Do you have the TIME?

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

Today was a day of celebration.  My husband and I headed to the beach after church today to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.  Every where I went I made sure to say, “Happy Resurrection Day!”  There is a difference between this and Happy Easter!  It all started at breakfast with our waitress.  She said, “Happy Easter” and I said “Happy Resurrection Day!”  She said, “You’re right, that’s what it’s all about!”  It was an exciting beginning, especially after a great service at church.  Our pastor talked about the things in this world that we thirst for and the only thing that can truly quench our thirst is Jesus. 

After church Paul and I headed to the beach.  We were able to watch the sunset tonight and during that time I was thinking that even though this day had to come to an end, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection did not have to end.  In fact, do you know that Jesus took the time to just be with His disciples and the people that followed Him after He rose from the dead.  The scripture is so clear about this.

The passage above says that Jesus did so much that the writer did not have enough space to write about all of it.  There was not enough space in all the earth to contain the books that could be written about what Christ did while on earth.  That’s an amazing statement!  Can you imagine being around when Jesus was?  He did so much before His death, but then after His resurrection He goes right back to letting people know about who His Father is.  If you notice, at the beginning of John 21, Peter and a couple of the disciples have gone back to fishing.  Have you ever gone back to one of your hobbies?  Not wanting to be bothered by the things of God.  Have you gone about your own business, thinking that it will take too much time or effort to do what God wants you to do?  Peter went back to what he knew, he went fishing.

Then Jesus showed up.  He reminded Peter what he was supposed to be doing.  He affirmed him and Peter became that solid rock once again.  Jesus was not too busy.  He always made time for the things that were important!  Fishing was even important to Jesus because in that time, He was able to re-establish His relationship with Peter.  Here is the story clear as clear can be.

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.  It happened this way:  Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.  “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.  Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.  Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.  This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. ~John 21:1-14

Jesus cares about the details and He cares about the work that we do even after the day of His resurrection.  Take the time to read the rest of John 21 and be challenged by what Jesus did with the rest of His time on this earth.  This week, take the time to go fishing with someone.  And by that I mean take the time to encourage someone, love on someone, write a letter to someone, fill the need for someone, etc.  Just because Easter is over doesn’t mean the work of Jesus is over!  Jesus continued His work after He rose again.  Will you continue the work He began even until the day He returns for you?

May this week be a week of cherishing the moments we have to share Jesus and the life He lived, not a week of going back to the way things are.  The same old beat of the drum we have been walking to.  May you choose to share Jesus with those who still have yet to know who He is in whatever form that may need to be.  You’ll know what form of fishing your family, friends, and co-workers need to be met in.  Choose to go fishing like the Lord did.  Get in the boat, pull in a net, and sit next to the fire.  You’ll enjoy what the Lord has to offer you and your friends!

Dear Father God, I can never say it enough!  Thank You so much for sending Your Son to die for me!  I praise You for continuing to remind me of the connection I have with You because of the blood on the cross.  Help me to connect with someone through fishing like Jesus did with the disciples.  I want to be about Your business God, as Your Kingdom is the only thing that matters.  May I never lose sight of all that you have done for me!

I’m going fishing!