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12 friends have opened a study shared with them.
In February 1941, during the German bombing of London in World War II, James Welch of the British Broadcasting Corporation wrote to an Oxford tutor known for his prize-winning scholarship on medieval literature. Would he do a war-time radio series? Altogether, C.S. Lewis would complete a four series of talks for the BBC, which later became the international bestseller Mere Christianity. It was an odd turn of events for a scholar who had spent many evenings reading Old Icelandic sagas with his friends at The Coalbiters.
Read John 21:1-14
Jesus was alive. He had appeared to them twice. But what do you do when he suddenly disappears? The disciples needed to eat, so they went fishing. After spending all night in a boat, going to all their best spots, they caught nothing. They're exhausted, frustrated, and very hungry. A stranger on the shore says, "Friends," not disciples, not fishermen. "You don't have any fish?" Glumly, they respond, "No." The man helpfully suggests, "Well, have you tried the other side of the boat?" It's a ridiculous suggestion. What difference will five feet make after a night of casting their net across the Sea? But why not? Moments later, their nets are nearly breaking from the frenetic thrashing of dozens of large fish. John gets it immediately: It's Jesus! He's back! Peter acts immediately. He throws his coat on and launches himself to shore. It's a race as Peter flails about in his water-logged clothes while his friends try to row a boat anchored by an overflowing net. They crawl up the beach, exhausted. Jesus has already kneaded bread, cleaned fish, and prepared breakfast. But he still invites them to bring some of the fish he provided for them to catch. Again, Peter is a man of action, jumping to his feet and hauling the forgotten net ashore. Jesus distributes the abundance of bread and fish to them, reminding them of another meal they ate by the Sea of Tiberias. But even with the scars, he looks different. New. It's a strangeness that leaves them unsettled, but amazed. It's the end of their old life. A lifetime of fishing, and they can't catch anything. But after they obey one word from Jesus, their nets are overflowing. Lewis didn't know that reading ancient stories with his friends was training his voice for a war-time microphone. The disciples didn't realize a lifetime of hauling nets was training them to work together in God's mission. But now it all makes sense: it's time to fish for men.
What are you doing because you don't know what Jesus wants you to do?
What difference would it make if you heard Jesus call you "Friend"?
Is there something you know you'll do for God "some day" that's now "today"?
Imagine yourself sitting by a charcoal fire with Jesus serving you hot bread and crispy fish. What do you want to tell him? After your conversation, ask a friend to pray that you would follow through on what you heard.
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