Pete said, "I go a fishing"
The guys said, "We're going too"
So they did... all night, they went a fishin'
There's a big difference between fishin' and catchin'
They were fishin'
Until Jesus showed up.
Then, everything changed...
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to
the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:
After these things
After Jesus’ death,
burial and resurrection, after multiple appearances, after telling them He’d be
going to His Father; after eating with them and breathing on them and saying, “Receive
the Holy Spirit”; after inviting Thomas to feel the holes in His hands, and
side… and after telling them He’d meet them in Galilee (Sea of
Galilee—Tiberias).
Which is why they are here; 75-90 miles north, of Jerusalem.
The Sea of Galilee, also called Lake Tiberias or Kinneret, is
the largest freshwater lake in Israel, the lowest freshwater lake on earth and
the second-lowest lake in the world; the Dead Sea being the lowest.
This is where Jesus calmed the sea, walked on water, (with
Peter), and caused them to bring in a miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5).
2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the
Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His
disciples were together.
This is His seventh appearance, and it just happens to be to
seven disciples.
The sons of Zebedee are James and John.
We don't know the names of the, two others of His disciples. Perhaps, me and
you; the unnamed, disciples of Christ. Unnamed, but not unnoticed, He sees you,
calls you by name.
They were together; an answer to His prayer; Father,
make them one as we are One. John 17:22.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am
going fishing.”
The King James reads: I Go a Fishing.
Some say by going fishing Peter is abandoning
his faith, his calling, and dragging his friends with him.
But the text does not imply that, and we’ll see
that Jesus will bless their efforts, not rebuke them.
They are there, because Jesus told them He’d
meet them there.
Likewise, He has promised to meet us, (1 Thess. 4:17).
While they’re waiting, Peter decides to, occupy
until He comes. We are to do the same.
While we’re alive and remain, we should be good
stewards of our time, by productive use of the gifts and callings He’s given
us.
3 They said to him, “We are going
with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night
they caught nothing.
They were
fishermen, they were by a lake… do the math.
We are going with you
Peter,
in all his faults and failures, was still, a leader.
Immediately
got into the boat
The boat and equipment were
readily available; (perhaps it still belonged to Peter, or one of them).
WARNING: Not that they were turning
back, but beware of how readily available returning to the world will be.
The moment someone turns from the
world to Jesus, counterfeits appear, flashing signs of greener pastures. Come back! Come
back! They scream.
Wide is the gate that leads to destruction, narrow is the path that
leads to Life. Mt. 7:13-14.
If any draws back My soul will have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38.
That night they caught nothing, the
world promises everything, but produces nothing, but night.
In the world you will have tribulation, but be of Good cheer, I’ve
overcome the world John 16:33.
4 But when the morning had now
come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was
Jesus.
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood
In the morning, after the sleepless night, through hour after
hour of tossing and turning on the dark sea; they didn’t know it, you may not
know it, but Jesus is standing right there.
The darkness will fade, the fog will lift, and you will see
Him.
Even though you may not recognize Him, at first. But you can
know for sure and certain, He is there.
5 Then Jesus said to them,
“Children, have you any food?”
Not an
uncommon greeting to fishermen.
In Minnesota
they’d say, “Any luck?”
I’d
say, “Yeah, lots, so far I don’t have to worry about cleaning any of those
stinky things.”
But
this goes deeper, to the heart.
How
does it feel to be back in the old fishing hole? The old ways, the old life,
before Christ?
Are you
satisfied by what the world feeds you?
Once
you taste the Bread of Life, drink from the Fountain of Living Water, nothing
else can satisfy.
They answered Him, “No.”
They
simply, humbly, without explanation or excuse said, No
This
world is not my home, it has nothing to offer. We’ve tried everything, toiled
all night, and have come up with nothing.
6 And He said to them, “Cast the
net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and
now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Cast the net
He used
their effort, their net, their boat, the same effort, and net
and boat, that had come up empty all night long.
Jesus shows
up, and everything changes. He works with who we are and what we’ve got.
Not dazzling
lights, and signs and wonders and fireworks. That’ll be how the antichrist deceives
thrill seekers.
Notice,
He did not tell them to do something drastic. Beware of “words” from others or
in our head, that are way out in “left” field.
On the right side
Words
are simply powerful.
Sheep
are on the right, goats on left; Matt. 25:33.
Jesus is at the right hand of the Father; Mark 16:19, Rom. 8:34, Acts 7:55, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3.
Right is
associated with righteousness.
Genesis 4:7, God told Cain: If you do what
is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right,
sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
A clarifying
and liberating answer to the question:
What
are we going to do?
Is:
We’re
going to do what’s right.
Once we
decide to do right, then, seeing what’s right, becomes clear.
