“The Seven Next Words of Christ: Have You Caught Any Fish?” Devo

May 28th, 2017  

Devotional

“The Seven Next Words of Christ: Have You Caught Any Fish?” -John 21: 1-23

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Monday: “Gone Fishing” - John 21: 1-3

The disciples have had an emotional and physically overwhelming week. Jesus has predicted his death. He was captured while some of them were praying with him in the garden. He stood unfair trial after unfair trial with the religious leaders, Herod, and then Pilate. He was beaten, hung on a cross, and then killed. Then some of the women came to them saying that Jesus had been raised from the dead. The disciples could not handle anything else this week, so they returned to what they knew best, fishing. 

I have to wonder what was running through the disciples minds as they entered the boat that day, Peter at the lead. Did they think about how Jesus had said that he would make them fishers of men? Did they ponder all the meals of fish that they had shared together? Did their minds drift back to the time that Jesus walked on the water and calmed the waves of the storm?

We all run the risk of overwhelm in our lives. We live in a society that seems to be on the go all the time. We run from one place to the next, trying to keep our schedules in order. Bad news seems to be coming at us all the time - on the TV and in newspapers. When we are overwhelmed, we run the risk of being like the disciples and going back to what is familiar and comfortable, even if that is not where we should be. 

What circumstances in your life support or deter you from following Jesus?

What do you find yourself doing/ where do you find yourself going when you are overwhelmed?

Prayer: Jesus, we live in a world that seems to demand so much of our time and energy. We confess that when we become overwhelmed, we sometimes return right to the situations and circumstances you first rescued us from. Help us, O Lord, during times of turbulence to turn to you and to seek your face, anew. Amen. 

Tuesday: “It is the Lord” - John 21:4-8

There were times that the disciples, the original followers of Jesus, let themselves get in the way of Jesus’s ministry to others, Jesus’s ministry to them, as well. But there were also beautiful moments where they set themselves aside in order to trust God. In the gospel reading today we find the disciples after Jesus’s death. They aren’t quite sure what to do with themselves so they go back to the one thing they do know - fishing. They were trained fishermen, yet despite years of being on the sea they have not caught a single fish all night. Then a stranger appears on the shoreline and tells them to go against all of their training, to go against all of their years of knowledge and cast their nets on the other side of the boat. They could have let themselves get in their way - they could have deferred to their pride and said that would never work, that they had tried that earlier, but instead they so badly wanted to catch some fish that they were willing to be humble and try this suggestion. The results? Their nets were so full that they couldn’t even begin to drag them up. And the disciples recognized that it was the Lord who had instructed them.

Sometimes, we too, get in the way of the Gospel. We try to make it about sharing the Good News on our own terms or only with people like us or who we love. But we need to hear Jesus’s call to cast our nets to the other side - to go out of our way to try new ways to share the Good News with new people.

What prevents us from hearing the call of Jesus to try to share the Gospel in a different way?

Prayer: Lord, help us to listen more closely to your call upon our lives and the life of our church. Encourage us to try new things, to follow you more closely, and to reach out beyond our comfort zones for the sake of the Gospel Message. Use us, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ They Knew” - John 21: 9-14

I love imagining this scene around the breakfast campfire that morning. The disciple, elated by their hull of fish and more importantly, being in the presence of their Lord and Savior. Can you imagine the stories they were sharing? The joy being expressed? The laughter rising around the fire ring?

The disciples in that moment, knew that they were in the presence of the Lord. Just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus recognized Jesus in the blessing and breaking of the bread and Mary had her eyes opened at the empty tomb when Jesus spoke her name. They didn’t have to ask if it was Jesus or to see his nail pierced hands and side - they knew by the miracle of the fish, just like the miracles they had witnessed so long ago on the hill side of the two small fish and five loaves feeding thoughts.

When are those times in our life when we know without a shadow of a doubt that we are in the presence of our Savior? They will be different for each of us, because we are different people who have our hearts touched in a variety of ways. But we all have those moments, to cherish, with our Lord. 

Why do you think the Gospel of John thought the number of fish caught was important?

What do you think the phrase “and no one dare ask him if he really was the Lord because they were sure of it” means? 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for those precious moments when we know that we are in your presence. Those moments when we are so sure of your grace and love that we cannot help but worship you. Help us to treasure those moments in our hearts. Amen. 

Thursday: “Feed My Lambs” - John 21: 15-19

Today’s piece of scripture is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful encounters between Jesus and his disciples. You can almost feel Peter’s anxiety and pain. Is Jesus calling him out about the three times he betrayed Jesus, just as was predicted during their final meal together before his death? Does Jesus really doubt the love that he has for him?

There are times when we all stray from the love of God. We even acknowledge this fact every time when we hear the communion liturgy, “when we turned away and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.” What Peter took to be as a moment of scolding was actually a moment of grace. It was a reminder to Peter that when his love failed, Jesus’s love for him remained steadfast.

Further, by telling Peter to feed his lambs and tend his sheep, Jesus was offering Peter a moment of redemption. We all need such moments. From time to time we may find ourselves thinking that Jesus could not use someone like us in ministry, but if he could use Peter, he can use us. It is not for us to judge the love Jesus has for us or the call he has upon our lives - we are simply offered the opportunity to start again. 

Why is Jesus’s interaction with Peter important? Why did Jesus ask Peter the same question three times? 

Tell of a time that you did not think that you were good enough. What message of love did Jesus speak into your life?

Prayer: Lord, we cannot thank you enough for your redeeming moments in our lives. We fail, and our love can lean towards unfaithfulness at times, but you, Precious Lord, remain faithful to us. Thank you, Lord, for calling each of us to follow you and giving us a ministry for the sake of your Kingdom. Amen. 

Friday: “What About Him?” - John 21: 20-23

Peter has just had a beautiful moment with Jesus, only to miss the point by starting to worry about another disciple, John. Peter, hoping to catch Jesus saying that John was going to betray him, asked Jesus, what about him. What about him? Is he the one, Lord, who will betray you even worse then I did by denying you? What about him? Is he going to be important than me, Lord?

To which Jesus replied that it isn’t Peter’s business. Sometimes we get so caught up in worrying about other people that we cannot be effective for the Kingdom. Or we get so blind sided by jealously that we stop being the church. When people tell me about churches that are doing amazing things, my first response is “Praise God!”. Praise God for churches and believers that are being faithful to the call upon their lives. We are not in competition with each other - we all have the same Kingdom goal. 

Churches are not places of competition and jealously, but rather are places where the story of God is made known so it can be lived out. We don’t need to worry about the gifts of other believers; we need to be concerned with whether we are using our gifts to the best of our ability. Let us remember what is our corner and what is Christ’s. 

Tell of a time when envy or jealousy prevented you from doing or living out God’s will in your life?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes a streak of jealously runs through us. We speak ill of other churches and other believers because we cannot admit to ourselves that we are not being as fruitful as you are calling us to be in our own lives. Forgive us, O Lord, and set us back on the path that glorifies you. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Seven Next Words of Christ: Wait for the Gift” - Acts 1: 1-11

Family Activity: We all need to be encouraged - to be told that we are doing a good job, to be told that we are appreciated, that we are cared about. Who are some people who are in need of encouragement and how can you build them up?