All through Jesus’ ministry he bought abundance, goodness and life overflowing. There is abundant grace and life for all of us through his death and resurrection.

John 21:1-14

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. ⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. ”When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

All through Jesus’ ministry he has been bringing abundance, goodness and life overflowing. From the wedding at Cana where he created jars and jars of good wine, to healing people, to even raising people from the dead. These miracles are to show he is the Son of God, the Messiah who has power from God, but also to indicate the kind of kingdom that is coming – the kind of new creation that will one day be here. Where the Spirit gives life, abundantly and to the full.

This account of another of Jesus’ post resurrection appearances is demonstrating the same thing. They had been fishing all night and had received nothing – their nets were empty and they were unsatisfied. But Jesus appears, and directs them, and suddenly the nets are full, overwhelming, extravagantly full.

This account echoes the account of Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. Then too, Jesus took the bread and fish and gave it to them. Then too, there was a lack, an emptiness that Jesus transformed to full, overflowing abundance.

Over and over Jesus has been saying, ‘all who are thirsty, come to me. Those who are hungry, come to me.’ True satisfaction and true life cannot happen apart from Jesus. When we chase abundance and goodness apart from Jesus, we will always ultimately wind up with our nets empty.

In fact, finding satisfaction in Jesus means not only do we no longer crave and chase things of this world, but we start showing others this abundance too. Jesus calls us to a life of generosity when it comes to the good things he gives us, just as God has given us overflowing grace freely at the cross.

Head: what things in our society are we encouraged to want, pursue and chase?

Heart: what things in life are you tempted to chase in hope they will satisfy you? Do these things ever last, or do you end up wanting more?

Hands: How can you show generosity to others today in light of the generosity God has shown you?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the abundant grace and life you have given me in Jesus. Thank you for how Jesus came and fed people and healed people and raised people from the dead – but thank you most of all for how Jesus came and died on a cross, to take the payment for sin so we can have overflowing wells of grace and welcome in your arms. You are the only thing that satisfies. Please help me to remember that when I am tempted to chase other things for completeness. Help me to always come back to you as the source of life and grace and goodness. By the power of your Spirit, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A song to listen to: Spirit of Jesus

Beccy Cree

This Grow Daily was originally posted as part of The Spirit of Jesus series in 2016. During the School Holidays we take the opportunity to look back at the best of Grow Dailys over the years.