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.

John 21:1-3

Apparently, there is much ink spilt in the commentaries as to whether the disciples should have been fishing or not at this point in time. Yes, it’s true.

There are many who argue that Peter’s declaration that they needed to go fishing was an indication of his backsliding. He had forgotten the words of Christ. He had forgotten that the Spirit was due to come at Pentecost. He had forgotten it all and encouraged the other disciples to backslide with some fishing.

Apparently.

Whilst that is possible, what’s also possible is that the disciples are actually setting up an opportunity for Jesus to ‘show up’.

The disciples go fishing – they go do what they do best. What does God do best – show up in tricky situations and demonstrate his glory.

If the disciples hadn’t gone fishing, Jesus couldn’t have done what he’s about to do and turn up on the beach. Perhaps the disciples were just positioning themselves in order for God to show his glory.

It’s easy to make judgements about other people within the Christian community. It’s easy to think the reason they didn’t go to church or didn’t attend bible study is because they are backsliding or falling away.

But often our first assessments of a situation aren’t correct. Or perhaps we’re restricting the way we expect God to work. ‘He has to do such-and-such in the temple’ the ancient Jews might have said. But that wasn’t the case.

The disciples are here on the Sea of Galilee in a smelly fishing boat and Jesus is about to ‘show up’.

God’s work is not restricted to our religious dogma.

Yours gone fishing,

Alison