“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.
-John 21:3-7
Jesus presented himself before the disciples, he even spoke and told them something, but they did not know who he was until he acted upon his character & identity.
In the same way, people will not really recognize who you are and what you stand for until you act upon your character and Identity.
It was not what Jesus looked like, nor what he sounded like, but what he did and the way he acted that made the disciples recognize "this is him."
It was when they saw a reflection that resembled something they had witnessed before. Something that had Jesus' fingerprint over it.
Actions are the strongest association trait, for they did not associate his appearance, nor his words, even, with who he was, but it was his actions that made his disciples associate him with his identity.
I guess there is some truth to the saying "actions speak louder than words."
And apparently clearer
Also, notice how the disciple who discerned that it was Jesus the one in front of them was John, the only one who stuck with Jesus during his crucifixion, an Intimate disciple.
The closer we are to him, the easier it is to discern revelation.
Also, look at Peter's reaction; at once, he jumped out of the boat.
Peter was a man of action. Once he was sure of something, he did not hesitate to act.
Both characteristics are essential to the body of Christ: discernment & clarity through intimacy, and promptness to action upon revelation.
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