EXPLORING THE WORD

Completely Forgotten, Entirely Forgiven

Frustrated. Bone-tired. Sweaty. Snappish. The seven bare-chested men, cast their net overboard time and again. Only to draw it up empty. Nothing. Not one fish! As the sun slipped upwards, they decided to call it quits. Enough was enough.

Then a stranger called to them from the shore, "Children, do you have any fish?"

With one voice, they answered, "No!" They began to haul in their net. Defeated.

"Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some," yelled the stranger.

The seven looked at one another wearily. The right side? What? Why? Who was this man to tell them what to do anyway?

But they shrugged and did as He suggested. What could it hurt? Over the right side of the boat went the net. It sank into the depths...and then they got the shock of their lives. The net quickly filled with fish. It started to slip from their hands as the weight dragged it downwards. They struggled. They yelled at one another to hang on.

With his hands full, his back straining, John knew instinctively: this was a miracle, and only one Person could work such a miracle...especially involving fish!

"It is the Lord!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Peter's head snapped up. Without hesitation, he released his hold, grabbed his garment and jumped overboard. Thankfully the water was relatively shallow since they were only about 100 yards offshore. But still the going was cumbersome. No matter. Peter felt like he was walking on water. Within minutes, he was enfolded in the arms of His beloved Jesus. Laughing. Kissing Him on the cheek. Crying. Wet hugs met a warm heart.

The other six soon joined them. Exhausted, but exuberant. They gathered around Jesus, happy to see Him yet again. This was the second time He'd appeared to them since that awful, awful event. They couldn't get enough of Him.

Jesus finally pointed to a fire nearby and invited the men to bring some of their catch and cook it. Peter jumped back onboard and wrestled some fish out of the net. Later, they would discover they had caught 153 fish. All uncharacteristically large! Yet, surprisingly, the net had held. It hadn't torn at all. Miraculous!

"Come and have breakfast," Jesus beckoned, taking a seat on the ground.

The seven arranged themselves around the fire and cooked their fish. All the while, they kept their eyes on the Lord. They didn't want to take their eyes off of Him, afraid that He might disappear again. They were so overjoyed that He was really, really here! Sitting on the shoreline with them, just like He'd done so many times before.

It was wonderful to be back fellowshipping with Him, for they knew that after the past weeks' events, after how they'd treated this dear, dear Friend, that they didn't deserve this. They didn't deserve Him!

That awful event was still fresh in their minds and their hearts.

Nine days earlier they'd been together, all 12 of them, in a garden atop Mount Olivet, a favorite spot of Jesus' whenever they were in Jerusalem. They'd just eaten a wonderful meal, reclining alongside Jesus, talking and eating late into the night. Their stomachs had been heavy, satisfied.

Jesus had slipped off alone to pray. The disciples had settled comfortably beneath the olive trees and nodded off.

Twice Jesus had come back to find them sound asleep. Twice He'd reprimanded them, "Could you not watch with Me one hour? Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."

As He had been speaking the second time, a crowd had approached, bearing torches, swords and clubs. The disciples had stumbled to their feet. Dazed. Bewildered. Leading the pack had been Judas. Their treasurer. Clutching a small bag in his hand.

As they watched, still not able to take it all in yet, Judas approached Jesus and leaned in, greeting Him with a customary kiss.

Jesus replied calmly, quietly, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Betray! The disciples glanced at one another, recognition dawning on their faces. Jesus' cryptic warning making sense now, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." It had been Judas Jesus was talking about. How dare he!

Then Peter — impulsive as ever — drew out his sword and lopped off the ear of Malchus, a slave. "No more of this!" Jesus said. He then reached out and repaired Malchus' ear. Perfectly.

The guards then grabbed their Friend, bound Him like a common criminal, and escorted Him away. The scene was too much to take in. A nightmare. Soldiers. Swords. Kisses. Ears. Healing. Ropes. Chaos. What was happening?

Frightened out of their minds, 10 of the 12 fled into the night. Committing their own betrayal of Jesus.

Only Peter and John had remained, rooted to the spot. But then they'd the presence of mind to follow, at a safe distance, until the entourage entered Annas' house and disappeared from sight. John, being an acquaintance of Caiaphas the high priest, had gone straight in while Peter had hung back, hiding outside the doorway. Waiting. Watching. Heart pounding. What was happening? Why was Jesus being arrested? He hadn't done anything. This was insanity! Where was John!

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Published 11-21-16