ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson) (12/12/90)
They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. John 21.6f. As Jesus stood there on the shore, the strange thing was that none of them knew Him; not even Peter and John who had been most intimate with Him, nor Thomas who so lately had identified Him by His wounds. The risen Lord was not to be recognized merely by human eyes, nor by hands of flesh. Even when He spoke to them of fimilar things, still they did not recognize Him. But when the net was full, John suddenly knew. Later, when on shore Jesus said "Come and break your fast," none of them, we are told, dared ask Him "Who art thou?" knowing it was the Lord. Here is a paradox. In the ordinary way, if you ask a question it implies a lack of knowledge; if you dare not ask, it suggests a fear of displaying that lack. But here we have both fear and knowledge. With the outward man they feared, but with the inward man they knew. Often you cannot explain, yet there is an inward, divinely given assurance. This is Christianity. ----- Robert W. Johnson Computer center, The University of Turku, Turku Finland robert@kontu.utu.fi (InterNet) robert@firien.bitnet (BITNET) The preceeding is my opinion and may not express the opinion of my employer and furthermore has nothing to do with my employment.