I have always liked this passage. It is a reminder to me that the answer to our questions and problems are not always in the likeliest or expected of places. I am picturing these professional fisherman who have been at their job all night and to no avail. Jesus, a carpenter comes along and tells them to recast their nets on the right side of the boat. My suggestion might have been to tell him where to put the nets. Who'd expect a carpenter to know more than the professional fisherman? Very telling and something I try to remember. Keep your eyes and ears open!
But there is another telling point here. No one recognized Jesus except for one person, "The disciple whom Jesus loved". This is the disciple Jesus handed ceremoniously over to his mother at the foot of the cross as he dies. 'Woman this is your son'. This appeals to me especially as gay man because the prospect exists that the disciple whom Jesus loved was more than the love Jesus held for most people. This was an intimate loving relationship. While it seems blasphemous to some, the possibility exists and there are books out there that drive the point easily home. The kind of love I am speaking of makes recognition of the other timeless and pure. Of course John would recognize his love. Isn't love all encompassing?
If you think of a young couple and the parents of two lovebirds, the parents quite often don't see what the one lover sees in the other. Yet the love bond between the two lovebirds is certain, knowing and all encompassing. The parents may not see it, other people may not see it, but the two only have eyes for each other. It wouldn't be that surprising that John was the one to recognize Jesus.
In the most general of ways, it is love that allows us to see answers to our problems, answer to questions and recognize the goodness and godliness in everyone. No matter how you choose to see this passage, love as it turns out, clearly is the answer.
John 21:1-14
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 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. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on 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, for the quantity of fish.
That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying 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, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
No comments:
Post a Comment