Business as Usual - The Christian Online Magazine

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“After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself. ²Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ⁴But when the morning had now come. Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” ⁶And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

John 21:1-6

This setting is one that is vaguely familiar to us. We find a group of disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, commonly referred to as the Sea of Galilee. Most likely in Capernaum, a busy prosperous fishing port that housed a Roman military station, this place held a lot of memories for these followers of Jesus. Capernaum was probably the closest thing to home for Jesus. It was the home of Peter and Andrew. They had spent a great deal of time there with the Master.

It was there that they had seen Jesus cast a demon out of someone in the synagogue.
It was there that the centurion had approached Him concerning his daughter.
It was there that Jesus had healed Peter’s mother-in-law, the paralytic, and the nobleman’s daughter.
It was there that they had seen Jesus walk on the water.
It was there that He had taught them that true greatness came in servanthood and self-sacrifice.
It was there that they had participated in the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.

And, most important of all, it was there that Jesus had first called them to leave their work as fishermen and become fishers of men.

Much had happened since that time. Their teacher, Master, and friend had died an ugly death on a Roman cross. Though He claimed to be the Son of God, He died the death of a common criminal. Their hopes of Him establishing an earthly kingdom that would overthrow the Roman government were crushed. They had fled and forsaken Jesus and now lived in constant fear because of their association with Him.

So, on this night...on the brink of a spiritual explosion of which they were completely unaware, they find themselves making a decision. A decision to go back to “Business as Usual.”

It’s Peter who makes the first move. He says, “I’m going fishing.” According to a translation by Wuest, what he really was saying was “I’m going to break my former connections to my former business. I’m going fishing.” Notice how quickly the other six join him, without even a hint of protest.

What did it for them? Was it fear, was it failure? I guess the reasons aren’t as important as the response. The truth of the matter is that the adversity they had faced had caused them to abandon Jesus’ call and return to “Business as Usual.”

What does it do for us? For you, for me? We experience God. We see Him work in our lives, and we see Him work through our lives. He calls us and equips us—we walk with Him, talk with Him, and enjoy intimate times of fellowship with Him. Then things happen, the unexpected occurs and adversity comes. Our personal dreams are crushed, our frailty and failures become apparent. Instead of holding on to what He has for us and instead of pressing on and pressing in, we let circumstances and situations overwhelm us so that we end up making the same choice the disciples did that night. Instead of becoming fishers of men, instead of capturing people for the kingdom of God, and instead of progressing in the things of God—we settle for “Business as Usual.”

After all, why should we even try? Nothing ever goes as planned, or someone is always hurting our feelings. No one seems to care anyway, and besides, things will never change. It’s the problem of focusing on ourselves and not on God, on what we are capable of doing instead of what He can do.

Jesus was gone—how quickly they had forgotten all He had shared with them! When hard times come our way, how quickly we forget what God has spoken to us. How quickly the devil snatches it all away from us, and we return to the old place of comfort and ease.

Was it so wrong for them to be fishing? After all a person has to make a living some way. The fact that they were fishing was not the issue here. The problem is that they were fishing for the wrong thing and it was showing. These men were no amateur fishermen—fishing had formerly been their trade. They knew the area, and they were fishing at the best time...at night. Yet what did they catch? Nothing—not one single fish. Really, what are the odds of that? Why was this happening to them, again?

I believe that their plans were being frustrated because they were not in the will of God. Refusal of God’s will and plans for a person’s life will always bring frustration and failure. You can do something good in a good place at a good time...but if God has not commissioned it—He is not obligated to bless it. Doing something good is no substitute for doing something right. To find success in their efforts, God’s will for their lives had to prevail. The same applies to us as well.

The night is over, and the sun appears on the horizon. Jesus stands on the shore. The Bible says they “did not know Him.” Were they too tired, too preoccupied to recognize Him? Regardless, He is there, and He calls to them. Once again, a gracious and loving God intervenes in the lives of these fishermen. He could have left them alone, or He could have found someone else to do His work. After all, they had denied Him, doubted Him, and just plain failed Him miserably. But still He had a purpose for their lives, and not just a purpose for their lives, but a plan to empower them for that purpose. Though they had chosen to return to the ordinary, He knew they would find no success or fulfillment there. Their time with the Master had spoiled them for the ordinary. They were about to do the extraordinary...

He poses a question to them from the shore. “Children, have you any fish?” Have you caught anything, lads? Boys-still under instruction (I am not finished with you yet) have you caught anything yet?” What a penetrating question! You, who have all the experience, you, who have all the understanding—have you caught anything yet? I can’t help but wonder when the question came if their minds didn’t return to that day when they had abandoned their trade to join Him in catching men. They had heard that question once before and still they had the same answer. No.

He gives them instruction saying, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They follow His instruction, and the net was so full they could not draw it in!

This miracle occurred for three reasons:

They made a decision at that point not to let former failures discourage them from fresh efforts.
They obeyed divine commands and disobeyed their own human reasoning.
They were faithful to do their part and let God do the rest.

Perhaps you can relate to these fishermen; God has commissioned you to do something, but you have faced adversity on every side. Your dreams have been crushed. Your frustration and failures have become apparent, if only to you. On the brink of a spiritual breakthrough, you are faced with the same decision. “Do I continue on with what God has spoken for my life—or do I abandon the plan and go back to business as usual. It’s not going like I had hoped, and it’s harder then I thought it would be. Things seem to be getting worse instead of better.”

I want to tell you that the plan of God for your life will not fail if you will purpose in your heart to do three things:

Don’t let failure stop you.
Obey God.
Do your part, and let Him do the rest.

Maybe you have already made the choice and gone back to “Business as Usual.” Your relationship with God is not what it should be. You still desire to be used by God but you have allowed circumstances and situations to keep you from it. You have heard the question “Have you caught anything?” and you too have to answer “No!”

You feel that somehow, you have let God down. He is there with you, just like He was there for them. He is extending His grace to you, and contrary to the lies of the enemy, He is not finished with you yet. Right now, He wants to restore you, to renew you, to re-empower you. Allow Him to do it, and NEVER AGAIN accept “Business as Usual” for your life!