Introduction:
After Jesus was raised from the dead, that first day, He sent word to His disciples to go to Galilee and they would see Him there (Mth. 28:10). He appeared to the whole group minus Thomas in the evening. Then a week later He appeared to them again and Thomas was with them. Our passage today tells us about the 3rd appearance of our Lord to His disciples. This time there are only going to be 7 disciples together.
We might think that with the powerful events of chapter 20 that John's Gospel could have ended with chapter 20. But John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, goes on to show us one more chapter. And this chapter is a very important one for at least 2 reasons. First, it shows the reinstatement of Peter. Second, John writes it to correct a serious error that the other disciples believed John would live all the way until Jesus returned. We'll see these two issues in the coming two weeks. But, a third reason is in our passage this morning. ……………………..
In chapter 20 we might see the forgiveness that comes with the resurrection of Christ, but, in chapter 21:1-14 we see the fellowship that comes with the resurrected Christ.
Self-Directed Life (v1-3)
When you don’t fellowship with Christ, you live a self-directed life (v1-3). Peter is still impulsive as ever. Rather than studying the Word of God and praying like he would learn to do later while waiting for the Holy Spirit to come on Pentecost, he goes fishing.
The Sea of Tiberius is also known as the Sea of Galilee (6:1). Of the 33 miracles Jesus did recorded in Scripture, 18 of them were done on or at the Sea of Tiberius. It is the place where Jesus walked on water (ch 6) and where He calmed the storm (Mk 4).
It was about 60 miles north of Jerusalem. It was about 8 miles wide and 15 miles long. This was a freshwater sea that sits about 700 ft below sea level. The sea level, the quick change in temperatures, the high winds that come rushing from the West make this a very stormy and unpredictable sea.
It takes tough men to live on the waters of this sea, and it was on the stormy waters of the Sea of Tiberius where these boys were made into such men. They grew up on the sea. It gave them their living. It was in one sense their home and they probably would rather be out there then on land. They knew the sea and they knew fishing.
The Sea of Tiberius was where many men made their living in the fishing industry. At least 4, probably as many as 7 of the disciples were fishermen by trade, including Peter and John whom we see here. They grew up on the sea with their fathers as they learned the trade. Fishermen were rugged and tough and hard working. Their skin was dark from the sun, they had callous hands and feet. They had strong backs and strong arms. They had constant squint look on their eyes probably from the the wind and water out on the sea and the struggle of physical labor.
It would be natural and almost instinctive for them to go fishing while they waited to see Jesus again. That's what they spent their whole life doing.
But here's the thing: it was their life before Christ. Jesus came and told them to follow Him because He was going to make them fishers of men. And the Bible says that 3 years ago in Luke 5 that when Jesus called them they threw their nets aside and literally walked off the job to follow Him – they left right there and left their dad and brothers there with the boats. When Jesus came into their life He had led them away from their old way of life and into a new way of life. They left fishing for fish and started on a life of fishing for men. But now, just because they didn't know where Jesus was and when He was coming back look how quickly they go back to what they used to do before they knew Christ.
Here is an application point: Do you do the things you used to do before you were saved? This same Peter would say 30 years later to Christians in 1 Peter 4:3, “You have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” Peter is saying you used to live like pagans when you were pagans but now that you are no longer pagans stop living like you still are. Do we live like pagans? We have been saved not just from sin but out of it. Jesus saved us from sin and to a life of righteousness.
We need to stop asking ourselves, “Can I be a Christian and still do this?” and instead ask, “Now that I’m a Christian, how can I please the Lord?” The other question asks “what can I get away with? What is the minimum I have to do?” That’s the person who doesn’t love Christ but rather loves the things of the world. The other question shows a person’s readiness to do whatever pleases the Lord. They are ready to do what is righteous, not just avoid the “big” sins. They are ready to leave their old life with its ways behind them and press on towards the righteousness of Christ.
Now look who's leading the pack - Peter. If we know Peter, we know he can't sit still. He has to be moving. He has to be doing something. Waiting is not his thing, so, he decides that he's going to go fishing to kill some time. Six other disciples go with him. This is a testimony to the leadership that Peter carried in the group even after his denial of Christ. They all knew what he had done, especially John who went with because you'll remember John was in the courtyard with Peter and heard him deny Jesus all 3 times. Peter was a strong personality and was a natural leader. He was always listed first when the names of the Apostles are given in the Gospels.
**Note who went with them - Thomas. I bet when Peter asked him if he wanted to go Thomas said "Yeah, I'll go but I doubt we'll catch anything." Of course Thomas would go, he learned his lesson about not being with the other disciples. He wasn't about to miss Jesus appearing to the disciples again. And the thing is - he was right!.
Seeing Christ at Work (v4-7)
When you live in fellowship with the resurrected Christ you see Him do great things in your life. They caught 153 fish John says. The net was loaded with fish when they should have caught nothing. But because they did what Jesus said they were blessed. Another point is that the net didn’t break. John points that out. The net should have ripped apart with that many fish, but, it didn’t. Jesus is able to bless abundantly and He is able to hold you together. Colossians 1:17 syas, “In Him all things hold together.”
