John 21
Breakfast by the Sea
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed
Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the
sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find
some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on
his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come
and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This
is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead."--John 21:1-14
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I have read these verses through many times and each time I come away with more. God's word is so rich! The application behind the illustration given in these verses is so basic to our Christian walk. Do we depend on Christ or do we depend on our own efforts? We all go up and down with this in our journey toward the promised land. As we mature in the Lord, however, we do more of the depending on Christ than the not depending. We walk more than in the Spirit than in the flesh. Why? Because the Lord graciously shows us how unsuccessful and futile our self efforts are. Each of us learns this lesson if we are truly His...He makes sure we learn it. He does not fill our cups until we really see the emptiness of our own efforts. He wants us to see our weakness and until we do His strength cannot be applied. It is such a good thing that He does this...self effort is sin. It draws us away from Him...we leave the warmth of His fellowship and presence for what? For failure. Depending on Him is so much better...we stay close, bear fruit and succeed.
Let's look quickly at how it plays out here in the illustration that John gives us. Peter blurts out in verse 3, "I am going fishing," and the others say “We are going with you also.” I did not see prayer being mentioned here or any acknowledgment of the Lord in his decision. I also remember Jesus telling them that He would meet them on the mountain (Matthew 28:16), but here they are by the sea. They have moved away from where Jesus had said he would meet them. It looks like their faith is wavering and they have decided to go back to their former profession and provide for themselves. Now providing for yourself is a good thing...but make certain that you are providing for yourself in cooperation with His will for you and not your own.
The disciples go out and spend the night fishing and come back empty netted. Jesus, whom they do not recognize, probably because they have walked away in their own efforts, pointedly asks them if they have any food. They tell him no. He then tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat and they will find some. Find some they did. We are told they had 153 big fish...Jesus provided for them exceedingly abundantly.
Here is the pattern that we need to see and remember. Peter decides to fish...but He is not doing it in the direction and in the strength of the Lord. It is all him and he takes all the disciples down the same road with him. They catch nothing. Self effort leads to disobedience, failure and loss of fellowship. Your self-efforts can look really good on the outside but they are futile because they were done without Him...they are not what He wanted you to do. Hence, they are destined to fail. I do this so often...I spend time in His word in the morning and get up from my chair and immediately...just like Peter...start to do my own thing without praying or asking the Lord what His plans for me are. Here is what I should be saying either out loud or in my heart: "Lord, show me what you have for me today. Cause me to walk in your way and do those works you have prepared beforehand...I don't want to do anything Lord in my own strength because I know it is sin and comes to nothing. Please work in me and through me."
Conversely, doing things in the strength of the Lord will lead to success and intimate fellowship with Him. Obedience brings blessing...I am going to repeat that....Obedience brings blessing. This is stated throughout the Old and the New Testament....all the way to Revelation 22:7 which says blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Blessing = Obedience. Disobey and close the door on the Lord's blessing. 153 big fish vs 0 fish. Divine effort 1 - Human effort - 0.
Most of us who have been a Christian a while can look back in our walks and remember when the Lord illustrated this truth so that it was understood by our hearts. I can remember saying when He did this for me....wow...I really can't do anything without Him. How futile to try...how stupid to forget God and not bring Him into the equation and cooperate with His will. But, even so, I constantly need the reminder...my heart as my daughter Anna wrote in one of her devotionals does not like to abdicate....It likes to have "me" on the throne instead of my Lord. That is its natural tendency. I love the picture that John gives us of Jesus having breakfast already prepared as they were dragging up their catch. Obedience brings intimate fellowship with Jesus. Jesus said come and eat breakfast...He tells us in John 14:21-24
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to 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. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me."
There is still so much more in this passage but girls...Examine your own hearts. Are you moving on the basis of your own will or His. Are you experiencing intimate fellowship with Him? Are you bearing fruit? You could be doing good things but still be in disobedience to your God. If you have been doing things in your own strength...confess it...admit your need for Him because when you think you can do it on your own you are finished. Failure will be the inevitable result. Failure maybe not in the world's eyes but most definitely in His. You received Christ by faith, walk in faith. You didn't get yourself saved., you can't keep yourself saved and you can't make yourself grow spiritually. It is all Him.
Love
Mom
