Jesus' Appearance at the Sea

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: John 21:1-13
Psalters: 78, 302, 124, 177
  1. The disciples? discouragement.
    1. The followers of Jesus were divided and purposeless ? discouraged!
      1. Jesus? last appearance had been a while, so they discouraged.
      2. There are only seven here, separated from the others.
      3. These seven were in Galilee, in part in compliance with Jesus? command that they go to Galilee (Matt. 28:7).
    2. Their all-night effort failed to catch even a single fish (3b).
      1. The previous time they caught nothing all night was when Jesus called them to be fishers of men (Luke 5)
      2. They are to learn that if He is with them even when they cannot see Him.
  2. Jesus? presence (though unseen) is real and it blesses by graciously using our weakest of means.
    1. Jesus first impresses on us our inability: ?You do not have any meat, have you?? (literal)
      1. This is not to humiliate, but to have us see ourselves accurately and humbly: we can do nothing right of ourselves.
      2. Abruptly they answer, ?No,? displaying disappointment and frustration at unmet expectations.
    2. Remember that Jesus shewed Himself as a stranger unknown to them, before He revealed Himself.
      1. As Mary Magdalene (a gardener), the Savior Lord appeared differently ? the old relationship was finished.
      2. They and we must learn to live and work, not by sight, but by faith in the power of His Word and grace.
    3. Then Jesus showed Himself to them with the familiar miracle of the miraculous catch of fish.
    4. The loving John is able to identify the Lord and the impulsive Peter immediately forgets the fish and jumps in to be near (7).
  3. Jesus provides a gracious reward for ?as soon as they were come to land,? they find everything ready for a meal.
    1. There was a fire and fish cooking and bread ? all ready for them to eat ? ?Come and dine.?.
    2. The Lord graciously adds, ?Bring of the fish which ye have now caught? (9).
      1. While it seems that they not use any of the fish they caught, the Lord wants them to bring what they caught.
      2. While He gathers and preserves, He is pleased to use earthly, human means, and He encourages them and us when He asks that we bring the fruit of our labor to Him.
    3. Finally, we see that the Lord is risen indeed.