The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 29 April 2022 – I Go A Fishing
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TOPIC: I Go A Fishing
READ: John 21:1-14 (NKJV)
- After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed [Himself:]
- Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the [sons] of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
- Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
- But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
- Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”
- And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find [some.”] So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
- Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on [his] outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
- But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
- Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
- Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
- Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
- Jesus said to them, “Come [and] eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” — knowing that it was the Lord.
- Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
- This [is] now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
THE MESSAGE:
After the death of Jesus, Peter decided to go back to fishing and the others followed him. They were going to catch fish instead of men; they were going back to their past life from which Jesus had called them (Matthew 4:19). The call of Jesus to follow Him, is not a situation-dependent one – to keep following so far as the ship is sailing smoothly and to quit once there is a tempest. Little wonder Jesus Himself instructed that we should count the cost of discipleship before taking the first step (Luke 14:26-33).
The Apostles were not sure of this way again, and were careful not to ‘waste’ away, so they decided to go back to their former ways. It was a fruitless journey because they did not go with the owner of heaven and earth. Leaving the way of following Jesus is an express ticket to the desert fields of the world, full of activities but ending in futility and doom (Matthew 7:13-14).
Jesus enjoins us to take the yoke upon us for they are easy. Sometimes, the road may seem so strait, full of uncertainties but He has bid us to come that we may find rest both in this life and in that to come (Matthew 11:28-30).
PRAYER: Father, help me to keep following and never to quit, for to whom shall I go if I depart from You?
