Day 83: Back to Work

John 21:3-6

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Comments

The weeks between the resurrection and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost had to be difficult ones for the disciples. For three years they had followed Jesus, but now he was no longer with them in the way he always had been.

Uncertain what to do next, Peter decided to go back to what he had been before: a fisherman. Fishing was a business for him, not a leisure activity. He may have followed Jesus for three years, but he had never gotten rid of his boat and nets.

Peter went back to what he knew well, but it didn’t exactly work out for him; he was now a fisherman who was catching no fish.

Reflections

Do you remember what your life was like before following Jesus? Could you go back to that life again? Would it work out better now than it did then?

Prayer

Help me realize, Lord, that even when I become discouraged following you, I can’t go back to what I was. Keep me moving forward, encouraged by your grace.