Devotional - June 2, 2004

We like to joke about the one that got away. I have a young friend named David who tells me he shot his first deer not too long ago. "Really? Are you going to make a trophy of his antlers," I ask. He then responds, "I would have, but after I shot him he ran into the woods and I couldn't find him."

I have no doubt David shot something, but I still love joking with him asking him if his deer has ever shown up at his house for dinner. He acts like he's angry because I won't believe him, but I can see the determination in his eyes to make sure his next prey doesn't get away.

Peter had an experience similar to that of my young friend. Jesus appeared to the disciples several times and they obviously knew he was alive. So what does a fisherman do when, after three years of following the Lord of Lords, doesn't have anyone to tell him where to go? Well, he goes back to doing what he did before he met Jesus. He went fishing and invited some friends to go with him.

While in the boat and having no success catching a single fish, they saw a man on the shore in the morning light. He stood there asking the dreaded question of someone in a fishing boat with an empty net, "Haven't you got any fish?"

They didn't realize it yet, but it was Jesus who told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat where they'd catch some fish. When they did, the number of fish was so heavy the boat almost turned over on the right side. All they could do was make their way to the shore where they do what comes natural to a fisherman. They counted the fish in the net. And after counting and realizing there were 153 fish in all, they realized their net was too small.

Why would the disciples count the fish? I mean, what's so special about the number of fish? Could it be Peter realized that he had caught nothing, but it was Jesus who did it and he wanted to remember what happened with specificity. He had just witnessed a miracle, but this one occurred after the resurrection (meaning Jesus is still in the miracle business) and it occurred on his watch (meaning He still uses men to demonstrate His power).

Many post-resurrection questions were answered in the hearts of the disciples that morning on the shore as they sat around the fire and ate fish with the Lord. Evidence is important, is it not? Unlike my little friend, they had evidence, but after the evidence was consumed the experience could only be certified by a credible witness.

"Come on Peter, tell us the truth. How many exactly?" He'd probably say something like, "One hundred and fifty-three to be exact. The Lord directed them all to the right side of the boat for us to catch. One hundred and fifty-three! And they were real; I know because we counted 'em, we cooked 'em and we ate 'em!

Has the Lord shown himself to you through His mighty deeds? No? What about the fact your heart is miraculously beating today and there is no earthy way to prove why it's doing so? What about the fact that being born of parents whom you did not choose, you live where you live, work where you work and serve in the church where you serve? If you think such things are coincidental, think about Peter's experience one more time.

What if Jesus' instruction implied they were fishing on the "wrong" side of the boat? Could it be that you're looking on the wrong side of your circumstances and that's why you can't see what He's doing in your life? Peter learned that Jesus is not just Master of the fish of the sea. Why not turn to the "right" side and receive the blessings the Master has prepared for you today? Where is the "right" side you may ask. Easy, it's wherever Jesus is.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 2Sa. 19:10b-20:13 Jn. 21:1-25 Ps. 120:1-7 Pr. 16:16-17 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society