Bring Some of the Fish

Ready and waiting. “Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread” (John 21:9). Breakfast was already cooking when the boat reached the shore.

He gave first. The disciples had not brought Jesus one fish yet. He already had food for them.

Still He asked. “Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have just caught’” (21:10). Jesus already had fish on the fire, and still He asked for some of theirs.

Their catch was His gift. Those fish came into the net because they cast it where Jesus told them (21:6). What they brought, He had given.

Peter's part. “Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken” (21:11).

Real work. Dragging a full net onto the shore was hard work. Jesus let Peter do it.

Shared work. Jesus could have done it all alone. He chose to let His friends work beside Him.

Everyone helped. Earlier the other disciples had come in the little boat, “dragging the net with fish” (21:8). Each one had a part.

His part, their part. Jesus filled the net with one word. The disciples cast it, brought the boat in and dragged the load. His power and their hands worked together that morning.

Every day. “Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!” (Psalm 68:19). God gives good things to us every single day.

Not earned. The disciples did not earn their breakfast by catching fish. It was ready before their fish reached the shore.

The God who saves. The next verse says, “Our God is the God of salvation; And to God the Lord belong escapes from death” (Psalm 68:20). The Lord on the shore that morning had come back from death Himself.

A picture. Many Christians see this great catch as a picture of the many people Jesus' followers would bring to Him.

Jesus gave the most. The biggest gift was not breakfast. Jesus gave His own life on the cross for our sins, and He rose again. We bring Him our thanks, but He has given us everything.

What this means for you. Your talents, your time and your strength all came from God. Bring them to Jesus. Help at home, be kind at school, and do your work well for Him.

After the shore. Later the disciples went out and told people everywhere about Jesus. “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen” (Mark 16:20).

Working with them. The disciples preached, and the Lord worked with them. They did not work alone.

Confirming. Confirming means showing that something is true. God did signs, like healings, that showed their message was true.

Signs from God. The disciples could not heal anyone by their own power. When people were healed, it was the Lord working with them.

Like the shore. By the lake Jesus filled the net, and Peter dragged it in (John 21:6, 11). Later Jesus worked through His disciples' preaching. It was His power and their work together.

Sent out before. This was not new. Long before the cross, “He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits” (Mark 6:7).

His power, their feet. “So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them” (Mark 6:12-13). Jesus gave the power. They did the walking and the preaching.

Two by two. Jesus sent them out in pairs. No one had to do the work alone.

Paul knew it too. Paul worked very hard for Jesus, and still he said, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace is God's kindness that we do not earn.

Strength from Christ. Paul also wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

Without Him. Jesus once said, “for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Our work for God needs His help.

Unless the Lord. “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it” (Psalm 127:1).

Not to earn. Working with the Lord is not how we earn God's love. Jesus saved us by His own work on the cross. We work because we are already loved.

Workers together. Paul wrote, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). God's people work together with Him.

Together. The disciples worked side by side, and the Lord worked with all of them. You can serve Jesus together with your church family.

Small jobs count. Working with the Lord is not only for preachers. When you do chores, help a friend or tell someone about Jesus, He can work with you in all of it.

What this means for you. Before you start your work, ask Jesus to work with you. Do your part well, and thank Him for His part. Then give Him the credit.