatest miracle and blessing God has ever given because it proclaims the reality of the Resurrection. There were in that day, people who didn’t accept Jesus’ physical resurrection. There are those who still don’t believe in the physical resurrection. They believe the disciples saw only a vision of Christ. However, the reality of the resurrection is proclaimed a number of ways in the disciples’ experience. Recall that the Risen Lord stood on the beach along the Sea of Tiberias or the Sea of Galilee and pointed out a great school of fish. Recall how he told the disciples, even before they recognized him:
Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish. (St. John 21:6)
Realize also that the Risen Lord had built a charcoal fire on the shore and that he ate a breakfast of fish and bread with the disciples. No vision or spirit without a physical body would do either of those things.
The point is clearly made: Jesus Christ is alive and real. Death has no dominion over him. One commentator put it well this way:
In the Semitic mind set, the sea represented the place of hostile rebellion against God.
Job 38:16-17 speaks of the sea this way:
Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
Psalm 74:13 speaks of this rebellion and God’s control over it this way:
You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.
The commentator then continues:
When Christ shows his power over the sea by putting its creatures in the net, he is showing his authority over all the enemies of God.
And in the resurrection, the greatest enemy to be destroyed is death! Is that not a blessing and a miracle today or in any generation?
As we look at this passage, we also discover that it proclaims that the guidance of Jesus Christ brings the blessings of God to fulfillment. Recall that the disciples had labored all night – that was when fishing was the best. But they had caught nothing. It wasn’t until they had the guidance of the Lord that they received the miraculous catch that was too great to bring to shore. Isn’t that also true in our world today? How often do we labor without the guidance of Jesus and find that are labors are in vain? But when we turn to Christ and follow his guidance, we also discover and receive the blessings of God. Where do we see that happening in our lives and in the world around us? When I think of this kind of blessing, I think about a man by the name of Orville Kelly, who founded a group called Make Every Day Count. Kelly discovered that he had cancer. And try as he might he couldn’t handle the cancer himself. It kept getting worse and worse. It was only as he gave his disease and himself to the guidance of Jesus Christ and decided to make every day count that he found hope for living. He began to help other people discover the same kind of hope. Whether we have cancer, some other disease or a healthy body, we also need to rely on Christ’s guidance and make every day count for the Lord. Do we do that?
This passage proclaims a third thing for us. The disciples received the blessing of the miraculous catch because they were obedient to the Risen Lord’s directions. They fished all night and caught nothing. They were probably discouraged at that point. Then they heard Jesus tell them:
Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some. (John 21:6).
At that point they were faced with a faith decision. They could have disobeyed the instructions. Had they done that, they would have missed out on the miraculous catch and the blessing Jesus had prepared. But they chose to have faith and obey the directions. Because they obeyed, they experienced both a miracle and a blessing in their lives. When the Risen Jesus, gives us directions and guidance, we are also faced with faith decisions. Do we trust – have faith – and obey? Or do we continue following our own insights and disobey? How often does our unwillingness to hear and obey the Risen Christ’s call prevent us from receiving miracles and blessings that God in Christ has prepared for our lives? Think about the life you live. Where does our disobedience shut out God’s blessings? Where have we been obedient and have received God’s blessings and miracles – large or small? Think about our nation. How many times does our nation miss out on God’s blessings because we don’t follow his desires?
During my 55 years in ministry, I have observed and experienced that God’s blessings do come through being obedient to his call and instructions. Let me illustrate. On many occasions I would be busy and traveling to a meeting or to a visit and would get a strong thought or sense that I should stop and see a certain person. When I gave into that thought and obeyed it, I’d stop and visit with the person. Often, the visit was pleasant but I thought it was nothing out of the ordinary. In variably. a week or two later that person or someone else would tell me that the encouragement I gave or the words of comfort I offered was a blessing and just what the person needed at the time. Hearing that was also a blessing for me because I knew God had helped that person. There were also other times that I had that same kind of thought or sense, didn’t respond and went about my business. I often wonder what blessings were not received because I didn’t obey the thought or sense that went through my mind. God’s blessings come from being obedient to Jesus’ guidance. So, I ask you:
Where have you experienced God’s blessing because you obeyed his guidance and directions?
This passage in John’s Gospel proclaims a fourth thing about God’s blessings. God’s blessing often comes first and that blessing enables us to recognize that God in Christ provides it. That was the case with the disciples. They were obedient and received the miraculous catch of fish. Then, they realized the Risen Lord provided the miracle and blessing. An English Vicar – or pastor – had a similar experience.
He dreamed he saw a man coming up from his gate to visit him. He recognized at once that it was Christ. He suddenly became aware of the disorder in his study and knew that it was unfit to receive so great a guest. So. he frantically swept and dusted and attempted to straighten up the room. But the more he worked, the worse the disorder. The visitor knocked and knocked again. Finally in desperation the vicar opened the door. The vicar was overcome with shame at the condition of his study. He said, “Forgive me, Lord, this is such an unworthy place to receive you.” But as Christ stepped into the room, suddenly the disorder disappeared and when the vicar looked about, everything was in perfect order. The Master’s presence had done what all the vicar’s efforts had failed to accomplish. So. the miracle of the great catch teaches us that we’re not required to straighten out our lives and clean them up before we are worthy to receive God’s blessings. (Will Daylight Come? P. 143)
Often God’s blessings come first and then we are straightened out, made worthy by the Risen Lord, our God.
How many miracles and blessings – small or large – do you and I experience in our lives? Are they not more than we can number? Does their presence enable us to praise and serve Christ? That’s one of the reasons blessings are given to us.
This story of Miracle and Blessing proclaims that the Resurrection is a reality in our lives. It tells us that following the Risen Lord’s guidance and direction brings God’s blessings to others and to us. May it also inspire us to follow the Risen Lord’s guidance and directions today and each day we are alive.
This is God’s word to us this day. May it take root in our hearts and minds and bring forth in us the fruit of faithful living. Amen.