The Easy Road?

“After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.  Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.”  John 21:1–3, NASB.

“Out on the waters that night, what were these men’s thoughts? From the significant allusion made by Jesus to Peter’s youth in the colloquy of next morning, we infer they were something like the following: ‘After all, were it not better to be simple fishermen than to be apostles of the Christian religion? What have we got by following Jesus? Certainly not what we expected. And have we any reason to expect better things in the future? Our Master has told us that our future lot will likely be very much like His own, - a life of sorrow, ending probably in martyrdom. But here, in our native province of Galilee, pursuing our old calling, we might think, believe, act as we pleased, shielded by obscurity from all danger. Then how delightfully free and independent this rustic life by the shores of the lake!’” The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pp. 516.

Does this somehow offend you about what he just said? It might. I mean, these are the disciples, God’s chosen men! However, take the time to consider in your heart and think how often man thinks like this each and every day. Perhaps they had feelings about the huge responsibilities and new burdens each one would have to carry from this moment on. In fact there is many times where we second guess ourselves in our latter years after having time to consider. We revive the old days and replay them to our regret.

Bruce asks a question which permeates the heart before we quickly pass judgment on the disciples;

“If the simple life they left behind was so very happy, why did they leave it? Why so prompt to forsake their nets and their boats, and to follow after Jesus? Ah! Fishing in the blue waters of the Sea of Galilee did not satisfy the whole man. Life is more than meat, and the kingdom of God is man’s chief end. Besides, the fisherman’s life is by no means so romantic as it seems at the distance of years. You may sometimes go out with your nets, and toil all night, and catch nothing.” pp. 516.

Often, the Christian life can cause many to look back at the course their life was on prior to Christ. Often, even I myself have asked what I would have done which could have been much easier than later-life ministry. As a former law enforcement officer, I have often been told by other police officers, “Now when people tick you off you can’t just lock them up, you have to listen to them!” I say this as a pun on words, but I think if you understand me at all you will know that this was never my intention, but just a jab by some of my former colleagues trying to mess with me. I also hope you can forgive me for my attempt at humor as well. It does however cause me in my closest thoughts of the past days and asking myself, “Why am I dealing with this situation when I could be sitting somewhere enjoying my retirement days and never having to worry about this!” But I haven’t chosen this course; God has. The call was extended to me some almost 14 years ago and I committed my life to serve Him forever. My course in this is that of Bruce’s words, “Life is more than meat, and the kingdom of God is man’s chief end.”

This doesn’t mean that all of us don’t think about what our faith has cost us sometimes, where we were safe and sound and free from potential harm. But it does cause us to think about our relationship with Jesus and consider what it means to serve Him. Do we love Him enough to endure the course He has set out for our lives? Do we take His road for life, or do we take the safe road without bumps and bruises along the way? Contemplation, I believe was very much on the minds of the disciples that night of fishing. To think otherwise might make these men more than they really are; Human.

I welcome your thoughts…