“IT IS THE LORD!” (Outline)
April 19, 2009 --
EASTER 2 --
John 21:1-14
INTRO: Last week we heard the words, “He is not here. He is risen!” Those exciting words echoed in the empty tomb. Today’s words of testimony echo over Galilee. “It is the Lord!” John tells these words to Peter. Peter jumps in the water. “It is the Lord!” Only by God’s grace can anyone confess “it is the Lord”. "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him"(1 JOHN 4:15,16). Today you and I and every believer live in the love of God who provided his Son as the Savior for all mankind. Today with Peter, John, the other apostles, and believers throughout the world we confess:
“IT IS THE LORD!”
I. Christ constantly cares.
II. Jesus powerfully provides.
I. CHRIST CONSTANTLY CARES
A. Verse 14. This last verse of our text provides an important timeline. Jesus appears the third time.
1. Jesus did appear to his disciples, the women, and others to prove his resurrection.
2. Verse 1. Jesus appears at the Sea of Tiberias, better known as the Sea of Galilee.
3. Verse 2. Here is a list of the disciples present. These are the ones more interested in fishing.
B. The disciples are returning to normal activities. The disciples go out with Peter to fish, verse 3.
1. They caught nothing. Verse 4. Still not yet quite daylight. They are a far ways off.
2. The disciples do not recognize Jesus. Jesus asks about their catch, verse 5.
C. Jesus constantly cares for his disciples. Jesus appeared in the upper room. Jesus shows himself here.
D. At times we might forget the constant care our loving Lord showers on every day. The Lord causes his rain to fall on the just and the unjust. The Lord God Almighty constantly cares for the world he has created. Our heavenly Father also constantly cares for every believer with an infinite care and concern. The world around us cannot really guarantee anything. Our loving Lord does not want us to worry about anything. But how often we needlessly worry about too many minor things of this world. We need not worry because our God cares for us. Our God knows us intimately. "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows"(LUKE 12:7).
E. We are not concerned about the numbers of hairs on our heads. But our heavenly Father knows even this most insignificant detail. Since God is so concerned about every single hair you can rest assured that our loving Lord is even more concerned about those things that really matter. "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always gener-ous and lend freely; their children will be blessed" (PSALM 37:25,26). The believer knows the Lord’s love. You know and see the Lord’s constant care. Each of us has experienced that Lord’s generosity. We are the worst of sinners. By grace the Lord God freely forgives all our sins. We turn against God. God hides our sins and remembers them no more. We betray our Savior with our sinful thoughts, words, and actions. In love God tosses all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. What is our reaction to God’s great grace and constant care? “It is the Lord! It is the Lord!”
F. It is only by God’s grace that we know “it is the Lord”. It is only be God’s grace that we can confess “It is the Lord”. As God provides for us we realize that he removes every burden from our shoulders. We believe our gracious God constantly cares for us. This means that we do not have to be constantly concerned about what we are going to eat and drink. After all, this is what the pagans are always chasing after. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (MATTHEW 6:33). Whenever you are busy seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness the Lord God takes your mind off of worry. Our Lord God provides – always has, always does and always will.
“IT IS THE LORD!” Christ constantly cares for us day in, day out, year after year, every generation.
II. JESUS POWERFULLY PROVIDES
A. Verse 5. Do you have any fish? “No”. They had fished all night. They were ready to be done.
1. Verse 6. Jesus tells them to keep on fishing. Note that the disciples did as Jesus told them.
2. Jesus’ advice was good fishing advice. Still, their net was filled. Jesus powerfully provides.
B. Verse 7. John finally recognizes the Lord Jesus. Peter can’t wait and jumps in the water.
1. Verse 8. The other disciples come in the boat. They drag along the full net of fish.
2. Verses 9,10. Jesus had the breakfast ready. Jesus asks for their fish.
3. Verse 11. There were 153 fish, a great number. The net did not break.
C. Jesus powerfully provided: a meal, the fire, and a miraculous catch.
1. Verse 12. Jesus invites the disciple to join him in breakfast. “None dared ask…”
2. The disciples “knew it was the Lord”. By grace the disciples eyes and hearts were opened.
3. Verse 13. Jesus gave the food to them. The disciples knew for certain, “It is the Lord!”
D. It is the very same, simple, saving message of the gospel that needs to be proclaimed to our world today. “It is the Lord!” The Lord Jesus wants each of us to have what these disciples had. God wants us to know and believe and confess with confidence, “It is the Lord!” This is God’s grace. God’s grace opens our ears to hear, our eyes to see, and our hearts to believe his word, his truth -- God’s gospel. No one can earn or deserve God’s grace. God’s grace is a divine, free gift. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work"(2 CORINTHIANS 9:8). God gives us his grace that we may grow in every good work.
E. This simple, saving gospel message declaring God’s grace cannot be improved. Our heavenly Father freely provides us with his undeserved love. God powerfully provides his undeserved love in abundance. "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus"(1 TIMOTHY 1:14). God himself provided his Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior. Jesus Christ powerfully provides for us. Looking at Jesus’ miracle here there is no thunder or lightning or anything else that might seem extraordinary. Jesus simply says, “Throw your net on the right side”. The disciples listen. They catch fish. They come to shore and eat with their Savior. Jesus powerfully provides.
F. Jesus powerfully provides in a quiet, humble way. Faith often comes in a very quiet, humble way. By baptism God miraculously grabs us from the grasp of Satan and makes us his children. In baptism God gives believers faith. In a quiet way in our private study of God’s word our faith grows and is strengthened. Faith comes by hearing God’s word. This is God’s quiet, humble way to powerfully provide forgiveness and eternal life for this world. We hear God’s word and listen. We believe God’s word and do. By grace our lives are changed. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed"(1 PETER 2:24).
CONC.: You and I live in the glow that follows Easter. Our lives are now dead to sin and alive for Christ because Christ has died for us that we might live for him. We know, believe, and confess this only because of God’s free gift of grace. “IT IS THE LORD!” Christ constantly cares for us, always. Jesus powerfully provides for us forever in heaven. “IT IS THE LORD!” "That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (ROMANS 10:9,10). “IT IS THE LORD!” Christ constantly cares for us. Our Savior Jesus powerfully provides. May these words always echo in our lives. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: TUES. -- 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF / 10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM
EASTER 2 rdgs.:
ACTS 3:12-20;
1 JOHN 5:1-6;
JOHN 20:19-31;
(PSALM 16)
