Follow Me
John 21:1-25
AFTER
THIS, Jesus let Himself be seen and revealed [Himself] again to the disciples,
at the Sea of Tiberias. And He did it in this way: There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, called the
Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, also the sons of Zebedee, (James & John) and two
others of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing! They
said to him, And we are coming with you! So they went out and got into the
boat, and throughout that night they caught nothing. Morning was already
breaking when Jesus came to the beach and stood there. However, the disciples
did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, Boys (children), you do
not have any meat (fish), do you? [Have you caught anything to eat along with
your bread?] They answered Him, No! And He said to them, Cast the net on the
right side of the boat and you will find [some]. So they cast the net, and now
they were not able to haul it in for such a big catch (mass, quantity) of fish
[was in it]. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord!
Simon Peter, hearing him say that it was the Lord, put (girded) on his upper
garment (his fisherman's coat, his outer tunic)–for he was stripped [for
work]–and sprang into the sea. And the other disciples came in the small boat,
for they were not far from shore, only some hundred yards away, dragging the
net full of fish. When they got out on land (the beach), they saw a fire of
coals there and fish lying on it [cooking], and bread. Jesus said to them,
Bring some of the fish which you have just caught. So Simon Peter went aboard
and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153 of them; and [though] there
were so many of them, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, Come [and] have
breakfast. But none of the disciples ventured or dared to ask Him, Who are You?
because they [well] knew that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread
and gave it to them, and so also [with] the fish. This was now the third time
that Jesus revealed Himself (appeared, was manifest) to the disciples after He
had risen from the dead. When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon,
son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do–with reasoning,
intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes,
Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal
affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs. Again
He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with
reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said
to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive,
personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd
(tend) My sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love
Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close
friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the
third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You
know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for
You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep. I assure you,
most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your
own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when
you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a
girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go. He said this to
indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And after this, He said
to him, Follow Me! But Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved,
following–the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper and had
said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray You? When Peter saw him, he said
to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay
(survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of
yours?] You follow Me! So word went out among the brethren that this disciple
was not going to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to
die, but, If I want him to stay (survive, live) till I come, what is that to
you? It is this same disciple who is bearing witness to these things and who
has recorded (written) them; and we [well] know that his testimony is true. And
there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all
recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not
contain (have room for) the books that would be written. (John 21 AMP)
Monday
Jim's divorce.
John 21
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, called
the Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, also the sons of Zebedee, (James
& John) and two others of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, I am
going fishing! They said to him, And we are coming with you! So they went out
and got into the boat, and throughout that night they caught nothing. Morning
was already breaking when Jesus came to the beach and stood there.
Our scripture this
week finds several of the disciples out fishing. It was shortly after their Lord was
crucified and their world was turned upside down to say the least. Not exactly a group of college grads on a
vacation, but a good chance to try and figure out what's next with other men
you'd grown to love and trust. Now we
don't know much about what the disciples left behind to follow Jesus, but if we
may create an illustration, let's see what these men might have had to say.
James, or Jim to his
closest friends, was from outside appearances a typical good man. From a nice family. He had held a good job
and attended the synagogue on a regular basis.
All the right offerings made at the right times. And he had taken a young bride at an early
age and started his own family. Then
things changed. He listened to his
brother Johnny and they started listening to a young preacher. Then they decided to leave home and follow
this man.
Now Jim hadn't been
home in over three years, but once Jesus died, he checked in with the
family. His father Zebedee wasn't proud
of him right now. His wife and taken the
children and left him. Uncommon in those
days perhaps, but I can relate. He was
alone. He felt a failure. His family gone, a stigma hanging over him,
and now his master had died? If this
wasn't the bottom, he didn't want to go there!
But on a sunny morning, after a long night with no fish and too many
self condemning thoughts, the sun rises.
He looks to the sea side and see a familiar face. And in his heart, he hears a voice softly
say…. Follow me.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto
you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 KJV)
Tuesday
Pete's fired!
II Chronicles 15:7 But as for you, be strong and do
not give up, for your work will be rewarded.
How about another fishing disciple - I wonder if Pete might not have been thinking something like this...
Pete the Rock - yeah
right. I must have rocks in my
head. I used to be a good fisherman, and
now… (sigh).
I left my boat, my
nets… I dropped all of that to follow
Jesus. Three whirlwind years - being
hated, seeing miracles, walking all over the country. I could have worn out three pedometers. And I loved hanging out with these guys. Never knowing where dinner was coming from. Whether or not there would be a roof over my
head at night. Seeing the storms come
and go - I mean, I actually WALKED On Water!
