News from the Regional Team  

Revd Joth Hunt

SEBA Regional Minister & Team Leader
 

153 Large Fish!

Click here to watch Joth's video reflection

One of my favourite resurrection stories is when the disciples meet with the risen Lord Jesus on the beach by the Sea of Galilee. The scene is very physical, tangible and quite detailed. John even records for us that the disciples, having fished all night without catching anything, under the instruction of Jesus to place their nets on the right side, caught “153 large fish and even with so many fish the nets did not tear”.

I wonder why John records such detail here and what the disciples learnt from this miracle and what we might learn today. There are many different theories as to why the number was 153 but I’m not so interested in the figure but more fascinated by the vast amount; 153 was a remarkable, miraculous provision.

It is unclear why Simon Peter decided to go fishing, but you can imagine a scenario where the disciples, while waiting for Jesus, get anxious about providing for their families and themselves. If this was the case, Peter eventually decided to head back to what he knows best - fishing. Of course, the embarrassment is that after a night of fishing they haven’t caught anything and it is only when Jesus, a stranger on the shore, instructs them to fish on the right side of the boat that they catch 153 large fish - more fish than the net would normally hold and more than their current needs required.

As far as I can tell, this is the last time the disciples went fishing. I think this is a transitional moment for the disciples of moving from a pre-resurrection existence to a post-resurrection life. The resurrection changes everything for the disciples. They are soon to be empowered by the Spirit to lead the newly formed Church and they will need to learn that provision for the Church is not through human knowledge, strength and experience but instead by the risen Lord Jesus.

For me this is a constant lesson in my own life and ministry. However much I know, understand or have experienced, ultimately it is Jesus who provides and his provision is abundant. We may never know the full meaning of the 153 but what we can learn is that God’s provision is plentiful.

It is also begs the question, who are we trusting in? Is it are own past knowledge and experience? Or is it the provision of God as we move into the unknown? It is very easy for us to get back in the boat and seek to do things in ways that we have always known rather than trusting Jesus to lead into a place we have yet to experience. This is a challenge for us today when resources and finance might seem to be in short supply. In such times it is good to be reminded that it is Jesus who watches over us and there is always 153 fish on the other side of the boat!

I’m also struck by the abundant number of fish. 153 large fish is more than they need. Jesus’ provision is abundant, more than they needed. What did they do with all those fish? I guess most of it was sold and probably used to fund the beginning of the early church. In moments when resources seem to be in short supply let’s remember the 153 fish and that the resource of heaven is available to us and it is plentiful.

All the regional team at SEBA hope and pray that you have had a great Easter and that you will know the good and wonderful provision of God as you move into the rest of 2025.

Joth

Click here to listen to it on our BuzzSprout podcast