Can you put yourself back into that first post-resurrection story? We can only imagine how the disciples might have felt. Overjoyed that Jesus had indeed risen? And mystified and fearful at the same time? Maybe even doubtful?
Where was Jesus in this story now? Appearing in rooms, on roads, sometimes unrecognizable.
I wonder how the post-resurrection disciples coped with this new beginning. What might we learn from them, as we find our way through our own new beginning?
After the resurrection, John concludes his gospel in Chapter 21. I love the miracle of the 153 fish in Verses 1-5:
After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”
The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.
Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”
They answered, “No.”
He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”
They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.
Whatever the disciples were feeling, they were experiencing great change and uncertainty. Political…Personal. They returned to fishing, unsure of anything else or what to do next.
As my church embarks on a new beginning, and all the scary messiness that this involves, we feel comfort and joy as we welcome back Paul Beckingham as our guest speaker this week. He will help us gather at the Lord's Table in Communion together. Hallelujah!
This is the day that the Lord has made! We will rejoice and be glad in it!
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