April 23, 2017
Morning Service

Do you ever notice that after a big event in your life, a wedding, a new job, moving, or even a vacation, there seems to be a bit of a letdown?  We have to establish ourselves into the “new normal.”  Can you imagine what the disciples felt following the very emotional “Passion week?”   They had followed Jesus for the past 3 years and had been in constant amazement of the things He did and said. The next two week we will be looking at what happened from the time of Jesus’ resurrection until His ascension.   This was a time period of 40 days. This morning we will look at the account written by the apostle John.   In chapter 20 John tells of the resurrection, the appearance to Mary Magdalene, the disciples and finally to doubting Thomas.  We will begin in chapter 21.

John 21:1-3 After these things Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius. And He revealed Himself this way:  (2)  Simon Peter, and Thomas called the Twin, and Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.  (3)  Simon Peter said to them, “I am going out to fish.” They said to him, "We will go with you also.” They went out and entered into a boat immediately. And that night they caught nothing.

·         Peter and the others may have thought the “new” normal would be returning to the “old” normal; so they went fishing.  This certainly could have been an act of boredom or just a way to relax for them. It also may have been the fact that they realized Jesus is now gone and things would return to the way they were before.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

·         The problem with their thinking is that when you meet Jesus in a very real and personal way, things and you are going to change.  All things really do become new.  Your perspective has changed from your point of view to His.  When you come to Him and truly repent and believe, you will be changed forever and will find it difficult to return to the “old” normal.  Let’s look at the example of Peter.

 

John 21:4-14  But when the morning had come, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  (5)  Then Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have anything to eat?” They answered Him, “No.”  (6)  And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find.” Therefore they cast, and now they no longer had the strength to draw, from the multitude of fish.  (7)  Then that disciple whom Jesus loves said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Then hearing that it is the Lord, Simon Peter girded on his coat (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea.  (8)  And the other disciples came in a little boat (for they were not far from land, only about two hundred cubits), dragging the net of fish.  (9)  Then when they went up on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and a fish lying on it, and bread.  (10)  And Jesus said to them, “Bring from the fish which you have now caught.”  (11)  Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of big fish, a hundred and fifty-three. And though there were so many, the net was not torn.  (12)  Jesus said to them, “Come, have some breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord.  (13)  Then Jesus came and took the bread and gave to them, and in the same way the little fish.  (14)  This is now the three times Jesus was revealed to His disciples, He being risen from the dead.

·         Jesus had used the same miracle to call the disciples to follow Him in Luke 5.  A point to notice here as well is that without Jesus- no fish, with Jesus- more than they dreamed of.  We can do our own thing in this life and accomplish many things, but when Jesus becomes part of that, we will see and do things that we have never dreamed of.  The “new” normal takes us places we thought we would never go.

 

John 21:15-19  Then when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  (16)  He said to him the second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My sheep.”  (17)  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him a third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things, You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”  (18)  “Truly, truly, I say to you, When you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you grow old, you shall stretch forth your hands and another shall gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”  (19)  He spoke this signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

·         This is such a beautiful way for Jesus to restore Peter after his three denials.  It is a great example for all of us that when we do mess up and deny the Lord in some way, we too can be restored if we repent as Peter did.  (I John 1:9)

·         Each of Peter’s answers of “Yes I love You,” were followed with a command for action.  Peter’s “new” normal would not as a fisherman, but to be a leader of these men around him and to help establish the church that is still alive and well again.  We see him embrace this role as we read into the Book of Acts.

·         Jesus, however, did not promise Peter health, wealth and a condo on the beach.  He promised Him that his life would end in bondage and eventually in his death for this decision to follow the Lord.  He chose to follow anyway.

 

Jesus also has called you to “Follow Me.”  We talked last week of what a wonderful gift He has given us in that He has forgiven us of our sins and defeated our greatest enemy; death.  These are things we could never do for ourselves.  He gave His all for us.  Have you put any restrictions on how far you will “Follow Him?”  Do we only want to do those things that bring us pleasure or that we can accomplish with very little effort and no inconvenience?  Jesus has called you to “Follow Him” but really He has called you to come and die for Him.  He wants us to put our desires secondary and make our first priority doing His will; just like He did for us.  Peter’s life was changed forever.  God called him to a new life of spreading the gospel message.  He has called you to something new and exciting, but not easy.  Your calling is not the same as Peter’s or as mine, but each of us has been called to something unique.  Later in the chapter Peter asks Jesus about John and was told not to worry about others but you “Follow Me.”   When Jesus asks you if you love Him, He will already know the answer from the life you are living.   What answer is your life giving Him now?

 

John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.

 

Lord, please grant us the desire, courage, and strength to Follow You with all our heart, mind, body and soul.