He Appears to Remind Us

21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. b It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved (JOHN) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Pass the small boat around -

SELECT PICTURE OF BOAT

Let look at the story 3 years ago

If you go to Galilee today they will show you a boat that might have belonged to Andrew and Peter, or perhaps the Zebedee family.

In one of the most remarkable archeological finds anywhere in the Holy Land (which is full of them), a boat was found sticking out of the mud one summer when the level of the Sea of Galilee dropped dramatically in a period of dry weather.

With great care it was lifted clear of the sea bottom, cleaned and preserved.

It’s now in special exhibit, millions of visitor can see the sort of boat Jesus’ first followers used for fishing.

It has been carbon-dated to exactly the period of Jesus’ life.

In today’s language the first followers where like small business men.

Working as families not for huge profits but too make enough to live on and have a little over.

At the end of John’s gospel, Jesus makes his 3rd appearance.

The purpose behind these appearances is Resurrection

It’s the fact that he is alive.

When Thomas doubted it, He came and showed Himself to Thomas.

He wanted His followers to believe that He really was alive, just as He had predicted.

The second reason for the appearances is to Remind us of his Presence.

Today’s text is no different then the others appearance (Road to Emmaus, Appearance to Disciples (Doubting Thomas), and now on the sea of Galilee in .

Let’s look at the Disciples History

Simon Peter

Native of Galilee

Grew up as a fisherman alongside his brother Andrew and his father.

He always appears first in the list of disciples showing his place of leadership.

Thomas

Is mainly know to be the doubting Thomas

His courage stand out when he urges the other disciples to follow Jesus or Judea so that they might die with Him ()

His Faithfulness is revealed in this story here with the other disciples when they cast the nets to the other side.

Nathanael

A Disciple of Jesus

Heard about Jesus from Philip

At first he was skeptical of Jesus because he heard that he was from Nazareth and shared the Jewish belief of his time that the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem in Judea.

But he was overcame by belief when Jesus made the statement to him that he had seen him under “the fig tree” ()

Some refer to him as Bartholomew.

SONS OF ZEBEDEE

James and John --- (“The Disciple whom Jesus loved.”)

Zebedee was also a Fisherman

From Bethsaida - Village on the south shores of Galilee

They were part of the inner circle

“The Disciples whom Jesus loved” -

Two other disciples

They were unknown

Verse 4-14

You can see the design of Jesus in the way this scene unfolds.

You can see it in the way John writes it for us.

The whole event pointed back to another day some 3 years earlier on the same Sea of Galilee.

It may have even been the same boat.

Luke 5:3-9

The New International Version Chapter 5

3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

The New International Version Chapter 5

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Just like 3 years before, they ended up with a net so full of fish they could hardly handle it.

3 years before, Peter was confronted with the fact that this man standing in front of him was more than just a man.

“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Still Jesus would urge Peter to follow Him and He would make him a fisherman for the souls of men.

Jesus then Reinstates Peter, but first lets look at the Luke Passage and Passage.

Here is a comparison of the 2 passages. (HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCES)

Here is a comparison of the 2 passages. (HIGH LIGHT THE DIFFERENCES)

John 21

---That night they caught nothing...

---Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.

----They were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish...

----The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish....

----He said to him, “Follow Me”

Luke 5 ESV

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”

---we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything....

---Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch...

---They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break...

----They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

----”Follow Me”

It’s all coming fill circle.

They saw what they thought was God’s plan, but it was different than what they thought all along.

Now, they’ve seen Jesus on 2 occasions since He arose.

Just like the day 3 years before, once again, there’s a miracle to show these ment Who Jesus is.

Once again, there’s a call from Jesus to trust Him, and then to follow Him.

Trusting Him can be harder then just saying it.

There is a call to TRUST when there seems to be no one bitting.

Once again, there’s a calling to be more than just a fisherman

God’s plan calls for them to become fisherman for the souls of men, and Jesus wants them to have an active role in it.

