Recognizing the Risen Lord on the Shore
Daily Scripture
John 21:1-14
1 Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus [or the twin]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.”
They said, “We’ll go with you.” They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus.
5 Jesus called to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
6 He said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
So they did, and there were so many fish that they couldn’t haul in the net. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they weren’t far from shore, only about one hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire there, with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you’ve just caught.” 11 Simon Peter got up and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. Yet the net hadn’t torn, even with so many fish. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples could bring themselves to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
John, a master of evocative images, wrote early in his gospel that ‘the world didn’t recognize the light’ (John 1:9-10). In chapter 21, he echoed that theme: “Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus”—just like the two on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:30-31). Jesus building a fire would have evoked painful memories for Peter of his faith “crashing” around a fire in Caiaphas’ court (John 18:15-18, 25-27). John interwove these images to show how Jesus met his disciples exactly where they were—in ordinary work, in confusion, and even in their memories of failure.
- This story, like an earlier one in Luke 5:1-10, showed Jesus directing experienced fishermen like Peter to a startlingly large catch. Imagine what Peter would have missed if he’d insisted on relying only on his own fishing expertise! When have your efforts been ineffective because you weren’t open to Jesus’ wisdom? What changed when you invited his guidance? How does “practicing the presence of Jesus” make your efforts more effective?
- When Jesus took the bread and fish and gave it to them, what memories this must have triggered—of feeding the 5,000 (John 6:11), of the Last Supper, of all the meals they’d shared. What remembered moments with Jesus—of insight, comfort, or courage—strengthen you for today’s journey? How can recalling God’s past faithfulness encourage you now?
Prayer
Loving Lord, long before you prepared this breakfast by the sea, the psalmist wrote, ‘You set a table for me’ (Psalm 23:5). As I eat today, remind me of the deeper ways you feed my soul. Help me recognize your presence in ordinary moments. Amen.
GPS Insights
Janelle Gregory
Janelle Gregory, who serves as Resurrection's Human Resources Lead Director, wrote today's Insights. Janelle finds that her heart is constantly wrestling with the truth that she needs a Savior, and the times when she's at her very best are when she's just too tired to put up a fight.
I grew up in a town in southwest Kansas. If people say that Kansas is the wheat basket of America, there’s a good chance those fields are in my neck of the woods. When it came time to think about college, I went to a picnic lunch held for students considering attending the University of Kansas. An older gentleman in a simple white button-down shirt sat next to me.
We made small talk, and he asked me what I thought about KU. I told him honestly, “Around here, we hear a lot more about Kansas State. They’ve got a strong agricultural program, and they’re promoting it all of the time. It feels like KU doesn’t do a great job of reaching our part of the state. They’re really missing an opportunity.” The man listened and nodded. It was a normal conversation with a kind, curious stranger.
Then the program began, and the emcee said, “We’d like to invite the Chancellor of the University of Kansas to come forward to share a few words.” You can probably guess what happened next. The man in the white button-down shirt, the one I had just been casually critiquing the university to, stood up and walked to the microphone.
There’s something about moments like this that sticks with you. Not because I said anything terrible (thankfully), but because of how easily I missed who was right in front of me.
If someone were to ask me if I thought I’d recognize Jesus if he was standing right in front of me, I’d like to think that I would. I’d be aware. Certainly, I’d notice! But then I remember how easy it was to sit next to someone important, have a full conversation, and have no realization as to who they were.
Even now, when God may be trying to get my attention, do I notice? There’s rarely a moment when a voice announces, “Janelle, it’s me, God, here is what I want to tell you.” Instead, moments when God is speaking to me often look like everyday conversations. They may be small interactions that don’t seem significant at the time. Sometimes it’s only later that I look back and realize that God was there.
That’s often how God interacts with us. We may not always be aware that we’re interacting with God, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t there. Perhaps we should live with a little more openness, paying more attention, and approaching life with more curiosity. Because sometimes we may be completely unaware that we’re sitting right next to Jesus.
