3Easter2010 - Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Los Alamos, NM

Now when one reads about the miraculous catching of the 153 fish, there is a tendency to dwell upon the number of fish. Why was there 153? Why not 150 or 1,000? Why not two boats full with so many fish that they began to sink? Therefore, let us go ahead and dwell upon the number.

First, the number recorded was 153 because there was 153 fish that were caught. This is an eyewitness account of the resurrection of Jesus who was dead and is now alive. Today’s gospel text ends with these words, "This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead." (John 21:14, ESV) Jesus seems to keep poping up every where when the disciples least expect it. He came to them when they were hiding out of fear of the Jewish leaders. Then again Jesus appeared to them when they gathered behind closed doors with Thomas. This time He comes to them when they were fishing.

It's not like the disciples are going around and trying to find Jesus. Rather, Jesus is the one who is seeking them out. He knows where to find them. Peter says, “I am going fishing.” And the others respond, "We will go with you.” (John 21:3, ESV) Jesus knows where to find his fishers. They're fishing.

So during the night without Jesus they caught nothing. But the next morning with Jesus they succeeded. As the darkness of night disappeared, the light of Jesus appeared. Jesus saw them and said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” (John 21:6, ESV) They heard His voice and followed. The text tells us, "So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish." (John 21:6, ESV) Now keep in mind that Jesus was standing on the shore about the length of a whole football field away from them. At first they didn' know that it was Him. So they listen to the advice of this man on the shore.

Now I've been fishing before believe it or not. In fact, I use to go up to the resevore by the bridge in Los Alamos before the fire. I can remember fishing and fishing and fishing and not catching a thing. Then I can recall looking around and seeing if anyoneelse was catching anything. Where are the fish? Once you establish where the fish are biting, you change locations and try again. That's where the fish most be so I will go over there. This is a very logical approach to fishing.

But in our text, this is no ordinary man on the shore giving the disciples advice. Jesus knows exactly where the fish are. He doesn't need sonar. The Creator of the all things knows where these things are located. Therefore, John said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” ”So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of a large amount of fish, 153 of them to be precise.

As they listened to the voice and saw the miracle they recognized the connection between the voice, the miracle, and the presence of the resurrected Lord. They came to shore and ate in the fellowship with Jesus. Now we don’t have to guess if this is the mere advice of a man on the shore. We know that when we hear the teaching of the Apostles we hear Jesus. These things are written so that we believe that Jesus is the Christ and by believing we shall have life in His name.

Remember back when Jesus called Peter, there was also a miracle catch. At that time, there were so many fish that the nets broke. Plus, the catch filled two boats and they began to sink. In response to that miracle, Peter asked the Lord to depart from him for he was a sinner. In today's Gospel text, the situation is different. Here the training of Peter has been completed. This time it is Peter who wants to be in the presence of Jesus. The nets do not break and the number of fish is 153.

So why was there 153 fish? The key to this text is of course Jesus. Here we have the resurrected Jesus present with His disciples speaking to them and miraculously bringing the catch. By nature, we have a tendency to get side tracked and speculate about a minor point in the Scripture and miss the major point. Jesus was crucified for you because of your sins. Jesus lives for you and the Apostles saw the resurrected Lord with their own eyes. He desires for you to dwell in His presence in fellowship with Him.

Here we have Peter, who Jesus is making into a fisher of men, drawing in the net. The connection is clear. The fish have been called and gathered into the boat out of the water just as souls are called and gathered into the church. The fish are drawn by the means of the net just as souls are drawn by the means of grace. Apart from the presence of God working through His instituted means, no souls will be brought in. Apart from the presence of God, no fish are brought in. But, with the presence of God 153 fish are brought in and the nets do not break.

So why was there 153 fish? Oh, how easily we get caught up in the numbers. The best answer is that it was just the right amount. It was enough. The nets did not break. In this miracle the disciples learn a thing or two about numbers. 153 fish was the amount that Jesus gave them. In this we are taught to be content with the numbers that the Lord gives us. Don't complain and say, “Why can’t we have 153 souls in attendance on a Sunday morning?” Be content with the catch that the LORD has given to us. Look around and rejoice at the numbers we have now. This is just the right amount that the LORD has given to us as a gift. Do think that just because we do not have two building overflowing with people that the Lord is not at work through His means of grace. Where two or three are gathered in His name, He promises to be present.

The church puts the nets out and the Holy Spirit gathers them into the boat. We may not know where the fish are, but the Lord does. We do not need fancy sonar; instead, we have something much better. We have Jesus who connects the fish with the net. The job of the church is to put out the nets and continue to listen to the voice of Jesus. When the church forgets about the net and refuses to listen to the voice of Jesus, the church becomes merely a party boat providing recreational activities.

You see, no matter how hard we try, unless it is of the Lord we will come up empty. The church that refuses to listen to the voice of the Lord will fail. Unless the Lord builds the church, the people labor in vain. The Lord teaches us that apart from Him, we can do nothing. We are to abide in Him and He will abide in us. We are to abide in His word and He will work among us.

Again, I can remember fishing at the reservoir here in Los Alamos. As you would cast your line out in to the water, you would try various types of bait. If corn didn’t work, you’d switch to fireballs. If that didn’t work, you’d try a worm or maybe some power bait. Or maybe you’d try a shinny spinner or different style of lure. You’d ask the guy next to you, “What works for you?” And if he was having success, you’d try same thing to attract the fish. In this way, the focus is upon the power of the bait.

The crazy thing is that when the bible uses the image of fishing and bringing in souls together, we never hear about bait, rods, and hooks. That is the American way. The Biblical image is of a net. The net scoops up the fish out of the water and places them in the boat just as the Holy Spirit uses the means of grace to draw, gather, enlighten, and keep souls in the one true faith. The Biblical emphasis is placed upon the net as a means to bring in the souls. The Bible does not talk about bait on a hook. It is not about gimmicks or slick advertising or even a new boat. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. So Jesus tells us to throw out the net and use it. He will bring in the fish. He doesn’t direct us to use constantly changing bait. Here the focus in on the net. We are to focus on His means of grace and continue to listen to His voice.

Once the disciples bring there catch to shore, they eat in fellowship with Jesus. Here is this wonderful picture of the disciples gathered for an Easter breakfast with the Resurrected Lord. Now at this point some may say, “Oh, if only I were there and only if I could have seen with my own eyes and been in His presence.”

Yet, when we gather around this altar, we have something more than a fish breakfast. We have communion with the resurrected Christ who is present with us bodily through the means of grace here in time. He gives to us His supper. Here we have more than plain fish we receive the very body and blood of the crucified and risen Lord for the forgiveness of our sins. Here we recognize Him and say with John, “It is the Lord!” The same Lord who says, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” (John 21:6, ESV) and it is so, just as He says. This same Jesus says, “Take and eat this is my body given for you and take and drink this is my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” and it is so.

Here and now, we are in the boat and we rejoice in the means that He has given to us. Let us not forget the treasure of the net and His voice. We are not a recreational boat providing joy rides. Instead, we are a Re-Creational boat providing the way to eternity with Jesus. Church of God, remember your calling. You have been brought out of darkness to dwell in the light. Rejoice in the Resurrected LORD. Amen.

Third Sunday in Easter, 2010