Jesus's Eye Witnesses Part 1
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Jesus says to each of us, “Do you love me? Follow me!”
He is risen! (He is risen indeed!).
John 21:1-3.
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
John 21:4-8.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
John 21:9-14.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
John 21:15-19.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Fishing, for most of us, is a hobby. It was not a hobby for Peter, James, and John, but their livelihood before Jesus called them to be fishers of men.
Some would frame this choice to go fishing in a negative light, and my presupposition in coming into this passage would have agreed with them. I based it on Jesus' command to the disciples in Luke 24:49 to stay in Jerusalem till they received the Holy Spirit. However, I looked at the chronology of Jesus’ appearances, and this command is given after this appearance to the disciples, so Peter taking the disciples fishing was not being disobedient.
It actually could have been a necessity to provide food for the disciples, though their effort was unsuccessful, since they had fished all night and caught nothing. I suppose that is why it is called fishing rather than catching, as all fishermen know.
Jesus asks them the classic question you ask anyone who’s been fishing. “Did you catch any fish?” Man, I sure wish Jesus would show up on some of my fishing outings. I would cast my line in the exact spot he said.
They do that very thing and follow Jesus, casting the net on the right side of the boat, which is the opposite side they fished from, so the net would not get tangled in the rudder. A modern instruction might be to cast your line by the prop. Nevertheless, the disciples obey and catch so many fish that they cannot haul them into the boat.
It is at this time that John recognizes Jesus and says to Peter, “It is the Lord.” Peter, being the man of action that he is, grabs his garment, ties it around his waist, and plunges into the cool water of morning, swimming to shore to greet Jesus.
He leaves behind his doubt and shame of his denials and takes the plunge to pursue Jesus, to follow Jesus.
Will you follow Jesus, despite your fears and doubts?
Jesus knows they would be tired from fishing all night and sees to their physical and emotional needs by having them catch 153 fish, and preparing them breakfast.
He still sees to our emotional and physical needs. Will you follow Jesus, dining with him at the table he has prepared for you in the presence of your enemies?
After breakfast, Jesus turns his attention to restoring Peter’s relationship and calling. He does this by asking the same three questions and giving the same three commands. This is to refute Peter’s three denials of Jesus.
The question is: Do you love me?
The command is: Feed/tend my sheep.
Many commentators try to make a distinction between the two Greek words for love, agape and phileo, which may be true in other parts of the NT. The problem is that the book of John uses these two words interchangeably, so the distinctions proposed do not hold up.
The emphasis then is on asking Peter three times, “Do you love me?” In doing so, he allows Peter to renew his love and commitment.
Perhaps you also have failed the Lord. He does not condemn you, but calls you into love. He asks you right now, “Do you love me?”
If you love him, then obey him, follow him.
Jesus’ call on Peter’s life was to obey him by shepherding his sheep.
Each of us has been called to be Jesus’ ambassadors in our homes, our neighborhoods, and in the workplace. When we love Jesus, we will respond to that call by following him in all areas of life.
Jesus then reminds Peter that loving Jesus and following him comes with a cost. Peter will be crucified upside down as a witness for Jesus.
May we count the cost and choose to love Jesus and thus follow him wherever he leads.
Go, follow Jesus, the risen Lord.
