Jump Into The Water And Swim Swiftly To Be With Jesus

The Bible story that the children will be learning on Day 5 of "Sky" VBS is found in John 21:1-14. It's the story of Jesus making a beachside breakfast for His beloved disciples who were tired from having fished all night and caught nothing.

When the disciples saw Jesus standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, then didn't recognize Him. They were too far from shore. But when Jesus called loudly from shore and instructed His weary disciples to throw their fishing net to the right side of their boat, they obeyed, and immediately their net ensnared 153 large fish. The net was so full and heavy that they were not able to haul the fish into the boat.

As soon as John witnessed the miracle, he knew who the man standing on the shore was. He yelled out to the other disciples, "It is the Lord!"

Peter, without hesitation, and full of ecstatic excitement at seeing Jesus again, responded by wrapping his outer garment around himself and jumping into the water.

"Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,

'It is the Lord!'

As soon as Simon Peter heard him say,

'It is the Lord,'

he wrapped his outer garment around him

(for he had taken it off)

and jumped into the water."

John 21:7 (NIV)

It is interesting to note that Peter was the only disciple who, as soon as John announced that it was Jesus, jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. The other disciples stayed in the boat as it was rowed to shore, towing behind them the net full of large, heavy fish. I wonder if I would have done the same as Peter. Would I have been as excited to see Jesus and as eager to be with Him as Peter? Would I have jumped into the water with my clothes on and swam to shore, knowing that I would end up dripping wet and shivering? I certainly hope I would, because being in the presence of God is far more wonderful and glorious than being dry and warm!

Once all of the disciples were on shore, Jesus gave His hungry friends a cooked breakfast of fresh fish and bread. Yum! It was such a thoughtful meal made out of the greatest love for tired and hungry people whom Jesus cared so much for.

No matter where you are — whether you are driving in a car, riding in a light rail train, flying in stratospheric airplane, or sailing on rough, stormy waters — trust God.

The Bible says that none of the disciples questioned whether it was Jesus or not. They just knew it was Him and believed, even though this was only the third time that Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

"None of the disciples dared ask Him,

'Who are you?'

They knew it was the Lord."

John 21:12 (NIV)