Gospel of John - "Go Fish"

 

“Go Fish”

John 21:1-14

Have you ever gone fishing and caught nothing? You wonder if there are any fish where you fished. Such was the fishing expedition of seven disciples, but that day had really just begun for them. Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “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. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 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.”

John doesn’t say how long they stayed in Jerusalem after Jesus’ second appearance, when Thomas saw and believed. The urge to “return to normal” might have been in their minds, or they just needed something to do. So fishing on the sea of Galilee seemed the right thing to do. The seven set out at twilight to fish during the night, and a familiar occurrence happened, they didn’t catch one fish in their nets. Towards dawn, a solitary figure stood next to a fire by the banks of the sea. Seeing the fisherman, he called out to see how the fishing was. The reply of the seven was in unison, “No, Nothing, Nada, Zilch, Blanked” They didn’t realize Jesus was the solitary man on the bank of the sea.

Jesus, calls out, ““Friends,… “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” Now a deja vu moment, a memory from the past. They complied to the stranger's suggestion, and all of a sudden the nets were teaming with large fish. John immediately recognizes another moment from his past, Jesus had said this same thing to Peter at the beginning of their walk with Jesus, “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 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.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” (Lk. 5:1-11)

Application -  After seeing Jesus in his glorified body, it would seem difficult to leave him again, but Jesus would appear unannounced, maybe he left unannounced as well. It would be very difficult to go back to where I was before even though I have the comradery of others who had experienced the same spiritual enlightenment. But life continued, and like the disciples, we returned to something we knew would keep us busy and would bring in money and food to eat, and also provide a place for shelter to take refuge in. 

Jesus knows the plans that he has for all of his disciples today, and he knows where to find us. The words of Jeremiah resonate, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’” (29:11-13 NIV)

Jesus will prepare us for his plan and purpose and we know that he will not leave us. As Paul said in his letter to the Romans, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (8:28 NLT)

In a world that wants to “return to the normal”, we are blessed as we’re his disciples, Jesus will meet us where we are, but will not leave us there. He has given us a glimpse of glory in our salvation, our believing and knowing him as the Lord who has forgiven us, has sealed us with his Holy Spirit. He will guide us by His Spirit and His Word in his plan and purpose for each of us.

Now the large catch of fish, so suddenly, has the attention of the seven disciples. Let’s look at the last portion of the text, “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved 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. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 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. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

John’s recognition and correlating of the catch to Jesus as did the other six disciples, especially Peter. He had their full attention. Peter in his impulsiveness, wraps his tunic around his waist and dives in for shore, while the other six oared the boat to shore with the net of large fish in tow. As Peter reaches the shore, the rest of the disciples arrive with the boat and the fish. Jesus asks that they bring some of the catch to put on the breakfast’s fire. So Peter climbs back in the boat and brings back some large fish. 

Jesus had already baked some bread and had some fish on the fire. The disciples were still in awe of their risen Lord, but they knew better than to doubt him, especially Thomas. No one asked who Jesus was anymore. 

There on the mist morning shore of the sea of Galilee, the disciples had breakfast with Jesus. Jesus broke bread, though it wasn’t stated, he gave thanks for the food and fellowship of his disciples.

Application - Jesus’ words to Peter at the beginning, “I will make you a fisher of men” after the large catch to help pay his taxes to the Romans, and provide for his family, must have resounded in his mind. For here again Jesus’ words produced a great harvest of fish, large fish.

Imagine, the Lord has called us to be disciplers in his harvest. For the disciples, they understood they would be fishing for men now. And each one of us has the same calling to make disciples. Some of us may only have a few to disciple, others large crowds. Regardless of the numbers, we are given a charge. And like the disciples we may forget or minimize our charge to just discipling our own family, or our friends. Again, it is not about the numbers, it is about obedience. For Jesus’ commission to us, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)

Jesus knows our hearts and minds. He knows our fears and failures, but this will not stop him from guiding us back to his plan and purpose for our lives. He may post angels or human messengers in your path, to awaken you to do his will not ours. And he will do this in love and patience. 

In the midst of change in the norms of life, Jesus’ words will always be true. We will know him by His voice, and his Word never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Again, he is preparing us to do the work of God, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) 

We will be known by the works that we do in the power and plan of God for our lives. “These are works done, not in our own strength and for our own benefit, but by the grace of God and in obedience to Him – led by the Holy Spirit, to God's glory. The way of works is the way of life, for “He who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17. “Active Christianity”, and in the work that God is doing in us, for we are his workmanship. 

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second, B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com