God’s Guiding Word: Hope
Introduction
John 21:1–14: Seven of the disciples fish all night but catch nothing. When Jesus appears on the shore of Lake Tiberias and tells them to cast their net again, they catch many fish. Jesus then invites the disciples to share with him the meal that he has prepared.
Today’s Key Verse: John 21:13
Jesus went over, took the bread, and gave it to them; he did the same with the fish.
Reading
21 After this, Jesus appeared once more to his disciples at Lake Tiberias. This is how it happened. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (the one from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were all together. 3 Simon Peter said to the others, “I am going fishing.”
“We will come with you,” they told him. So they went out in a boat, but all that night they did not catch a thing. 4 As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water’s edge, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then he asked them, “Young men, haven’t you caught anything?”
“Not a thing,” they answered.
6 He said to them, “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.” So they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had caught so many fish.
7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken his clothes off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples came to shore in the boat, pulling the net full of fish. They were not very far from land, about a hundred yards away. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it and some bread. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore full of big fish, a hundred and fifty-three in all; even though there were so many, still the net did not tear. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 So Jesus went over, took the bread, and gave it to them; he did the same with the fish.
14 This, then, was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from death.
Reflect
Who among the disciples was the first to recognize that it was Jesus on the shore? What did Peter do upon hearing that it was Jesus? What might the disciples have been thinking or feeling while sharing a meal with Jesus? Are there occasions within your community of faith when members and guests gather to share a meal? What recollections do you have of these times together?
Pray
Lord Jesus, you lovingly invite me to dine with you each day as I feast on your Word. With a joyful heart I thank and praise you for the spiritual nourishment you graciously provide each day. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
John 21:15–25: Jesus speaks to Simon Peter.