Latest revision as of 15:34, 24 August 2023

Objectives

• Congregants will determine to keep their focus on Christ's mission for their life even when the dull moments come.
• Congregants will determine to trust Christ's directions for their life.
• Congregants will determine to depend on Christ for their provision.

Introduction

• I love a good story. And, while I hate to admit it, I love to binge was a good TV series. Every good story has five important elements: the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution. I love looking at the Gospels as an excellent story.

• In John we start of with an introduction to Characters, we have Christ, the disciples, the religious leaders, and many more. We see that the story takes place against a theological backdrop that places humanity in need of the God who from the beginning created humanity. In John, the plot follows a basic outline:

• We see conflict as the religious leaders reject God and the final resolution as God defeats sin. But all of these aforementioned events take place in John 1-20, so what is the purpose of John 21?

• When my wife and I watch a movie or a TV series on of her favorite things to do is to find loose ends and point them out. If you watch carefully, most movies have some sort of a loose end.

Main Body

• While there is a lot of debate on John 21 one thing is clear. John 21 presents a sort of epilogue to the book of John in which John sees to tie up several loose ends. One of these loose ends is handled in John 21:1-14. In John 20:17 Jesus had commanded Mary not to cling to Him. One might ask the question, does this mean that Jesus is no longer going to provide for His own? John 21:1-14 gives a resounding answer of No!

As Christians we must demonstrate that the very same Jesus who walked the earth and provided for His disciples walks with us and gives us provisions for today.

Setting the Stage

• John has just given us a fairly strong concluding remark. He wrote so that "believing you may have life in His name." In what follows John chooses to wrap up a few items.

• In Matthew 28:7 we see that after the resurrection an angel told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary that Jesus would met with the disciples in Galilee. This brings us to John 20:1.

• Verse 1: The sea of Tiberias is another name for the sea of Galilee. The disciples had gone with Jesus to Jerusalem, experienced the most tumultuous events that any of us can possibly imagine including the Triumphal Entry, the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Betrayal of Judas, the Trial of Jesus, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, all in the space of one week. If anyone had the right to be unsure of what the future held, the disciples had that right.

• In verse 1 we have a type of introduction to we need in order to understand what is happening. This verse serves to connect this appearance of Jesus to the other two post-resurrection appearances. John uses the phrase μετα ταυτα (after this) a phrase commonly employed in the book. John also uses the verb appeared twice in this introductory verse. This emphasizes the appearance and tells us that this is an important component in this passage. John has already worked hard to show us that Jesus was alive so we must ask why emphasize the appearance? The answer is that John is emphasizing the continuing ministry of Jesus and his presence. John wants us to know that the risen Christ is still present with the disciples and with us today. Christ is present and will continue to be with his disciples for all time. Nothing catches God by surprise and as the disciples emerged from the most trying event of their lives Christ clearly demonstrated that He would continue to minister to them.

Since Christ is no physically present it can be easy to fall back on old hopes (Verses 2-3).

Be careful about returning to your comfort zone (Verse 2)

• Verse 2: Notice the party, we have Peter leading the group of seven individuals. Peter is the natural leader of the group but he surely felt ill-equipped. After all, he had been the one who had denied Jesus not just once, but three times. I am sure Peter doubted his role and maybe even felt like an imposter. How could he lead this group of of men when he had failed so miserably?

Be careful of the the false sense of old comforts (Verse 3)

• Verse 3: In verse 3 we see Peter declaring his intent to go fishing. Why was Peter going fishing? Perhaps Peter needed to support his family, maybe Peter felt shame at his failure and thought God was done with him. In John 16:32 Christ had prophesied that "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." In this passage we see the disciples scattered and probably back home. In a sense, it really doesn't matter why Peter went fishing, John chose not to comment on that. Instead, what John chooses to highlight for us is how successful Peter was on this fishing trip. The disciples caught nothing! They fished through the night (a common time to fish), but the results were beyond underwhelming.

• Imagine the frustration and questions. Three years earlier, these Galileans had left everything to follow Christ as described in Matthew 19:27 "Then Peter answered and said to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?'" Now, with nothing to show for the previous three years, these men return to fishing but even this is not working. I don't know about you, but I think I would find myself wondering if Christ was still going to provide for His own.

Recognize the reality of distress

• If you, like me, have ever felt discouraged, have ever wondered if Christ is still going to provide then you are in good company.
  • David felt depressed discouragement, so deep that he (probably) wrote in Psalm 42:11 "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God." These are not the words of a man who has never felt pain, these are the words of a man who has felt depression discouragement.
  • Moses struggled regularly and even questioned why God was making him the spokesman. In Exodus 5:22 Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?"
  • Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet, in Jeremiah 20:14 he proclaims "Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me!"
  • After victoriously defeating the prophets of Baal, Elijah entered a deep valley. Listen to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4 "But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, 'It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!'"

As Christians, we must recognize that there will be challenges and through these challenges we must keep our focus on Christ.

Even though Christ completed His salvific mission here on Earth, He is still acting on behalf of His people. (Verses 4-8)

• We need to realize that even though Christ completed His salvific mission here on Earth, He is still acting on behalf of His people.

Why physically absent Christ is still present (Verse 4).

• Verse 4: Notice the details that are present an missing. Who - Jesus, When - Early Morning, Where - On the Shore, How - Not given. Wait did you catch that, the how is not given. We don't need to know how. No, all we need to know is that Christ was there. In life, there will be times when we don't know how but instead we must trust that Christ will be there. We should also notice the contrast between the disciples fishing at night and Christ in the morning. When we are in the darkest night, the darkest pit of despair, morning breaks with Christ. It is Christ who can bring us out of discouragement, it is Christ alone. Don't make too much out of the disciples not recognizing Christ. It may be that the disciples did not recognize Christ in the early hours of the morning, or maybe there was a supernatural component and Christ was not yet revealing Himself. The point is not why they did not recognize Christ, the point is that they did not recognize Christ. I think that too often, in the pit of discouragement we fail to recognize Christ. We fail to keep our focus on where it should be.

While you may think you have this on your own, you still need Christ (Verses 5-6).

• Verse 5: Here we see Jesus ask a question to which He already knew the answer, "do you not have any fish we can eat?" Why is Jesus asking such a question? Jesus is making sure the disciples realize their current state. The disciples simply answer "no." Both sides of this conversation are aware of the conditions. However, notice something else about the question. How does Jesus chooses to address the disciples? Jesus addresses the disciples as children (παιδια), "an affectionate address of the spiritual father to those committed to him."^[1] It would seem that Christ is emphasizing that the disciples are no longer just mere disciples but that they now enjoy a special relationship with Christ. Christ, through His death and resurrection gave them the right to be children of God. John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:"

• Verse 6: Jesus gives what might have seen like a ridiculous command. After all, the disciples had spent the entire night fishing, and night was the time to fish. Who does this stranger think he is? No, instead the disciples are obedient and follow the instructions. I personally wonder if they are not beginning to recognize Jesus already at this point. What is the result of obedience? Abundant blessing, this is nothing short of a miracle, but also notice the miracle. The disciples probably thought they had a problem, namely no fish. Jesus provides a solution, but his solution is so profound that they surely recognized that what they thought their issue was was not the issue. The real issue was their focus. The problem they should have been concerned with was not whether the fish were biting, no the disciples focus needed to be on Christ.

The only proper response to Christ is to throw yourself completely at his feet (Verses 7-8).

• Verse 7-8: Peter responds decisively and completely. There is only one appropriate response when you notice that your focus has not been on Christ. You must throw yourself fully and completely into the Savior. It is interesting that John chooses to highlight Peter also putting his outer garret back on. Why would Peter do this? I think that Peter is taking the possessions that he needed with him. In short, Peter is decisively aligning himself with Christ and Christ's mission. In fact, we see in the next verse that Peter had to swim 200 cubits (about 300 feet). As I read this I was reminded of a story. The exact historical details are contested but I will tell one version. Hernan Cortes was the conquistador responsible for the fall of the Aztec empire. The Aztec people were known for their barbarianism. In fact, the Aztec's were known for not completely destroying an enemy so that they could later return to that enemy to get more slaves for their human sacrifices. In 1519 Cortes conquered Veracruz the coastal region opposite Mexico and began his campaign island against the Aztecs. Obviously, there was trepidation on the part of the Spanish sailers and so Cortes was forced to make a decisive command, "burn the ships!" There is no turning back, no past, only the march forward.

As Christians, we must recognize that Christ is still working, still acting today, we must place our focus solely on Him and commit completely to His will.

The very same Jesus who provided for the disciples is waiting to provide for you (Verses 9-14).

Realize that Christ ministers to His own (Verse 9).

• Verse 9: Here we see that Jesus had done more than merely catching a few fish, no Jesus had prepared a meal. The last time John had mentioned a charcoal fire, it had been the denial of Peter. Now, in sharp contrast we see the Savior. Human failure at a charcoal fire is contrasted with divine provision. In John 15:5 Jesus had proclaimed "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Now we see the truth realized, apart form Jesus the disciples had failed. Now, with Jesus, we see the disciples provided for.

Recognize that Christ includes His own (Verses 10-12)

• Verse 10-11: As if it is not enough that Christ provides we get to see another important aspect of Christ's provision. Christ allows us to be part of the mission. Christ had prepared a meal, but now, He allows the disciples to be part of the provision.

• Verse 12: Notice that the fish Peter dragged to shore are not mentioned again. Christ allows us to be part of His work, but it is really never about what we bring to His work, it is about His provision and allowance of us to be part of His work. If we are to keep our focus on Christ we must recognize that it is and always will be all about Christ. Also notice their desire to "question" him.

• The word for question used here is εξεταζω and it involves more than just asking a simple question, it involves a deeper almost cross-examination questioning. The disciples know it is Jesus, but they want to know more. The disciples seek deeper reassurance but John instead emphasizes that they didn't dare ask such questions. Sometimes Christ want us to have the faith of a Child.

Recognize that Christ provides for His own (Verse 13-14)

• Verse 13-14: If John sought to answer the outstanding questions of "is Jesus no longer going to provide for His own?" then we have a definite answer. Yes, Jesus still provides for His own. John, writing his gospel probably 50 years after the events he described wanted his readers to know that the same Jesus who provided for the disciples during the three years of ministry continues to provide.

As Christians we must realize that the very same Jesus who provided for the disciples will provide for us.

Conclusion

Is your focus on Christ or in discouragement, have you allowed your focus to slip?

Do you live as if Christ is still working today, or do you live as if Christ is not active today?

Does your life reveal complete dependence on Christ to provide for your needs?

As Christians we must realize that the very same Jesus who provided for the disciples will provide for us.

Parting Question

Cortes commanded "Burn the Ships!" Many of you have made renewed commitments to step out of complacency and serve Christ boldly. I ask, are there any ships that you need to burn?

References

1. ↑ TDNT 5.638