Episode 139 - "They knew it was the Lord" - John 21:9-14

May 28, 2022 by David Largent in Who is Jesus?, Gospel of John, Christian, Bible Study

John 21:9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Prior to Jesus’ interaction with Peter, John described the scene as the disciples arrived at the shoreline with their boat and dragging their net full of fish. They had fished all night without catching a single fish and along came Jesus who told them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. They obeyed Jesus’ command and the result was an immediate and overwhelming success. John specified here the exact count of 153 large fish. John so frequently includes little details that have significant implications or meaning and I can’t help but wonder if there is significance to this detail. At the very least it defines the magnitude of the catch or perhaps the abundant provision of God. One can find a number of interesting and plausible interpretations for this specified number within many commentaries.

For my purposes here, I’d like you to notice what the disciples see when they first got to shore. Jesus had a fire going with breakfast of fish cooking on the charcoals along with some bread for his meal. Where did these come from? He wasn’t on the boat. There’s no record that he had his own net or fishing pole. This caused me to recall John chapter four when Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at the well. After his disciples returned from town with food and the woman went to town to tell others about Jesus, the disciples encouraged Jesus to eat. But Jesus replied, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” (John 4:32) Shortly he explained, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34) Soon after this Jesus would take a few small fish (contrasted with 153 large fish) and a few loaves of bread and multiply them to feed thousands of people. It would seem from John’s observation and interpretation of Jesus’ providing the fish and the bread served to remind these disciples of how Jesus had provided for so many before. We see throughout the Scriptures the importance of remembering what God has done before. Sometimes people even built monuments as a means of reminding them and also as a means to teach others who this God is and what He has done. The end purpose is to trust in the LORD because we remember that God is able and God is willing to provide what we need.

In verse twelve, Jesus invited them to have breakfast. I think that Peter was not the only one who was struggling with the LORD’s presence due to guilt or shame they had abandoned him when he was arrested. Notice that John mentioned that no one asked him “Who are you?” Why does John feel the need to say this? These are people who had been living with him for the past few years. They know what he looked like. I suspect that their shame evoked by his appearing to them alive was uncomfortable. Furthermore, it would have conflicted with their reason. “Is he really, physically alive and here with us?” they might have thought. It would be easy to think out loud, “Are you really the Lord?” But, John says that they didn’t ask him because they knew it was him. Now, here he is inviting them to eat with him once again. It’s a way in which he is communicating that he wants to fellowship and be present with them. He has not and will not abandon them.

Finally, John mentions this was the third time he appeared to his disciples. Again, I believe John has a purpose in providing this detail. In my opinion, it’s an indication of what is about to transpire between the Lord and Peter and perhaps the others who may be hearing what Jesus is saying to Peter and perhaps indirectly to them. Peter had denied three times that he knew Jesus after Jesus’ arrest. Now, this is the third time the resurrected Lord has appeared to him and the others. Despite Peter’s attempts to separate his identity as a friend of Jesus, Jesus is demonstrating that he is still with them.

What speaks to me in this story is the grace and mercy Jesus showed to his disciples. He knows their thoughts and he understands their feelings. He draws them to him in fellowship through this amazing provision and a meal. As we will soon see, he has not cast them off from the purpose he has established for them. They will soon become fishers of mankind.

Episode 138 - "It is the Lord!" - John 21:1-8

May 21, 2022 by David Largent in Who is Jesus?, Gospel of John, Christian, Bible Study

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

In the last episode, I focused on the first three verses of this story. I mentioned how the LORD revealed himself wherever and whenever he wanted. There is nothing that can prevent God’s presence with us. It would seem from this story that we never have to wonder if God is there or not. Our problem is whether we believe from one moment to the next that He is all-powerful, all-good, and is accessible to us.

