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Morning Message Text: John 21: 1-19
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Morning Message:
For those of you who attended the Lenten services this year you will probably remember that I preached on this text just a few weeks ago. This has always been a favorite passage of mine and through the years I have come back to it many times. Even so, I did not hesitate when I saw it come up again in the lectionary. God’s Word is amazing in that no matter how many times you preach the same text, there is always something new and fresh to discover. There are so many different way that you can examine the question of our love for our Savior, and to have Jesus look right at Peter and us and say, “Do you love me?” Well, I don’t think preaching can get any better than that.
I will use the first scripture reading to give us some insight to the questions that Jesus is directing at Peter and us today. We don’t like to have our love questioned, but it is necessary because we are a very fickle people and truthfully, do you want to hear the truth today? Truthfully, our love, even our love for our Savior fades in and out. Listen to what God is saying to each of our hearts today. Revelation 3: 17 says, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.” Now as I look around the church, I don’t see that any of us are rich or wealthy, but do we have real needs? This is a little tricky because we must separate needs from wants. We all want for things, but these are not true life or death needs. When Jesus tells them that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, He is referring to their spiritual condition. None of us are spiritually bankrupt, but are we spiritually wealthy?
Perhaps the saddest of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor was delivered to the church in Laodicea. This city was wealthy due to it being on one of the major trade routes of the region; it was a major banking center. Apparently, the Christians in the city had participated in the prosperity and saw themselves as being self-sufficient due to their wealth. While they may have been materially well-off, Christ saw them as being in great need spiritually: They were “Wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Their condition illustrates a principle in scripture contrasting physical and spiritual eyes. We see this in the life of the nation Israel. Because of their sin, they could see physically but could not perceive spiritually. This is why Jesus asks the question of Peter and us, “Do you love me?” He knows the answer, but He wants us to search our hearts and know the depth of our love for him.
A well-known piece of Christian art is a painting titled, “The Light of the World” by nineteenth-century artist William Hunt. The painting is based on Revelation 3: 20 and shows Christ standing at the door of a house which appears not to have been opened in a long time. In one hand he holds a lantern while the other hand is raised, knocking on the door. Often unnoticed in the painting is the fact that the door has no handle on the outside, meaning it can only be opened from the inside by the occupant. In his letter to the church at Laodicea, Christ rebuked the church for their lukewarmness—their lack of passion for the things of God. And, He pictured himself standing at the door of the church, knocking, hoping to be invited in to enjoy fellowship with them. He does not force his way in but waits to be invited in. This is the way of our Lord and Savior, He asks, “Do you love me?” He could demand our love, but he asks and allows us to choose and consider the depth of our love.
What I see in this scripture is myself and my human condition. I love this scripture because I can identify with it so well. Peter and the other disciples have been through a lot and Peter feels very defeated. He has denied the one person he swore he would never deny three times. This is not just any person, this is his Lord. The one that he knows as Messiah, the Savior of the world. Have you ever denied knowing Jesus? None of us want to admit this, but I will be the first to confess that there have been times in my Christian life when I have not taken a stand for Jesus and afterwards knew that I had missed an opportunity. I hope that has never happened to you, but I know that I am not alone in this. I have felt Peter’s shame, have you? Peter went back to what he knew, fishing; we go about our routines and our normal lives until we come face to face with this question from Jesus. “Do you love me more than these?” Put your name in there in place of Peter’s and ask yourself, do you love Jesus more than your life?
It doesn’t end there. You can’t just say, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus gives us work to do and says prove your love for me. “Feed my sheep!” Do you have a passionate love for Jesus, or has it become lukewarm? I am not the only one in this room charged with a flock to take care of. Every person called by the name of Jesus has a flock. You have sheep that need you. You have people in your lives that may only see the light of Jesus in this world if they see it shining through you. Come on now church, we are not doing lukewarm this morning. This is a passionate call from the one that you claim as Savior. He is looking right at you; He is looking right at me. “Do you love me?” Show me, feed the lambs that I am sending your way.
The end of this passage should serve as a reminder to every Christian. We only have so long in our lives where we can somewhat do what we want to do. There will come a point in every life when our willpower is no longer enough, and we will not be as capable as we are today. Jesus told Peter how he would die and glorify God, but I think it was more than that. I think Jesus was telling Peter, and he is also telling us, time is short, if you truly love me and want to do my will, the time is now. Do you love Jesus? Has your passionate love turned lukewarm? Regain your strength and find your sheep. To avoid losing your passion for Jesus, welcome Him into your heart moment by moment to sustain constant fellowship with him throughout your day. Spiritual power comes out of inward fellowship with God and abandonment to his purpose. What is his purpose for you and for every follower of Jesus? Jesus told the church at Laodicea, “Because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Find your passion and feed your sheep.
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
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