WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.000 We come today to the fourth of the appearances that we see in scripture that Jesus makes after his resurrection from the dead. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:23.000 ! The first we read of is the appearance to Mary who went to inquire to find out what happened and she wanted to pour perfume on the body of Jesus. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:30.000 And she discovered he had risen from the dead and now asked her to go and tell his disciples. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:44.000 Then we have the first record of his appearance to his disciples when they were all gathered in the room all afraid of all wondering what will happen to them now that Jesus had died. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:50.000 And we read that in verse 19 to 23 of John 20. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:01:07.000 Then the second appearance we read of is what we learned last week where Jesus having appeared the first time to his disciples gathered together with Thomas absent came as though to mainly address the issue of the doubt of Thomas. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:16.000 And we saw that as a real gracious activity that Jesus would take time to appear to address one person's doubt. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:23.000 And we learned last week of how that appearance transformed Thomas. 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:30.000 Today we have the third appearance of Jesus to seven of his disciples this time. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:40.000 And one would have expected that it would follow the same tradition of meeting them all gathered in one room in one place. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:46.000 Maybe this time expectant of a visitation since Jesus was used to appearing to them. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:53.000 But they were found at the sea of Galilee. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:02:04.000 And one begins to ask why did the disciples, these seven disciples, why did they choose to go to the sea to catch fish? 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:14.000 The Bible tells us, the Bible does not tell us exactly what transpired before they went to begin to fish. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:26.000 And we don't have any record as to whether Jesus had told them while you wait for my appearance, while you wait for final instructions, you can get yourselves engaged in doing something. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:36.000 So several people have tried to postulate what could have happened that these disciples decided to go back fishing. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:45.000 All that we have as record in scripture is that in verse 3, Peter just says, I am going fishing. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:49.000 And the other disciples just answered, I will go with you. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:58.000 And this begins to pose a challenge to us as to the influence one person's decision can have on others. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.000 We don't know what would have been going on in their mind. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:13.000 But it's possible that since Jesus' last appearance was about a week ago, maybe they have begun to wonder, what's going to happen to us? 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:17.000 What are we going to do now? We've not had any other appearance. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:22.000 Is he going to appear again? Will he not appear again? 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:33.000 And not all people have the good ability of handling stress and impatience well. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:36.000 I'm also a person that doesn't handle stress well. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:42.000 It's possible that they must have been asking themselves, now what's going to happen to us? 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:44.000 Because they were not used to being idle. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:51.000 Remember, Jesus first called them when they were already busy people at their various vocations. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:57.000 He called them from busy lifestyle onto a lifestyle of following him. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:04.000 And remember that all the time they were with Jesus, they were always surrounded by people. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:08.000 Whenever he performed his miracles, there were people. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 So the disciples were always centers of attention. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:15.000 They participated in service. 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:21.000 Remember when he multiplied bread, they were involved in going ahead to serve people. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:27.000 And even during his arrest, they were surrounded by people. 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:31.000 Suddenly, with his death, they became loners. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:35.000 They found themselves just on their own. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.000 Nothing to do. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:40.000 Not knowing what would happen to them. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:50.000 Maybe that was why Peter, typical of him to be the impulsive person, just blotted out, 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.000 I'm going fishing. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:05:00.000 And who knows, maybe that is why Thomas, irrespective of the great revelation and visitation he had had, 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:10.000 in the face of idleness, in the face of inactivity, agreed to go with Peter. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.000 Now, not many like being helpless. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:19.000 The natural thing for all men is to be busy doing something. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:27.000 We all want to be seen as being useful, being doing something that will affect someone. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:31.000 And Peter and the disciples were not different. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:40.000 And even today, we see that many of us don't like it when we have to wait for the Lord to visit. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:47.000 When there is a walk for the Lord, many times we think it's in our power and our ability to walk 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:52.000 and be actively involved that the walk of the Lord prospers. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:06:02.000 We struggle with the need to be patient, to wait, remembering that the walk is the Lord's. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:05.000 The ministry is His. 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:07.000 So they went fishing. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:16.000 And that will tell us that that night, with all their skill, with all their ability, with all their experience as fishermen, 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.000 they caught nothing. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:28.000 A true testimony to the fact that our ability, more often than not, results in nothing. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:37.000 If not constituting a drawback to what the Lord would have done and the increase He would have brought. 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:38.000 They toiled. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.000 They toiled. 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:40.000 And they caught nothing. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:49.000 Service in the vineyard of the Lord is supposed to be an activity of joy. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:55.000 But when it becomes a toil, then we need to pose to ask ourselves, 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:58.000 is it the Lord that is at work in me? 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:03.000 Or it's just my ability that is pushing on and pushing on? 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:06.000 Am I going in the strength of the Lord? 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:11.000 Because if it is in the strength of the Lord, I would have no need to be burdened. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:13.000 I would have no need to be under stress. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:18.000 And the service of the Lord will be a joy. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:23.000 I share this because currently I am going through this same struggle myself. 