In the End

In John 21:1-14 Jesus reveals to himself to the disciples early in the morning after a they had just spent an entire night fishing with no success.  The time that the disciples spent with Jesus that morning must have been pretty fantastic:

• In the last 10 minutes of their work-night a wasted effort became a very productive fishing trip
• After a long, hard night of fishing breakfast was waiting for them on the shore 
• They brought in an incredible number of large fish without tearing their nets 
• Jesus invited them to breakfast, and even beyond that he served it to them 
• They got to spend breakfast with Jesus 

  From the disciples' perspective, this must have been a near perfect breakfast experience.  What strikes me is that it came at the end of what was otherwise a pretty awful night for the disciples.  Their night was terrible, but in the end Jesus made it great.  He brought everything together into a perfect moment.  Isn't that the case in our lives as well?  Even when things have gone poorly for a while Jesus brings things together in a way that brings joy and peace.  We can trust that Jesus will turn our moments of frustration, failure, and distress into moments of joy in Him.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. - Romans 15:13

(Mike Crain)