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Christian Questions Bible Podcast
After His Resurrection, What Did Jesus Teach Us About Fishing?
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Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions.
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Access more audio videos and Bible Study resources@christianquestions.com Our topic is After His Resurrection,
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what did Jesus teach us about fishing?
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Here's Rick, Jonathan and Julie.
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Welcome everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Jonathan, my co host for over 25 years and Julie, a longtime contributor, is also with us. Jonathan, what's our theme scripture for this episode?
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John 21:6 and he said to them, cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find a catch. So they cast and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
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The crucifixion of Jesus was an event that absolutely overwhelmed his apostles and disciples. Even though Jesus had forewarned them of what was coming, they were still taken by by complete surprise. In his great wisdom, Jesus arranged his post resurrection appearances in such a way as to show them not only who he was, but what was to come. It's fascinating to see how he revealed more and more about their future with each appearance. When we get to his third appearance to a group of his apostles. Jesus came to them as they were fishing. What he did and what he taught related to fishing gave them a pointed and powerful lesson regarding their future. So we're going to look at this appearance of Jesus to a group of his apostles in that 40 day period between his resurrection and his ascension. This account is found in John chapter 21, verses 1 through 13. And what we want to do is unfold it piece by piece as we track Jesus's teaching. So let's start by reading John 21:1 3.
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After these things, Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberius. And he manifested himself in this way. Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathaniel of Canaan in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and the two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. And they said to him, we will also come with you. They went out and got into the boat and that night they caught nothing.
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So that's the beginning of the account. We need to break this down piece by piece to really understand what's being said here. And the lessons, because they're big lessons and they show us something more than meets the eye and that's what we want to try and understand. So Jonathan, let's go back and start with the first verse of that 21st chapter of John, John 21:1.
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After these things, Jesus manifested himself again to the Disciples at the Sea of Tiberius. And he manifested himself in this way.
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The Sea of Tiberius is its Roman name, named after the reigning emperor, Tiberius Caesar. This is the Sea of Galilee. That's the Jewish name. And Lake Gennesaret is the older regional name. Same body of water, three names. So, Jonathan, you read after these things, Jesus manifested himself. What things? Well, this would be Jesus's third manifestation of his resurrected self to a large group of his disciples, likely three or four weeks after his resurrection.
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All right, so we first had him appear in a group setting to the 10 apostles. Then a week later, he appeared to the 11 apostles. And we talked about Thomas not being doubting Thomas, but faithful Thomas. And now he's going to appear, as we will see, to seven of his apostles. So we want to put this in order, and it's interesting. This Sea of Tiberius is the Sea of Galilee. Galilee is a big deal in terms of the Gospel. And we want to look at three important details regarding Galilee in the ministry of Jesus. So what are these details, Julie? Let's get started with that.
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Well, the calling to follow Jesus for several of these disciples began here. Matthew 4, 18, 19. Now, as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
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So recognize that. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Because that statement's going to come up later in terms of putting this whole lesson together. It was the. The calling of several of the disciples began in Galilee when. What's the second point, Jonathan?
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The assurance of Jesus being their Messiah was given in relation to the familiar location of their homes. Mark 14, 27 and 28. And Jesus said to them, you will all fall away because it is written, I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after I have been risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.
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So Jesus, before his crucifixion, said he, here's what's gonna happen. Here's what's gonna happen to all of you. You're gonna be scattered, you're gonna be confused, you're gonna be panicked. But I will go ahead of you to Galilee when I'm raised. He gave them that as a reference point for something to look forward to after his crucifixion. Now, of course, they forgot that in the moment, but that brings us to the third point.
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Yes, the reuniting of the apostles to their Lord after his resurrection was to be solidified in this same place. Here was the message of the angel to the women at the tomb. It's found in Mark 16:6 to 7. And he said to them, do not be amazed. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, here is the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples and Peter, he is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you.
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Just as he told you. The angel literally quotes what Jesus told them. So Galilee is a really important part in this transition from what they were and their relationship with what Jesus was to them to what they were to become and their new relationship to Jesus. This is an important scenario. Let's go a little further. Galilee is important. Well, who was there in Galilee at this time? Jonathan, you already read it. But let's go Back to John 21:2.
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Simon Peter and Thomas, called Didymus and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee. And the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples were together.
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Now Nathaniel was also known by his family name, Bartholomew, kind of like our present day last names. The sons of Zebedee. That was James and John. They were two brothers who were part of Jesus's inner circle along with Peter. And then there's these two others of his disciples. They're unnamed. They're generally agreed that they are Andrew and Philip. They were both from Bethsaida. That was a fishing town right on the Sea of Galilee. And they were often found together with Peter, James and John.
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Every man in that boat was one of the original apostles. So this whole fishing scene is a gathering of apostles waiting in Galilee.
