Smelly Hands from Counting Fish

April 17

Read: Read: John 21:1-14

Smelly Hands from Counting Fish

“When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them.” (v.9,10,11a)

Jesus wants to celebrate with his people. He wants us to share with him what we are excited about… what we are enjoying… he wants us to “count our blessings” with him. Think of how Jesus asks the disciples to “bring some of the fish you have just caught” up onto the beach. The scriptures tell us that there was already bread and fish cooking. This was not a “bring some of those fish so we can eat them” per say. It was as if Jesus was saying, “bring some of those fish over here so we can count them, look at them, celebrate the catch, revel in what the Heavenly Father has done!”

I wonder why the Lord had the author of this story recount the specific number of fish here in John? 153 of them. It is an odd number, right? Very specific. I bet that the disciples were pretty excited. I think they were cheering on the beach. Just imagine them counting these fish! This meant food for their families. This meant resources for ministry. This made up for the unproductive time they had had during the previous part of the evening. This number, 153, shows us that they identified each of those fish… counted them out… “set eyes on them”. What would it look like for us to do this with the blessings and gifts the Lord has given us? How often do we share with Jesus those things which excite us… those things which are blessings to us. Jesus wants us to bring our “wins” to him so he can count them WITH US… after all- HE IS THE SOURCE OF THEM ANYWAYS.

One other detail stands out here: “And although there were so many, the net was not torn.” (v.11b) We don’t always think about the liability of a tremendous blessing. To receive SO MUCH at one time is great… but it has its dangers as well. To use the terms of this passage, we run the risk of our net breaking! What becomes clear is that we need Jesus to prepare the proverbial “net” to be able / ready to withstand the blessing! The reality is too much blessing at once will often times break a net. Not only do we need to trust Christ for the blessing… we need to ask him to make us ready for it!

As we make our way out into the world this work - working in the midst of the everyday - may we keep our eyes open for the blessings that we have been given and bring them to Jesus. He wants to talk with us about them. Jesus does indeed want to “meet us while we are at work” as he does here for the disciples. It was a “problem at work” that the disciples were having when they caught no fish… a “business problem” of sorts. Jesus was happy to call out and be part of the solution! And after they were successful, he wanted to celebrate with them! How many “fish” have you caught lately? May we take the time to count… to haul the net onto the beach and celebrate with Christ! Love you guys. - JDP