After the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead, Peter and the other disciples had to learn to follow Him in a new way. Before He died on the cross, they could see Him all the time, but now they only saw Him when He showed Himself to them. Very soon He was going up into heaven, and they would only see Him with the eye of faith; but they must follow Him still.
One day after they had gone back to Galilee, Peter said to his fellow disciples, “I go a fishing.” They answered, “We also go with thee.”
They did not stop to ask themselves whether they would be following Jesus by going. They went out and got into a boat at once — Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John and two others — seven of them. “And that night they caught nothing.”
When morning came Jesus stood on the shore, but they did not know that it was He. He said to them, “Children, have ye any meat?” They answered, “No.”
Then He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find.” They did so, and the net was so full of fish that they could not draw it in. John knew who it was standing on the shore and said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
Peter did not wait for another word, but wrapping his fisherman’s coat around him, he flung himself into the sea to go to Jesus. The others followed in the boat dragging the net and fish along with them.
When they got to shore, they found a fire of coals and some fish laid on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.”
Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty three of them, and yet the net was not broken.
Jesus said to them, “Come and dine.” Instead of their going home hungry and tired, they found they were to be His guests. And not one of them dared to say to Him, “Who art Thou?” for they knew it was the Lord.
Then Jesus came and waited on them; He took bread and gave it to them, and He gave them fish besides. How good that meal must have tasted to them after being out on the sea all night, and especially since the Lord Himself prepared it!
And, blessed be His Name, He is still the same, for He richly provides for all who trust Him as Saviour and Lord. Especially does He provide for the needs of our souls, for He feeds us with the Bread of Life—Himself come down from heaven and made known in grace—which if a man eats, he shall never hunger again, and if he believes, he shall never thirst.
He richly feeds our souls
With blessings from above,
And leads us where the river rolls
Of endless love.
We believe that in this scene on the seashore we have a picture of the coming millennial day when the Lord Jesus shall return in power to this earth. In the fish already on the shore we have the little Jewish remnant. The net full of great fishes tells of the great millennial haul of the Gentiles who will be brought into blessing through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom by the Jewish remnant. But all will be through the work of that blessed Saviour who through His death and resurrection has accomplished that great work of redemption. How wonderful to think that that day is near at hand! “Come, Lord Jesus."..."Thy kingdom come.”
ML-11/21/1976