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So why are they in Galilee then? Why are they there?
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Well, we just said it because Jesus himself said, meet me there after my resurrection. And Jonathan just read that in Mark 14:28. It's in Matthew as well. The angel of the tomb repeated that instruction. So they are supposed to wait in Galilee for further instructions. They were told that several times.
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So they go there. It's their home and they're waiting and it's convenient, but nothing's happening. Days are going by and there's no nothing happening. And so now let's go to John 21:3 while they're in Galilee and nothing is happening.
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As days go by, Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, we will also come with you. They went out and got into the boat and that night they, they caught nothing. Simon Peter said this Gives us the sense of how much leadership was and is always needed. We follow a voice that speaks with authority. Perhaps a few weeks had gone by without any further direction or instructions from Jesus. They needed direction. Peter's humanly responsible instructions would bring them to the place at the right time, even if Peter had no idea about the outcome.
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Yeah, before the crucifixion, Jesus and the apostles were supported by the generosity of believers. So after the scandal of the cross, we can only assume that that support would have dried up. So with Jesus no longer physically providing any direction and no clear instructions yet about future work, the apostles did the practical thing. They went back to what they knew. Fishing. They had to provide for themselves while they waited for Jesus next steps.
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And you notice who was the one who came up with the idea.
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Peter.
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But Simon Peter, he is the leader. He can't sit still. Let's go fishing. We've got to do something. It's productive. It was a good decision. He had no idea what was going to be happening. Now look, it says they went. They went fishing and they caught nothing. Catching nothing would be a clear and present reminder of how precarious our human lives are. They probably hadn't gone fishing for a very, very, very long time. First time back, they got nothing. So you give it a sense of, I remember this, I remember the precariousness. And it's, maybe we get there, maybe we don't. In this introduction to this, what we are yet to see is an appearance of Jesus. We're seeing these seven men doing something very natural to them as they're waiting, waiting to hear from Jesus who is now a spirit being. And they don't know what to do. Let's put this all together. What we're looking to do is find the. The faith of those who would be fishers of men.
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Following Jesus is no easy task. Jesus knew this and met the seven where they were.
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From there, he would show them what their new lives would be all about. Jesus was absolutely sensitive to the humanness and habits of his beloved followers and fed them the truth of their mission with their frailty in mind.
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And so what we're going to see is what we've always seen. Jesus is going to do exactly what's needed at the exact time. It's needed in the exact way that it will give the biggest positive lesson, not only for the present, but for the future as well. Knowing Jesus will again manifest himself to his followers tells us what's coming. Blessings, lessons, and clear instructions regarding their future.
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Seven men fishing all night without catching anything, this would normally be considered a failed effort. But was it?
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Well, defining true success and failure in our lives depends on whose perspective we're using. To the human mind, that night of fishing with no catch was a failure. But through the eyes of God and through the presence and efforts of Jesus, that night was a time of successful preparation. See, that's the key. Jesus was waiting for them, and now he would be able to have their attention.
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Let's continue our examination of John chapter 21 now, verse 4. But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach. Yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
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So they've been fishing all night, caught nothing. The sun is just cracking through and beginning to shine. And now it's daybreak and Jesus is standing on the beach. But of course, they don't know who he is because they were going fishing because they're waiting. So let's remember, this environment, this environment that they're in, fishing and catching nothing, is very similar, very similar to a time three years before when Jesus drew them to him to become fishers of men. So what we want to do at this point is say, okay, let's take a time out on this account of Jesus after his resurrection. Let's go back to that other fishing experience, because what we're going to see is a dramatic comparison between these two fishing experiences, one three years ago that is going to be written up in Luke and the other that we are working on in John chapter 21. We're going to go back and forth between these and look at the comparisons to see the bigger lessons. So going back to that first experience three years before, that experience was at the beginning of their call to follow. Follow the beginning of their call to follow. This is important because it helps us understand the bigger lessons. So it was at the beginning of their call to follow, and like we said, it was three years before. It was on the occasion of the apostle Peter's third drawing to follow Jesus.
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Yeah, Peter first met Jesus in John 1 and followed him more closely in Matthew 4. So now we're reading from Luke 5 when he was drawn in completely. And I'll read the earlier Luke account from now on to contrast with Jonathan's reading from the later John account. So let's start with Luke 5, 3, and he got into one of the boats that was Jesus, and he got into one of the boats, which is Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And he sat down and began teaching the people from the boat.
