FRESH TROUT
READ JOHN 21:1-14
Fresh trout, sauteed in garlic butter with a of side hash browns. That was my selection from the breakfast menu when I visited Colorado with a ministry group years ago. I was struck by how different the landscape was there compared to my home state of Ohio. From the city of Colorado Springs, there were snow-capped mountains permanently occupying the horizon from every vantage point. That terrain produces mountain streams, rivers, and lakes known for some of the best trout fishing in the country.
According to the state website, there are 9,000 miles of fishable areas statewide. Over 320 are “Gold Medal” waters, a unique award designating highly abundant fishing spots that can produce 60 lbs. of trout per acre. It is almost impossible NOT to catch a trout when fishing in those waters!
The restaurant server brought our meals, and I was delighted with the flaky, white meat and sweet, delicate taste of my trout breakfast. I thought to myself, “Why not try something native to the area?” That was my way of taking a personal memory home with me to Ohio.
So memorable, in fact, that I recalled that experience years later when I hosted a couple one summer for Sunday brunch. The husband was an avid hunter, handily downing a deer most hunting seasons and freezing the meat for meals. What could I serve this couple who had an affinity for game? Fresh trout, of course! I planned for an outdoors theme and purchased the fish from the grocery store.
The couple arrived for brunch, and I led them to my back deck to sit outdoors. Planter boxes and flowerpots surrounded us on three sides, all filled with colorful blooms. A multi-color patio umbrella was secured in the middle of the glass table, shading us from the morning sun. I served them a fruit plate with yogurt and some cheese and crackers along with hot coffee. Then I ducked inside to pan fry the fish and the hash browns. I had since learned to cut the fish head off before frying. The fish was already gutted and scaled. I simply fried both sides in butter until the fish turned white throughout. I melted some extra butter with fresh garlic and parsley. When the fish was done, I removed it from the pan and used a sharp knife to lift the backbone along with the skeleton out in one piece. I poured on the melted garlic butter and served each dish with hash browns, just like my breakfast in Colorado!
My friends were genuinely endeared that I carried out the game theme just for them. The menu reminded them of many hunting and fishing stories that I found fascinating. My hope in planning this hospitality event was to humbly serve my guests in a way that was personal for them.
Personally serving His beloved friends was Jesus’ motive when He remarkably appeared to the Disciples after His resurrection and prepared for them a fresh-catch breakfast. The Bible recounts that Jesus chose to manifest Himself to them before He ascended to heaven. The day before, Simon-Peter told the group, “I’m going fishing.” They all decided to go with him. They fished all night and caught nothing. At daybreak, they looked back to the shore and saw a man waving to them but did not recognize Him. Jesus called out to them, “Did you catch anything?” They answered, “No, nothing.” Jesus told them to cast their net on the opposite side of the boat and they obliged. Immediately, they caught a great number of fish, as if Jesus transformed the lake into “Gold Medal” waters just for them! They caught so many fish that they couldn’t haul them all in at one time.
John, the beloved disciple looked at all the fish and then looked at the man grinning on shore. “It is the Lord!” he said to Peter. Their hearts raced as they recognized the risen Christ, standing on the shore with His arms out to them.
Unfazed by the miracle, Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” (John 21:10) Jesus had a fire going for cooking along with some bread. He prepared breakfast for them and invited them to eat. “Come and have breakfast.” (vs 12) One by one, the incredulous Disciples gathered around the risen Christ as He casually served them their food. They relished the fresh catch and being reunited with Jesus, for which there were no words.
Jesus had appeared to the Disciples one other time in a more unearthly way. They were gathered in a locked room when Jesus suddenly appeared and stood among them. He spoke to allay their fright. “Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” (John 20:19) Love and relationship preempted their understandable fear.
In the same way, we are enrapt by His presence in our lives. The risen Christ works on our behalf to bring us His abundant life. His resurrection power lifts our daily mundane routine from dull to dazzling; from “ho-hum” to humbling. He continues to serve us with personal experiences that speak to us and build our belief in Him.
That huge catch of fish that Jesus miraculously produced spoke intensely to those fishermen who had worked all night and caught nothing. Like the Disciples, we don’t have a mystical, magical Christ floating around unconnected to our world and unfamiliar with our concerns. Indeed, we have a personal, loving Christ who is well acquainted with our weaknesses, fears, and basic needs. He reveals His love in practical, useful ways, making our lives better, enriching us, and providing for us.
Jesus told us the terms of this consequential relationship with Him. “Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21) Like the fishermen who obeyed the command of Jesus to lower their net on the other side, we need to open ourselves to the directives of Christ and not rely on our own reasoning to figure things out. We need to convince ourselves that the risen Christ knows better than us.
As a result, when some unexpected gift comes your way, give God credit for what He does for you. Don’t take good fortune for granted. Say to yourself, “It is the Lord!” Certainly, be amazed at His timely touch. But more importantly, be humble and grateful that He chooses to manifest Himself to each of us in a personal way.
