Show Don't Tell: John 21:1-14

Instead of saying "Jesus appeared to the disciples while they were fishing," smell the charcoal fire. Afterward Jesus appears again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael from Cana, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples are together. "I'm going out to fish," Peter says. "We'll go with you." They go out and get into the boat, but that night they catch nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stands on the shore, but the disciples do not realize it is Jesus. "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No." "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they do, they are unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loves says to Peter: "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter hears this, he wraps his outer garment around him (for he has taken it off) and jumps into the water. The other disciples follow in the boat, towing the net full of fish—about a hundred yards from shore. When they land, they see a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." Simon Peter climbs back into the boat and drags the net ashore—full of 153 large fish. Yet even with so many the net is not torn. "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dares ask him, "Who are you?" They know it is the Lord. Jesus takes the bread and gives it to them, and does the same with the fish. This is the third time Jesus appears to his disciples after he is raised from the dead.