Strong nets

Last week I preached at a small church near Charleston.  I used the revised common lectionary to plan the service. The gospel reading was John 21:1-19. I not going to read the whole passage, but just a few verses.

 

This is the last chapter of John.  Mary Magdalene has already been to the tomb, Jesus has spoken to her, telling her that he will be ascending to God. She has gone to the disciples and to announce that “she has seen the Lord.”

 

On the evening of the same day, the Disciples were locked in a house, afraid of what might happen, when Jesus appeared to them.  A week later, Jesus appeared again to the Disciples, this time including Thomas.

 

THEN we get to this last chapter of John.  As the chapter begins, Peter, John, and five other disciples, who had been sitting on the beach of the Sea of Tiberius, decide to go fishing.  The catch nothing. 

 

Hear these words from John 21:4-6

⁴ Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” ⁶ He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 

 

Later, after they either swam to shore (peter) or rowed to shore (the rest of them), Jesus is cooking breakfast for them.  Hear verses 10-11

 

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, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 

 

Does this story sound like any other story you have heard as you read the Bible?  Think about Luke, chapter 5.  In that passage of Luke, Jesus tells Simon to cast his nets in deep water. Simon protests – he has caught nothing all night, and he is a fisherman – he knows how to fish – but he does what Jesus asks.  You know the rest of the story – they caught an abundance of fish, straining the nets and even the ability of the boats to float.  This is the call story for Simon, James, and John. Jesus tells them, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”  They follow Jesus and becomes fishers of people.

 

There is a lot that is interesting about these passages.  It’s interesting to me that the story reminds us of the call story of Simon, James, and John.  They are actually fishing in the same place.  Maybe that’s what Jesus wanted to do – remind them of their call.  They are sitting on a beach, and then they go back to what they used to do – fish.  Unsuccessfully.  Maybe Jesus is calling them again. 

 

But another point that is interesting to me is the description of the net changes. In Luke, the net is straining – and the boat almost capsizes. In John, after the resurrection, the net is not torn.  The net can hold an abundant number of fish.

 

There is a message in this part of the story for us, the Church.  When we see Jesus, when we are reminded of our call, we are able to BE the church. We don’t need to worry – our nets are strong enough and large enough to hold everyone.