Daily Dose of the Word of God - John 21: 1-14

Kelly Day, Director of Coffee Break Bible Study

Transcript

Kelly Day  0:07  

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's Daily Dose of the Word of God. I'm Kelly Day, it's May 20 and Sunday is coming. It's the season of Easter and we have the blessed opportunity to respond to the reality of Jesus' resurrection life. Today's Bible reading is from John 21, 1 through 14,

Kelly Day 0:28  

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “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. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”  “No,” they answered. 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. 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. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Kelly Day  2:27  

This is a story from the end of Jesus earthly ministry. But haven't we read a similar miraculous fish story at the beginning of his ministry back in Luke chapter five? Jesus uses a parallel miracle when calling the first disciples. Why would Jesus start and end his time with the disciples doing an almost identical miracle? I can't say for sure, but I wonder if it has to do with Jesus'original line in Luke to the disciples: "Don't be afraid, from now on, you will catch men." It's like his time with the disciples has come full circle. They learned what this looked like by watching Jesus, and now that Jesus was leaving, I believe he wanted them to remember his initial calling and go out and catch men (now without him). The Mission Continues on today - let's be fishers of men and women together.

Kelly Day  3:25  

dear Lord our Father, you are the creator and Miracle Worker, yet a humble servant. I confess that I so often forget the call you've given to us as your present day disciples. I ask that you fill us with your Holy Spirit and see who you'd put before us to share this good news with and disciple others along the way. Thank you for how you provide for us physically and spiritually, so that we can be used by you. In Christ's name alone, amen.