Isaiah 54:1-17

John 21:1-14

1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 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.

4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” 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. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

These days immediately following the resurrection were very strange for the disciples.  Jesus appeared to them but did not stay with them as before.  They were no longer going from village to village and Jesus not going out into the streets teaching and healing people.  There had to have been confusion on the part of the group of men as to what they should be doing.  The Jewish leaders still represented a threat to them, and Jesus didn’t seem to be giving them clear direction.  Their lives had been turned upside down and now they seemed to be in a holding pattern.  It had to have been very confusing to the group of men who has spent the last several years following Jesus.

FRUSTRATED FISHERMEN: Sitting around is one of the hardest things to do.  The disciples have been following Jesus for several years and He provided them with an agenda and direction.  After the crucifixion, they are afraid of what the Jews might do to them so seem to be hiding out together.  Jesus appears to them after the resurrection and even told them that they were to testify to others about the resurrection, but He is not staying with them anymore and seems to just appear and disappear.  It seems like, out of frustration, boredom or maybe even out of financial need, Peter decides to go fishing and a group of the disciples decide to go too.  However, their fishing expedition was terribly unsuccessful.  This must have only added to their frustration.  These are fishermen by trade, and they can’t even catch fish.  There is no more exciting life than being on mission with what God is doing in the world.  No matter what vocation we are a part of, we can use it for participation in the mission.  We can either see our job as a means of survival or a means of being on mission for the Lord.  God wants us to be motivated by the mission and His glory in all that we do.

FASCINATED FISHERMEN: As the disciples are returning to the shore after a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus calls out to them and instructs them to let down their nets once more.  This must have felt like Deja vu for the disciples who had similar experience when they were first called by Jesus.  Once again, their nets fill with fish and they are unable to bring them into the boat.  John is the first to verbalize that is was the Lord and Peter responds by jumping out of the boat and going immediately to Jesus while the others struggle to bring the boat and fish to the shore.  These men must have been overcome with emotion as they recognized the Lord and remembered back to their original call.  What must have seemed like a lifetime ago, was now being repeated.  They might have been frustrated, fearful and fleeing from their current reality, but Jesus knew right where to find them and how to bring their focus back where it needed to be, on Him and the mission He had for them.  He gives them abundant fish in a miraculous way to remind them that they had been called to be fishers of men.  We may become distracted our discouraged, but God is always there patiently waiting and restoring us to His call on our lives.

FELLOWSHIPPING FISHERMEN: By the time all the fishermen get to shore, Jesus already has fish ready on an open fire and bread to feed them.  He invites them to breakfast and tells them to add their fish to the feast.  We don’t know where the bread and fish that Jesus made came from.  He could have purchased them on the way to the beach, miraculously made them appear or gone on a fishing expedition of His own.  What we see is that Jesus is caring and providing for the disciples in a physical as well as a relational way.  Jesus in His resurrected body is doing physical things like eating and making breakfast.  He spends time fellowshipping with His disciples over a meal after a long night of fishing and then a miraculous catch of 153 large fish that didn’t break the net.  Jesus His followers into a relationship with Him.  He enjoys spending time with us and wants us to enjoy spending time with Him.  This scene is an appetizer of heaven where we will enjoy sharing meals and fellowshipping with Jesus.

APPLICATION: Don’t allow boredom, fear or even survival to become the key motivating factor in our lives.  God’s glory and His mission can and should be the motivating factor behind all we do.  Trust the Lord’s power and provision in all circumstances we face.  Enjoy a life of fellowship with God know as it will be our greatest eternal joy.