Well, not too far, but I did. I
know I did. But then… He was
crucified? I wanted to save Him. I
wanted to be there for him. But I denied
Him. And all they did to Him…. And then
the tomb was empty…. And now, I can't
even fish right. I bring all the guys
out here and promise them a good time, and all we get is water in the
nets. I have no breakfast to feed
them. I have no fish to sell. I have no idea where to look or what to do
next. ….
Wait. Who is that standing on
the beach over there? Do what? Other side of the boat? Like that will make a difference… but - wait, I can’t even lift this. Help me out guys… LOOK at the fish!!! who…
Is it really...
"It's the
Lord".
I must go to
Him…. I still want to follow Him!
Psalm 37:4 - Delight thyself in the Lord, and He will
grant you the desires of your heart.
Wednesday
Prodigal Nate.
Luke 15:24
… for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he
was lost, but now he's found.
How about another fishing disciple - I wonder if this could have been Nathaniel's story?
Nate had been a
troubled young man. He had gone through
a severe period of rebellion, not unlike the younger son in Jesus parable. He had run away from home. He had experimented with every unclean thing
one could think of. Women, men, drugs,
alcohol, cheating, stealing, even eating ham.
He had thought it a big fun time until he hit bottom. He ultimately found himself with no friends,
no money, no home, almost no clothes.
Hung over and bleary eyed, he listened to a neighbor named Phillip sing
the praises of some guy from Nazareth.
He had nothing better to do then listen about Jesus. Didn't really believe it all, but Jesus words
were surprising, and the promise of company and maybe a steady diet pulled Nate
up and changed his world.
Being with Jesus and
the disciples for the last few years had been amazing, but now it was
over. The hole in his gut was as big as
the Jerusalem sky at night. Nate was
afraid he would soon find himself in another gutter - Alone, hungry, and
without a compass. He looked to the
shore thinking about how much he missed Jesus and how badly he needed a
direction. He saw the silhouette of a
man and his heart heard Jesus voice
calling "follow me".
Thursday
Johnny's wife.
Just then a woman who had been subject to
bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus
turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed
you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. (Matthew 9:20-22 NIV)
Johnny spent most of
the fishing night sitting in the back of the boat, listening to the gentle
waves slapping the side. So much had
happened on the last few years. He
thought back to the first time he learned his wife was sick. The bleeding disease. They had endured it for
years, with her spending much of her time at her parents where her mom cared
for her, while Johnny fished to earn a living.
Then about four years ago he met another John, this one a weird looking
baptist. His message drew Johnny from
the sea often to hear him preach. And
then… Jesus. And a chance to maybe be a
part of something bigger than himself.
Bigger than his illness-filled family.
Bigger than….
So Johnny left his
family and hit the road with Jesus and his friends. So much happened. The biggest moment seemed to be the one
where his wife came to see Jesus and the disciples pass by. He still couldn't believe her faith, and his
failure. She knew Jesus could, would
heal her. It never crossed Johnny's
mind. But she reached out and touched
Jesus. And Jesus felt her healing. And that was the moment he truly committed to
following Jesus.
Suddenly, his
concentration was broken as he realized the guys had finally caught a huge mess
of fish. He looked toward the shore and
could not hold back the words jumping from his heart with joy. "It's the Lord." And I will still follow Him.
Friday
Lonesome Thom.
John 20:
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to
him, “We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the
print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my
hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again
inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in
the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your
finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My
side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and
my God!”
Thom had been in and
out of groups all his life, but he'd never been part of anything like the
brotherhood he had with the other men on this boat, and his Lord Jesus. He'd certainly had his moments of social
awkwardness. Speaking out of his
willingness to die with Jesus, and seeing Lazarus healed instead. Even blurting out (to Jesus Himself no less)
that he didn't know where Jesus was going, so how could he know the way. Thom smiled thinking about the blessing
their small group received when Jesus had gently explained. Without even making Thom feel bad.
But Thom fell away
when it all went to…. right after the…. After Jesus…. A tear wet his cheek, and the soft sea
breeze wiped it away. He remembered his
feelings. The loss. The emptiness. The sadness.
The loneliness. And then, when he
pulled together every bit of strength he had, and walked into that upper room
only to hear he had missed his Lord. It
was almost too much. But Jesus loved
him so much, or at least that's how Thom thought about it, that He came back to
them there a second time just to see me.
Now I know I'll follow Him.
Suddenly drawn from
his reverie by a splash, he smiles and watches Pete swimming towards the
shore. Joyfully grabbing an oar to help
take the fish laden boat in, Thom smiles and hums to himself the old Bill
Gaither song…
Oh, this old ship's
been through battles before
Storms and tempests
and rocks on the shore
Tho' the hull may be
battered,
Inside it's safe and
dry
It will carry its
cargo to the port in the sky.
Let the anthems ring
out, Songs of victory swell
For the Church
triumphant is alive and well.
