By my side

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By My Side

The Porter's Gate

Today is Friday the 10th of April, in the first week of Easter.

Emoni Wilkins with The Porter’s Gate sings, ‘By My Side’.

O my friend just stay with me

Stay with me, stay with me

O my friend just stay with me

By my side

O my friend just weep with me

Weep with me, weep with me

O my friend just weep with me

By my side

Wherever I go, by my side

Above and below, by my side

You know my faith gets low

When the waters rise

Please be by my side

Hold my hand and walk with me

Walk with me, walk with me

Hold my hand and walk with me

By my side

Wherever I go, by my side

Above and below, by my side

You know my faith gets low

When the water rises

Won’t you please be

By my side

3:16

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 21:1-14

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

6:15

No One Understands

There’s a lot going on in this story. What most captures your attention as you heard it read for the first time?

For Peter, James and John, the story has come full circle. This beach on the Sea of Tiberias is where they were first called by Jesus. What would it be like for them to meet Jesus there again, in the light of all that has happened since?

Can you imagine Jesus offering to prepare breakfast, or some other meal, for you? How would you want to respond?

Listen to the story again, noticing how different disciples take different times to recognise who this stranger greeting them from the shore is.

8:44

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

10:49

Some commentators suggest that the 153 fish caught corresponds to the number of people in John’s Christian community. You might like to finish this prayer by speaking with Jesus about your own Christian community and its needs.

12:34

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen