"After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him, 'We will also come with you.' They went out, and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them, 'Children, you do not have any fish, do you?' They answered Him, 'No.' And He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch.' They cast therefore, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' And so when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea." John 21:1-7
As we come to the final chapter of John's gospel, we reach an epilogue of sorts as John closes his account with a "fishing story"! Seven of the disciples spent the night fishing following the tragic and then perplexing events of the crucifixion. They catch nothing. But as the dawn broke, a "stranger" calls to them from the shore, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?"
In amazing honesty (at least for fishermen!) they reply, "No." The distant person tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat and they will find a catch. They do so and their nets are immediately full! John then says to Peter, "It is the Lord."
Jesus was recognized by John because His words had resulted in a great work. Do I recognize Jesus as Christ because I listen to His word?
The moment John tells Peter that it is Jesus, Peter throws himself into the sea to go to the Lord!
Peter recognized Jesus because of the words of another. Do I help others recognize Jesus?
Both John and Peter as well as the other disciples get to the shore where Jesus already has a charcoal fire and breakfast waiting. This gospel account ends much the way it began with the master declaring, "Follow Me!"
John's gospel begins in a wilderness and ends on a beach...begins with a crowd and ends with a community...begins by a river and ends by the sea...begins with a call and ends with a commission.
Key Truth: Jesus Christ has a plan, a purpose, and a process for your life. It can only be discovered and fulfilled when you are following Him!
As we come to the final chapter of John's gospel, we reach an epilogue of sorts as John closes his account with a "fishing story"! Seven of the disciples spent the night fishing following the tragic and then perplexing events of the crucifixion. They catch nothing. But as the dawn broke, a "stranger" calls to them from the shore, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?"
In amazing honesty (at least for fishermen!) they reply, "No." The distant person tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat and they will find a catch. They do so and their nets are immediately full! John then says to Peter, "It is the Lord."
Jesus was recognized by John because His words had resulted in a great work. Do I recognize Jesus as Christ because I listen to His word?
The moment John tells Peter that it is Jesus, Peter throws himself into the sea to go to the Lord!
Peter recognized Jesus because of the words of another. Do I help others recognize Jesus?
Both John and Peter as well as the other disciples get to the shore where Jesus already has a charcoal fire and breakfast waiting. This gospel account ends much the way it began with the master declaring, "Follow Me!"
John's gospel begins in a wilderness and ends on a beach...begins with a crowd and ends with a community...begins by a river and ends by the sea...begins with a call and ends with a commission.
Key Truth: Jesus Christ has a plan, a purpose, and a process for your life. It can only be discovered and fulfilled when you are following Him!
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