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So he's in the boat with Simon. He has already invited Simon a couple of times to follow him over the last few months. He's in the boat, he's teaching. Jesus would again draw them to him for that very same purpose. In the account after his resurrection, there's a connectivity between them. But in that account, in the John account after his resurrection, it would be an even stronger message. This is going to be a contrast. The Luke account, Julie, that you're going to be reading for us is the beginning of their call to follow the John account that Jonathan's going to be reading for us. This new fishing experience was at the beginning of the of their call to preach and to lead. So we've got the beginning of their call to follow the Luke experience three years before. And this is the beginning of their call to preach and lead three years after, after Jesus resurrection. So let's get back to the John account, the after resurrection account. Remember, it says that Jesus was on the shore. They didn't recognize him. And here's the point. Whether they recognized him or not, Jesus was with them, waiting to bless them. In this instance, they would recognize him not by his voice, not by his personal appearance, but by his miraculous actions. So, Jonathan, let's go back to John 21:5.
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So Jesus said to them, children, you do not have any fish, do you? They answered him, no. Let's set the context. These seven apostles are discouraged, have no direction, and are unsure of their future. They are even failing at fishing, which is what they know best.
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Yeah, and Jesus calls them children. Well, that's not derogatory. It's functioning as a warm, familiar address. It's a term of affection, connection, protection. It's kind of like saying my boys or dear ones. And years later, John uses it again in 1st John 2.
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18 children, it is the last hour. And just as you heard that Antichrist is coming, even now, many Antichrists have appeared. From this we know that it is the last hour.
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So it's interesting. Jesus in the John account after his resurrection, calls those seven apostles children. John, writing many years later, because he's one of those seven, uses the same term, and he's using the same term to say, we're coming to a transition. Children, those who I am looking to have affection for, who I'm connected to and who want to protect, be aware, be aware. Well, John was preparing his fellow disciples for changes that were coming, just as Jesus had prepared him and his fellow apostles for changes. To me, that's just one of those little side gems. John remembers how Jesus addressed them, and he uses it later on, many, many years later. And again, we're going to this John 21 fishing experience. It was at the beginning of their call to preach and lead. Jesus called them children. Do you have any fish? No. Okay, so let's move forward with that. Yeah.
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So Jesus, you know, do you have any fish? Well, that sounds like he's asking about food or their night's work, but he's really drawing their attention to the emptiness of their efforts. It's like his gentle way of asking, how are your labors going without me? And it sets the stage for the lesson that will follow. And I was thinking about this. Sometimes we go through seasons of spiritual drought and we don't feel as close to the Lord and we go back to our normal way of doing things. Maybe we fall back into some old habits, but they don't seem as fulfilling as they once did. So what's our purpose and direction? We shouldn't be just floating around looking for fish.
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Well, let's continue in John 21. And now let's read verse six. And he said to them, cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find a catch.
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There was some Bible commentary from David Guzik that I liked. It said, Jesus made a strange suggestion to his disciples. There was no logical reason why fishing in the morning light would be better than fishing at night. There was no reason why fishing on one side of the boat would be better than the other side. It wasn't even a direct test of trust in Jesus because they didn't even know it was him until the fish were caught.
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So you've got this strange comment from this person on shore that's quite some distance away. Cast the net on the right side and you'll find a catch. This was direct guidance from somebody. They didn't know who it was, but if it was followed, we know that it would produce success and provide the lesson. Couple of questions involved in that. Okay. Because it's coming from a stranger, apparently, and it's an odd request. Why the right side of the boat? Well, let's take a look at two potential lessons here. First, it was obvious, as you mentioned, Julia, completely different and perhaps less natural approach. It just. They were probably casting that over the other side and. No, no, cast it on the side. You don't. You're not used to. So it was different. Got their attention. The second lesson, though, I think is really, really, really significant spiritually. When you talk about the right side in Scripture, the right side is Always the side of power and authority. And it was the side that Jesus himself would occupy. Now, remember, they don't know, but Jesus is giving the command, cast your net on the right side. So let's look at an example of that with Jesus. And this is before his crucifixion, when he is before the high priest. Matthew 26:63, 64.
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And the high priest said to him, I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said to him, you have said it yourself. Nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power.
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Jesus himself says, you will see me sitting at the right hand of power. So when Jesus says to them in John 21, after his resurrection, they don't even know who he is casting that on the right side. I think he's basically showing us that this is where. This is God's power that I am wielding, and this is what is going to draw you to do the work that you are going to need to do.
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So what happens continuing in John 21:6? So they cast.
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All right, so remember, casting that on the right side and you'll find a catch. It doesn't say that they deliberated and thought about it. It says, okay, so they did it. So they listened. They instantly listened to this. They immediately obeyed. Jesus was showing them a new and dramatic and miraculous beginning. They didn't know it. They had no idea, but they listened. Jesus was using the beginning of their call to follow. Remember the Luke account three years before? It was the beginning of their call to follow him, to teach them about the beginning of their call to preach and lead. They don't know this yet. This is completely. They're completely oblivious to this. All they know is didn't catch anything all night. This guy says, throw the net on the right side. Let's do that. It's gonna grow in a big way in a few minutes. But they. At this point, the lessons are beginning to line up without them even knowing and understanding. So let's transition back to the account of fishing three years before, when Jesus is in the boat with Simon Peter and he's giving him instructions. So let's go Back to Luke 5, 4, 5, life.