And you will find
It may
be the exact same thing you’ve done a thousand times, but when done the right
way, the Lord’s way, at His command, direction, timing, you will
find.
It’s not by power not by might but by My
Spirit, says the Lord; Zech. 4:6.
Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor
in vain; Psalm 127:1.
So they cast
Remember, they still weren’t sure it was Jesus. But His words, rang true and stirred their faith to action.
Have we
listened to His Word, enough to know His Voice, without evidence, without seeing
Him? Romans 10:17.
They were not able to draw it in because of the
multitude
They
simply obeyed, and reaped a harvest above and beyond all they could ever ask or
think.
7 Therefore that disciple whom
Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”
It is the Lord!
The blessing of God, the Goodness of God, is to reveal
God. It is the Lord.
The Goodness of God
leads to repentance. Rom. 2:4.
The purpose is not for filling bank accounts and bellies, but for bringing in a multitude, a net
full, of souls.
His disciples are able to handle it.
God knows the thoughts and intents of our heart. Hebrews 4:12.
If we consume His Goodness and Blessing, upon our lust; then, withholding them, is the most loving,
blessing, He can give us.
7…Now when Simon Peter heard that
it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and
plunged into the sea.
When Simon Peter heard
John figured it out first. Again.
Like in the tomb.
Peter heard John, believed him.
he put on his outer garment
Most folks take off outer wear
before swimming, but Peter put it on.
Reflecting his new humility.
He plunged into the sea
Reflecting his new priority.
Peter only thought, he
wanted to go fishing, but the passion was gone, even with the huge catch of
fish still flopping in the net, he abandoned it all and plunged into the sea,
because what the fisherman, really wanted, more than anything, was to be
what that Man on shore, promised he could be…
A fisher of men.
Lord, give us that same heart, that
same passion, to plunge in, to be all You’ve called us to be.
8 But the other disciples came in
the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred
cubits), dragging the net with fish.
Picture the scene.
They were about 100 yards from land. Peter is swimming hard toward
shore, but going slow because he’s wearing a garment not made for swimming. A
half dozen men are behind, rowing hard, but moving slow, because their boat is dragging
a net full of fish.
Jesus in His resurrected, body is standing high and dry,
prepared for them on shore.
9 Then, as soon as they had come
to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
Jesus prepared for their arrival.
Wonder how He got the fish and bread and fire? “Let
there be fire” and there was fire. Fish… Bread… Maybe one day, we’ll know.
The point is, our glorified, resurrected, Lord, has
prepared a place for them, a meal for them… for us.
He waits on the shore, while we swim hard, row
hard, toward Him, slowed by the bounds of this earth, but we will soon stand with
Him on that golden shore.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some
of the fish which you have just caught.”
Bring what you have
just caught
This proves Jesus was not displeased with their fishing
expedition, or He wouldn’t accept what they had to offer.
He didn’t need what they had, but wanted
to use it.
He uses what we’ve got, adds what He’s got, and
multiplies it to all those He’s given us.
What ever you’ve got, is more than enough when
given to Him.
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged
the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although
there were so many, the net was not broken.
A similar event happened a few years earlier, Luke 5:1-11.
It was near the beginning of Jesus’ earthly
ministry.
After using Peter’s boat as a pulpit, He told
Pete to launch out into the deep for a catch.
Peter said, Lord, we fished all night and caught
nothing, but at Your Word, I’ll let down the net. And when they had done this,
they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So, they
signaled their partners in the other boat. And they filled both boats, so that
they began to sink. Luke 5:5-6.
They caught an undisclosed number of fish. The
nets were breaking, fish escaping, boats sinking. Peter overwhelmed and begging
Jesus to leave. Luke 5:8.
Jesus told them to follow Him, and He’d make
them fishers of men.
They forsook all and followed Him.
Notice the change after the resurrection.
Full of large fish
All were keepers.
One hundred and fifty-three
Each one individually
counted.
Net was not broken
None were lost.
This catch was laser focused, intentional. No
broken nets, no sinking boats, no lost fish, no chaos, no confusion.
You are a keeper. He won’t ever lose you. His
nets won’t break. His boat won’t sink.
He wants to use you to catch and keep all those
He’s given you, so none are lost.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You, for catching us, counting
us, and keeping us.
Please give us Your Wisdom and Discernment to know
when and where and how to cast, the right way. Your way.
Thank You for keeping our nets from breaking, our
boats from sinking, to catch all those You’ve given us, so none are lost.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer Requests:
Call or
text: 612-554-2522
Email: pray4measap@aol.com
Facebook: Church at WPV
Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling
Watch online:
Facebook: I Go a Fishing, John 21:1-11
You
tube: I Go a Fishing, John21:1-11
This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to
sow.
Thank you for sharing.
No comments:
Post a Comment