THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (31)

The Third Appearance of Jesus to the Apostles (1)

John 21:1-7a

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     We have been in a study entitled, “The Sayings of the Crucifixion,” over the past two years or so.

 

B.      We are now well past the day of our Lord’s resurrection 

 

C.     He has appeared to His apostles on two occasions.

1.       The first time He appeared to them on the evening of the day of His resurrection.  On that occasion, Thomas was not present.

2.       He appeared the second time the following Sunday night and specifically spoke to Thomas and gave him the proof needed to believe He was raised from the dead.

 

D.     Jesus seems to have come and to have departed from these gatherings in a miraculous fashion (See Luke 24:36; John 20:19).

 

E.      In our lesson today, Jesus makes His third appearance to the disciples (John 21:1-14, esp. v. 14).

 

This is the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

 

I.                    THE APPEARANCE AT THE SEA (John 21:1)

 

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

 

A.     Tiberius is another name for the Sea of Galilee.

1.       It is a fresh-water lake that empties into the Jordan River.

2.       Several of the apostles had made their living on the Sea of Tiberias as fishermen.

3.       The sea is somewhat heart-shaped.

4.       The length of Tiberias is 13 miles, the width is 8.10 miles, and its depth goes to 141 feet.

 

    

 

B.      Jesus went to the Sea of Tiberius because that is where His disciples had gone at some point in time.

II.                 THE APOSTLES GO FISHING (John 21:2-3)

 

A.     The Company (John 21:2)

 

There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

 

1.       Seven disciples of the Lord were together on this occasion.

2.       Remember, the areas surrounding Capernaum and Bethsaida were home for several of these men.

3.       Five men are specifically identified.  Two are not identified.  And, the ones who were not there on this occasion are not known.

 

B.      The Comment (John 21:3a)

 

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing…

 

1.       These men were at somewhat of a loss of direction in their lives.

a.       They knew their Lord was alive.

b.      However, they had not been charged by the Lord to carry out any works.

2.       Peter knew how to fish and desired to go.  Thus, he announced:  “I go a fishing.”

 

C.     The Commotion (John 21:3b)

 

They say unto him, We also go with thee.  They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately…

 

1.       When men are together, an announcement like that is all that is needed (John 21:3).

a.       Sandals are on.

b.      They gather a few snacks.

c.       And, out the door they go to the docks.

2.       The ship is ready to head out into the open water.

 

D.     The Catch (John 21:3c)

 

…and that night they caught nothing.

 

1.       Every fisherman has had this experience.

2.       You leave home with hope of a tremendous catch, but you catch nothing, not even a bite.

a.       “There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process. – Paul O’Neil, “In Praise of Trout,” in LIFE, 1964.

b.      The old saying:  “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at the office.”

 

III.              THE ANGLER ON THE SHORE (John 21:4-6)

 

A.     The Christ (John 21:4a)

 

But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore…

 

1.       Out of nowhere, Jesus shows up on the seashore the morning following this unsuccessful fishing expedition.

2.       It is interesting that Jesus had not been with them when they planned to go fishing, but He knew exactly where to find them.

3.       Question:  Do you think Jesus know exactly where He can find us?

 

B.      The Concealment (John 21:4b)

 

…but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

 

1.       This does not appear to have been a miraculous concealing of the Lord’s identify.

2.       The apostles were some distance out in the water fishing.  Thus, they could not see Jesus clearly.

3.       They were not expecting Jesus to appear to them that morning.

4.       QUESTION:  Have you ever called someone close to you, but they did not recognize your voice as you spoke to them?  It adds some fun to the conversation.  We wonder how long it will take for them to identify us.

 

C.     The Check-up (John 21:5)

 

The Jesus saith unto them, Children have ye any meat?  They answered him, No.

 

1.       When individuals go fishing, they have a purpose in mind.  They want to catch fish.

2.       When people see a fisherman at work, it is natural and common to ask them whether they have had any luck?

a.       I have had fishermen open a cooler to expose a mess of fish.

b.      I have had some say:  “Yes, we’ve caught a couple of little ones.”

c.       I have also heard the words:  “We haven’t even had a bite.”  Unfortunately, that was the response the disciples had to give Jesus.

3.       Notice that Jesus began His conversation by addressing them as “children.”

a.       This is a term that indicates familiarity and affection.

b.      It would have been a hint to the disciples that their Master was on the seashore.

 

D.     The Command (John 21:6a)

 

And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.

 

1.       Jesus’ command was very specific.  “Cast the net on the right side of the ship.”

2.       Jesus’ promise was definite:  “…and ye shall find.”

3.       Remember, the disciples did not know that this was Jesus.  They appear to have been trusting a complete stranger.

 

E.      The Cast (John 21:6b)

 

They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

 

1.       If you have fished all night and caught nothing, one more cast should not be a big deal.

2.       But, if you have fished all night and caught nothing, one more cast could be a big deal. 

a.       They could have thought:  “That would be useless.”

b.      They could have reasoned:  “How does this guy know anything.”

c.       They could have said:  “We are too tired to make another cast.”

3.       They did not do any of these things.  Instead the text says:  “They cast therefore…”

4.       The result was astonishing, “…and now the were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.”

a.       This was definitely a miraculous catch.

1)      First, it was predicted.

2)      Second, the amount of fish caught was amazing.  Seven men could not drag the net in because the amount of fish therein.

b.      LESSONS: 

1)      If you decide to go fishing, make sure your fish-finder is Jesus. 

2)      Jesus is Lord over all of His Creation. 

3)      When Jesus blesses, He blesses with abundance. 

a)      When feeding the multitudes, baskets of food were left (Matt. 14:20).

b)      Proverbs 3:9-10

 

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 

IV.              THE ACCLAMATION BY JOHN (John 21:7a)

 

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord…

 

A.     This miracle convinced John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, that it was Jesus who had spoken to them.

 

B.      He immediately told Peter:  “It is the Lord.”

 

C.     We have over 30 miracles of Jesus recorded for us in the pages of the gospels. 

1.       These miracles are there for a reason.  They are there to convince man that Jesus Christ is the Son of God

2.       John’s gospel only contains eight miracles of Jesus.  John declares that just these alone should be enough to convince men of the deity of Jesus (John 20:30-31).

 

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Jesus’ presence has now been manifested to the disciples.

 

B.      Soon they will stand with Him on the seashore.  It will take us at least two more lessons to discuss everything that transpires on this occasion.

 

C.     NOTE:  Jesus appeared to His disciples several times in several different places.  He wanted them to be absolutely sure that He had come forth from the grave.  This faith would be extremely necessary to them in just a few days.