And Fish
The fish play a prominent part in this chapter. The disciples were going fishing. The question Jesus asks from the shore is about fish. There are at least two miracles that happen related to the fish. First, the number of fish they caught, and second, the fact that the net didn’t tear.
Then, there was the fact that Jesus already had fish grilling over the fire. Where did he get them? We aren’t told, but, interestingly, he had fish already cooking as the sun came over the horizon and the seven disciples were giving up after a long night in which they caught nothing.
I’m not sure what to make of all of this. I heard a long sermon once in which the preacher spent a great deal of his time explaining what the meaning of the 153 fish is. I was confused after about 20 minutes and never did get the point. I’m going to assume that it doesn’t mean anything other than they caught a lot of fish, but I could be wrong about that.
But now I will do my own bit of injecting meaning into the text. Forgive me if this is an overreach…
Jesus had for them, as a free gift, what they had labored so hard to get for themselves and failed to attain. After a night of fruitless labor and toil, these men had nothing to show for it but frustration and weariness. What they sought they got, but not by the work of their own hands. They received it from the Lord. It was not by work but by grace.
I’m not suggesting that work is unnecessary to meet the basic needs of life. As Paul wrote, “if a man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat.” I am saying there is a spiritual lesson being impressed upon these men. Self-effort and striving and working and laboring apart from trusting in Christ is the road to futile fruitlessness.
They went out in the boat without seeking the direction, approval, or blessing of Christ. And what they got from that was empty nets. Then, with just a word of instruction, and the blessing of the Lord, they received in abundance.
Do your work, but do it having first sought the Lord’s blessing, direction, and approval.