They were called to remember what Jesus can do; remember God’s great plan.

When we are going through difficult times, sometimes we forget that God still has a plan.

(SLIDE)

When we are going through difficult times, sometimes we forget that god still has a plan.

The New International Version Chapter 21

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

…We soon find out that Jesus really knows how to catch some fish.

…We soon find out that Jesus really knows how to catch some fish. Peter jumps out of the boat and he realized that it was Jesus.

Peter jumps out of the boat and he realized that it was Jesus.

So here they are, eating the fish Jesus had prepared.

Here Jesus, serving them, just like he did at the last supper.

Here’s Peter, ashamed, eating his fish and bread, waiting for Jesus to express how disappointed he is in Peter.

He’s imagining how Jesus, who threw out the money changers and animal sellers from the temple, is going to make him feel lower than a snake on the ground.

Then Jesus turns to him and says, Peter, do you love me? Not once, but three times the same question.

Peter do you love me?

How would you feel?

Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time.

Don’t you believe me Lord? I’ve said it twice.

Do you love Jesus?

It’s so easy to say yes, of course I love Jesus. I’ve always loved Jesus.

But do you LOVE him?

Does he have any reason to believe you when you say you do? Does he have any reason to doubt your love?

Peter thought he loved Jesus enough to die for him or with him, enough to kill for him.

But when the test came, he chickened out. He not only denied Jesus, he denied his own love.

You SAY you love Jesus, but how do you show it?

You say you love your husband, your wife, but how do you show it?

You say you love your kids. How do you show them? Do they believe you? Do you give them any reason to doubt your love?

“Feed my lambs.”

“Shepherd my sheep.”

“Feed my sheep.”

What is Jesus doing here?

Is he shaming Peter?

Is he using this questioning to punish poor Peter?

To rub it in?

No. He is assuring Peter that he is not finished with him yet.

1. Jesus Builds Us Up

He is building Peter up when he has torn himself down.

2. Jesus Restores Us

He is restoring Peter not only to his good graces, but to a place of valuable service.

Peter, you have failed, but remember when I told you that you would, I said, “But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not, and when you have turned back, strengthen the brothers.”

You’re going to be all right, Peter. I have a job for you in the Kingdom.

Feed my sheep.

Shepherd my flock.

Jesus is not in the condemning business.

He is in the saving business.

He doesn’t want to humiliate you, toss your sins up to you, remind you of how many times, how many ways you have failed.

He wants to restore you to fellowship, to usefulness, to the joy of serving.

But to be of use to him, you must be in love with him.

You must really put Him first in your life.

You must know, not just profess, that you love Jesus.

Jesus was helping Peter to know himself, to know his own heart.

He was restoring Peter, showing him that he had confidence in him after all.

(NOTES) 3. Jesus has Confidence in Us

failed to confess you know him,

Have you felt like a failure?

That you’re not useful to God?

Have you failed him, failed to confess you know him,

Have you been tricked by your own self confidence and tricked up by your failure in the test?

failed to obey him?

Do you feel like you’re not worthy, that you’re not worth God’s continued patience with you?

Do you really want to serve, to feed His sheep, to love Jesus?

We love Jesus by loving others. It’s the only way we can really serve him, by serving others.

John 20:29

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

God’s plan for salvation is the same for everybody.

He doesn’t care about your good works, how you look.

He wants you to believe.

I’m so glad for that.

It’s not subjective.

It’s not going be graded on the curve.

It’s the same for everyone, with no special treatment.

(SLIDE)

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

Conclusion:

Jesus fed the people with loaves and fishes and told them that he himself was the living bread, so that anyone who eats of him had eternal life and will be raised up at the last day. ---

So once again he feeds the disciples with loaves and fishes, but this time having already himself defeated death.

He invites his church in this way, week by week and year by year, to come and feed on him, rejoicing that long night of sin and death is over and that the sun of righteousness has risen.

Do you believe that he can work a miracle in your life?