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When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch. Simon answered and said, master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as you say and let down the nets.
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Okay, there's a little Reluctance, but he's going to do it. Simon was in a position of a humble student at this point, and what he did didn't seem logical. I'm the fisherman, I know there aren't fish today. But he does what doesn't seem logical. And this is a real precursor to what would happen after Jesus's resurrection. We're going to see how all this fits in. So again, we're looking at this account three years before in Luke chapter 5, where Jesus is in the boat with Simon Peter. And in that, Julie, you just read that Jesus said to them, okay, I'm done teaching. Go back out into the deep water and put your nets out for a catch. And Simon says, well, okay. And then we're comparing that to the after resurrection where Jesus is on the shore saying, put your nets out on the right side. They don't know who it is yet. There's some differences and some similarities. So, so what's the same and what's different?
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Well, in their call to follow in the book of Luke, this was a planned fishing expedition. Their human lives would be interrupted by Jesus's call. Jesus was pushing them to go back to deep water.
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They're called a lead. After the resurrection in the book of John, this was a fishing expedition that was in the context, waiting, waiting for Jesus's guidance.
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So they're called to follow. In Luke, there was no success in their planned nighttime expedition.
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Well, they're called a lead. In John, there was no success in this spur of the moment nighttime expedition.
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In their call to follow, Jesus was in the boat first to preach, then to draw Peter. This was the third time he's come to Simon Peter. And he instructed them while being with them upon the sea, they're called a lead.
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Jesus was on shore. He instructed them from the solid ground of their eventual destination.
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And finally, in their call to follow, Jesus told them go into the deep waters and they obeyed. He worked through more natural means to catch the fish.
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They're called a lead. They faithfully followed Jesus's instructions, immediately casting their nets on the right side.
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You can see there's a similarity, a lot of similarities, but a lot of differences. Jesus is in the boat. In the early account, he's not in the boat. In later account, they go out to deep sea. In the earlier account, in later account, wherever they are, he just says, cast your net. So you have these similarities and differences. And folks, what's happening here is when we put these two accounts together and we recognize them as the Luke account, the one three years before when he's drawing the apostle Peter to him. This is the call to follow Jesus walk and learn of me in the resurrection account. This is the call to take up the work that Jesus is going to leave them because he's not going to be with them anymore. So you have two different objectives and he's using the same kind of fishing experience in both of these objectives. And there's a beauty in this. There's a wisdom in this that is just profound. So again, let's go back to finding the faith of those who would be fishers of men.
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Learning to truly follow Jesus is accomplished not only by listening, but also by retaining and internalizing what we have heard.
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Then we need to practically and faithfully apply it all to our lives.
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These two fishing expeditions were there to teach his disciples how to follow so
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they could eventually lead.
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So you're getting the point. It's about following when he's calling Peter back in Luke three years ago. And it's about leading after he's been crucified and raised because they need to pick up where he left off. Two fishing expeditions that are so similar and yet have such a dramatically different sense of the lessons that they're teaching. The similarities and differences between these experiences, they should. They should make us pause and consider what Jesus is teaching us as he taught his disciples.
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This post resurrection appearance of Jesus seems to have a deep and deliberate set of lessons for us. Where does it go from here?
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Well, the next level of this lesson clearly focused on Peter. Jesus knew that at this very fragile time for his followers after his crucifixion and at his resurrection, at this very fragment fragile time, they would need strong leadership. And as he would no longer be walking alongside of them as a man, he was going to be leaving them and not coming back. Peter was the beginning of that leadership. This is critical. He would need to see, comprehend and embrace all that Jesus was showing him. Even if it was uncomfortable, he needed to grab hold of these things. And Jesus was there to teach him how.
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We are putting the two fishing miracles side by side. One at the beginning of Peter's journey, Luke 5, and one at the end, John 21. The back and forth will show us how Jesus uses the same kind of moment to shape Peter at two very different stages of his life.
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So let's go back to the beginning of the call to follow and the great catch of fish with Jesus in the boat. That's Luke 5, 6. When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish and their nets began to break.
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So Jesus is In the boat with Peter, they have this great catch, and there's so many fish, the nets start to break. First of all, let's break this down a little bit. Their obedience produced an immense catch. They listened to Peter's like, okay, we've done this before, and now there's something that's very dramatic. But the catch wasn't complete because the nets actually broke. The work of being fishers of men. This kind of indicates to us that would have to continue at a later time because the net's broken. The catch couldn't have been as complete as they were looking.
