Well, we've been moving through a familiar part of the scripture, kind of making our way to the end, really.
We've been at this for the last three years, working through the Gospel of John, and now we're coming closer to the finish line.
Pastor Knoyer will be finishing things up for us next week, so I want to encourage you to come and to hear kind of the concluding thoughts
of the Gospel of John and to be encouraged as we end this chapter of our study in the life of Christ.
But as we've been working through and thinking about the resurrection narrative and the resurrection appearances,
we've gotten to see that there are significant implications to our lives.
The empty tomb does have practical implications to us personally.
It changes things for us.
It really helps to set a new trajectory for life, give us a rising faith and rising hope and rising peace.
And this morning, I want to look at the fact that the empty tomb gives us a rising purpose.
There is purposefulness.
There is direction.
There is a plan that God has for your life.
And it is through the empty tomb that we can experience and take part in God's purpose for the world.
You ever felt directionless?
You ever been in a situation where you've wondered where to go or essentially what path to take, what big decision to make?
Well, maybe on a smaller scale, I'm remembering in my own life the one thing that kind of sets me off,
the one thing that really irritates me the most is being without a sense of direction.
And I'm remembering, I hate being lost.
It's like, it's one of those things that drives me crazy.
And my carnality comes out when I'm lost.
I don't think I'm like a typical male that just has fun kind of finding his own way.
And I have to know where I am.
I have to ask for directions.
And I want to know how to get there because that end destination is where I want to be.
Maybe one of the experiences that kind of added to the anxiety in my own heart when it comes to being lost,
what happened back in Los Angeles,
and I was trying to help a friend of mine who was visiting from another country get to the airport.
Now, that would have been no problem if he was taking off from LAX because I lived close to LAX.
I'd been there several times.
And so getting there and back was no problem at all.
But he wanted to go to an airport that was north of the city.
I lived south of the city.
So I had to actually go through the city in order to get there.
And I had never been there before.
So I had no idea how long it was going to take,
no idea how to get there.
And this was the age before Google Maps.
Okay?
That kind of dates me a little bit.
It was the age before smartphones.
And so our Google Maps was called the Thomas Guide.
And a Thomas Guide is a collection of maps,
really one gigantic map that's separated into 400 pages.
So if you can envision a map that is then pieced out into 8.5 by 11 sheets,
and then you kind of have to flip through and find the right page.
It does have an index at the back.
But navigating your way through that book took a little bit of experience.
And so if you can imagine going from top to bottom on the map,
from left to right on the map,
the pages, if you're going west, you turn to the right.
If you're going, excuse me, going east, you turn to the right.
Going west, you turn to the left.
If you're going south, you have to turn to a page closer to the end of the book.
And it is impossible if you're driving.
So you must have a navigator.
And I happen to have a premier scientist in the car,
but the fact that he only knew Russian was a little bit of a difficulty.
So here we are with a time crunch
and knowing that he's got to be at the airport in like 20 minutes.
And the traffic is nuts in the center of Los Angeles,
and we are lost.
Like, I don't know which freeway to take next,
and I don't know how to get there.
So, wow.
That was not a happy moment for me.
And unfortunately, poor Raphael didn't get to see
the best side of Christ in the car that day.
But anxiety continues.
In terms of being lost.
I cannot stand being lost.
There's a sense of needing to know direction.
Wanting to know the destination.
Wanting to have a plan.
Wanting to know where I am in the course of things
and how to get to the final destination.
And I think that the same applies to life.
That in life, we want to have a sense of purpose and direction in life.
We want to know where we're going.
We want to have a plan for the future.
We want to know what's coming.
We want to be able to anticipate those next steps.
We like purposefulness.
And yet, if we were to really take an inventory of our past,
of the times of growing up,
we would have to admit that there are definitely seasons of life
that although we like direction and purpose,
there are seasons of life we would like to have a redo.
That there are seasons of life we would like to do again
because we realize that we didn't have the kind of purpose and direction we really wanted.
We were maybe piddling away some hours or even some months or even years that go by.
And there's a sense of regret because as you look at those years,
you say, I could have done so much more.
There could have been so much more that could have been accomplished
if I'd have just kept in mind the purpose that God had for my life.
I want to redo.
I want to restart on those things.
Well, this passage that we're going to look at this morning
will help us see how Jesus is trying to hit the restart button for the disciples.
He wants to give them a renewed sense of focus and direction for the future.
They had kind of reverted back to some of the old ways of life.
And Jesus wanted to help them recognize that the calling that he had given to them
was a calling that was going to change everything for their future.
And it came as a result of the resurrection.
It came as a result of his work on the cross and rising from the dead,
giving them new purpose and new identity.
So if you will, please turn with me to John chapter 20.
We're going to finish what we started last week.
And we're going to hopefully make it through to what I have in mind for this week in John chapter 21.
The two go well together.
They really do fit together.
It's probably of the Lord that we're dealing with these in one take
because I want you to see the connection between peace and purpose.
The purpose that God gives to us,
the purpose that Jesus commissions us with,
is anchored in the peace that he offers.
There is no purpose in life without the peace of Christ reigning and ruling in your heart.
We looked at peace last week.
It was a peace that had direct application to your life
and helping to overcome fear and helping you with doubt.
And we're going to see that again this morning just as kind of a refresher.
But it's not a peace that we're to hoard.
If we're going to be people who are following the example of Christ,
we're going to be people who are offering peace to the world.
After all, Jesus says,
My peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you.
If we're going to follow Christ's example of being peace people,
we need to have his peace so we can convey his peace to the world.
Peace that Jesus came to offer.
Peace that he wants us to experience personally.
And so that's my point, the first point this morning.
The point is that the purpose that we have springs from peace.
The purpose that we have in this life springs from peace.
We see that in John 20, verses 19 to 29.
Let me read a portion of these verses for us just to refresh our memories.
Beginning in verse 19.
It says,
Jesus said to them again,
Verse 24.
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the twin, was not with them.
When Jesus came, so the other disciples told him,
We have seen the Lord.
But he said to them,
Unless I see his hands,
the mark of the nails,
and place my finger into the mark of the nails,
and place my hand into his side,
I will never believe.
Eight days later,
his disciples were inside again,
and Thomas was with them.
Although the doors were locked,
Jesus came and stood among them,
and said,
Peace be with you.
The first thing I want you to notice in this passage this morning is,
is where does peace come from?
I want you to see that peace comes from Christ.
Peace comes from Christ.
Notice that Jesus is the one to initiate peace
three times in this passage.
We see it there in verse 19,
Peace be with you.
In verse 21,
Peace be with you.
And in verse 26,
Peace be with you.
Jesus repeats this phrase,
not only as a greeting to them,
but to help initiate,
and convey the peace of God to them.
It's a peace that comes from him,
and through him.
He had promised a couple of evenings before
that he would give them peace eventually.
Peace I leave with you,
he says.
My peace I give to you.
And on the night that Jesus,
before he was crucified,
if the disciples knew anything
that was going to happen
in the next few hours,
they would have thought,
there is no way that peace
is possible in a moment like this.
And yet the greatest peace
that we could ever experience
come or came through
the greatest difficulty
that had ever been experienced.
Jesus was going to convey peace to them
because of the work on the cross
and his resurrection.
As Paul so well says
in Romans chapter 5, 1,
Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you are experiencing peace today
because of a relationship with Jesus Christ,
because of forgiveness from sin,
and because of cleansing of your sin,
it is because of Christ's work in your life.
His work on the cross
and his work of resurrection
that gives you the opportunity
to enjoy and experience
the peace that only comes from him.
They experience this peace momentarily.
Their hearts are glad.
But Jesus wanted them to experience
peace in an enduring way.
Peace that would transcend the moment
and would move into the future.
He wanted them to understand
that the identity that he gave to them
was an identity that was connected to peace.
Identity that came because
of a new relationship with God the Father.
Relationship with Christ
as now their brother.
not just a slave
and not just a servant
and not just a friend
but more.
A brother.
And it was an identity
that commissioned them
to something more as well.
That's why they're connected here
in mission
as you see
in verse
21 here.
Peace I leave with you
as the Father has sent me
even so I
am sending you.
Now that we're connected
in identity
we're also connected
in purpose.
It comes through
the conduit of peace.
Now Jesus came
to bring peace
in the world.
We see that
through the testimony
of his entire life.
