Within forty days between the resurrection and the ascension at different times, Jesus appeared and disappeared in his group of believers, until they were sure that he had experienced death. They will shrink together, talk about the meaning of everything that happened, and suddenly he was in their middle. How suddenly he disappeared.
Sunrise rises on the shores of Lake Galilee. Seven disciples are 100 yards from the shore, frustrated on a barren fishing night. A stranger appears on the water's edge. His voice easily passes over the surface: “Did you do something?” They confess: “Nothing.” The stranger suggests that they take a large net and lay it out on the other side of the boat. Everyone knows that moving the net will only scare any fish in the area. But there is something vaguely familiar in this voice. Therefore, contrary to their best judgment, they threw the net on the other side.
It seems that the movement of the net attracts every large fish in the lake, and soon their net bulges with 153 of them. John, with his characteristic spiritual perception, was the first to know: “This is the Lord!” Peter, with his characteristic impulses, rushes into the lake and begins to swim to the shore, and the other six, bending their backs, try to pierce this network of floating fish on the shore. What a scene for some gifted artist to perpetuate on canvas.
As Peter pulls himself up, wet, out of the water, Jesus says: "Go and have dinner." What a welcome invitation to someone who has spent a long night in useless fishing. Can't you just hear the fish sizzle and smell like heat on hot coals? Of course, tingling belly, tasty tidbit.
The gospel of John defines this as the third kind of resurrection. The first two occurred on successful Sundays in the holy city of Jerusalem, when a group of believers gathered together in the upper room to worship. This third manifestation happened sometime during the week, in the Galilee the pagans, because the disciples were engaged in their business. The savior of the saint is also the savior of the secular. We can find it not only in the church on Sunday; it is available all during the week when we work in everyday life.
Our Galilee may be in a sink full of dirty dishes. This may be at the working end of the vacuum cleaner. It may be in the office at the table, folded with paper work. This may be on the assembly line of the plant. Wherever it is, Jesus is available to those who seek his support.
Let not draw such a hard line between the sacred and the secular. Our wonderful Jesus rose above death, but not over the monotony of worldly or ritual routine. Even after Easter, the Risen Man managed to prepare breakfast for seven hungry fishermen.
