Then at dawn, Jesus was standing there on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize that it was him! He called out to them, saying, “Hey guys! Did you catch any fish?”
“Not a thing,” they replied. Jesus shouted to them, “Throw your net over the starboard side, and you’ll catch some!” And so they did as he said, and they caught so many fish they couldn’t even pull in the net!
— John 21:4-6 (TPT)
In the above verses, we see an unpretentious Jesus. After he was resurrected from the dead, he never went into the temple or synagogue. Instead, he went where his friends, disciples were to encourage and strengthen them. In their moments of trying to figure out all that had happened over the last few days, they went back to their familiar way of life – fishing. And Jesus meets them there. One writer pointed out that Jesus was being very playful with them by asking if they had caught any fish. He knew, yet he wanted to show them how much he cared by having them catch an abundance at his bidding. Also this could have been a brief preview of the future when they would “catch” men.
Jesus was not religious. He did not wake up with a furrowed brow thinking of all he had to accomplish that day. He was not serious all the time as most of the pictures of Jesus portray him. I grew up always seeing Jesus in a sparkling white robe speaking in a pious tone, but that was not his real life. He grew tired as we have talked about and got dirty from being outside most of the time walking long distances to get from one city to another. He was REAL!
In this incident, the boys, his “gang”, were so happy to see him again. Jesus is being playful, funny, so human, so hopeful, so unreligious. If he were being religious, he would have met them in the synagogue to have a Bible Study or prayer meeting. Isn’t this an interesting picture of Jesus?
Religion would have us always see Jesus in pious settings because he was God! But we have been discovering that Jesus lived a regular everyday life up until his baptism when the anointing and empowering of the Holy Spirit came upon him. Then he learned to live through the working of the HS in his life. He began his ministry to the people while continuing to get up each morning and take care of his human needs.
Seeing Jesus in his humanness can almost be irreverent to the human mind because it makes him so approachable. I was taught he loved me and wanted me to love him. However, I felt so unworthy because he was God and I was human. Now as my eyes are opened to the fact that he has experienced life as a real human, I find myself smiling and wanting to relate to him as a friend even though he is my Lord. Why?
Because I know he really understands where I am in life. He has been there. Remember, there is no temptation or challenge you face that he has not been through. Jesus has had sorrow, pain, joy and laughter. Yet he jokes and becomes playful with his friends. He understands.
Jesus wants to have talks and visits with you. He will never put you off or make you wait. He longs to share your day. Talk to him as you go about your tasks. Make him a part of everything you do. He wants to be involved. You don’t have to wait for a special time. Let him be your best friend.
“He calls me Friend.”
No Changing Plans