A Fishing Story

I wanted to share this message Jon Charon gave during our offering time this past Sunday. It opened my heart and I hope does the same for you. Clay

Last Sunday we celebrated Easter. The raising from the dead, our Messiah, Jesus Christ. And we know from scripture that Jesus' walk on earth didn't stop there at the cross. There was yet to come various times and places where Jesus made himself known, when he walked and talked with his followers after his death, all prior to his being finally carried up into heaven to sit down near his Father.

Prior to our collection of our offerings this this morning I want to highlight one of these events as recorded in the Gospel of John chapter 21 verses 1-14.

I want to relay some thoughts on this passage and then how it may relate to us today-

The disciples went to Galilee following Christ's earlier instruction where He said he would meet them, [Mark 14:28] and reaffirmed by the angles in the empty tomb [in Mark 16:7]
It was Christ who originally brought these men together to follow Him in his ministry, and here we read they continued being together after His death, where in this story they were now working together.
At their arrival in Galilee, the disciples do not know what to do, so they do that which is necessary, and in taking this initiative they put themselves in a place where Christ meets them.
Peter was a leader who took the lead, and the others followed him. He stated 'I am going fishing'. They replied 'We will go with you'.
Though they fished through the night, they didn't achieve any success until Jesus commanded them on what to do. They, no doubt, worked gruelingly hard for quite some time, probably to the point many others in a similar situation would have just quit. They were close to the fish but were unsuccessful in the catch. Then, on his timing, Christ instructs just one cast from where they were but to the other side of the boat, probably about 10' away from where they were already trying. It was there they succeed in abundance.
Just as the other times that Jesus appeared after his death and resurrection he is described here as simply standing there, (v. 4; cf. 20:14, 19, 26) this time standing on the shore. He came to where they were, as they were working. He came into their path and made himself known to them.
When the Beloved disciple received insight that this is Jesus, he bears witness to the others and specifically to Peter.
Peter expediently went to Jesus, he 'threw himself into the sea toward Jesus, all the while the others stayed on task with the job at hand, there net was now full so they continued faithful to their duties of the moment. Notice that they all made their way to the shore.
It is then that Christ instructed them to add their catch to his already prepared provision. For it was after they got out on the land that they were able to notice the fish on the charcoal fire, and the bread.
It is Peter who brings the catch ashore, apparently by himself (v. 11). His zeal to come to Jesus is now matched by his zeal to obey Jesus. Though it was the continued efforts of the other men that allowed at this point, for Peter now to jump in and pull the catch ashore.
After inviting them to come and eat, Jesus himself comes to the fire and serves them. Their master who commands them also serves them. He is the host, they are his invited guests.
This appearance of Jesus reveals the same key characteristics as were manifested throughout his ministry- his lordship, his servant-hood, his character as gracious giver of abundance and provider, and his love. He knew what they needed and when they needed it. He had met his followers at a point of tired failure and revealed himself as the awesome Lord of creation who cares for them. He cared for them so much in fact that he provided for them a meal. His lordship includes fellowship and his desire for relationship with them.


Here is what I gleaned for us today from this story.
----When called by Christ to go, just GO. He will be faithful to meet us there.
---Believers are strengthened being together not just in a worship service but in the whole of life. We should gather both inside and outside the walls of the church building.
---God's people have leaders, and God's people have followers of those leaders.
---A simple truth is this, that when we are uncertain what to do we should simply do our duty and God will be our guide, all on his timing.
---Though even good people may come short of desired success and in their honest undertakings they may not yet prosper, but a point here seems to be Jesus' lordship over us and it is our need to be obedient to him for any any of our labor to be truly fruitful.
---He showed himself to them just as the day was breaking. After their fruitless night's toil- 'Jesus stood on the shore'. Christ's time of making himself known to his people can come at a time when we are most at a loss. When we think we have lost ourselves, he will let us know that he has not lost us. As the psalmist has said, 'Weeping may endure for a night; but joy comes in the morning' [Psalm 30:5]. Christ appeared to them, though not walking upon the water, as before. This is a new day, he was standing upon the shore, and now they were to make towards him. We, at times, may find ourselves 'out at sea' in the toils of life, but we can know that our Savior stands firm on the shore waiting to share himself with us.
---Those of us who 'see' the things of God should speak to others, bear witness to the things of God, so that others too may promptly see and respond.
---Some children of God respond to Him at times with outright zeal and near abandonment to their surroundings, while others in the same situation respond with continuance to the task at hand. Both of these approaches consummate on the shore with Christ. And both approaches are needed and work together in a body of believers.
---Jesus' work stands as finished, though he desires that we participate with Him in what is happening for His kingdom, that our blessed efforts may be included in His finished work.
---Jesus is our host for this life and we are His guests. For it was he who called us and he who supplies our every need and even our unknown needs and even many of our wants and desires- simply because he cares for us, his children.
---As we make real efforts to move toward Him, He reviles more and more of what he is offering to us. It is a desire of his to invite us into a relationship with Him to share in life with Him. This offering cannot be seen from afar in a boat, we must actively and aggressively move toward him who stands prepared and ready, on the shore.
---It is He who reveals himself to us. It is He who cares for us and invites us into relationship. It is we who can respond to his invitation.

This invited relationship costs you nothing financially, not even a nickel, yet it is priceless. It doesn't matter what you have to give from your wallet this morning as the offering bag as it is passed around this room, what does matter is what you are willing to give from your heart. And the amount required is not 10%, but what is the required is the whole. If you have the desire to more fully and truly know and walk with Jesus, he requires all, and in return you will receive the waiting relationship of Jesus Christ.

For those of us here today who are just wandering in life and wondering about Christ or if you are unsure if you truly know Christ as your personal Lord, here me now, you can know this, this is not a good time for you to give any money, please let the offering bag pass by and let the gift today be given by God to you through our gathered worship of Him this morning and the true teachings of His word. And this, in hope, that one day soon, you too, will heed God's call to you and you will truly claim Christ as your Lord and Savior and live a life that is pleasing to Him.