Let’s Go Fishing Together

Introduction

Dependent Upon the Lord

Seven of the disciples are hanging out together near the Sea of Tiberias or also known as the Sea of Galilee

The disciples are there because Jesus told them to go wait for him in Galilee where he would appear to them on a mountain there.

And so they are obedient…at least initially…but maybe Jesus waits too long for Peter’s patience and now they are down by the sea so Peter decides to go fishing and the others join him.

Perhaps their faith is running low, everything has been crazy and they have been on an emotional rollercoaster over the past week…and so they just decide to return to what they know: fishing

The problem is that is not what Jesus instructed them to do and so they are not being dependent upon the Lord…they didn’t wait on the Lord’s direction…Jesus is no longer here to help and to instruct and provide for them so Peter, the unofficial leader decides what he wants to do and the others join him.

And they get in the boat…not a boat but ‘the boat’ meaning it is a familiar boat…probably the one they left with their father when Jesus originally called them to follow him…its what they know…a familiar scene, something they knew how to do on a boat they knew very well.

They are living their lives dependent upon themselves…until they aren’t…notice what happens…John 21:3

John 21:3 (ESV)

…They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Now these guys are professionals…they know how, where and when to fish…they have grown up fishing with their fathers.

Its not like me going out on the lake and trying to catch fish…it never goes well…but these guys knew what they were doing and yet the text says they caught nothing

Now I can only imagine the frustration and discouragement that has built up in these guys at this point…

Their leader has died…yeah they have seen him alive but he is not with them physically any longer…and now they can’t even do what they know how to do right…their world is upside down.

Motivated by Love for the Lord

Focused on Our Calling from the Lord