It is evident
even from the time
he was born.
Remember the angels
showed up
and what is their announcement
to the shepherds?
What do they say
to the shepherds?
They say glory
to God
in the highest
and on earth
peace
goodwill
towards men.
It was also evident
when Jesus
sent his disciples
out on their
mission experience.
He tells them
in Luke chapter 10
whenever you go
into a city
I want you to mark out
certain individuals
and we saw this
in our neighboring study
earlier in this year
that the thing
that they were supposed
to look for
and the thing
that they were supposed
to say is
peace be with you.
Remember that?
And it says
that if a son
of peace is there
then your peace
will rest on it.
If it's not
then it will return
to you.
It was also evident
in the triumphal entry
as the throngs
of individuals
lined the way
and celebrated
the triumphal entry
of Christ.
the crowds
cried out
blessed is the king
who comes
in the name
of the Lord
peace in heaven
and glory
in the highest.
Christ came
to offer peace.
Peace
with God.
And you cannot
experience
true
enduring peace
apart from him.
If you want
peace this morning
you need to know
Jesus.
peace.
He is
the God
of peace.
And those
who are
identified
with Christ
those who are
connected to Christ
because of salvation
now have a commission
to be messengers
!
of peace
to the world.
We see this
in at least a couple
of different places
in Romans chapter 10
remember
the apostle Paul
says
how beautiful
are the feet
of those
who preach
the gospel
of peace.
and then
in Ephesians
he says
have your feet
fitted
with the
preparation
of the gospel
of peace.
Those who
are in Christ
must be people
who are
dominated
infused
with the peace
of Christ
so that they
can fulfill
the purpose
in conveying
that peace
to the world.
Peace comes
from Christ.
Christ
but here
in our
story
our narrative
in this passage
we see that
peace comes
in two specific
ways.
It comes
and helps
override
the various
hurdles
in the lives
of these
disciples.
First
it comes
and overrides
the hurdle
of fear
peace
for those
who fear.
We looked
at that a little
last week.
We find
the disciples
that they're
hiding together
in the upper
room.
There's
a pretty
good reason
from a human
perspective
for them
to be
cowering
in fear.
After all
the word
on the street
is that it
was the
disciples
who had
actually
stolen
the body
of Christ.
It was
the disciples
who apparently
robbed
the tomb
and it's
their fault
that the
body of
Christ
wasn't there
after all.
That's
what the
scribes
and the
Pharisees
paid
the Roman
guards
to say.
So if
you're a
disciple
at this
point
you know
what
happened
to the
leader
Christ
and you
know
what the
potential
implications
are for
you.
Now that
you are a
threat to
the religious
leaders
and now
that you
have been
a rebel
against the
Roman
authorities
who were
guarding
that tomb
now you've
put yourself
in a place
that was a
little
threatening.
And so
here they are
they're tucked
away in
this upper
room with
doors locked
cowering
in fear.
Huddling
together
wondering
what will
happen.
Here they
are on the
evening of
the resurrection.
Now there
were already
several reports
of Jesus'
appearance
among them.
There had
just been a
couple of
disciples that
had shown up.
They came
back from
Emmaus
seven and a
half miles
away.
they tracked
down these
disciples in
the upper
room.
They obviously
knocked on
the door
were given
permission to
enter and
they had
just recounted
their story.
They had
just told
these disciples
and those
that had
gathered
together in
this room
that they
had met
Jesus that
day.
They had
walked with
him on
the road.
They had
eaten a
meal with
him and
then he
vanished.
And as
soon as
they finished
their report
Jesus shows
up through
locked doors.
And there
he is in
the midst
of them.
There he
is showing
to them his
hands and
his side.
There he
is reassuring
them and
offering them
peace.
Jesus
intends to
ease their
fears.
He comes
to give
them peace.
peace.
But as
we find
one of
the eleven
Thomas
wasn't in
the room.
Thomas
wasn't there
for whatever
reason and
even though
he had
heard
first hand
reports of
all of
these
eyewitnesses
that Jesus
had shown
up he
makes a
strong demand.
He will
not believe.
I will
never
believe he
says.
And that's
where Jesus
shows up
again.
We find
that peace
not only
comes for
those who
fear but
peace comes
for those
who doubt
in verses
24 to
29.