Peter had denied that he knew the Lord three times after asserting that he would die for him. It is interesting how that never seemed to come up in the two appearances Jesus made to the disciples preceding this encounter. But, you can bet that with everything that has happened, Peter has not forgotten it. My guess is that Peter’s guilt was festering like a boil. There is no record that Jesus chastised him during the times he appeared to them and it would seem that it didn’t come up. The trauma of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, the fear of persecution by the Jewish leaders leading them to lock themselves into a home, the shock mixed with the joy of Jesus’ resurrection and appearance to them, and the guilt of denying and abandoning the Lord had to be working heavily on these guys. They needed an outlet; something to get their mind off of it all. More importantly, they needed a purpose and a direction in life.

Verse four begins with “Just as day was breaking.” Just as day was breaking, just as the light was appearing, Jesus (the Light of the world) showed up on the shore. But, the disciples still did not recognize who it was. Jesus called to them and addressed them as “children.” I’m not exactly sure what is going on here by this address. It would not seem that Jesus was insulting them and there’s no evidence that they took it that way. He asked them if they had any fish and they replied “no.” I suspect that in doing so, Jesus had a purpose. That purpose might have been to establish this experience as a learning experience and that he was the teacher. Since we believe that our author is one of the men in the boat and is the first to recognize that it’s Jesus on the shoreline, this stuck in his mind. Still, the first reaction in the disciples’ minds might have been who does this guy think he is by calling us children?

Jesus’ instructions to the “children” were, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.” (v. 6) The audacity of this guy. We’ve been fishing all night long. Does he really think we haven’t fished throughout this whole area on various sides of the boat? That’s what I would imagine these guys to be thinking. What surprises me a little is that they don’t seem to even argue. They just obeyed. Oh . . . maybe that’s the point. They just obeyed Jesus’ command. But, did you notice that Jesus didn’t just command them to cast the net on the right side of the boat? He made them a promise, “You will find some.” There’s the understatement of all time. They didn’t just catch some. Their net was full to the point that they would normally expect it to break causing them to lose their catch. But, it didn’t. Here is the point that all of us can learn. We experience God’s promises when we obey His commands. The promises are for our good. The most important command of the Lord for us is to believe that Jesus, God’s Son, revealed himself in this world, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin making us just before God, and raised from the dead giving us hope that he will fulfill his promise to raise us from the dead and give us eternal life.

In an instant of realizing their tremendous catch by obeying this “stranger’s” command, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) told Peter, “It is the Lord!” Immediately, what was more important than achieving what they had been vainly striving for on their own all night long was the identity of the person on the shore. There’s another good lesson for us, isn’t it? Our own efforts are all in vain if Jesus is not more important.

This revelation to Peter was the tipping point in his own life. Forgetting the fish, he put on his outer garment and jumped into the sea to go to Jesus. What was he going to do? What was he going to say? What would Jesus do or say when it was just the two of them alone on the shore. I don’t Peter had a clue. I think he just needed to be with Jesus and that he expected Jesus to address his guilt and pain. Perhaps that’s a good lesson for us as well. There are times when we don’t know which way is up. There are moments when we feel guilt or just inadequate and without purpose or value. We need to go to Jesus trusting that he knows where we’re at and how to comfort and encourage us in those times.

Episode 137 - Jesus revealed himself again - John 21:1-8

May 14, 2022 by David Largent in Who is Jesus?, Gospel of John, Christian, Bible Study

According to John, Jesus appeared to the disciples on the evening after his resurrection and then again eight days later when Thomas was with them. On both occasions, he simply appeared in the locked room with them. There was no knock on the door and wait for someone to let him in. That seems a little freaky when you first think about it. That Jesus is just there at his will. But, if you stop and consider the implications, it reveals that nothing can prevent or impede God’s presence with his people. I find that comforting.

In the first verse of this chapter John says twice that Jesus “revealed himself.” There were times during his earthly ministry when Jesus “hid himself.” (See John 8:59, John 12:36) Now it would appear that he is often hidden but revealed himself at times deemed important by the Father. In this case, the disciples have emerged from their seclusion and are ready to get on with life it would seem. Peter announced that he was going fishing and others quickly joined him. They were fishing on the “Sea of Tiberias,” another name for the Sea of Galilee.

