Monday, April 2
Radically Changed
Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.
A few years before, Jesus found some fishermen casting their nets into the sea. It was the beginning of a relationship with these men that would radically change their lives forever. His appearance to them then was their call story. It was how Jesus called them into ministry, to walk, talk and live with him, and to follow.
Three years later, after they had been through so much, Jesus found them once again casting their nets into the sea. These were not the same men. They had been profoundly changed, even as the world around them may have seemed uncomfortably the same. They still knew how to fish, but they would never be the same fishermen they once were. It was to these altered men that Jesus came, asking them once again to walk, talk and live like him. There was still work to be done, and he would get to that. But for now, he would eat with them. The meal was the same but different. Jesus was the same but different. The disciples were the same but different. The world was the same...
Narrative Lectionary Text: John 21:1-14
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.