This
dramatic
statement
by Thomas
I will
never
believe is
preceded by
two negative
particles.
There are
two expressions
in the Greek
language that
essentially give
the connotation
this is never
going to
happen.
There aren't
any exceptions
except for
what I've
just given.
My mind
is made
up.
I will
not believe
unless these
conditions are
met.
Unless Jesus
meets my
demands.
So what
are his
demands?
We find
them there
in verse
25.
I need
to see
his hands
the marks
of the nails.
I need
to place
my finger
into the
mark
of the
nails
and place
my hand
into his
side
where I
will never
believe.
I don't
just need
to see
the physical
evidence.
I need
to know
he's not
just a
figment
of my
imagination.
I need
to ram
my finger
right into
those holes
in his
hands.
I need
to jab
my fist
into the
hole of
his side.
This is
brutal
language.
This is
dramatic
language.
This is
strong
language
that Thomas
is using.
These are
my conditions
and these
are my
demands.
I won't
have it
any other
way.
And here
Jesus
shows up
again
eight days
later.
And instead
of rebuking
Thomas
as all
of us
would probably
feel inclined
to do,
Jesus is
willing to
accommodate
his demands.
Jesus is
willing to
do whatever
it takes
to move
Thomas from
faithlessness
into faith.
To overcome
his doubt.
So Jesus
comes into
the room
and he
offers his
hands to
Thomas.
Go ahead
Thomas.
Go ahead
do what you
need to do.
Go ahead
put your
fingers right
into those
wounds.
Here's
my side
Thomas.
Go ahead
put your
hand into
my side.
Whatever
it takes
Thomas
I'm
willing to
overcome
your doubt.
The
mercy
of
Christ
in his
willingness
to accommodate
to condescend
to Thomas's
stubborn
demands.
God
But
because of
Thomas's
doubt
we
have
even
more
evidence
of the
fact
that
Jesus
was
flesh
and
blood.
He
was
physically
present.
But
Thomas
without
having to
follow
through
on any
of his
demands
when he
sees
Christ
show up
he
makes
this
significant
statement
here.
He
says
in verse
28
he
answers
my
Lord
and my
God.
Perhaps
there is
no
clearer
or more
direct
statement
in all
of the
gospel
records
to
Jesus's
identity
in terms
of
divinity.
You
are
God
not
just
the
Son
of
God
but
you
are
God
in
the
flesh.
I
affirm
that
I
commend
that
to
the
rest
of
my
fellow
disciples
I
know
that
to
be
true
for
myself
you
are
my
Lord
and
my
God
and
Jesus
does
not
deny
it.
Jesus
does
not
correct
it
because
it
was
true
and
we
find
in
Thomas'
heart
that
doubt
has
given
way
to
faith
that
stubbornness
has
given
way
to
surrender
that
skepticism
has
given
way
to
sight
in
his
life.
Thomas
has
come
to
a
place
of
peace
a
place
of
faith
and
confidence
in
who
Jesus
is.
And
now
they're
ready
to
move
to
the
next
step.
Now
that
they've
experienced
the
peace
of
God
now
they
can
move
to
purpose.
Where
will
purpose
come?
What
will
that
purpose
be?
And
that's
where
we
find
ourselves
in
this
next
account
in
chapter
21.
Let me
read just
that first
verse
for you
and set
the stage
for where
we are
now in
this
narrative.
No longer
in Jerusalem
but now
in Galilee
on the
Sea of
Galilee.
It says
in
chapter
21
verse
1
after
this
Jesus
revealed
himself
again
to
the
disciples
by
the
Sea
of
Tiberias.
Sea
of
Tiberias
is
just
another
name
for
the
Sea
of
Galilee.
But
here
they
are
now
miles
away
from
Jerusalem
and
several
days
journey
that
has
now
taken
them
up
to
this
new
location.
The
place
of
their
origins.
The
place
where
many
of
them
or
most
of
them
had
grown
up.
Maybe
with
the
exception
of
Judas
Iscariot.
But
all
the
other
disciples
would
be
not
only
familiar
with
this
area
but
have
actually
grown
up
in
this
place.
And
Jesus
here
wants
to
emphasize
that
their
purpose
will
come
out
of
understanding
the
emptiness
of
their
former
life.
