Splash April 17, 2015

⁷ That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment. . ., and threw himself into the sea.  John 21:7 ESV

Brash, impetuous, verbose Peter.  Chastised by Jesus on more than one occasion.  He who vehemently denied even knowing Christ.  So often sermons that include Peter speak to his imperfections.  His faults are highlighted.  If only we were to be as imperfectly in love with Jesus. 

Seven men had been out all night fishing to no avail.  Nets tossed and retrieved. Tossed and retrieved.  Still empty. Hours of failure.  As the first rays of sun begin to appear over the tops of the mountains that surround the Sea of Galilee, Jesus, who is on the shore, gives one line of instruction, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some (fish).”  For the disciples/fishermen an unmanageable bounty is the result of their obedience.  "So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish." John 21:6 ESV

But even as this miracle is happening, John tells the others that is is Jesus who is standing on the shore and gave the them the net-casting advice.  Of course they could not wait to pull in their haul, weigh anchor, and get to shore.  But Peter's need to be close to Jesus would not wait for nets, anchors, and oars.

A bone-weary, bleary-eyed Peter jumps into the water and swims over to Jesus.  Brash.  Impetuous.  Passionate.  Getting close to his Lord and Savior was Peter's only concern.  The fish could wait.  Here was a chance to embrace Jesus Christ.  Here was the opportunity to fall at Jesus' feet.  To be close to Him.  Nothing else mattered.

All too often I am in the boat taking care of figurative nets, anchors, and oars when I should be in the water swimming excitedly, joyfully toward the Lord. Of course the dailies must be tended to. If all the disciples had jumped out of the boat, that would have been neither wise nor safe.  But do I have the "jump out of the boat" heart for my Lord and Savior?  Joy, passion, exuberance, reckless abandon.
  
Father, help me to spend more time in the water than in the boat.