Post-Resurrection: What's Next?

Open: The day after getting off the cruise ship is rough! Gone are the endless buffets and the ice cream. Gone is the guy who magically makes the bed every morning. It is back to reality!

Transition: There is humor in this situation, but there are similarities in how we can view the Christian life. We have had the privileges of several Sundays of good attendance and seeing new members join our family of faith. We celebrated baptisms and Communion. Last Sunday we observed Resurrection Sunday with a sunrise service, a big breakfast, and celebrated Jesus’ victory over death by crucifixion!

What happens now? How are we to handle a “normal” Sunday? Is is possible for believers to experience disappointments as they follow Christ?

Let’s look together for answers in today’s text: John 21:1-14

When dealing with disappointments, believers are to avoid descending to a “fallback position” (John 21:3)

Explanation: The scene in John 21 is the time shortly following the Resurrection. Verse 1 begins with “after this” and the “this” was Jesus’ 2nd appearance to all 11 of the disciples on the 8th day after the Resurrection. In verse 14, John informs us that this scene was indeed the 3rd appearance of the Risen Christ.

No other details shed light on how much time has elapsed between the 2nd appearance and this fishing excursion. Given that the Ascension took place 40 days after the Resurrection (Acts 1:3), the greatest length of time between the 2nd and 3rd appearance would be one month.

Whatever the actual length of time was, Peter had became disappointed. The emotional highs and lows of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection were behind, and it seemed (from his POV) that nothing was happening. Peter, a man of action, decides to return to his fishing business. Being a natural leader, six of the other 11 follow him to the boat.

Question: WHY did Peter go fishing?

His unadorned statement, along with the group’s simple assent (we will go with you), seem to indicate that he wasn’t convinced about the continuation of the Risen Christ’s program. Jesus had made the 2nd appearance, but then nothing. The young people would say that Peter got ‘ghosted.’

Argument: When we deal with disappointments or unmet expectations, we too can begin to question what the plan is. If we aren’t careful, we too can resort to a fallback position.

Illustrate: According to NFL statistics, roughly 1.6% of all NCAA seniors are drafted by the NFL.  It is a really good idea for college football players to have a fallback position with a degree!

Application: There is NO fallback position as relates to a follower of Jesus.  He is THE Truth, THE Way and THE Life – there is nothing to go back to! We do not TRY Jesus. Christianity is not a 30 day self-help program. Christianity is a vibrant relationship with the Living Lord of all Creation.

The Risen Christ reveals Himself even when we stumble (John 21:4-5)

Explanation: Peter and the others fished all night and caught nothing. This is more than unusual for a group of professionals. Working all night and coming up empty probably left them tired and frustrated. Not only were they dealing with spiritual disappointment, now they were dealing with commercial failure.

The sun was rising and there was a good chance they had put the nets up and were getting ready to head for land. Into this scene steps the Risen Christ, although they were prevented from recognizing Him. He asks a simple question that may have seemed patronizing on the surface: “children, have you any meat?”

The collective one-word answer of “NO” seems to indicate their frustration.

Argument: Jesus loves HIs children, but those He loves He will also discipline. (Hebrews 12:5-6). It may be a mild rebuke, but Jesus is pointing out the results of their disobedience. He had previously told them that “apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

He is the Master and He is rebuking His followers for their lack of faith. The disciples had been given instructions to go to Galilee to meet with Jesus, not to go fishing.

NOTE: This is not prophetic in that if a believer skips Church on Sunday and goes to the lake, he or she will not catch fish!

Application: Those who are IN Christ are no longer free to live for themselves. We are not our own, for we have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)

The answer to apathy is a fresh look at Jesus and a resolve to be obedient (John 21:6)

Explanation: Jesus simply commands them to cast their nets again on the right side of the boat. Along with the command is a promise: they WILL catch fish.

The disciples are tired and frustrated and are ready to just be done with this. There is, however, some quality in Jesus’ voice that they may recognize. Regardless, they obey the command and the result is a massive haul of fish!

Argument: Obedience is the Key that unlocks the blessings of God. The disciples obeyed the Risen Christ and He rewarded their efforts.

Application: If they had not cast, they would not have caught.  The action did not make sense, but it was clear and they obeyed.  What clear command from God are you disobeying? 

It is true that there are some portions of Scripture that are difficult to understand.  The reality is that much of the Bible is VERY clear – we just don’t want to obey what we know!

Conclusion: Consider that the Risen Christ only appeared and fellowshipped with the disciples a handful of times before His Ascension. The arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was a miraculous event that birthed the Church and ushered in a time of signs and wonders. In the wisdom of God, however, those supernatural events ended in a generation. Only John saw the Risen and Glorified Christ again, and that was 50 plus years later.

What’s the point? The reality of Christian living is that much of it is accomplished in the quiet, unobserved routine patterns of faithfulness. Yes, there is always a supernatural element involved in the gathering of the family of faith because the Spirit of Christ is with us, but we are called to be faithful even when do not see the miraculous manifested.

How do we manage this? Look at verse 12 of our text when the Master invites us to “come and dine.” Jesus already had a fire going with fish of His own along with bread. He did not need the fish that He supernaturally provided for them to catch! Jesus calls us to lay aside the labor and toils of life to spend time in His presence and to be refreshed by His provision.

Obedience is a long walk in the same direction, and we must be fortified to endure - that comes from being recharged and renewed by answering the Master’s call. Are you doing this?