Purpose
that
exposes
the
emptiness
of
their
former
lives.
That's
our
point
number
two.
Why
Galilee?
Jesus
had
something
to
show
them.
Jesus
had
something
to
illustrate.
He
had
something
for
them
to
know.
That
there
was
something
new,
something
different
about
their
lives.
And
so
he
calls
them
back
to
a
place
they
were
familiar
with.
He
calls
them
back
to
Galilee
so
they
can
recognize
why
they
exist,
what
their
purpose
is.
And
it's
a
purpose
that
exposes
the
emptiness
of
their
former
life.
Joey,
if you
can help
me with
that,
that's
point
number
two.
Thank you.
God
to
God
to
Galilee.
Now
this
was
not
a
whimsical
trip.
This
was
not
just
some
sort
of
impulse
in
the
disciples
and
they
decided,
hey,
things are
not so
good
here in
Jerusalem,
how about
we go
to
Galilee?
No,
this was
in direct
obedience
to what
Jesus had
already told
them to
do
on
several
occasions.
in
Matthew
chapter
26.
Why don't
you keep
your finger
there in
John
chapter
21.
Turn
with me
to
Matthew
26
and
you'll
see
this
for
yourself.
Matthew
26
verse
32.
Actually,
let's back
up to
verse
31.
It
says,
When
the
Son of
Man
comes
in
glory
and
all
the
angels
with
him,
then
he
will
sit
on
his
glorious
throne.
Excuse
me,
that's
25.
I need
to
get
to
26.
Again,
we'll
start
at
verse
31.
Then
Jesus
said
to
them,
you
will
all
fall
away
because
of
me
this
night.
For
it
is
written,
I
will
strike
the
shepherd
and
the
sheep
of
the
flock
will
be
scattered.
But
after
I'm
raised,
I
will
go
before
you
to
Galilee.
If you
turn over
a page
to
chapter
28,
Matthew
chapter
28,
notice
in
verse
16.
Now,
the
eleven
disciples
went to
Galilee,
to the
mountain
to which
Jesus
had
directed
them.
This
was
intentional.
This
was a
direct
response
to
obedience
to
Christ's
command.
Go
to
Galilee.
And
then
if
you
remember,
the
women
who
had
heard
the
announcement
from
the
angels
were
told
to
go
back
and
tell
the
disciples
that
they
were
going
to
find
Jesus
in
Galilee.
Go
there.
Go
to
where
Jesus
is.
He's
in
Galilee.
That's
actually
in
Matthew
28,
verse
7.
Go
quickly.
Tell
his
disciples
that
he's
risen
And
indeed
he
is
going
before
you
into
Galilee.
There
you
will
see
him.
Behold,
I
have
told
you.
And
so,
here
they
are
in
Galilee
on
the
sea
of
Galilee
and
lo and
behold
Jesus
shows
up.
This
is
where
we
find
Jesus
and
this
is
where
we
find
the
disciples.
But
why
Galilee?
Because
they were
eventually
going to
find their
way back
to
Jerusalem,
remember?
This
is
where
Jesus
was
going
to
ascend
to
heaven.
This
is
where
Jesus
was
going
to
tell
them
to
wait
for
the
promised
Holy
Spirit.
Why
the trip
up to
Galilee?
It
doesn't
seem to
make
sense.
Why
the
extra
traveling?
What
is the
point
of
all
of
this?
I
think
one
of
the
points
of
this
is
this
was
the
place
of
origins.
This
was
the
place
where
they
had
come
from.
There
was
strong
evidence
!
That
every
one
of
the
several
day
trip
for
them
to
get
to
Galilee.
And
so
this
appearance
of
Christ
to
them
would
have
been
at
least
a
week
later.
Having
seen
them
on
the
first
day,
the
resurrection
day,
then
seeing
them
eight
days
later
with
Thomas,
and
now
probably
another
week
later
now
that
they're
in
Galilee.
As
we
find
in
verse
14
of
John
chapter
21.
If
you're
not
in
John
again,
we
find
this
was
now
the
third
time
that
Jesus
was
revealed
to
the
disciples
after
he
was
raised.
Jesus
shows up
to them
now a
third
time.
He
has
kind
of
popped
in
and
out
of
their
lives.
