John Chapter 21
The book of John leaves us with a beautiful image – Jesus gathered with a few of the disciples on a beach in the very early morning – – – the air fresh and brisk, a fire built to warm them, the smell of fish cooking. Together again, these men, brothers in arms, Jesus closest companions during His time on earth – a few final hours – just them – talking, enjoying the calm and freshness of morning, breakfast being eaten, reminiscing maybe, wrongs being righted between them (21:15-19). The disciples savoring the sight of Him, drinking Him in before He is gone, the form of His face being etched on their memories, every word taken to heart. The place they sit similar to where it all started when Jesus first called these simple fishermen to follow Him- a reminder of how far they had come. For Jesus the battle is won – “it is finished” – the hardest part done but for the disciples the real work of following Jesus about to begin. This intimate time – where He warms and feeds and sits along side them – a beautiful gift – a tender mercy – to comfort and steady them for the work ahead and a beautiful picture of the Jesus that loves and cares for us.
And this earlier
Jesus calling to them from the shore (in my words) “caught anything” their blunt reply – “we’ve got nothin’, we’re empty”- and Jesus saying – “go again, just look on the other side”. Will they ever forget pulling in that enormous haul of fish – the nets so full and heavy it took all their strength to drag them in. An up to their elbows in it reminder that the work ahead is not for nothing – there’s a mighty harvest, an overflowing abundance of souls, more than they can hope or imagine waiting for them. The gift of a miracle – how much will the memory of it buoy them up and spur them on in the days ahead when these “fishers of men” are up against it and people are out to kill them because they are preaching Jesus. And us – isn’t He is still calling the same thing to us – when all we can see is our empty and our lack, He still calls out – (my words again) look again – there’s plenty – there’s more than plenty. There is abundance – an abundance of His love and mercy and grace and a harvest of people and good works. He is full – look again – there’s more than you can contain.
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. Psalm 126:6 (NIV)
Have a great day – look again.
Lv Tracey xx
Save the Date
Friday night, the 5th December, for our Women2Women Christmas celebration. Details next week.