RISEN 2 FROM THE DEAD-GUIDING TO SERVICE. John 21

Second instalment. ‘Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.’ ( v10 ) The risen Lord did not taunt them for their fruitless night of fishing, but encouraged them to bring the fish which they had caught as the sun rose over the Galilean Sea. They would become the fishermen for Christ, taking the precious gospel to the end of the civilised world. He deeply valued their love!

Muscularly Simon Peter showed his natural leadership in’ dragging the net to the land, full of great fish, one hundred and fifty three.‘ Normally the net would have torn to shreds but it was intact. The Lord showed how fellowship in Him

( the true net-working of believers ) would be protected despite all pressures.

‘Come and dine’, the Master called. ( v12) As the Lord of glory, Conqueror of death and the grave, He called His seven followers to a special feast to celebrate His victory. Remember they were near-frozen, blue with the intense cold, hungry as lions, and feeling the Lord’s profound searching, as He restored them to Himself –not their self-inclined ambitions. The same Lord in Isaiah said , ‘Come, now let us reason together. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they will be as wool.’

He also said,’ Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ’ He is so gracious. Let us respond to His loving invitation.

‘None of the disciples dared ask Him, ‘Who are You?’- knowing it was the Lord.’ They did not flippantly break the silence or boost their claim to prominence, for they knew in their deepest being that the Lord of glory had appeared in a resurrection body. The awesome silence was eloquent.

He was Captain among His troops, ‘for Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. ( v13 ) These men must be trained for warfare in preaching Christ and Him crucified. As Nourisher, they must be brought up with good food, carbohydrate and protein. ( understandably a perfect diet from today’s medicine. ) As Lord of creation, the bread and fish reminded them of His miraculous feeding of the 5000 and 4000. These 7 men went bravely and sacrificially, knowing that Christ was Captain, Nourisher and Lord. Do you know Him as such?

Christ Jesus removed all doubt, for ‘This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.’ ( v14)

Firstly He appeared to them with Thomas absent, and on the following Lord’s Day, He reappeared specially singling out Thomas with ‘Behold My hands and My side, that it is I Myself.’ ‘My Lord and My God’ was Thomas’ outburst cry.

Seven of these brave followers grouped around the fire on the shore, their five natural senses confirming His Presence, their satisfied, physical appetites

( hunger, thirst, restoration from exposure, awakened self-esteem, later deep healing sleep ) proving that they had been with the risen Lord.

Then followed the most searching question the Lord Jesus asked., addressing Simon Peter. ‘ Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? ( v15 )

More than these friends from fishing, or more than professional fishing itself?

The term ‘love’ meant the love of God, which streamed from heaven, flowing from Peter to his Lord, which regarded the Lord for what He was personally, and was prepared to sacrificially live and die for Him. Such was the Greek word ‘agapeo’. The question surprised Peter, who knew how cold his heart was.

He replied, ‘Yes, Lord ( Kurios ), you know positively that I care for you’.

( v15) Peter used the more common word ‘phileo’, assuring that his mind warmed to the term. He evaded the Lord’s searching question., who tenderly commanded him ‘to feed the lambs’, those still on their mother’s milk.

The questioning continued, when ‘He said to him the second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me, with heavenly love, flowing from a warm heart, that would die, if necessary, for his Lord?’ The Lord had only one quest for true love from His children. He said to Him, ’Yes, Lord, you know that I am friendly to you.’ I am so fond of you; I really am. To this the dear Lord said, ‘Feed my sheep’. Tend them, nurture them, guard them from the wolves.

Persistently, yet winsomely, ‘He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you have a friendly feeling and affection for Me?’ ( Wuest ) God’s Son changed from the heart language ‘love’( agapeo ) to Peter’s mental language ‘affection or fondness’ ( phileo ). Christ looked more searchingly into Peter’s life than any MRI could search our natural body for disease. The risen Lord changed His question to show Peter that he was living on a lower level that his Lord longed for, Do you love with your heart or mind?

‘Peter was grieved ( cut to the heart – even as His Lord had suffered on the cross ) ‘because He said unto him the third time, ‘ Are you fond of and have a deep affection for Me’. He longed to reassure his Lord of the deep love he had for Him, but he had betrayed Him and denied Him three times. The risen Lord practised heart surgery on the man, who would lead the offensive at Pentecost.

Don’t turn away if your risen Lord is probing the depths of your spirit and soul.

Three times Peter denied his Lord. Three times he must affirm the risen One.

Broken-hearted, he cried, ‘Lord, You know all things.’ Three times the risen Christ Jesus heard that beautiful title ,’Lord’ from the man who quavered before the servant girls in the high priest’s court. Then He heard Peter tell of His omniscience, that is, knowing all .

Peter had another moment to say ‘I love you’ but could not lift himself to say more than ‘ I have a friendship and fondness for you’. He must have yearned for courage to tell of the deep heart love, which impelled him from that hour for service and martyrdom. The Lord did not vary His charge to Peter, ‘Feed My sheep’ showing the nurture of the people of God must be a heart and life ministry. The prophecy of verse 18 signified ‘by what death he would glorify God’. These words burned into Peter’s soul until his death and coronation.

Please click on GOD’S PLAN and read the way of salvation; and follow the guide.