It's
not
been
something
that's
been
regular
or
consistent.
Jesus
has
just
shown
up
out
of
the
blue.
And
here
he
is
again
showing
up
at
the
shore
of
the
Sea
of
Galilee.
This is
a
third
witness
to
Jesus'
resurrection.
And so
what do we
find them
doing?
Well,
they're not
only in
Galilee,
but notice
what comes
next in
verses
2 and
3.
We find
that
Simon
Peter,
Thomas
called
the
twin,
Nathaniel
of
Cana
of
Galilee,
the
sons
of
Zebedee,
and
two
others
of
his
disciples
were
together.
Simon
Peter
said
to
them,
I
am
going
fishing.
And
they
said to
him,
we'll
go with
you.
And
they
went
out
and
got
into
the
boat,
but
that
night
they
caught
nothing.
Now,
they have
been told
very
emphatically
by Jesus
that just
as the
Father has
sent me,
so I'm
sending
you.
That
should
have
been
very
ingrained
in their
mind.
And
having
seen
the
ministry
of
Jesus,
they
knew
what
to
expect.
They
knew
what
that
ministry,
that
calling
looked
like.
They
knew
what
that
sending
would
comprise.
Jesus
had
sent
them
on
at
least
two
different
occasions
to be
missionaries.
He told
them what
to say.
He told
them where
to go.
He told
them what
to take.
He told
them how
to respond
to the
various
people
that they
would be
confronted
with.
And yet
here
they are
for whatever
reason
deciding
to change
course
and go
back
fishing.
Now
there may
be some
practical
reasons
why they
decided
to
fish.
Now
certainly
they had
a need
for food.
They needed
to support
themselves
while they
were waiting
for Christ
to give
them the
next set
of
instructions.
But the
passage
seems to
indicate
there's
something
more going
on here
than just
recreational
fishing
taking
place.
But that
Peter was
actually
saying
we're
going
to go
back
and
we're
going
to go
back
to our
old
way
of
life.
A couple
of
indicators
for that.
First
when Jesus
prophesies
to them
that the
sheep will
be scattered
and you're
going to
go back
to your
own.
That word
your own
includes
possessions
includes
affairs
and also
includes
your
former
occupation.
Jesus
had actually
predicted
that something
like this
might occur.
And here
we find
in this
verse
in verse
three
Simon
Peter says
I'm going
fishing
and they
said to
him
we're
going
to go
then they
went out
and got
into
the
boat.
Now
in the
English
language
the
boat
the
definite
article
is not
probably
a big
deal
but in
the
Greek
language
the
term
the
boat
the fact
that it
is a
definite
article
means it
was
probably
Peter's
boat.
It
was a
specific
boat.
Probably
belonging
to
Peter.
Going
back to
their old
vocation.
Going
back to
their old
way of
life.
And
finally
in the
account
that we'll
look at
next week
that Pastor
Knoyer
will talk
about
we see
in Jesus'
address to
them
notice in
verse 15
he says
Peter
Simon
do you
love me
more
than
these
pointing
to
the
boats
and
the
fish
and
the
nets
is
your
affection
for me
more
than
your
old
way
of
life
Peter
and
if it
is
then
I've
got
something
for you
to do
there seems
to be
evidence
that
Peter
and his
buddies
decided
this
waiting
game
was too
difficult
they were
going to
go back
to
their
old
way
of
life
and
that's
what
we
find
them
doing
going
back
to
what
they
know
best
they
know
fishing
they're
going
to
do
fishing
but
we
find
that
as
they
go
back
to
fishing
Jesus
uses
the
futility
and
the
wastefulness
of
their
energy
all
the
fruitlessness
of
their
labors
that
night
come
to
nothing
as
they
come
up
empty
handed
there
are
no
fish
to
show
for
all
the
work
they've
just
put
in
all
their
efforts
ended
in
futility
they
come
back
empty
handed
exhausted
in
terms
of
energy
but
that
was
the
point
that
was
the
point
I
wonder
this
morning
if
the
feelings
that
we
have
the
feelings
that
you
have
today
of
wasted
energy
and
fruitlessness
in your
life
are the
very
thing
that
God
is
trying
to
use
as
a
grace
gift
to
you
to
help
draw
your
attention
to
success
and
endeavors
and
the
fulfillment
of
following
the
purposes
of
God
because
that's
what
Jesus
did
for
his
disciples
he
wanted
to
expose
the
futility
the
emptiness
of
their
previous
lives
so
he
could
point
them
to
something
greater
he
wanted
to
point
them
now
to
the
fullness
of
a
life
with
Christ
the
fullness
of
a
life
that
only
comes
through
Christ
now
don't
misunderstand
fishing
!