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Yeah. Traditionally, Christians have thought that the breaking of the nets signified the weight of their calling. Like their work was bigger than what they were ready to carry at this point. But remember, in both Matthew and Mark, Jesus said, I'll make you fishers of men. So if the fish represent people, perhaps, perhaps the nets breaking represent that some of the fish that got away, namely the Jewish people who rejected Jesus at that time.
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Yeah. And remember, Jesus was with them in the boat. And I think that's a significant piece when we look at this particular fishing experience, he's with them. I think it depicts his earthly ministry. It was for a period of time, and it ended in his crucifixion. But there was great success. But you did have those broken nets.
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Let's go back to the beginning of their call to preach and to lead, and the great catch with Jesus on Shore. John 21:6. So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. What a dramatic and overwhelming reminder this must have been. It would have brought them right back to their beginnings with Jesus. Their obedience gave them great success, and they could not even bring the fish on board.
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Now, they probably didn't think about that at that exact moment. But, you know, what you're seeing is we've been here before. Obviously we're going to see they're not connecting with Jesus yet. But there is this very, very strong drawing that says there's something happening here that's beyond us. You're right, Jonathan. It was a dramatic and overwhelming reminder for them of how they had been led in their lives. So we have this experience after Jesus resurrection. They're trying to haul it in because of the great number of fish. It's very, very difficult and very heavy. So now let's go back to the other account. Let's go back three years earlier, when Jesus is on the boat with Peter.
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Luke 5, 8, 9. But when Simon Peter saw that he fell down at Jesus feet, saying, go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken. So what's happening is Peter is so overwhelmed by this miracle that he pulls back and he tells Jesus, go away, because he's just not worthy. He feels too sinful.
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His humility was overwhelming, and he recognized the greatness of the Lord Jesus. And he knew what he was made of. He knew of his own challenges. And he's like, no, you are. You are too big and too remarkable for me. He couldn't see himself with the Lord. He's got this great humility. And that's one of the things that drew Jesus to call him, was this great humility with this great energy. This is a precursor again, another precursor of what is coming.
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Right. He's going to go from following, but not really to really following.
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Yeah, exactly.
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Well, back to leading. John 21:7. Therefore, the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, it is the Lord. At this point, the apostle John was more tuned in to the resurrection and how Jesus was working than the others. They would soon learn.
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But John did have that sense of really understanding when he and Peter ran to the tomb on the day of Jesus resurrection. It says that John looked in and believed. And so you can you see that John had that sense and he recognized. He was the first one to actually recognize that's Jesus. This couldn't have happened without Jesus. That's him over there on the shore. We can't see him. We're not close enough to make out who he is, but that's who it is. The apostle John is very, very, very focused and clear. He said, it's the Lord. He doesn't say, hmm, I wonder if it could be. It is a definitive. It is the Lord. So, Jonathan, let's continue with the second part of verse 7, John 21:7.
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So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on and threw himself into the sea. Rick, I want to see if I have this comparison right now. In Luke, when Jesus called Peter to follow him, Peter responded by saying he was a sinner and unworthy. But here in John, the moment Peter realized it was the Lord, he was completely all in. Nothing could hold him back. He threw himself into the water to get to Jesus as fast as he could.
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Yeah. And there was no thought. He can't wait to be face to face with Jesus again. I need to go to him right now. And he just jumps into the water. What you see is the call to follow. Peter recognized, and this is back in Luke, this is three years ago, he recognized how faulty he was. This is now the call to lead. And he has been used to being with Jesus and he just can't imagine being anyplace else. So you can see the difference. You have the call while Jesus is walking the earth with them, and now you have this call while Jesus is going to be in heaven. He needed Peter to lead, and Peter is jumping to that challenge. He's jumping into the water. So what a powerful lesson in Peter's response. The other piece that's important here is John and Peter. Notice the difference between the two. John recognizes it's the Lord. Peter immediately responds to the fact that it's the Lord. You have these two working together, got the job done. And this is a tremendous lesson regarding the power of the diversity of the body of Christ. This is a lesson that we should all walk away with, seeing how John contributed and how Peter contributed. So let's look at this lesson for us in 1 Corinthians 12, 14, 18.
- [32:47]
B
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body, it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body, it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body just as he desired.
- [33:20]
A
So in the body you have these parts that do separate things, things that are very different that and yet they are all part of the same body and they complement one another. That's exactly the lesson we're seeing. John said it, Peter did it, and they both got the job done. How do we respond as being different parts of the body because somebody else is not a Christian like me? Does that make them less of a Christian? No. What we need to see is how they contribute and how we can work together and supplement one another. Whether they knew it or not, that's what John and Peter were showing us. And it's a beautiful, beautiful lesson. So we're seeing that happen. Peter dives into the water fully closed and swims to the shore because he wants to be with Jesus. And keep that thought in mind. And let's go back three years before. Now let's go back to the other fishing expedition when Jesus is in the boat with Peter.
