Our risen Saviour revealed Himself unto the disciples on several occasions before ascending on high.  In between these revelations Peter said unto some of the disciples, I go a fishing. They said unto him, we also go with thee.  To go fishing wasn't anything unusual for Peter. That was his former occupation. But his desire to revisit his former livelihood led many of his brethren into fruitlessness. They went forth and entered into the ship and caught nothing all night. How unproductive we are when we are self-indulgent. How eagerly others will join when we follow our former inclinations. To those born again, safety and security is not in numbers but in Christ and doing the Father's will.

All night these disciples toiled as fishers in the sea. When darkness had passed and morning had broken Jesus appeared on the shore. His disciples didn't recognize Him though He called them Children. Jesus asked them if they had any meat. The Lord knew that they had none. When they admitted their lack Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. When they obeyed Him they had such a full net that they couldn't bring it up into the boat. 

When Peter came to the knowledge that it was his Saviour on shore Peter girt his fishers coat unto him and cast himself into the sea. When the disciple had all come to shore they saw a fire of coals, and fish laid thereon and bread. Everything was prepared for them! They didn't need to bring anything. Jesus said to them, bring of the fish that ye have now caught. The only fish that they could bring is that which they had from obeying their Lord's instructions. The Lord gave them all bread and fish. After they had dined the Lord asked, Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these? Peter said Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said.  Feed my lambs. Jesus asked the second time Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter said Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said, feed my sheep. Jesus said unto Peter the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because Jesus said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And Peter said thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said unto him, feed my sheep. 

Jesus went on to say, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou was young thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not." Shall we suppose that this message pertains only to Simon Peter? Simon Peter thought it a good idea to go back to fishing and lead the disciples into his nonproductively.   As we grow in the Lord shall we not stretch forth our hands to Him for our strength? He will enable us to do the things that He has called us to do. We too shall be bound and strengthened by the Lord to do that which we would have never thought to do on our own. When we were young we had our conversation in the world. But as we grow in knowledge we realize that without the Lord we can do nothing but err. Jesus will strengthen and guide us as we go where we never thought that our feet would lead us here in this world. We shall be given a heart to esteem our brethren greater than ourselves. All God's people are called to walk in obedience according to godliness in this present evil world. Such a course will bring God's children walking in the light to the Lord's Church here on the shores of time. There we too shall find the Lord's Table prepared for His children. There He shall feed us from His abundance according to His mercies and grace. When we were young and in Adam [serving the flesh], we never imagined such blessing would be ours. Let us not go fishing and go astray engaging in self-indulgence. Let us not lead our brethren off course.  Let us continue to look unto our Lord for our sufficiency. He changeth not. 8/19/2005 Elder .M. Hoogasian