New Ways of Fishing!

John 21: 1 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 some clothes, for he was naked, 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." (NRSV)

Look to Jesus and follow His lead in reaching others. It may mean doing things in a new and different way. The above picture shows the United Methodist Men of our conference, some wearing grass skirts!, as they barbecued and served a luau style meal for the youth of our conference who came to a beach retreat. The man to my right is the president of the UMM, Brother Clarence Littlefield, whom I've teased since then that I don't recognize him without his grass skirt. It was a bold move and it was fishing from "the right side of the boat." The men care about the youth and they volunteered to feed the youth and spend from the early morning until that night in preparing a true feast for the enjoyment of the kids. This was something new and something that may continue in different ways and in different settings. The key is to trust Jesus and follow the lead of Jesus in reaching new disciples.

The opposite is to do the same thing over and over again and then wonder why nothing new is happening in our churches. This is called a rut and it's pretty much like being a train on a train track. The train will always arrive at the same destinations as long as it is on that particular track. It is not easy to get out of a rut, especially a deep grooved rut that has taken years to make. It takes some work and it takes some convincing of those used to that rut to move out and go in different directions. Jesus was teaching His disciples about reaching those who have not yet heard nor believed. In this story it involved going out yet again, but this time trying the right side of the boat. The result was that many fish were brought in almost to the point of ripping open the net.

The story is not complete without us reading the part where Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. It's a tough but touching story. Peter is asked three times if he loves Jesus by Jesus. Peter says yes three times and each time Jesus responds with a command. The first is "Feed my lambs." The second, "Tend my sheep." And the third, "Feed my sheep." Peter denied Jesus three times and here he is given three chances to respond to the question of loving Jesus, whom he denied. This helps Peter with his personal grief about having said three times that he did not know Jesus and it also serves to show him that once the fish are caught, they become sheep who need feeding and tending. It is a call not just to Peter but to us as well; be active in the fishing but also be leaders in that which comes after catching. And the touching end of this passage, Jesus again invites Peter to "Follow me." Daily, you and I receive the same invitation. What are we doing about it?

PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for showing us the way. Help my eyes and vision to stay focused on You. Help me be a better fisher and once I have caught these new disciples, help me to feed and tend them in the way that leads to fullness of life here, and eternal life in You. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde