Jesus Devotional - Day 37
Day Thirty-Seven
Jesus: Real, Relevant, Raw and Radical!
Fish Language
John 21:1-14(NLT) Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
Jesus speaks your language. No one in the universe understands you better than Jesus. That should bring incredible comfort to our hearts and inspire awe. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. He made us and has a specific purpose for us. He knows how we think and feel. One of the greatest examples for us is our friend Peter. I like Peter. He is very relatable. What you see is what you get with Peter. There is no hiding his emotions or camouflaging his intentions. If Peter thinks it, you will hear it. If Peter disagrees, he will tell you. He does not keep his opinion to himself; he just blurts it out. It might even come out as a cuss word. Peter is a salty sailor with a knack for the impulsive. He feels deeply and wears his emotions on his tunic (sleeve).
Jesus’ disciples were a motley crew of fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and tradesmen. We are not sure about all their occupations, but we know that quite a few were fishermen. Just like his loud personality, Peter is written about more than any of the other disciples in the New Testament. Peter stood out. We know he had a fishing business, as did James and John with their father, Zebedee. The first interaction we see between Jesus and Peter occurs on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is preaching, and the crowd is growing. Peter (Simon) is fixing his nets, minding his business. Jesus notices the boats that are left behind. So Jesus gets into the boat and asks Peter to push Him a little deeper, and then Jesus continues speaking from there. When Jesus finishes speaking, Luke tells us the following: Luke 5:4-7(NLT) “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.’ 5 ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’ 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.”
Peter is very reluctant and reminds Jesus that they worked hard all night long with no results. They were mending their nets, and if they use them again to fish, they will have to redo everything they had done, especially since they did not catch any fish the first time. Plus, they were fishing at night, when you are supposed to fish. We know the rest of the story. They catch so many fish that the boat almost sinks, and they have to get the other boat. Both boats are on the verge of sinking. Peter’s response is immediate, one of repentance. The preaching did not affect Peter, but when Jesus speaks in his fishermen’s language, Peter clearly gets the message.
When Jesus and the disciples arrived back at Capernaum, Peter was approached and asked whether Jesus paid the Temple tax. Peter immediately replied, “Yes.” Then he went into the house, and Jesus did that thing only He can do. He answered the question before it was asked, but He answered it with a question of His own. Matthew 17:24-27(NLT) “On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?’ 25 ‘Yes, he does,’ Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?’ 26 ‘They tax the people they have conquered,’ Peter replied. ‘Well, then,’ Jesus said, ‘the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.’”
Notice that Peter is confronted with a problem about Jesus. Yet Jesus does not confront those who confronted Peter. He asks Peter the question and then provides the solution through fishing. He very specifically tells Peter to fish with a line, and the first fish he catches will have what they need. Jesus, again, is speaking in the language that Peter understands, fishing. Jesus, after the resurrection, has appeared several times. The last time was with everybody present, including Thomas. Peter decides he is going fishing, and several of the disciples join him. A very familiar thing takes place. They fish all night long and catch nothing but sore backs. So, at dawn, someone is standing on the beach; they do not recognize Him. Then, Jesus does the Jesus thing. He asks a question. “Children, did you catch any fish?” A very similar answer follows, “No.” So, Jesus tells them to throw out their net on the right side of the boat, and they cannot haul in the catch. John immediately recognizes that it is Jesus. So, Peter does the Peter thing; he acts immediately, puts on his tunic, and jumps in the water to get to the shore. The rest stay with the boat and bring it to shore with all the fish they caught. Imagine being on the shore, and when you get to shore, breakfast is waiting for you. It is not just the fact that breakfast is waiting for you; it is Who is cooking the breakfast for you!
Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus, the Son of Man. Jesus, the risen Savior. Jesus, the promised Messiah. Jesus, the King of kings. Jesus, the Lord of lords. Jesus, the Firstborn from the dead. Jesus, the Word. Jesus is cooking a fish breakfast for fishermen. Don’t overlook this fact. If the resurrected Christ can cook breakfast for His struggling disciples, what act of service will we consider beneath us? Jesus tells them, “Bring some of your fish,” so Peter drags the net to shore, and there are 153 big fish. Then Jesus says, “Now come and have some breakfast!’ Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.”
Jesus cooks for them, then serves them. Can you see the seven disciples sitting around the fire Jesus made, eating the fish He cooked and enjoying the bread He prepared? Breakfast on the beach with Jesus. No wonder no one dared to ask, “Who are you?” because they knew. Jesus speaks the language these fishermen understand, fishing. They look at Jesus, then at the 153 big fish, and no words are necessary because they remember when He called them the first time. Now they understand; this is the confirmation of what He wants from them, to become fishers of men. They understand that if Jesus can take their ordinary occupation and make it extraordinary, He can fully equip them to do the work He called them to do.
“Peter, I showed you that whether you need a boatload or a single coin, I can provide for you. Peter, no longer try to live your life clinging to the old. I am changing your direction. The God of the universe knows your name. The God who created you speaks your language.” He is asking you, just as He asked Peter and the other fishermen, “Will you trust Me with your ordinary so that I can show you the extraordinary? Will you follow My example? Will you be willing to let Me lead? Will you be willing to trust Me with your future? Will you be willing to forsake all and follow Me? My child, take a moment, sit down, and partake of what I have prepared for you. You won’t have to ask, ‘Who are you?’ Because you will know...”
Prayer:
Jesus: Real, Relevant, Raw and Radical!
Fish Language
John 21:1-14(NLT) Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
Jesus speaks your language. No one in the universe understands you better than Jesus. That should bring incredible comfort to our hearts and inspire awe. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. He made us and has a specific purpose for us. He knows how we think and feel. One of the greatest examples for us is our friend Peter. I like Peter. He is very relatable. What you see is what you get with Peter. There is no hiding his emotions or camouflaging his intentions. If Peter thinks it, you will hear it. If Peter disagrees, he will tell you. He does not keep his opinion to himself; he just blurts it out. It might even come out as a cuss word. Peter is a salty sailor with a knack for the impulsive. He feels deeply and wears his emotions on his tunic (sleeve).
Jesus’ disciples were a motley crew of fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and tradesmen. We are not sure about all their occupations, but we know that quite a few were fishermen. Just like his loud personality, Peter is written about more than any of the other disciples in the New Testament. Peter stood out. We know he had a fishing business, as did James and John with their father, Zebedee. The first interaction we see between Jesus and Peter occurs on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is preaching, and the crowd is growing. Peter (Simon) is fixing his nets, minding his business. Jesus notices the boats that are left behind. So Jesus gets into the boat and asks Peter to push Him a little deeper, and then Jesus continues speaking from there. When Jesus finishes speaking, Luke tells us the following: Luke 5:4-7(NLT) “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.’ 5 ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.’ 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.”
Peter is very reluctant and reminds Jesus that they worked hard all night long with no results. They were mending their nets, and if they use them again to fish, they will have to redo everything they had done, especially since they did not catch any fish the first time. Plus, they were fishing at night, when you are supposed to fish. We know the rest of the story. They catch so many fish that the boat almost sinks, and they have to get the other boat. Both boats are on the verge of sinking. Peter’s response is immediate, one of repentance. The preaching did not affect Peter, but when Jesus speaks in his fishermen’s language, Peter clearly gets the message.
When Jesus and the disciples arrived back at Capernaum, Peter was approached and asked whether Jesus paid the Temple tax. Peter immediately replied, “Yes.” Then he went into the house, and Jesus did that thing only He can do. He answered the question before it was asked, but He answered it with a question of His own. Matthew 17:24-27(NLT) “On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?’ 25 ‘Yes, he does,’ Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?’ 26 ‘They tax the people they have conquered,’ Peter replied. ‘Well, then,’ Jesus said, ‘the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.’”
Notice that Peter is confronted with a problem about Jesus. Yet Jesus does not confront those who confronted Peter. He asks Peter the question and then provides the solution through fishing. He very specifically tells Peter to fish with a line, and the first fish he catches will have what they need. Jesus, again, is speaking in the language that Peter understands, fishing. Jesus, after the resurrection, has appeared several times. The last time was with everybody present, including Thomas. Peter decides he is going fishing, and several of the disciples join him. A very familiar thing takes place. They fish all night long and catch nothing but sore backs. So, at dawn, someone is standing on the beach; they do not recognize Him. Then, Jesus does the Jesus thing. He asks a question. “Children, did you catch any fish?” A very similar answer follows, “No.” So, Jesus tells them to throw out their net on the right side of the boat, and they cannot haul in the catch. John immediately recognizes that it is Jesus. So, Peter does the Peter thing; he acts immediately, puts on his tunic, and jumps in the water to get to the shore. The rest stay with the boat and bring it to shore with all the fish they caught. Imagine being on the shore, and when you get to shore, breakfast is waiting for you. It is not just the fact that breakfast is waiting for you; it is Who is cooking the breakfast for you!
Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus, the Son of Man. Jesus, the risen Savior. Jesus, the promised Messiah. Jesus, the King of kings. Jesus, the Lord of lords. Jesus, the Firstborn from the dead. Jesus, the Word. Jesus is cooking a fish breakfast for fishermen. Don’t overlook this fact. If the resurrected Christ can cook breakfast for His struggling disciples, what act of service will we consider beneath us? Jesus tells them, “Bring some of your fish,” so Peter drags the net to shore, and there are 153 big fish. Then Jesus says, “Now come and have some breakfast!’ Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.”
Jesus cooks for them, then serves them. Can you see the seven disciples sitting around the fire Jesus made, eating the fish He cooked and enjoying the bread He prepared? Breakfast on the beach with Jesus. No wonder no one dared to ask, “Who are you?” because they knew. Jesus speaks the language these fishermen understand, fishing. They look at Jesus, then at the 153 big fish, and no words are necessary because they remember when He called them the first time. Now they understand; this is the confirmation of what He wants from them, to become fishers of men. They understand that if Jesus can take their ordinary occupation and make it extraordinary, He can fully equip them to do the work He called them to do.
“Peter, I showed you that whether you need a boatload or a single coin, I can provide for you. Peter, no longer try to live your life clinging to the old. I am changing your direction. The God of the universe knows your name. The God who created you speaks your language.” He is asking you, just as He asked Peter and the other fishermen, “Will you trust Me with your ordinary so that I can show you the extraordinary? Will you follow My example? Will you be willing to let Me lead? Will you be willing to trust Me with your future? Will you be willing to forsake all and follow Me? My child, take a moment, sit down, and partake of what I have prepared for you. You won’t have to ask, ‘Who are you?’ Because you will know...”
Prayer:
- Ask the Lord to help you pursue His purpose for you.
- Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you recognize where Jesus is leading you.
- Pray for the boldness to obey the Father if He changes the direction of your life.
- Ask for forgiveness for where you have been reluctant to obey.
- Pray for the church that we all have the courage to follow where Jesus is leading.
Posted in Jesus Devotional