Déjà vu All Over Again

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. – John 21:1


Baseball legend Yogi Berra is known for his oft-repeated quips like, “It ain’t over till it’s over” and “It’s like déjà vu all over again!”

I wonder if the disciples felt déjà vu when they saw Jesus standing by the shore (John 21). Discouraged and distracted by their own needs in the shadow of Peter’s denial and their desertion of Jesus, they had abandoned their calling to follow Jesus and returned to their previous occupation – fishing.

Then, after a fruitless night of fishing, a voice from the shore called out, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (John 21:6). When they did, the nets were so full that they couldn’t be dragged in. No doubt their minds raced back to their first encounter with Jesus – when He showed up on the shore of their careers and, after another miraculous catch of fish, called them to leave their nets and follow Him (Luke 5:1-11).

Like the disciples, we may want to return to our own agendas when we get discouraged in our walk with Jesus. But then Jesus shows up again on the shore of our lives to extend forgiveness and to draw us back to those moments when He first called us.

It’s like déjà vu all over again! – Joe Stowell


Son of the living God! Oh, call us
Once and again to follow Thee;
And give us strength, whate’er befall us,
Thy true disciples still to be. – Martin

Jesus calls us to follow Him – and repeats His call when necessary.

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John 21:1-14

After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.”

They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. The night, they caught nothing. But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”

They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it for the multitude of fish. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (or they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.

So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord. The Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.

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When day goes on... we seems to be forgetting the moment when we got the call... well, not all the call are going to be whole life long... but for those who is... let's be patient of it...

Calling from God never changed... for all the Christian, our calling is to spread the gospel around the world... (:P i never really did it... )... well, some of the calling is like just for some period... it may takes an hour or days or months... depends... and those whole life one... erm... pastor? I guess...

Nowadays, most of us are rushing from task to task... and bored of the work in the end of the day... and also lost the touched feel as first time the calling came... it is too easy to lost the fire... therefore we should always recall the reason for us to doing something...

When we are down in mood... let's think of Lord's love... His care... His call... He still do love us...