Easter 3 John 21:1-14 Fishing With Jesus

Acts 9:1-22 Revelation 5:8-14 John 21:1-14

A couple months ago, just before Lent began, we heard the account of a miraculous catch of fish in Luke 5. Jesus was teaching along the shoreline in Galilee, and the crowds were pressing Him right into the water; so He asked Peter, to take Him out in the boat. Peter was weary from a night of not catching fish, but he consented anyway. When Jesus finished teaching, He instructed Peter to row back out into the deep water and throw the nets in again. Despite his reluctance, Peter did so-and ended up with a net-full of fish.

That particular day, Peter turned to Jesus, terrified, and stated, "Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man!" Peter wanted to be far away from Jesus: He had seen how sinful he was and how holy Jesus was, and the glimpse of it was terrifying. Peter knew he was a sinner who deserved judgment, and he was fearful that Christ had come to judge. When Jesus spoke, however He didn't condemn Peter.

That day rather than chastising Simon Peter, Jesus took away his fear and He took away Peter's sin. He told Peter that, from that day forward, he would be a fisher of men. Thus, along with James and John, Peter became a disciple of Jesus.

Later Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17 (ESV)

As far as our Gospel lesson goes, three years have now passed.  Jesus has died and is now raised and the disciples are back in Galilee as instructed, waiting for further instructions. Over these years, the disciples have been taught by Jesus Himself. Even so, they had not really started fishing for men and Jesus is not quite finished instructing them. In fact, He is going to teach them a valuable lesson. Peter, not being one who likes to sit around decides to go fishing; the other disciples go with him.

 Most likely the disciples go to the same shore and use the very same boat they had used three years earlier. But although these experienced fisherman fish all night long, they catch nothing in their nets.

With daylight dawning they head toward shore. A figure stands on the shore, and calls out to them asking the standard question one asks fishermen, “Have you any fish?” They reply with the standard fisherman’s answer, "No." He tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. His command makes little sense, and if not carried out His word will have no effect. Simply put, if they do not cast out the net, they have no chance at catching anything. But they heed His word and cast their nets out according to His instructions. They cast them out on the right side of the boat and they are astonished at their catch.

The net is full--full of huge fish, but even so the net doesn't burst and that is no fisherman’s tale. Neither have they received a fabulous catch because their luck has changed. There is no fisherman’s luck involved here. It's another miracle just like the miracle that occurred three years earlier. This great catch is because the One on the shore spoke His Word and declared to them that they would find fish there. Their catch is an example of faith put into action.  Here is a lesson all disciples of Jesus need to learn. When you believe in Jesus, you heed His word and do what He says and you will see His miraculous results.

John is first to recognize the source of such power. You can imagine the great big grin on John’s face as he proclaims, "It is the Lord!"  The risen Jesus is appearing to His disciples once again and is recognized through His word. Peter, in his excitement throws on His robe, jumps in the water and swims toward His Savior who is on the shore. There is no hesitation. 

The first time Jesus filled the nets, Peter said, “Depart from me!” He had seen Jesus as a powerful Lord and Master who had so much power that anything Peter could do would always fall terribly short of what Christ could do. This time around, Peter can't wait to get to the Lord. Something has happened in between: The Lord has given Peter faith.

By faith, Peter knows that Christ is not there to condemn him, but to save him. Peter sees His Savior who suffered for his sins on the cross, endured the grave, and rose again. There is no fear for Peter this time. Peter, the rock is not afraid to jump into deep water. Wherever Jesus is to be found, Peter is going to be there. Whatever Jesus is doing, Peter wants to be a part of it.

What lesson is to be learned by the disciples and what has this fishing trip to do with you and me? David tells us all in Psalm 127, “Unless the Lord builds the house those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved    sleep.”  Like those experienced fisherman, you can toil all night long, but without the Lord’s help your nets will come up empty.

No matter how hard you work at being good, no matter how long you work at catching salvation your efforts will always come up short. Like Simon Peter, when you compare your feeble efforts of living a sin free life to the life of Jesus, you will not be able to stand before His presence based on your own works. It is this self realization of your sinful nature that is the first step you take towards salvation.  Peter saw Christ’s power manifested in a miraculous catch of fish and he put His faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  He was willing to leave everything behind to follow Jesus.

Paul on the other hand was trying to do all of the work himself. Paul had been zealous for God. He was an expert in the Old Testament.  He was filled with great knowledge of the Law and zeal for God, yet he lacked something very important. He did not see the love of God that was revealed to the world though Jesus Christ. In fact he was persecuting those who believed in Jesus so successfully that the church was in great danger.

His work was destroying the church.  But all of His work was in vain.  Thankfully, Christ worked a miracle in Paul’s life as well. Paul saw Christ’s power when Jesus struck him blind. No wonder Paul later tells us, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)

Like Peter and Paul, those who do not see Jesus as their Savior see God as an angry Being who is ready to punish them for their sins.  Those who are zealous for their religion and have this type of fear will go to great lengths to try and appease God even to the point of destroying others. There is another way however, that does not involve violence and hatred.

Jesus came into the world to show us a better way. Indeed, Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) He came in love to take the sins of the whole world to the cross, to die in our place and to suffer the Father’s wrath for our sake. 

He did not die in vain for everyone who knows Jesus as their Savior is a new creation in Christ. Everyone who knows the love of God in Christ Jesus will have eternal life. Everyone who believes in Him sees Jesus as gentle shepherd and follows Him, learning His voice, obeying His word and bringing others to the eternal shores of heaven. Like Peter, they cannot wait to be with Him. Like Peter, they see the true Jesus on the shore.

Peter saw Jesus making breakfast for His hungry disciples. The hands that were pierced for the sake of the whole word are serving those who want to be with Him. The risen King of Kings is preparing a meal for them.  This is the Christ, the Lamb of God, to whom angels and archangels and all the company of heaven sing and give all glory. But our Lord is not sitting on a throne in heaven doing nothing. He's making breakfast! Notice He is not commanding cooked food to appear out of nowhere, He's grilling fish on a fire.  Here is God in the flesh, who once died and rose again--God reincarnate so to speak still serving His followers.

His time of humiliation is over, but His humility is not. The Son of God appears to His disciples and provides them with daily bread, giving them breakfast. Not only does the Lord provide for us, but He desires that we be with Him and He asks that we bring others along. The Lord wants you in His presence-not just in the future in heaven, but right now.

He doesn't want to keep you as distant recipients of His gifts, but calls you to Him now. And where do you go to draw near to Jesus? You go to where He promises to be found: you go to where His Word is preached and His Sacraments are given out. You go where the forgiveness of your sins is to be found.

Wherever His Gospel is preached and His Sacraments administered according to His word, Jesus is there to forgive you in a very real way. If His net is not cast out of the boat, it will yield no food. If His Gospel is not preached, nor His Sacraments administered according to His word, you will come away tired and empty handed. No matter how hard you work, no matter what else is said or done, your nets will come up empty.

Still Jesus draws near to us and welcomes us to Him. He still gives daily bread to all, whether they believe in Him or not. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but for everyone to have everlasting life. He still offers forgiveness and faith to all, even those who are misguided like Paul once was.  He still desires that all might be forgiven, believe and be saved.    Those who follow Jesus believe He is worth going overboard into the deep waters of baptism. They also know that no one is more worthy to receive praise and glory than the One who died so that they could live.

Therefore we give thanks to the Lord for His humble birth, His humble obedience to the cross, for His patience, and for His loving mercy. And thankful for His persistence, we rejoice to confess our sins and draw close to Him. For here, by His means of grace, the present, eternal and risen Lord Jesus Christ declares that you are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen