Fishing With Jesus

Scripture: John 21:1-14

Title: Fishing With Jesus!

Theme: The Risen Jesus leading us to enjoy a life of Victory!

INTRO:

Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

I want to talk to you today about the Risen Lord seeking to be involved in our every day lives. I want to talk to you today about God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit being your co-worker; your companion and guide each and every day. I want to talk to you today about how it is God’s desire and will for you to be victorious in your day to day living.

That is what we see in our passage this morning as Jesus comes to the shore line to be with His Disciples. Let’s take a few moments and look at what John shares with us this morning:

I. The Scene Take Place After Easter – v. 1-2

The Apostle John shares with us what is happening. The disciples have traveled back to the region of the Sea of Galilee. In this passage John refers to it as the Sea of Tiberias which is what the Romans wanted it to be called in honor of Tiberias Cesar (who reigned from 14 AD to 37 AD).

Jesus had already appeared to a number of people. He had appeared to Mary Magdalene and some other woman along with the two people going towards the city of Emmaus. He had appeared to the disciples twice. The first time on the day of His Resurrection and eight days later to help Thomas understand His Resurrection.

But those appearances were not a normal day to day experience. You just never knew when Jesus was going to show up or to whom He was going to appear. It was all a mystery.

The disciples were back in area of Galilee because that is where Jesus told them to go (Mark 16:7). He told them to go there and wait. And that is what they were doing. They were waiting for further orders and instructions.

But waiting is hard. Waiting is hard if you have been used to getting up every morning ready to do something with Jesus. For the past 3 ½ years that had been their life. They had woken up and found Jesus either right beside them or at least somewhere close by praying.

They had gotten used to getting up and following Jesus wherever He wanted to go. Jesus was their leader and they were His disciples. It was their job to obey His commands and follow His directions. That was what disciples did.

One day it might mean going down to the city or Jerusalem or father down to the city of Jericho. Another day it might mean going north towards the city of Capernaum. It might even mean going over to the area of the Gadarenes or the area of the Samaritans.

At times it meant they would all get in a boat and travel around the Sea of Galilee. Jesus would stop at different points and either go on land to teach, heal and free people or He would stay on the boat and preach to the crowds that gathered. Sometimes it would be them going out to teach, preach and heal. Every day was an adventure. You just never knew where Jesus was going to take them or what He was going to have them do. Their job was to listen, obey and follow Jesus.

All they knew was that over the past few days Jesus had not shown up and I am sure they were getting quite bored. They were no doubt wondering what they were going to be doing next. Jesus’ mission had been fulfilled. As Messiah He had come down from Heaven above and had given His life for His people. The penalty of sin had been paid for and the power of sin had been broken.

There were questions that hung in the air:

+Was it time for them to begin to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth?

+Was it time for them to help the nation of Israel to rise up and cast off the yoke of Rome?

+ Was it time for them to go to Jerusalem to make those in authority at the Temple leave so that the Messiah could rule over His Temple and His People?

I am sure that they had a lot of different thoughts going around in their heads. What would we think about with all the things that had gone on the past few weeks; the Triumphal Entry, the Last Supper, the Trial, the Crucifixion, the Burial and the Resurrection? How would all that affect us? What would we do while we waited?

For most of disciples they were back home. They had been united with their families and loved ones. I am sure that their children, their spouses and their parents were glad that they were back home; safe and sound. I think they were also wondering what was coming next. They had watched their loved one’s step away from their normal lives and travel around with Jesus for the past 3 ½ years. What was next? Would there even be a next?