April 11, 2010
Morning Service

St.Jn. 21

 

Review:

1.       Last Sunday morning we looked at the resurrected Christ.  The sadness that turned into amazement and joy.

2.      After His resurrection, He appeared to His disciples, and Thomas was not there.  So Thomas, like so many other people today, said “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  So the Lord appeared a second time and proved to Thomas that it was He.

3.      Thomas answered Him by saying, “My Lord, and My God.”  Then Jesus replied, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  So you see because we believe this Gospel revelation we should feel blessed.  No place or time to get discouraged, and feel defeated, we been blessed by Almighty God Himself.

4.      Then this is said at the end of chapter 20;  Joh 20:30-31 KJVR  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  (31)  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

We will finish the book of St. Jn. This morning, and move on the book of Acts this evening.  Our plan is to stay in the book of Acts each service, Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday evenings.  This is our plan, but as always God is in control, and we will be listening to Him, and if He directs another path, that’s what we will do.

 

Joh 21:1-25 KJVR  After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed he himself.  (2)  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.  (3)  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately: and that night they caught nothing.  (4)  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.  (5)  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.  (6)  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.  (7)  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.  (8)  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.  (9)  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.  (10)  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.  (11)  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.  (12)  Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 

• I just bet the next time these guys went fishing they fished both sides of the boat.  I know I always do.
• Then when John says, “it is the Lord,” Peter wraps up, and jumps into the water to go to Him.  How’s that for enthusiasm? 
• Then John tells us that another miracle had been done, by that flimsy net holding all those big fish.  Hopefully we can see that when God is in control everything is going to be alright.  We can’t always understand it, but He will make it right.

(13)  Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.  (14)  This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.  (15)  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  (16)  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  (17)  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.  Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

• The Lord no doubt is admonishing Peter, and in a way reminding him of the three denials, and the weakness of his flesh.  “Peter you got to be strong, and faithful, you got to watch over my sheep, feed them and take care of them.”
• The Lord knows the weakness of the flesh.  1Co 10:12 KJVR  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 

 

(18)  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest:

• Jesus is just telling Peter “you’ve done what you wanted to do with your life, and now,  as you begin to follow me, you will go, and do what I want, and direct.” 
• This is true for all of us who choose to follow the Lord’s teachings.  And it’s not just what appeals to us, but it is by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.  It should be the difficult Scriptures as well as the easy ones.

but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  (19)  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.

• Not only is this signifying by what death Peter will die, but Peter will no longer live a life of selfness, and self centered.  He will be guided by another, the Lord.
• It is said that Peter was crucified upside down on a cross around 34 years after the Lord told him this.
• Where thou wouldest not!  Peter like all the rest of us did not want to die before his time, but he died a martyr’s death.  He denied the Lord three times before Pentecost, but there were no more denials after Pentecost.

THEN THE CLENCHER:

And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. 

• At this time Peter was probably remembering what Jesus said, “ye believe in God, ----------.”
• All the things that He has promised will come to pass, so why should I not follow Him?
• We should feel the same way, all the promises that are in the Scriptures are for all of His disciples, that includes you, and me.  Paul cries out, Rom 8:31 KJVR  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  And again, Heb 13:6 KJVR  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

(20)  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?  (21)  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  (22)  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.  (23)  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 

• Peter says tell me about John, what is going to happen to him? 
• Jesus answers very quickly, Peter this is not your concern, I will guide him just as I will guide you.
• I see in this portion of Scripture a lesson that we learn in sports.  We should never be envious, or jealous of a team member, but only have the desire to make each one of them a better player.
• I think this is what Peter learned from this question.  John is on the team, and I will work with him and help him be the best Christian he can be.

THEN JOHN CLOSES HIS LETTER BY SAYING THIS:

(24)  This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.  (25)  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

 

We have seen the Gospel story through the eyes of John.  I trust the Lord that through this study it has built your faith in Jesus of Nazareth being the very Christ of God.  So many wonderful things that we have seen concerning our faith. 

 

Letting John’s words echo in your mind, “these things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life through His name.”

 

Lord we look for great and wonderful things to be happening in the very near future.  Thy will be done in all things.