Pastor's Column 4/24/22

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who He was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied.” John 1:4, NLT

Post-Resurrection – “Following The Leader!”

Ludington Michigan is located along Lake Michigan in Mason County in the state of Michigan. It is a small town of about 8,000 people. It is endeared for clear waters where boating and fishing attracts crowds. The town is also known for a life-size sculpture that has several children happily playing the child’s game, “Follow the leader.” The “child” images have the “real-looking” appearance of pliantly obeying the commands of the lead child. One week after the Resurrection, seven of the eleven remaining disciples of Jesus “followed” Peter on an unsuccessful fishing expedition. Peter, who had become the presumptive leader of the disciples after Jesus’ crucifixion, was indeed an “influencer.” Upon his mere mention of going fishing, seven of the disciples joined him without hesitation. Peter led the group to fish on the unpredictable Sea of Galilee, at night. Fishers in that region, normally waited until the dawn to commence their fishing. It is understandable, why Jesus found them struggling the next morning, with no catch. Worse than the unproductive night, was the disciples’ inability to recognize Jesus, their Teacher and Savior, standing on the shore line. So soon after the evening of the Resurrection, a week before, and those who knew Jesus most, could not recognize Him. This event, which is only given to us in the Gospel of John, is written to authenticate the resurrected life of Jesus, and to see our Lord restoring and preparing His disciples for the mission ahead. Jesus was the true Leader, and they learned a profound lesson about loyalty to Him. The youngest among them, John, identified Jesus first, and hurried to shore to greet Him. We should never let the glow of a Resurrection Sunday, and its meaning, disappear in the night shadows of our personal ambition. Like John, we should see Him and say, “It is the Lord!”