But Jesus was teaching them something else as well. Here was a perfect opportunity for Jesus to show them that what He said in John 15:5 was true, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” In other words, anything they do will come up empty if it is done apart from Christ. That’s true for us as well. We can’t do anything apart from Christ. And apart from Him we are failures and will fail in the eyes of God. He won’t accept anything we do apart from Christ. Like the disciples who worked hard all night our lives will be useless and empty if we live them without Christ.
If there is one thing the disciples and we are to learn it is dependence, dependence, dependence. That is the Christian life.
1. This means anything you do in life will be empty without Christ
2. Do things Jesus' way, not our own
3. Jesus knows where it is what you're looking for
4. The net did not break showing that now matter how much the strain the Lord will always give the resources needed.
Compare with Luke 5:1-. This isn't the first time the disciples have seen this. They've been in this situation before with Jesus. In Luke 5 Jesus was just beginning His ministry and calling His disciples. He spent all day teaching by the shores of this same lake while Peter was was out fishing and
I want us to see how interesting Peter is in this scene. It's interesting:
1. Because the last time he saw Jesus it was when Jesus looked at him at the moment he denied him for the 3rd time. You would have thought that Peter would have been embarrassed and that he would be the last one off the boat. The last time Jesus helped Peter catch fish miraculously Peter fell on his knees in front of Christ and said, "Master, please go away from me for I am a sinful man." This happened when Peter first met Jesus 3 years ago. Peter wanted to get away from Jesus but now Peter wants to run to Jesus.
Expecting Lord (v9-13)
At the end of our labor is welcome, rest, and fellowship in the presence of our Lord. The night was ending and the day was beginning. (1 John 2:8; 2 Pet. 1:5-8). What a picture of the Christian life. Lived in the dark world but in the end we enter into the presence of the God of all light. Revelation 3:21 Jesus says he and His Father will come and eat with us.
Peter swims to shore. This must have been about 100 yds that he swam. I'm surprised he didn't walk on the water as excited as he was to see Jesus. Jesus had fish and bread waiting for them (John 6 miracle of feeding 5,000 and Revelation 3:21 I and my Father will come in and eat with him). Jesus was feeding THEM after their labor. We all know how good a ready hot meal is after a hard days work. In the end we see the Lord serving and caring for them after they have toiled. Application: Jesus is the success factor in our labor. He is the one who cares for our success in our labor and He is the one who makes us capable of success. Further, He is the one who afterwards cares for us.
After Jesus was raised from the dead, that first day, He sent word to His disciples to go to Galilee and they would see Him there (Mth. 28:10). He appeared to the whole group minus Thomas in the evening. Then a week later He appeared to them again and Thomas was with them. Our passage today tells us about the 3rd appearance of our Lord to His disciples. This time there are only going to be 7 disciples together.
We might think that with the powerful events of chapter 20 that John's Gospel could have ended with chapter 20. But John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, goes on to show us one more chapter. And this chapter is a very important one for at least 2 reasons. First, it shows the reinstatement of Peter. Second, John writes it to correct a serious error that the other disciples believed John would live all the way until Jesus returned. We'll see these two issues in the coming two weeks. But, a third reason is in our passage this morning. ……………………..
In chapter 20 we might see the forgiveness that comes with the resurrection of Christ, but, in chapter 21:1-14 we see the fellowship that comes with the resurrected Christ.
Self-Directed Life (v1-3)
When you don’t fellowship with Christ, you live a self-directed life (v1-3). Peter is still impulsive as ever. Rather than studying the Word of God and praying like he would learn to do later while waiting for the Holy Spirit to come on Pentecost, he goes fishing.
The Sea of Tiberius is also known as the Sea of Galilee (6:1). Of the 33 miracles Jesus did recorded in Scripture, 18 of them were done on or at the Sea of Tiberius. It is the place where Jesus walked on water (ch 6) and where He calmed the storm (Mk 4).
It was about 60 miles north of Jerusalem. It was about 8 miles wide and 15 miles long. This was a freshwater sea that sits about 700 ft below sea level. The sea level, the quick change in temperatures, the high winds that come rushing from the West make this a very stormy and unpredictable sea.
It takes tough men to live on the waters of this sea, and it was on the stormy waters of the Sea of Tiberius where these boys were made into such men. They grew up on the sea. It gave them their living. It was in one sense their home and they probably would rather be out there then on land. They knew the sea and they knew fishing.
The Sea of Tiberius was where many men made their living in the fishing industry. At least 4, probably as many as 7 of the disciples were fishermen by trade, including Peter and John whom we see here. They grew up on the sea with their fathers as they learned the trade. Fishermen were rugged and tough and hard working. Their skin was dark from the sun, they had callous hands and feet. They had strong backs and strong arms. They had constant squint look on their eyes probably from the the wind and water out on the sea and the struggle of physical labor.
It would be natural and almost instinctive for them to go fishing while they waited to see Jesus again. That's what they spent their whole life doing.