was
not a
sin
and
those
who
are
involved
in
vocational
work
those
who
are
involved
in
as a
layman
working
in
various
places
just
because
God
has
placed
you
there
does
not
mean
that
you
are
in
sin
don't
hear
me
in
the
wrong
way
but
if
God
has
called
us
to
a
specific
purpose
to seek
first
the kingdom
of God
and his
righteousness
if we're
not doing
that
in
tandem
with
the
places
that
he's
called
us
to be
then
we're
not
following
the
purposes
that
he has
for
our
lives
Christ
wants
to
point
out
that
true
fullness
comes
from
a
life
with
Christ
and
so
what
does
he
do
for
them
we
find
that
here
in
verses
5
or
4
through
11
just
as
the
day
was
breaking
it
says
in
verse
4
Jesus
stood
on
the
shore
yet
the
disciples
did
not
know
that
it
was
Jesus
says
to
them
children
do
you
have
any
fish
they
answered
him
no
he
said
cast
the
net
on
the
right
side
of
the
boat
you
will
find
some
so
they
cast
and
now
they
were
not
able
to
haul
it
in
because
of
the
quantity
of
when
Simon
Peter
heard
that
it
was
the
Lord
he
put
on
his
outer
garment
for
he
was
stripped
for
the
work
and
he
threw
himself
into
the
sea
the
other
disciple
came
in
the
boat
dragging
the
net
full
of
fish
for
they
were
not
far
from
the
land
but
about
a
hundred
yards
off
when
they
got
on
the
land
they
saw
a
charcoal
fire
in
place
with
fish
laid
out
on
Jesus
said
to
them
bring
some
of
the
fish
that
you
have
just
caught
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
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
Jesus
came
and
took
the
bread
and
gave
it
to
them
and
so
with
all
the
fish
this
was
now
the
third
time
that
Jesus
was
revealed
to
the
disciples
after
he
was
raised
from
the
dead
we
see
here
that
Jesus
replaces
the
emptiness
with
fullness
that comes
through
him
and
he
fills
things
up
in
at
least
two
different
ways
first
we
find
that
he
fills
the
nets
and
second
we
find
that
he
fills
their
tummies
he
fills
them
up
he
affirms
them
he
strengthens
them
for
the
task
he
meets
their
physical
needs
he
demonstrates
that
all
of
the
labors
that
they
had
and
were
empty
and
fruitless
on
their
own
can
be
full
and
fruitful
with
when
they're
accompanied
by
the
strength
of
God
and
they're
coupled
with
the
purposes
of
God
for
them
they
had
a
rough
night
of
fishing
but
who
was
this
stranger
on
the
shore
who
could
he
be
and
this
person
expecting
a
negative
answer
says
hey
you
haven't
caught
any
fish
have
you
there's
a
dagger
in
the
heart
for
any
accomplished
fisherman
Jesus
knew
the answer
was no
and so
did
they
so
they
respond
no
there's
no
fish
and
Jesus
says
well
throw
the
net
on
the
other
side
and
for
whatever
reason
the
disciples
whether
in
desperation
or
maybe
to
prove
their
point
there's
no
fish
in
this
lake
or
just
to
give
it
one
more
shot
decide
to
follow
this
stranger's
orders
and
when
they
do
they
haul
in
this
gigantic
haul
of
fish
so
why
Galilee
we
find
that
Galilee
is also
the place
of their
calling
it
was a
similar
experience
almost
virtually
exact
to this
when
Jesus
had
experienced
the same
kind of
thing
with
these
disciples
with
Peter
and
Andrew
and
James
and
John
they
had
been
fishing
all
night
remember
and
Jesus
now
goes
out
to
them
and
tells
them
to
cast
on
the
other
side
and
they
do
and
they
haul
the
fish
together
this
is
now
at the
beginning
of
Jesus
ministry
the
moment
before
he
says
follow
me
there's
a
flash
of
recollection
in the
mind
of
John
this
is a
familiar
event
this
has
happened
before
Peter
that's
the
Lord
on
the
shore
!
