John 21:1-14 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 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. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Today I would like to talk about the number 153, 153 fish Peter and other disciples catch. In 2017 the Lord led me to share gospel to my high school classmates wechat chat group. The total number of people in the chat group now is 151, very close to number 153, once it reached 153 for some time, even 154 for a while, later I guess a couple of people left the chat group, sometimes new people join in. Now I do gospel posting twice a week, I post hymns, testimonies, messages, etc. the Lord led me know the importance of posting songs, so I post song every time I post something else. the Lord also led me know the importance of sharing the gospel on the internet and encourages more people to share gospel on the internet.
Before I prepared this sharing, I had a idea to count other people I share gospel to in wechat. Right now I have 88 people in my friend circle, I also share gospel to other chat groups, such as university group, Concordia university group, etc. I counted all the people, it is 152 people. Among 152 people, there are a few repeats, becasue a few people in my friend’s circle, also in chat group, in total, there are less that 152 people, but it is interesting, it is also close to number 153.
If I can reach any people, it is by God’s grace, as 153 fish disciples catched are from the Lord. I would like to give all glory to the Lord, hope by the Lord’s grace to reach more people, catch more fish for the Lord.
May God bless everyone.
