Third Easter, 2004:

I don’t know if you’ve heard this but Jim Vest and Joe Gwaltney went fishing last weekend. It was their one unexcused absence. Jim and Joe noticed a man in a small boat, fishing pole in hand, staring intently at the water. After a long period of time, in an attempt to make conversation, Jim said, "Hey there, friend, you fishing?"

The angler gave Jim a sideways glance and said, "Nope."

"Well, then, why do you have your fishing pole in the water?" Jim asked.

"Oh, I just like to drown worms," the local replied.

Peter, James, John, Andrew, Thomas, Nathanael, and two unnamed disciples of Jesus the Christ had made their way from the Upper Room back to the seashore. They felt safer in familiar surroundings. They had been whispering for so long, it felt good to talk out loud again. Peter, his heart still aching, announced that he was going back to something he knew how to do. "I’m going fishing," he said, rather forcefully. The others quickly agreed that fishing was a great idea and they would join him.

So, in the late evening when fishing was best, they boarded their fishing boats and set out to sea. It felt good to be doing something that they knew how to do. They set their backs and arms to the oars, it seemed longer than three years since they had done this. After walking for miles and miles for three years, it felt good to be in the boat again, doing something they knew how to do. The group even managed some gentle kidding and soft laughter as they handled the sails and checked the nets. The muscle-memory came back rather quickly and the horror of what had happened in Jerusalem was still present in their minds, but tonight it was on the back burner.

They fished all night. They had done so many times. Fishing was hard work and this group had never been afraid of hard work. It was not until toward morning that the feeling of gloom and disappointment came. They had not caught one fish. Perhaps they had lost their touch. Maybe the patience so necessary to being a good fisherman had deserted them and they wondered if they could make a good living at this anymore?

Slowly the crew rowed back toward shore. They were still dragging their nets, hoping to catch just enough to have something to eat. In the faint light, just before dawn, the group hauled up the nets one more time. Their backs and arms ached; so did their spirits. The nets were empty. Just about that time a voice surprised them, coming from the shore not far away. "Children, you have no fish, have you?" A rather heartless "No," reached the stranger on the shore. "Throw the nets on the other side of the boat," the stranger suggested. Well, they had tried everything else through the night, why not do what the stranger said. Over the other side went the nets. To their amazement, the nets settled over a large school of fish and the fishermen couldn’t even haul the catch aboard.

It was young John who, squinting in the dim light, made out the familiar form on the shore. John turned the Peter and in a coarse whisper said, "It is the Lord!" Peter craned his neck forward and put on his tunic. "Bring the boat to shore,’ he instructed. And into the water went Peter. Swimming, thrashing, and stumbling Peter made his way to shore. Peter wiped the water from his eyes, saw a small charcoal fire, and grabbed Jesus in a big bear hug.

The others struggled and brought the boat in, dragging a net full of fish. They, too, saw the fire, along with some bread and broiled fish. They looked at each other and muttered something about how he had caught fish standing on the shore? Jesus asked for some of the fish they had just caught and Peter handed some to him. "Come and have breakfast," Jesus said to the band of followers, "I know you’ve been hard at work and you must be hungry from the long hours of labor." So, Jesus took some bread and broke it into smaller pieces and gave it the men sitting in the sand around the warming fire. Then he gave them some cooked fish. Tired faces broke into smiles as they watched him break the bread and feed them as he had done so many times before. They didn’t have to ask who it was? They knew!

This was the third time Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples. Somehow Peter and the others knew that their fishing for fish days were over. From now on they would be seeking to catch a different type of creature.

The Lord of this life and the life that is to come has revealed himself countless thousands of times since that day beside the lake. Peter and the others were faithful to their calling to catch others and many after them have also been faithful. The Lord has hosted many meals since that morning long ago. And every time he says the same thing. "Children, come and have something to eat." He hopes we will be faithful to our calling to catch others, invite them to join the fellowship of the redeemed, and tell this remarkable story. In order to help us do that he says again this day, "Children, come have something to eat." Amen.