Andy Nagahara
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❖ Audio
Remembering the Big Catch
(John 21:1-14)
Caspar de Crayer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
A. The disciples were not ready to be messengers of peace (1-4)
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
B. Memories of God’s grace strengthen messengers of peace
1. A memory of the big catch (5-8)
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
2. A memory of the Meals with Jesus (9-14)
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Summary
Last week, I spoke about how the disciples saw Jesus and rejoiced, but they still needed to go through a process before becoming the kind of messengers the Lord wanted them to be. They needed to remember their experiences of God’s grace. Memories of grace can help us overcome our current difficulties.
For Discussion
1) Why were the disciples fishing again?
2) Do you remember the “big catch”?