April 16
JOHN 21
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. – John 21:9-14
JOHN 21 JESUS SERVES HIS DISCIPLES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When the disciples caught a big catch of large fish
They had 153 large fish but surprisingly the net wasn’t torn
Then they saw someone preparing a meal for them
He invited them to break their fast with fish and bread
They didn’t ask who it was but they knew it was Jesus
He took the bread and gave it to them and so with the fish.
This visit of Jesus to his disciples after his resurrection is the third time and by the previous time, they were already given the Holy Spirit. It is interesting that they initially could not catch anything but when someone told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, they had a huge catch. Among themselves, they didn’t ask who told them to do so, but in their hearts, they knew it was the Lord. And when they saw a charcoal fire in place waiting for them as they hauled their catch ashore, they must have the knowledge from the Holy Spirit that it was the Lord.
We witnessed two important things that happened in this account. One was the big catch and the other was the meal prepared for them as they got on land. By now, the Holy Spirit was teaching the disciples that before the Lord showed up, they couldn’t catch anything. But when someone told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, there was a bounty of large fish caught. Jesus also served them breakfast after the night’s work.
REFLECTION
• What do you think the big catch and the meal represented in this account?
