Today's Catch

Luke 5:1-7 Day We Met One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, ^[the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch. Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

John 21:1-7 Day We Met Again Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:  Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus^[), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “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.

Today's Catch

From the day they first met to the day they said goodbye, the scenes are playfully identical. Only Jesus, of course, knew of the staging. Only Jesus knew of each moment of their lives, from birth to eternal Sabbath, and each detail in between. Especially the three years they would share face to face. Just as He knows our beginnings, our ends, and our detailed stories. Never without Him.

What strikes me today, is how he found them. Without fish. They were by trade, fishermen, so this is a day devoid of income for themselves and their families. They worked hard and long for their catch. They didn't wait for it to rain down from heaven; they worked for it all. But this day, and others, nothing. No fish, no food. No food, no living. Simple as that. They didn’t have CDs, savings accounts, or 401Ks to borrow from. On top of that, like for us now, they owed the government taxes. So no income was piling debt. Slaves to the system. There was no government loans or unemployment bailouts. Striking familiar on a day where at least 22 million people in this country alone are looking at an unforeseeable future of “no fish.” Not to mention the millions of family that depend on the income of said “fish.” This is exactly where Jesus walks up and very specifically engages the situation. Day one, already knowing of their plight, He gives direction. Simon answers with explanation: “We’ve already given all we can for the night, but because you are here and you say, we will go once more.” Doubt, but do anyway. He was just being honest in his engagement with the Creator of All, including the fish. I think Jesus appreciated the honesty of doubt as much as the action of obedience. Not faith, necessarily, but obedience. There’s no record of them meeting prior to this moment. No record that the fishermen even had a clue as to who he was except a teacher on the beach. But something when He spoke said, ‘I know you’re tapped out. But move by my Words. More than your empty nets. Just for Me. One more time.’ He never belittled their situation. He didn’t humiliate them to make an example of their flawed ways. Wasn’t even their fault, really. None of that mattered. 

Only one thing mattered: He’s here, He’s addressing my personal need, and He’s asking me to trust enough to follow His voice. There’s not a formula to fill the boat. And that was never the point of the miracle. The point was His presence, very specific to the one He loves. In fact, both times they found the Provider to be far more valuable than the provision. The left the fish to follow. He gives and He is: Fish to the fisherman, sight to the blind, skin to the leper. Food to the family. Love to the lonely. Freedom to the captive. He says to each one: "Be with Me to find wholeness in ways you’d never imagine. Have you fish? Follow me for much, more more than fish....from beginning to end. Crown me King, Friend, Love, Provision - all that you are personally to all that I AM intimately...cast down nets to be with Me...and find much more than fish. Fish is only moment one...I AM your every need and desire. Every single one."