Did you notice the little detail John added about when they were fishing? It was at night when it was dark. Sound familiar? Unbelieving Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. After the miraculous feeding of the multitude, the disciples got into a boat to cross over to the other side and a storm came up when they were halfway across the Sea of Galilee. John mentions, “It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.” (John 6:17) Now, once again the disciples are in a boat on the Sea of Galilee when it’s dark and Jesus is not with them. John had said in his introduction, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) I mentioned early in this study that the Greek word translated as “overcome” could also mean “understood.” It would seem that the literal darkness they were experiencing also testified metaphorically of their lack of understanding concerning Jesus. Peter and the others returned to the place where they had been when Jesus first called them. But, that’s not where they were to remain and Jesus appeared to them in order to bring some light to their understanding.

By themselves and in the dark, “they caught nothing.” They were completely unsuccessful on their own. That is a good lesson for us. We can do nothing apart from God’s presence and will with us.

It seems to me that just four verses into this story, we have enough to challenge us for this week. Let me summarize what I see.

Nothing prevents God’s presence with us. We can trust that he is accessible and aware of our needs even though we can’t see him or even sense him.
When we trust that the Lord is good and cares about us and is present with us we are exercising faith without seeing and we are not in darkness.
We will not be truly successful in our endeavors if we are not listening to the Lord and seeking His will.

We’ll continue with this story in our next episode.

Episode 100 - "In that day you will know that I am in my Father . . ." John 14:18-24

August 14, 2021 by David Largent in Who is Jesus?, Gospel of John, Christian, Bible Study

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

So far in this discussion, Jesus has had with his disciples he has made it clear that he is going away. Yet, he will not leave them alone. He is going to send them the Holy Spirit who will be a helper and comforter. Furthermore, he tells them that they will do the works he has done and even greater ones. Also, they can ask anything in his name and he will do it. In other words, he will always be cognizant of their needs and be able to hear them and act upon their requests. He has also emphasized the importance of their need to obey his commands.

The encouragement continues as he promises them, “I will come to you . . . in a little while.” (vv. 18-19) People speculate on exactly when this will be. Will this be on Easter morning after the resurrection? Is it speaking of his second coming? Is it speaking of his presence through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Personally, I’m inclined to interpret this as his appearing to them shortly after his resurrection. Why? For one, he says, “a little while.” I suspect that he fully understands the shock and despair they are about to experience when he is hanged on the cross and laid in a grave. All sense of reason would extinguish any hope of seeing him again soon. He’s dead, right? The one person who had the ability to raise Lazarus from the dead is now dead himself. What hope would there be? I think Jesus tells them, “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live” (v. 19) so that when he does appear to them, their hope will not only be restored, but their faith in his words and promises will be strengthened. This is part of Jesus preparing them for the mission he is assigning them. They will need to know and be convinced that he is alive and is with them all the way. This explains why he follows that up with, “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (v. 20)

Again, Jesus repeats the importance of them obeying his commandments. Doing so is evidence of their love for him. The Father and the Son love those who keep Jesus’ commands and Jesus promises that he will manifest himself to those he loves.

This “other Judas” asks a great question. He asks, “How is it that Jesus will manifest himself to them but not to the world?” (v. 22 my paraphrase) Jesus’ response is that the Father and the Son will come to those who keep Jesus’ commands and make their home with him/her. (v. 23) There again is the theme that appears so frequently throughout the Scriptures: God actively moves to dwell with those He loves. God fellowshipped with Adam and Eve, God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle so God could dwell in the midst of His people. John wrote in John 1:14 “the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us.” And John also wrote in the apocalyptic book Revelation that at the end of time the heaven and earth will be destroyed and a new heaven and earth will be created and it will be an eternal dwelling place for God with man. “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:3)

This section concludes with Jesus saying that those who don’t keep his words are revealing that they really don’t love him. He adds that this message (warning) is from the Father himself.

What do you think? Is it important to love one another? Is it critical that we humble ourselves to serve others? It is if we want to experience God’s fellowship. Is it not?