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. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
John 21:4-8
The resurrected Jesus was not easy to identify. There are a number of instances in which people are speaking with him and it is not until later that they realise with whom they are talking.
Still, he must have had a commanding presence because the disciples did as this stranger suggested.
They threw their net onto the other side of the boat.
A simple change. A little switch up. Nothing too drastic and – hey presto.
It seems ridiculous, right? How could the side of the boat completely change the number of fish in their net?
But maybe that’s the point.
It isn’t human effort that brings success. Only God brings success. Our best efforts will amount to nothing. But if we listen to God and do as he says, we might find even more fruit (or fish) than we can imagine.
Sometimes God asks us to make drastic changes. Sometimes only little ones, from left to right. Either way, our response is to be obedient.
God knows what he’s doing. We don’t.
God knows what will work. We don’t.
God knows the end from the beginning. We don’t.
John’s gospel is remarkably symbolic too. The fish in this passage are literally fish, but, knowing John there’s an added layer here also.
Fish symbolises mission. And the haul from this mission is massive.
A simple change. A little switch up. Nothing too drastic and – hey presto.
The disciples go from nothing to having too many to know what to do with – that’s a dramatic turnaround.
That’s what Jesus can do.
Yours making a little change from left to right,
Alison
