April 18, 2010 — John 21:1-14 — Easter 3 — Another Appearance, Another Proof — Pastor Jerome Teichmiller
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John 21:1-14
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is the Gospel lesson for today, recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 21, verses 1 through 14, particularly these words: “After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberius, and he reveled himself in this way. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to the, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.” This is our text.
In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. The last verse of today’s text tells us why John, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, thought it important to tell the story recorded in our text. For there John says, “This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.” Not just once — not just twice — but three times now, Jesus has appeared to his disciples! And, there are even more to come!
The appearances of Jesus to his disciples following the resurrection were very important. They were recorded as a proof to future generations that indeed the Savior, who had died on a cross, was not dead, but was absolutely, positively alive! It was important to believe the truth, that Jesus was alive. Because as Paul said to the Corinthians, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. BUT Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” The story of today’s text, this appearance of Jesus, one more proof of his resurrection, is our assurance that our Lord is alive, and that our faith in Christ, our certainty of Forgiveness, and our Hope for Heaven, is sure and certain.
So what can we learn from this story and the appearance of our Lord with the disciples, and the miracle that he worked with their catch of fish?
Put yourself in the disciples sandals. Think about that great day of Palm Sunday and the glorious ride into Jerusalem, as the children sang hosannas to the Son of David. Think about that week that followed. There was confrontation every day with the Pharisees and the priests. Then came the great sorrow of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial. Then the unbelievable good news of the resurrection. He had even appeared to them himself a couple of times already — always behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jews! But they hadn’t seen him for a few days. Maybe they were beginning to wonder if what they had seen was real. Was it really Jesus or a ghost of some kind. Where was he now and why wasn’t he here with them. The pressure of those days and weeks must have been really heavy on them.
Finally, Peter has had enough of this sitting around waiting for something to happen — so he decided, “I’m going fishing” — and other’s agreed to go with him.
We shouldn’t be too surprised by this. After all, they are professional fishermen. Before Jesus made them “fishers of Men” they were by vocation “fishers of fish”. Going back to something that they knew and were comfortable with just might calm down their nerves, just might help them get their thinking straight again, just might help make their lives normal again.
If we only go by Peter’s fishing trips recorded in Scripture, we have to assume that Peter was a lousy fisherman. It seems, at least according to Scripture, that every time Peter went fishing, he caught nothing! He only caught fish, when Jesus told him where to let down their nets! This story is nothing different than the others. They fished all night and in the morning they still had not caught any fish. Peter just cannot catch fish by himself — Just like you and I cannot save ourselves. Even though he knew very well how to get it done — Peter couldn’t put fish in the boat.
You and I know what it takes to be a “good” Christian. All we have to do is “Love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might… And love our neighbor’s as ourselves.” All we have to do is be perfect even as our Father in Heaven is perfect. That’s all. But by ourselves, on our own strength, we fall short! That’s why we say every Sunday morning — and hopefully every day — I a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto you all my sins and iniquities, with which I have ever offended you. We cannot save ourselves. We need a Savior.
Peter couldn’t catch fish, he needed help. So a man yells out from the shore — “Let your nets down on the right side of the boat.” The Bible just says that the disciples did just that — and the net was filled with fish — not just a few, not just a bunch, but 153 fish — so many that they could not pull them aboard the boat — and still the nets did not break or tear! They had to paddle the boat to shore pulling the nets behind them. What a blessing! Remember the joy and excitement when only one fish pulls on your line? What about 153 in the net at the same time?
In this excitement John leans over to Peter thinking out loud, “You know, not just anybody would know where to let down that net. That man on shore must be the Lord — It’s Jesus!” Peter puts on his cloths and dives into the water to swim to shore.
Indeed it is Jesus who blesses us with abundant blessings. By his life, death, and resurrection He has brought to us forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. He is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the one who goes to prepare a place for us in heaven where we can live with him, forever.
And when they get to shore, Jesus has breakfast ready for them. He is not a ghost. He is not a spirit. He is not a figment of their imagination — this is truly Jesus Christ. The teacher they have lived with and learned from for the last few years. This is their Savior, who died for them, and arose again that they too may have life — and life eternal. THEIR savior and OUR Savior.
This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. He is risen — He is risen indeed. Hallelujah. Amen
May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.
