John 21
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Last time we were in John . Jesus had showed His disciples Himself in His resurrected body . He had come to them through locked doors. He had spoke to them greeted them. We talked about Thomas not believing the rest of the disciples when the told them about their encounter with Jesus while he was not there . [this was a hard headed bunch]. These men Jesus choose. It makes you wonder why He didn't pick perfect people. We all know the reason don't we . There isn't any.
Jesus lets Thomas to put his fingers into His wounds to witch Thomas said my Lord and my God. What other answer could there be at that time?
Jesus replied
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
This is an awesome reply. This means we are blessed. We are a blessed people. what is are blessing? Eternal life. I think to often people get this idea that that's not enough. There has to be more. Not enough !
You cant see eternal life from this side. That is why we have the word. That is why Jesus made this statement.
mt28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
You believe? Go spread the Gospel. I will equip you with what you need. I have given you the word. I have given you the Holy Spirit to reveal that word to you. I by my grace has granted you eternal life. That is where the Gospel of John has lead us. Since January 18,2023.
So He gives them instruction and what do the do ? The go fishing.
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
So the went back to the sea of Galilee to go fishing.
Peter decided to go fishing , so the all went fishing. Peter was a leader even among leaders . He made a decision. He had a family . He needed to make a living and he went to do what he did best.
Now these 7 men some of which we know are professional fishermen went out all night and didn't catch any fish.
I have a theory here. I don't know how to prove it, but here goes. Don is a direct decedent of one of one of the unnamed disciples.
There are some that question this chapter . That think it was added later or not written by John. Most commentators I read believe the writing is to similar to the rest of the Gospel to be written by someone other than John.
I can see were it seems like John has covered everything why add this chapter to the end, but it is a great example of what life looks like when we get out from under the will of Christ.
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Why did they not know it was Jesus standing there? We don't really know, but it could be as simple as the lighting was bad, it was early morning. there could have been fog coming off the lake. What ever the reason was they didn't recognise Him.
Jesus says children have you got any food. This would of been like hey fellas did you catch any fish.
They answered no and Jesus said cast your net on the right side and they caught a multitude of fish. 153 of them. The significance here doesn't have anything to do with what side of the boat the net was thrown on. Its all about who told them to throw it there. He could of said everyone get out of the boat and then had all the fish jump in the boat.
The thing is this also has nothing to do with the faith of the disciples. They didn't even know it was Jesus. It was about the will of God. God could have choose to let them catch fish all night but that isn't, how He did it.
Fishing is not always easy. Catching fish is not always the result . Just like her with this example. These men where capable fisherman but the couldn't do it on there own. There confidence in there fishing ability wasn,t enough with out it being in Gods will they couldn't do it.
jn21:7-9
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
John new immediately that a miracle like this could only come from Jesus, but just like at the tomb Peter was the first one to jump in. Peter was standing there most likely in a loin cloth he put on his outer garment to be more appropriate in front of his Lord and jumped in.
This was Peters personality through out scripture. He just ran in to everything with confidence . Reckless abandonment at times. Peters confidence had always been in himself though. He had trouble giving it to Jesus.
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Peter thought he had the power to walk on water because of something about him. Peter thought that he could walk on water but the truth is he couldn't. Jesus allowed him to walk on water. Peter had faith that he had been given power instead of the source of the power.
Now Peter is putting his faith in the source. I think this happens a lot. I know men that struggle with giving it all to God and I'm sure woman do as well.I think we can have a God given talent and we take the glory in it. I believe the devil likes to use that in us as well. A preacher preaches a message and 4 people get saved and all of a sudden its about the preacher. We talked about Peter being a leader. That is a God given talent but until he surrendered to God and let God lead him where was he going to lead people to?
So the rest of the men are about 300 feet from shore and the drag this net in with all the fish in it.
Jesus all ready had a fire of coals going with some fish and bread on it. This is the second time John mentions a fire of Coals in this Gospel.
Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
I don't know how significant this is, but smell of a fire and Jesus setting there I wonder If the night that Peter denied Jesus was on Peters mind.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
So Peter went and dragged the net up and there was 153 fish in it. The significance of the 153 is . The caught a whole bunch of fish.
As many of you know . I'm a fisherman. Not a professional, but a fisherman. Last Thursday I caught 10. Friday I caught 11 and Saturday I caught three. This year Me and Don caught one I estimated to be about 30 lb I weighed one that weighed 28 lb. The biggest one I have ever caught was 52 lb. All that to say fisherman keep track of there catch. This is letting you know the man that wrote this book was there.
Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Jesus ,here in his resurrected body is still serving His people. Isn't that awesome. All that He has sacrificed all that He has done and here He is serving breakfast to His disciples.{ Are any of you moms feeling guilty of the” I gave berth to you remarks yet} The creator serving His people.
He still is. As we serve others because of our desire to be more like Him.
It says none of them asked Him who He was because the knew . This and other scriptures like Mary not recognising Him,and the Emmaus rd disciples leads us to believe His resurrected body was different. We know the scars were still there but He could go through locked doors . t
The still knew this was Jesus because there was no one else that could have done this.
I like how Jesus tells them come and eat. None of these men were perfect Peter denied Him
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Peter wanted it his way.
And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
He gave James and John the name Sons of Thunder for there behavior
Thomas wouldn't believe that He had risen from the dead until, He showed him His scars, but still here is Jesus showing them grace and mercy.
Then it ends with John saying this is the third time Jesus came to them after the resurrection.
I am fallen, flawed and imperfect. Yet drenched in the grace and mercy that is found in Jesus Christ, there is strength