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:31.000 As a missionary sent from Nigeria to church plant, tendency is I find myself getting anxious. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:34.000 Why aren't people coming to the church? 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:39.000 Why is it that everybody I witness who will preach to, why is he not repenting? 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:44.000 And there are times that I find myself getting very discouraged. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:52.000 But today, just as Jesus spoke, this passage reveals to us of the weakness in Peter. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:59.000 I see the need to remind myself that it is the Lord's work. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:02.000 And he is the one who brings increase. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:07.000 And all I need to do is to wait on him and obey him. 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:16.000 We have two schools of thought as to why the disciples chose to go fishing. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:21.000 One group says it was because Peter had chosen to backslide. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:32.000 So his suggestion to go fishing was a declaration of his loss, his fall from grace, or the fact that he had backslidden. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:36.000 And that was why he had chosen to now rely on himself. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:45.000 That is why he is inspiring the others to go back to the same profession they had left. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:50.000 And we see that in that action, others followed him. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:09:00.000 Which tells us that we who have begun a walk with the Lord, we need to watch our lives and our actions. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:12.000 Because our actions could be the reason why others who are weaker in faith would fall and follow us onto backsliding if we backslide. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:15.000 Our actions have great influence on people. 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:20.000 And the things we say and do affect others. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.000 We may think it is an expression of just our desire. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:28.000 And we don't want to have just ourselves held accountable. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:37.000 But as we can see in this passage, the decision of Peter affected Thomas. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:47.000 Whose confession just the week before had revealed to us that he was changed from a doubting person to a man of great faith. 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:54.000 And he brought a revelation of Jesus that none of his disciples had brought. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:10:00.000 But in the presence of another person who acted wrongly, he fell. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.000 And he was not. 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:09.000 Nathanael, we are told, when Jesus first saw him, he saw in him an Israelite that was honest and without guile. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:21.000 And yet, in the presence of one who is perceived a leader and who took the wrong decision, he fell and followed him. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:22.000 And he said, when Jesus came to the right of the world, he was not. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:43.000 And he said, when Jesus appeared right at the sea of Galilee, his appearance also gives us a testimony to the fact that Jesus would never turn his back on us because we have vaccinated. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:52.000 He comes to meet us in the place of our fall, in the place of our vulnerability, in the place of our weakness. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:57.000 And he comes with encouragement, as we will see. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:09.000 The other school of thought said the disciples decided to go fishing because they realized in the gathering of the disciples there was no food. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:18.000 And so they wanted to go and get something so that the disciples would not be a burden on people around to them. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:38.000 But even that action poses or comes forth with a problem because all through their ministry, they had never had need to be concerned for what they would eat or drink because the Lord provided at all times. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:40.000 The Lord provided at all times. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:58.000 So at this time they should have known also, they should have remembered that having resurrected, he is more than sufficient to provide and meet for every need of theirs. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:03.000 So Jesus comes and appears to them. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:13.000 And he says to them, he asks them, children do you have any fish? 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:21.000 Other translations, he called them friends and said friends do you have any fish? 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:22.000 And they said no. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:34.000 And I am amazed at the salutation of Jesus to these people. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:40.000 Why would he call people that were not in the place they should be friends? 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:44.000 Why should he be this friendly to them? 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:53.000 I remember that while growing up, my parents had a particular way of addressing me. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:58.000 If I had done anything wrong, they would call my name in full. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:08.000 And so whenever I hear my father saying Kephas, I knew I would begin to mentally check myself because it would tell me that I had done something wrong. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.000 But he also had an affectionate way in which he would always call me. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:17.000 He had a funny way of shortening my name and he would call me K. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:20.000 Instead of the full Kephas, he calls me K. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:26.000 And that's how my grandmother used to call me from till she died. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:30.000 My grandmother never called my full name. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:37.000 Because she would always treat me as that young small child, that loving wonderful child of hers. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:41.000 It seems as how Jesus appeared to them here. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:47.000 I would have expected if I was Jesus, maybe I would have come there saying Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, come here. 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:50.000 What do you think you are doing? 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:53.000 But Jesus comes to them and he says, 00:13:53.000 --> 00:14:00.000 Friends, children, have you caught any fish? 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.000 Showing concern for them first in their pursuit, 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:11.000 Showing concern and interest in the things they were struggling with, in the things they wanted to achieve. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.000 And they said no. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:19.000 And maybe that no was an expression of their frustration. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:22.000 Well they said no because they were wondering, 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:25.000 Who is this man that we have just toiled, 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:29.000 We are trying to comfort ourselves to quietly go back to, 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:32.000 To face the shame of coming with no catch. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:37.000 Who is this that dares to ask us whether we have caught any fish? 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:39.000 But they said no. 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.000 Then he told them, 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:43.000 Throw your net on the right side. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.000 And they had a big catch. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:52.000 How often we find ourselves coming up with nothing. