Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Recognizing the Lord

.....and Run to Him

But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; Yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
John 21:5

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This miracle took place after His resurrection. Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea. They went fishing and couldn't catch anything all night, and at the end of the day, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Him. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they did as he said it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish, 153 all together. The disciple whom Jesus loved, John, said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, he was stripped for work, but the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, they were not far from the land. When they got out on land, they saw a fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus was waiting and said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught and come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

The one thing that touches me the most is the fact that Jesus loved them so much. He indeed cared about every aspect of their lives. He knew how sad the disciples were because He went away. He had already appeared to them twice before but yet they were still depressed; they all sort of went back to their regular career out of despair and discouragement. This apparition was exactly what they needed. His timing was perfect. John, the beloved disciple, is the first to recognize the Lord. Peter impulsively leaps from the boat and runs to the Lord. What joy and peace he must have felt?

Do you run to the Lord when you encounter trials, tribulations and disappointments, or do you run further away from Him? The Lord is ever ready to renew us in faith and to give us fresh hope in his promises. He is always ready to rescue those who wait on Him. The Lord Jesus reveals himself to each of us as we open our hearts to receive his word. He is constantly trying to establish a relationship with you, do you recognize the Lord's presence in your life and do you receive his word with open heart and faith? There are great rewards when you recognize and acknowledge the Lord's presence. It was after recognizing the Lord that Jesus said to Peter that he would be 'catching people" for the kingdom of God. What a great revelation! Who knows what miracle God will perform in your life when you finally run to Him?

Praise the Lord!