But here's the thing: it was their life before Christ. Jesus came and told them to follow Him because He was going to make them fishers of men. And the Bible says that 3 years ago in Luke 5 that when Jesus called them they threw their nets aside and literally walked off the job to follow Him – they left right there and left their dad and brothers there with the boats. When Jesus came into their life He had led them away from their old way of life and into a new way of life. They left fishing for fish and started on a life of fishing for men. But now, just because they didn't know where Jesus was and when He was coming back look how quickly they go back to what they used to do before they knew Christ.
Here is an application point: Do you do the things you used to do before you were saved? This same Peter would say 30 years later to Christians in 1 Peter 4:3, “You have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” Peter is saying you used to live like pagans when you were pagans but now that you are no longer pagans stop living like you still are. Do we live like pagans? We have been saved not just from sin but out of it. Jesus saved us from sin and to a life of righteousness.
We need to stop asking ourselves, “Can I be a Christian and still do this?” and instead ask, “Now that I’m a Christian, how can I please the Lord?” The other question asks “what can I get away with? What is the minimum I have to do?” That’s the person who doesn’t love Christ but rather loves the things of the world. The other question shows a person’s readiness to do whatever pleases the Lord. They are ready to do what is righteous, not just avoid the “big” sins. They are ready to leave their old life with its ways behind them and press on towards the righteousness of Christ.
Now look who's leading the pack - Peter. If we know Peter, we know he can't sit still. He has to be moving. He has to be doing something. Waiting is not his thing, so, he decides that he's going to go fishing to kill some time. Six other disciples go with him. This is a testimony to the leadership that Peter carried in the group even after his denial of Christ. They all knew what he had done, especially John who went with because you'll remember John was in the courtyard with Peter and heard him deny Jesus all 3 times. Peter was a strong personality and was a natural leader. He was always listed first when the names of the Apostles are given in the Gospels.
**Note who went with them - Thomas. I bet when Peter asked him if he wanted to go Thomas said "Yeah, I'll go but I doubt we'll catch anything." Of course Thomas would go, he learned his lesson about not being with the other disciples. He wasn't about to miss Jesus appearing to the disciples again. And the thing is - he was right!.
Seeing Christ at Work (v4-7)
When you live in fellowship with the resurrected Christ you see Him do great things in your life. They caught 153 fish John says. The net was loaded with fish when they should have caught nothing. But because they did what Jesus said they were blessed. Another point is that the net didn’t break. John points that out. The net should have ripped apart with that many fish, but, it didn’t. Jesus is able to bless abundantly and He is able to hold you together. Colossians 1:17 syas, “In Him all things hold together.”
But Jesus was teaching them something else as well. Here was a perfect opportunity for Jesus to show them that what He said in John 15:5 was true, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” In other words, anything they do will come up empty if it is done apart from Christ. That’s true for us as well. We can’t do anything apart from Christ. And apart from Him we are failures and will fail in the eyes of God. He won’t accept anything we do apart from Christ. Like the disciples who worked hard all night our lives will be useless and empty if we live them without Christ.
If there is one thing the disciples and we are to learn it is dependence, dependence, dependence. That is the Christian life.
1. This means anything you do in life will be empty without Christ
2. Do things Jesus' way, not our own
3. Jesus knows where it is what you're looking for
4. The net did not break showing that now matter how much the strain the Lord will always give the resources needed.
Compare with Luke 5:1-. This isn't the first time the disciples have seen this. They've been in this situation before with Jesus. In Luke 5 Jesus was just beginning His ministry and calling His disciples. He spent all day teaching by the shores of this same lake while Peter was was out fishing and
I want us to see how interesting Peter is in this scene. It's interesting:
1. Because the last time he saw Jesus it was when Jesus looked at him at the moment he denied him for the 3rd time. You would have thought that Peter would have been embarrassed and that he would be the last one off the boat. The last time Jesus helped Peter catch fish miraculously Peter fell on his knees in front of Christ and said, "Master, please go away from me for I am a sinful man." This happened when Peter first met Jesus 3 years ago. Peter wanted to get away from Jesus but now Peter wants to run to Jesus.
Expecting Lord (v9-13)
At the end of our labor is welcome, rest, and fellowship in the presence of our Lord. The night was ending and the day was beginning. (1 John 2:8; 2 Pet. 1:5-8). What a picture of the Christian life. Lived in the dark world but in the end we enter into the presence of the God of all light. Revelation 3:21 Jesus says he and His Father will come and eat with us.
Peter swims to shore. This must have been about 100 yds that he swam. I'm surprised he didn't walk on the water as excited as he was to see Jesus. Jesus had fish and bread waiting for them (John 6 miracle of feeding 5,000 and Revelation 3:21 I and my Father will come in and eat with him). Jesus was feeding THEM after their labor. We all know how good a ready hot meal is after a hard days work. In the end we see the Lord serving and caring for them after they have toiled. Application: Jesus is the success factor in our labor. He is the one who cares for our success in our labor and He is the one who makes us capable of success. Further, He is the one who afterwards cares for us.
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