Catch Anything Series

Catch Anything?

The problem of Drift - no shortage of big ideas and vision

But we take our eyes off the prize, we get distracted, follow rabbit trails

Big Idea: The disciples were thinking about going off mission, Jesus reissues the call.

Do you Know your purpose/ mission? Show Video John 21:1-14

John 21:1-14 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. (Galilee, Genesseret) It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called 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.

Notes on today's passage: 20:31 ended John. Editors added chapt. 21 later - tho many centuries earlier than the story of the woman taken in adultery (8th century)

This chapter has Jesus turning up in Galilee - back HOME

Appears not to all the apostles, but to 7 disciples

Begins with Peter declaring "I'm going out to fish"

"We'll go with you" - sounded like a good idea at the time

This is what Peter knows, supposedly.

But after a whole night of fishing, they all come up empty handed.

As dawn begins to rise, Jesus appears on the shore.

They couldn't recognize him - too far away? - 100 yards

Light too dim? Not even His voice tipped them off.

Jesus is asking for fish - like a possible buyer?

But maybe there's more here - not just to rub in their uneventful night, but to toss out the idea, maybe they weren't really meant to be fisherman after all!

Why is Jesus asking for fish? (Especially when he had fish frying on the griddle) So he could take them back. Throw your net on the right side of the boat

Jesus revisits a scene from the past.

LK 5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Two fishing excursions - both a flop - until Jesus shows.

Peter's response in Luke - get away from me - I stink!

Now look at the difference - jumps out of the boat!

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 Simon Peter climbed aboard 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.