Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. We give thanks to Rev. Pam Reed, Registrar and Student Support Tutor, for writing this devotional.
You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
John 21: 1-19 (NRSV)
21 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
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. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish 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, a hundred fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Devotional
What do you do when everything has changed; when nothing makes sense; when you’re uncertain about everything? Perhaps, like Peter and his companions, you might seek certainty in something that you know and understand. After all the upheaval of the past weeks, Peter and his companions decide to go fishing. Maybe it’s to earn money for their families or to get food or perhaps it’s just a way to fill in the empty hours. They fish at night, something apparently preferred by fishermen in that area, but despite the certainty of a familiar task; despite their knowledge and skill; they catch NOTHING. Even their certainty has become uncertainty.
Then comes the commanding voice to cast the net on the other side of the boat. And it brings immediate success – a net so full they can’t pull it into the boat. Had they been fishing in the wrong spot? No, they were experienced fishermen. Their success was due to obedience. In faith they let down the net again and the miraculous catch was received.
It’s then that Peter does something strange. Recognising that it’s Jesus, he doesn’t strip off to go to him, but rather, having worked naked/nearly naked he puts on his outer garment and jumps into the water. This outer garment would have impeded his progress towards Jesus, but he puts it on as a mark of respect for his Lord. In doing this, Peter doesn’t shirk responsibility for helping his companions. Once he has acknowledged Jesus, he works to bring the net ashore.
Now comes scene two. Jesus is on the beach with a charcoal fire. It’s here that after a meal Jesus restores Peter as his disciple. The previous mention of a charcoal fire heralds Peter’s denial; this fire is a prelude to his restoration. A threefold denial of Jesus by Peter is countered by Jesus’ threefold questioning and commissioning of Peter.
What can we do when faced by uncertainty and change? Seek the presence of our Saviour, the one in whom we can find rest and restoration. Our God is the one who understands us, who cares for us, who forgives us, and who stays with us throughout all the uncertainties of life. Our God is LOVE!
Prayer
God of love, so often, like the disciples, we seek things and activities to fill the voids and uncertainties of life. Help us to seek you in times of trouble. Help us to remember that you will never leave us, no matter what has happened. Thank you for your unfailing love for us, and your desire to restore us to yourself. Amen.
Blessings,
Rev. Pam Reed (Registrar and Student Support Tutor)