- [34:19]
C
Luke 5, 7. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats so that they began to sink.
- [34:28]
A
Okay, so you have so many fish in that fishing expedition. Way back three years before, when Peter is being drawn, the two boats are beginning to sink. I mean, this is a magnificent catch. And remember, they caught nothing the night before. And Peter grudgingly went out and did what Jesus said. Both boats filled while still on the restless waters of the sea. Okay, they're still on the sea. Jesus is still with them. Perhaps we're seeing a picture of Jesus being present with them in his earthly ministry as we've been talking about drawing so much immediate interest wherever he went, what happened? He drew crowds. He would heal. He'd draw crowds, he would teach. He would draw crowds. He would get into the discussions with the Pharisees. He would draw crowds. He drew interest wherever he went. Their work was only beginning as they together brought the catch to shore. And again, Jesus is with them in that experience. They're being called to follow. Basically, Jesus is saying, watch what I do, hear what I say, and understand that everything I do and say comes from my father. Basically, he's modeling for them what they need to be in the other experience after the resurrection, the fishing experience. Three years later, Jesus is saying, you've seen me, you're coming to me now. I need you to take my place and be the leaders and be those who preach the gospel. So let's go back to the after resurrection fishing experience. Jonathan, back to John. And this is the experience where they lead back to John 21:8.
- [35:59]
B
And this is right after Peter jumped into the water. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about 100 yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
- [36:14]
A
So first thing you think of is, okay, thanks, Peter. You left us to drag this net without you.
- [36:19]
C
Oh, that's funny.
- [36:20]
A
Okay. But Peter had something bigger in mind. Guys, take care of the fish. I have to go see Jesus. And you've got to appreciate that. And the nets are heavy, and they're in a small boat, and there's only six of them. Now, they could not carry this catch that Jesus had arranged and instead had to literally drag the nets. They couldn't haul it into the boats. They had to drag the net to Jesus, who was waiting for them on shore. Now they know it's Jesus, and now you can imagine the adrenaline that hits when it's like, it's the Lord. Let's bring this in right here, right now. I don't think any of them were thinking, Peter, I think they're thinking, it's the Lord, let's get to him, you know? Yeah, that's right. Hurry. This is big. This is important. So perhaps a picture of drawing the net of the called out ones through the age of the gospel. Perhaps that's what this is showing us. Showing us that they were out in the restless seas of humanity finding those specific called out ones, and they were bringing them to Jesus, who's on shore, who's on the solid ground of the heavenly calling and showing that they are working together through the last 2,000 years. Perhaps that's what this is showing us because they needed to get the work done and Jesus is waiting for the finished work. So you can see that the contrast in the experience from three years before is Jesus is with them on the boats and the boats begin to sink. Of course they make it, but Jesus is with them here. They need to bring the fish to him, they need to bring it to shore, they need to bring it to a place where things are stable. That's the heavenly calling. Finding the faith of those who would be fishers of men. What do we have?
- [38:01]
C
Well, for the apostles, following Jesus began by literally following him around daily. And in the long run, this three year opportunity was there to entrench them into a new way of thinking.
- [38:13]
B
With that experience behind them, Jesus would next show them that their following after his resurrection would now come at a distance. Now they would need to take the responsibility of being fishers of men upon their own shoulders.
- [38:29]
A
In that second fishing experience, Jesus isn't with them, he's waiting for them. In the first experience, he's with them. Okay, so you can see the big difference. It is now they have to lead. They are responsible themselves for this. Jesus is just waiting for the results. It's the lesson to learn how to lead. There is this brilliance in Jesus's teachings and the methods that we need to observe with very sober and reverent hearts.
- [38:59]
B
How do these two dramatic fishing accounts end? What were the deepest preaching and leading lessons Jesus wanted them to learn?
- [39:08]
A
It's important that we take a step back to see the big picture here. Jesus was selectively appearing to his followers after his resurrection, selectively appearing here and there to his followers after his resurrection to prepare them for life without his physical presence. That's the key. He's preparing them for life without. Without him being in front of them, everything he did in that 40 day period was to spur on that. Preparation for the changes were monumental because they would become the leaders of the call to follow Christ. Jesus was no longer with them. They had to step up in a way they never had to step up before.
