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Grace and Truth
This morning we are going to wrap up our study on the gospel of John.
If you remember back when we started our journey through John, John begins his gospel with a prologue.
Setting the stage for what we can expect to read and how we should interpret his work.
And one of the key phrases that John uses is found in John 1:14 “14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
And John’s gospel has revealed that to us.
Jesus is full of grace and truth.
He is full of mercy.
He is full of what we need.
So John ends his gospel with this in mind.
We see Jesus’ grace and truth on display in the final chapter.
Jesus forgives, restores, and commissions Peter after his betrayal and abandonment of Jesus.
Peter’s restoration stands in stark contrast to Judas’ betrayal.
Judas didn’t love Jesus.
Judas didn’t want to follow Jesus.
Judas only saw Jesus for what he could gain.
Peter loved Jesus.
Peter wanted to follow Jesus
He felt shame, remorse, and overwhelmed by his betrayal.
Peter was repentant.
Judas was not.
But the picture painted here is the generous grace of Jesus toward Peter.
That after failure there can be forgiveness.
After Failure there can be restoration.
And after failure there can be glory.
So let’s look at this account through the eyes of Jesus’ grace and truth.
Through the eyes of failure being forgiven.
Through the eyes of our merciful savior.
Let’s pray.
Fishing Miracle
John begins the epilogue by telling us that Jesus is going to reveal himself to the disciples for a third time.
If you’re counting, you would probably see that this would be the 4 appearance of Jesus.
But one of those appearances was just to Mary Magdalene.
This is the Third time Jesus appears to a group of the disciples.
Being the third time, this is also the third witness in proving that Jesus really did rise from the dead.
Not only that, but we do see here that Jesus appears to them not in Jerusalem, but in Galilee.
In the other gospel accounts, this is where Jesus tells the disciples he will show up and meet with them again.
So the disciples are obediently waiting for Jesus in Galilee.
I want us to notice that Jesus’ appearances post-resurrection are revelations.
Jesus is revealing his true nature.
He is revealing the truth of who he is and what he came to do.
Jesus is revealing his glory and power in his appearances to the disciples.
We are told there are 7 disciples, Simon Peter (listed first as indication of the leader), Thomas, Nathanael, Zebedee’s Sons (James and John), two other disciples.
They are sitting around and Peter decides that he wants to go fishing.
There have been other throughout history that want to accost the disciples for this action.
They claim that they are going fishing as a distraction or out of despair.
They claim that this is disobedient to Jesus’ command.
But the reality is the disciples didn’t know when Jesus was going to show up in Galilee.
So they went fishing.
They were fishermen.
They were presumably hungry.
They needed to provide food for themselves.
This action of fishing isn’t an act of rebellion or a distraction.
It was to fulfill a basic human need.
They went out at night, b/c that was when the best fishing happened in Galilee.
But John tells us that these experienced fishermen didn’t catch anything.
They were unsuccessful in their attempt to provide for themselves.
I believe that the disciples actually went fishing at night, but I also believe that John is very careful with his langugage.
And remember, throughout his gospel, night and darkness are used as place holders for not seeing Jesus as he truly is.
So the atmosphere for these fishing disciples reflected their incomplete understanding of Jesus.
But their trip wasn’t over.
Fishing Miracle
As the sun was peaking over the horizon, we are told that Jesus was standing on the shore.
This shows just a little glimpse of God’s sovereignty.
They didn’t tell Jesus where they were going, but he showed up anyway.
He knew where they would be.
He knew where to find his disciples.
The light of the world had arrived to reveal himself to his own.
But they didn’t recognize Jesus.
It could have been as simple as the sun was in their eyes.
Or like with Mary in the Garden, Jesus could have been hiding his true nature.
Regardless, the disciples are clueless to the reality that Jesus was there.
So he calls out to them asking if they have any fish.
And of course they don’t, so that’s how they respond.
This this voice from the shore tells them to cast on the right side of the boat and they’ll be some.
Why did they listen?
They had no idea it was Jesus.
They were experienced fishermen.
They knew what they were doing.
Maybe they figured they had nothing else to lose.
Maybe they decided that nothing else worked so we’ll try anything.
Regardless of why, when they through the net on the other side of the boat, they hauled in a large number of fish.
And immediately, John looks at Peter, and says “It is the Lord!”
Perhaps John is reflecting on a similar account that we can read about in Luke 5.
Where the disciples are out fishing and Jesus approaches them.
He tells them to cast on the other side of the boat and their nets get so full that it breaks.
Jesus then commands them to follow him.
So their calling to Jesus is reflected in their commissioning by Jesus.
These professional fishermen couldn’t catch anything all night, but the Lord showed up and their net was full.
This should remind us and point us to the reality that even in the mundane.
Even in our profession.
At work, At School, at home and in our neighborhood, we have to rely on Jesus to aid us.
He is our life and our focus.
Trying to do things w/o him will lead to fruitless labor.
But when we rely on him, when our focus is on him, knowing that he will help.
Knowing that he will aid, whatever we purpose in our hearts to do will in one way or another be fruitful.
Not because of us, but because of him.
Now, Peter, the bold and brash, puts his outer cloak back on and jumps into the sea to go and meet Jesus.
He wanted to go and see Jesus.
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