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Fish and More Fish
4/22/07
Read John 21 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021;&version=31;
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Cor.%2015:1-11;&version=31;
If you have ever gone fishing, you know what it is like to not catch anything. No matter what bait you use, sometimes the fish just don’t bite. But when you are fortunate to finally get a bite on your hook, there is nothing like the taste of fresh fish cooked on an open campfire. Keep that picture in your mind as we look at this passage.
The disciples decided to go fishing, but they didn’t catch anything. Jesus stood there on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize Him. Jesus called out to them inquiring whether they had caught any fish yet. They replied they had not. Then He told them to put their net on the other side of the boat and they would find some. They caught so many fish, we are told 153, that they could not haul the net in. Then they knew it was Jesus. So they dragged the net to the shore about one hundred yards away. He prepared some of the fish and bread for them.
After breakfast, Jesus reinstates Peter. If you remember, he was the one who had denied Him three times, as Jesus had predicted. Now, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. Each time Peter answered, “You know that I love You.” Each time Jesus added a command for Peter to demonstrate his love. By the third time, Peter was hurt that Jesus had asked him the same question three times. As I was reading this passage, the thought occurred to me that perhaps Jesus used this was a reminder to Peter of how much he had hurt Jesus when he denied Him. But Jesus willingly forgave Peter and, as a result, his faith in Jesus grew stronger and he went on to be a great leader.
As I conclude this series, I want to briefly look at further evidence for the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. This whole chapter is devoted to this subject. The Apostle Paul says that if the resurrection did not happen, then our faith is in vain. Notice that Jesus appeared to 500 people at one time. At the time this was written, many were still alive and were witnesses that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead. Finally, Jesus appeared to Paul, who had persecuted other believers before he came to know Jesus. But God’s grace was freely given to Paul to transform him to spread the Gospel to others. When Jesus left this earth, He commanded all of us to tell others about Him, as recorded in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. So why is it we make excuses by saying that we are not qualified to proclaim His message? There are no exceptions. I would encourage you to go to God in prayer and ask Him for a greater burden for the lost. Then just like the disciples and the Apostle Paul, be fishers of men, and take advantage of every opportunity you have to tell others the good news about Jesus. God wants to use you, and He will, when you are open to His Spirit’s leading. Be yourself and don’t be afraid. He will give you the words to say or ways to demonstrate to others God’s love. Always remember that God loves you and so many people are hurting today. They need to know and experience the great hope of the resurrection in their life and you may be the only person that can tell them that great news. Go share His message!
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