THERE are some really interesting, even random, things that happened after Christ rose from the dead and before He ascended to heaven.
One is the time he caused 153 fish to swim into Peter’s net in an instant.
This was after the disciples had spent pretty much the whole night on the water. And caught nothing. Talk about no reward for working overtime.
What they had tried to do in their own strength, battling away, Jesus did in a split second, effortlessly. And then some.
To give the story some context: Jesus had recently been crucified, the disciples were bewildered and just a little bit terrified of the Jewish leaders.
They had gone into hiding, afraid to show their faces.
Eventually, Peter decided to go fishing. Some say this was a return to his old ways, or his previous way of doing things.
I just think he was tired of sitting around and decided to do something. And he knew fishing. So get the boat boys, let’s go.
Not all the disciples were there, or came with.
Maybe it’s just me, but you sort of get the impression that all 12 (well, 11 now) stuck together like a gang, all the time. It was not necessarily the case.
Anyway, they had been toiling away, frustration most likely growing by the hour.
Day starts to break, still no fish, and Jesus arrives at the beach. Just stands there.
In John chapter 21 vs 5 it says that he called to them, asked if they had caught anything to eat with their bread.
They called back ‘no’.
This all at about 90 metres across the water. Fortunately sound carries quite nicely across water.
Then Jesus says, cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.
So they cast the net, and then they were not able to haul it in for such a big catch of fish was in it.
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Peter leaps out of the boat and run/wades to shore, leaving the others to bring in the boat.
They count the fish, exactly 153, large fish. Such an odd detail but there it is. And the net wasn’t broken, despite the huge haul.
There is a lot one could extract from this story, but the main point for me is quite simple.
In our own strength, we will struggle to achieve much.
However, when we rely on Christ, and draw our strength from Him, then anything is possible.
Also, He is the one who can cause your life to be fruitful and blessed, because of His power and His grace, not our own works.
Of course, we still need to be listening for His voice, and then quick to obey.
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