John 21: 1-14:
“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. 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, 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.”
Week after week, we meet here and
worship together. We are all at different places in our relationship with
Christ. Christian life is a journey with Jesus.
Q. Where are we in our journey with Jesus?
The Disciples had a living,
moving experience with Jesus.
3 things happened in this
passage:
1. It is back to square one- the disciples
go back to square one. They started in the Sea of Galilee. They left everything
to follow Jesus. For three years! Do you remember the day you met Jesus and
what happened to you? The excitement, the joy of reading God’s word- having our
quiet time. A peace covered us- a longing to be with God and his people. The
disciples also experienced this. They
left their people, profession, possessions and place. But here in this
story, something strange is happening. We see them going back to a very
familiar ground- their comfort zone- their profession. They went back to that
place.
Q. Why did they go back?
Familiar ground
gives us self-worth and security and significance. They knew the Sea of Galilee
like the back of their palm. It is a temptation for all of us. What if Jesus fails? When things get
tough, we go back to the place which we think is the refuge. And Peter did not
go alone. He took others as well. When you go back, you take others with you.
2. Jesus
stood on the shore but the disciples did
not recognise him. When you go back to square one you fail to recognise
Jesus. We go away from Jesus. That initial love dies down. You no more
recognise him- cannot hear his still small voice. God’s word does not bring you
anything. When you are sliding, there is no interest in spiritual things. We
need to take note of this situation.
3. They failed to catch fish: They toiled
the whole night and failed in the very thing they went after. It must have been
embarrassing. Peter’s journey began in the same place. The disciples were more
concerned about the earthly kingdom. When Jesus was crucified, their dreams
were shattered. They were in hiding.
Q. where are we in our journey?
Are our
expectations not met? Do I also stand in the same place where I began, am I
discouraged or disappointed? Are you wondering what are my accomplishments?
The passage ends
with Jesus inviting them to eat with him. They cast the net where he asked them
to. They realised it was Jesus and they came back to shore dragging the net.
Jesus came to
where they are. He did not wait for them to return with shame. He came down
into this world. He comes searching for us. He does not come to put us to shame. He calls them friend. He
asserted their place in him. He wanted
them to start their journey again with Jesus.
Even this
morning, if you are stuck somewhere in your journey with Jesus, he still calls you his friend and calls you
to resume a journey with him.
When we resume 4
things happen as we see from this passage:
1.
Recognise
that we need help- In verse 5 and 6, Peter recognised that they had failed.
If we acknowledge that we have failed, the help comes from the Lord.
2.
We need
to obey Jesus- They cast their nets and they caught multitude of fish. As a
result, their life was full of blessings. Obedience leads to blessing. Even
with the net full, it did not break. We began worship by remembering the people
who went before us who obeyed God.
3.
Share
your blessings: In verse 10 Jesus asks to bring the fish they just caught. Jesus
involves you in his work. He calls us to share our blessings. You are called to
surrender your blessing in the hands of Jesus. At the beginning of their
journey he said, come I will make you fishers of men.
4.
Come and
eat with him- In verse 12 we see that the breakfast is ready on the shore-
they went searching for fish but Jesus provided it for them here. What are you searching
for? Whatever it is, it is available with Jesus.
We are all awaiting that great feast. As we make
Jesus the Lord of our lives, our journey will be full of blessings. If you are stuck somewhere in your journey
with God, respond to his invitation, obey his voice, share your blessings and
commune with him again.
Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again), Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.
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