- [39:54]
C
And we can't overstate how important this was. These followers were becoming the leaders who had established the entire Christian church after Jesus died. Everything depended on their growth, from followers to leaders. So let's go back to the beginning of their call to follow. Jesus next reveals the reason for this miracle of these fish to them in Luke 5, verses 10 and 11. And so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, do not fear, from now on you will be catching men. And the King James Version reads, you will be fishers of men. So when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
- [40:38]
A
And see, that's interesting. They left everything. Finally. Now in the second drawing of Peter to Jesus, it said, and we read it in the first segment, follow me and I'll make you fishers of men. He had already told them that. And there he tells him again after this catch of fish, he's reminding Peter of what he's already heard. You get the picture? Jesus is brilliant at reminding us of the seeds that he's already planted. So when we look at this particular experience he's showing them, just stay with me, you made it through this incredible experience. I am with you. Follow me. Don't fear, don't be afraid. You will be fishers of men. They finally did leave everything. They left their fishing gear behind and they finally, fully and without reservation followed him. So the Luke 5 account three years before shows us the beginnings of their learning to follow so that they could get to the beginnings of their learning to lead in this resurrection, post resurrection appearance with fishing in John. So let's go back to the beginning of their call to preach and lead. We've got their call to follow back in Luke when he's drawing Peter. Now their call to preach and lead is with these seven apostles in the boat, in the single boat. Jesus presents them with a welcoming after they've done the fishing and now they're dragging the nets, he's going to present them with a welcoming to what their preaching and leading efforts would bring them to. In other words, he's showing them end results that he never showed them before. John 21, verse 9.
- [42:18]
B
So when they got out on the land, they saw a Charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.
- [42:25]
C
Let's add to the picture. So Jesus had already placed the fish on the fire. There's some fish already there on land maybe. Perhaps these fish represent the apostles and the disciples gathered at that time, the first beginnings of the church.
- [42:40]
A
So we've got this situation. Jesus is prepared to take care of them not with the fish that they brought, but with other fish that he had gotten previously. This solid ground on which Jesus power and presence resided, that was their destination. That I think is showing us the heavenly call to the solid ground of being with the Lord. Remember when in John, before his crucifixion, he said, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go to prepare a place, I'm going to come again and bring you to myself. Well, look what's happening. He's showing them how he's bringing them to himself with all of these fish, with all of these called out ones. And so we've got this. And they called them out of the sea. You know, what does the sea represent in Scriptures? The sea represents restless humanity. And so you see that the fish are called from all walks of life out of this restless human experience to this solid ground of the heavenly call. I think that's what Jesus is really teaching us here. It's really an important and very, very inspiring lesson. Let's continue in this post resurrection experience with Jesus being on solid ground. Jonathan, let's go to John 21:10.
- [43:50]
B
Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish which you have now caught.
- [43:54]
A
So now what is Jesus doing? He's presenting them with the responsibility of accountability. Show me, show me some of these fish that you've caught. Jesus would show them the way and they would follow by preaching and leading others to him. Throughout the age of the Gospel, it always comes down to doing what Jesus tells us to. But they had to be accountable to him, even though they were here doing that preaching without him being present. So we see this accountability and responsibility that's being put upon their shoulders. So what happens? The apostle Peter responds and leads the way. Surprise, surprise, he leads the way as they present their miraculous catch to Jesus. Listen to how this reads the next verse. John 21:11.
- [44:37]
B
Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish.
- [44:42]
A
153So it says, simon Peter went up and drew the net to land. So the others are on the boats. He takes that and he's hauling it in as they're now getting off the boats. And again, first of all, this is Teamwork, okay? They're working together. But you see Simon Peter leading the way because he's leading the way to the accountability, because he's the one who's being called on to be accountable first. So you see this beautiful result of preaching, this is a beautiful result of preaching, bringing all of these fish to the Lord. And it's really fascinating to me that Jesus had prayed for their preaching and their leading work the night before his crucifixion. And to me, this is just one of those touching references that we look at and say, wow, there's so much more to this. Let's look at John 17, 17:21.
- [45:29]
B
Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world for their sakes. I sanctify myself that they themselves also may be sanctified. In truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in me through their word, that they may be one, even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.
- [46:01]
A
So Jesus prays for the work of the gospel after he has gone to heaven. And in this fishing experience after his resurrection, he's showing them that same work. He had prayed for it and now he's demonstrating it, you see, he's putting the pieces in place so they can really, truly get it. So it's a beautiful, beautiful lesson of the importance of these apostles taking the responsibility and standing up for godliness and righteousness in the gospel.
- [46:32]
C
Well, it's interesting. There was 153 fish. Why 153? That's so specific. I looked this up. Early church writers taught that ancient naturalists believed there were were 153 species of fish in the world at that time. So maybe the catch symbolized the gospel drawing all kinds of people. And through the centuries, literally the centuries, people have used all kinds of fish math to try to figure it out. And they're trying to find where this 153 shows up in nature or, or other places. But we, we really don't know what this specific number represents.
- [47:07]
A
We don't. And perhaps, perhaps it's to show the precision and the care with which God's call will be successful. Perhaps that's what it's showing us. Perhaps it's that simple of a lesson. So, Julie, let's go to Matthew 10, verses 29 to 31.