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.000 In the night of our lives, 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:56.000 When we toil, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:03.000 And we think by our efforts, by our strength, by our wisdom, by our anointing, 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:07.000 We can achieve and do a lot for the Lord. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.000 But in the morning, 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:11.000 Jesus would always come, 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:15.000 Friends, have you struggled enough? 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:21.000 In this passage I hear Jesus speaking to us and encouraging us to desist from self trouble, 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:26.000 To desist from trusting ourselves and trusting in our ability. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:32.000 And yet, He comes to us in compassion and assuring us. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:42.000 It's His word and presence that will guarantee us of a fruitfulness in our ministries and in our service to Him. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:45.000 If our Christian lives would bring forth truth, 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:51.000 It would be only to the extent to which we submit to His word and obey Him. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:57.000 The disciples would have gone home with nothing if they had not obeyed His word. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:16:00.000 Throw your net on the right hand side. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.000 Many times, 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.000 The suggestions of the Lord, 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:12.000 Which may seem foolish to our great wisdom as we claim in this generation, 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:22.000 Is all we need for fruitfulness and to please the Lord in our service. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:24.000 So they obeyed. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:28.000 Then when Jesus first told them to cast the net on the other side, 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:30.000 They didn't know who it was. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:36.000 But, well let's go ahead and obey to prove to Him that He does not know everything. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:44.000 To prove that when experienced fishermen have failed, nobody else can do anything. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:53.000 But when they got a catch that the Bible says they could not draw, 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.000 And yet the net did not break. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:17:04.000 It caused them to take a second look at this man who had given them the word with such a catch. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:07.000 And they realized it is the Savior. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.000 And John said, 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:10.000 It is the Lord. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:14.000 That's when Peter swam over, went and met Him. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.000 And Jesus invited them, 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:20.000 Come and have breakfast. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.000 My goodness. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:25.000 I mean this place humbles me. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:32.000 That Jesus would come to them in the place of their greatest disappointment and embarrassment. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:36.000 And He would prepare breakfast for them. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:40.000 I find great comfort and encouragement there. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:47.000 That in my failures, in my sinfulness, in my drifting away from the Lord, 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:53.000 When He comes to me, when Jesus comes, He doesn't come in condemnation or judgment. 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:55.000 He comes in love. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:59.000 He comes with an invitation to feast. 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:01.000 To feast in His presence. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:03.000 To feast in His affection. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:06.000 To feast in His great love for me. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:14.000 You see, all through Scripture, Jesus has always been the one coming, seeking us out. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:18.000 Coming in the place of our failures and sins. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:20.000 To reveal the love of God. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:30.000 In Genesis, it is the Lord who would come to Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening to have fellowship. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:44.000 In the Gospels, it is Jesus who would always go to the disciples to call them out, to invite them, to a walk that would transform them and give them a future and a hope. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:52.000 And even when the disciples disappointed Him, He didn't meet Peter at the seashore. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.000 To say, Peter, you are a very stubborn man. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:57.000 Each effort of mine you thwart. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:02.000 Remember I have told you that Satan has sought to sift you as with and I have prayed for you. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:06.000 Yet you are ensuring my prayers are not answered. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:08.000 No, Jesus doesn't say that. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:17.000 He loves Peter too much to judge and condemn him at that point, thereby destroying his faith. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:25.000 Little wonder, in Acts, when Peter was filled with the Spirit of God, we do not hear him being a disappointment. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:33.000 Instead, he stands as a blessing testimony to the might and the goodness of God. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:40.000 Lord, there is some invitation that is available for us today. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:53.000 Perhaps you are here and you have been struggling and you are wondering why your efforts to please the Lord is not bearing fruit. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:59.000 Please find rest in the fact that He is the Lord of the harvest. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.000 He is the Lord of the catch. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:09.000 He is the one who could, He is the one who had authority to cause the catch of the disciples to be a big one. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:18.000 And He is able to transform our lives and change our weaknesses and make us fruitful and a huge blessing. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:21.000 He is the God who loves us. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:28.000 And in this story, He wants to remind us of how much we mean to Him. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:32.000 The fact that He died for us, resurrected for us. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:41.000 And He did this not to judge and reject and condemn us, but to assure us of a love that is everlasting. 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:51.000 A love that is ever seeking to draw us into great fellowship. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:54.000 That's why we are told from John 3, 16, 00:20:54.000 --> 00:21:03.000 For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:11.000 He who has come to seek us to give us life will not be the reason to allow us wander to the point of perishing. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:19.000 And in Revelation 3, 20, He is still seeking and knocking at the doors of our hearts. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:26.000 Perhaps you are here and you desire to inquire more of this great Jesus. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:36.000 I present Him to you, not as a judge, not as one who condemns, but as one who loves you passionately. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.000 He loves all of us. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:46.000 And His desire is that we will come and submit to Him and bear fruit, fruit that will abide. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:48.000 Let us pray.