So
Peter
dives
in
with
this
flash
of
recollection
remembering
back
three
years
before
on a
similar
experience
and
now
they
realize
this
is
Jesus
here
he is
he's
shown
up
again
he's
brought
them
to
the
place
of
their
origins
but
he's
also
brought
them
back
to
the
place
of
their
calling
because
it
was
at
this
point
three
years
before
when
Jesus
says
follow
me
and
they
left
all
that
full
net
and
their
boats
and
their
family
and
they
followed
him
and
at
that
point
Jesus
says
to
them
he
says
no
longer
will
you
catch
fish
you
will
be
fishers
of
men
you
will
be
fishers
of
men
he
confirms
their
mission
you
have
been
fishers
of
fish
before
now
you
will
be
fishers
of
men
and
we
will
find
in
this
next
account
from
verses
15
excuse
me
20
to
the
end
15
to
the
end
that
Jesus
will
begin
to
anchor
their
hearts
Peter
in
particular
into
the
mission
that
he
wants
them
to
accomplish
feed
my
sheep
after
having
just
eaten
from
the
fish
now
Jesus
instructs
Peter
to be
about
the
same
work
and
not
just
feeding
in
a
physical
way
but
feeding
particularly
in a
spiritual
way
you have
a new
mission
disciples
it
really
harkens
back
to
the
first
mission
that
I've
given
to
you
from
the
beginning
not
only
to
follow
me
but
to
be
my
ambassadors
to be
commissioned
by me
to do
my
father's
work
and
sure
enough
some
days
later
we don't
know
exactly
when
we find
the account
of
Matthew
chapter
28
it says
the eleven
disciples
went to
Galilee
to
the
mountain
that
Jesus
had
directed
them
and
that's
where
Jesus
commissions
them
to
ministry
you
will
be
my
disciples
go
make
disciples
teach
them
train
them
equip
them
I'm
going to
be with
you
wherever
you go
the power
of God
will rest
on your
life
will give
you success
for the
work that
I've
called
you to
do
you
cannot
fail
because
you
have
my
power
if
you're
following
my
purposes
for
your
life
so
to
bring
this
to
a
close
this
morning
do
you
realize
you
have
been
commissioned
if
you
are
a
child
of
God
you
have
been
commissioned
for
a
great
work
that
great
work
may
happen
as
a
mom
or
as
a
dad
that
great
work
may
happen
as
an
engineer
or
as
a
teacher
or
as
a
nurse
or
as
a
doctor
wherever
you
might
be
we
are
commissioned
to do
the work
of
God
to seek
first
the kingdom
of God
and his
righteousness
it's
not
independent
of
what
God
has
called
us
to
do
vocationally
it
is
coupled
with
that
and
if
we
are
operating
in the
strength
of the
spirit
we
will
be
successful
in the
things
that
God
has
called
us
to
do
!
to
the
great
task
that
he
has
set
before
us
every
disciple
commissioned
by God
to do
the
father's
work
let's
pray
Lord
this
morning
we
understand
that
you are
the one
who fills
the nets
of our
lives
you are
the one
who makes
us
successful
not in
earthly
endeavors
but in
heavenly
endeavors
as we
look back
on our
life
and we
see
seasons
of
barrenness
Lord
as we
commit
ourselves
to follow
your
purposes
we won't
see
barrenness
we'll
see
fullness
we'll
see
fruit
spiritually
for us
as you
are working
in our
life
to form
Christ
in us
and we'll
see the
evidence
of the
work of
God
coming
through
us
and affecting
the people
you have
put us
in touch
with
Lord
help us
to be
faithful
help us
not to
give up
help us
not to
to revert
back to
what is
comfortable
but help
us to
press on
help us
to be
bold
help us
to be
faithful
and diligent
and Lord
as we do
that
may we
be fruitful
by your
power
we pray
in Jesus
name
amen
let's
stand
as we
sing
holy
We are waiting.
Jesus.
You're all to us.