- [47:24]
C
Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are numbered. So do not fear, you are more valuable than many sparrows.
- [47:37]
A
So the message in those simple verses is the very hairs of your head are numbered. If you are one of those who is called to follow the Lord, every part of your life, every part of your experience is overseen by his heavenly providence. And so 153fish may say, and there's an exact number because there's an exact care. And those who are drawn, Perhaps that's the lesson we need to take here. Again, we're still staying with the post resurrection fishing experience. And we've seen that Jesus said, bring the fish. And so Peter draws the fish to land. And now let's go back to John 21, verse 11.
- [48:19]
B
And although there were so many, the net was not torn. All these fish were hauled to the shore to be accountable before Jesus. And yet the net did not break.
- [48:30]
A
And that's very significant. All of the fish were there that were supposed to be there. Not one was going to be lost. Jesus as a spirit, being as their Lord, was showing the care and surety with which the call of the true church would be completed by the power of God's Spirit working in them. He gave the word. Jesus said, cast the net on the right side, on the side of power. They did. They had the catch, they recognized the Lord, they brought it to him, they followed through and listened to all that he had said. In the midst of it all, the net wasn't torn. Because when God calls, nothing can stand in the way of the answer to that call. Unless we ourselves decide we don't want to be a part of it, then you're not one of the fish that's caught in the net. It's really that simple. So, Jonathan, let's finish this up. Let's go to John 21:12, 13.
- [49:21]
B
Jesus said to them, come and have breakfast. None of the disciples ventured to question him. Who are you? Knowing that it was the Lord, Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them. And the fish likewise, he has prepared
- [49:37]
A
a meal for them. He has welcomed them to after their night of fishing with no catch, following his instruction, having this marvelous catch. Now what was greater, recognizing that it was the Lord of the catch. You can debate that, okay? Because both things are so big. It's showing the gospel age and the call of Christ that's gone out and how they have brought all of those faithful ones without losing a single one to Him. You know, it's interesting. He prepares to eat with them. And it reminds us of a couple of his other resurrection appearances on the road to Emmaus. Remember, he was. Jesus was walking with the two disciples and they didn't know who he was. Jesus was ready to dine with those two followers. Remember, he was ready to dine and then he suddenly vanished. But he was ready to eat with them when he appeared to the 10. Remember that first group meeting when he appeared to the 10 to prove who he was? What did he do? He ate fish and bread, just like in this experience. Now he again eats with all of them. All of the seven that are there, he eats with. And there's something really, really fascinating here. This reminds us of the message to the church of Laodicea, which was the seventh and last stage of the Gospel call. And this message was in Revelation.
- [50:53]
C
In Revelation, chapters one through three, Jesus gives John messages for the seven real churches in what's now in Turkey. But each message fits the history and struggles of that specific church. But these seven also, we think, carry a prophetic meaning, outlining seven successive periods of the Christian church through time. So the story begins at Pentecost with Ephesus and ends in our time, pictured by the church of Laodicea. So each time frame receives a special message tailored to the followers living in that moment. So let's look at Revelation 3:20-22.
- [51:28]
B
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with me. He who overcomes, I will grant him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
- [51:53]
A
So in this message in Revelation, those seven churches, like you said, represent seven stages of the Gospel, right from the time of the apostles right up to where we are right now. And in this last and final stage, Jesus basically says, behold, I stand at the door and knock. When somebody's standing at the door and knocking, what does that mean? It means they're there, they've arrived. Jesus is basically calling those to come in and eat with him, to celebrate, to be with him, to fellowship together. So I think when we look at this experience of this post resurrection fishing expedition and all the things that happened, you can see the beauty of Jesus showing them. This is what you need to lead, this is how you need to preach, so that you will have such results, finding the faith of those who would be fishers of men follow to lead.
- [52:47]
B
This was the resounding message to Jesus followers, not only in this fishing experience after his resurrection, but it was the resounding message in all of his appearances after his resurrection. For us, the lesson is simple. Learn to follow Jesus daily, carefully and prayerfully. Because we also are engaged in being fishers of men now so that by God's grace, we can be blessers of men later.
- [53:19]
A
So we need to learn to follow before we can learn to lead. And the only way we can learn to lead is from the example of the apostles and those that followed them in this age of the gospel. So as we look at this whole experience, and we look at the two experiences, the early experience of fishing with Peter in the boat with Jesus and learning to follow him very clearly, very specifically, and then this fishing experience after his resurrection where he's saying, I'm turning over the responsibility to you. You need to lead, you need to preach, because I will not be there. That was their responsibility. And now we need to pick that up and run with it. Think about it, folks. We love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes@christianquestions.com coming up in our next episode, why did Jesus challenge Peter's love.