Title: WORK AT HAND—FISHING AND FEEDING
Focus: Jesus’ resurrection appearance to his disciples underscores that there is work to be done by all Jesus’ followers—the work of fishing and feeding.
Function: To encourage the congregation to fish and feed people for the risen Lord Jesus.
Text: John 21:1-25
In a few more weeks a number of us will go through graduation exercises at colleges, universities and high schools. These are exciting, celebrative times for they mark the completion of a stage or era, and these graduations open up a new future with new opportunities and work to be done. For some, graduation will mean more studies and education down the road; for others, graduation will mean the beginning of a career or job opportunity. Whatever the case, there’s work at hand for you.
The same is true for all the participants in the Discipleship Journey. Today, we concluded that journey by formally welcoming new members, either by way of transfer or by way of a public profession of faith. Today’s welcoming rite concludes the Discipleship Journey, to be sure, but it also opens up a future for all of us: there’s work to be done. Not just for the participants in the Discipleship Journey, but for all members and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I say that in light of the Scripture passage from John 21:1-25. There we learn that Jesus’ resurrection appearance to his disciples underscores that there is work to be done by all Jesus’ followers—the work of fishing and feeding. Followers of Jesus must fish and feed people for the sake of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
TEXTUAL OBSERVATIONS
As we dig into the Scripture reading, I want to make a few observations, which I trust, will help us to get at God’s Word for us today. The first observation centers on Jesus’ resurrection appearance to his inner circle of disciples. The text says in verse 1 that “Jesus appeared again to his disciples.” And in verse 14 John says that “This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.”
We need to note, however, that this story of Jesus’ resurrection appearance occurs during a forty-day period—a period marked by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and Jesus’ physical ascension into heaven. And during that period there were other resurrection appearances as well:
For example, the risen Lord Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9), and to other women (Mt. 28: 9,10). He appeared to Cleopas and his companion (the Emmaus goers) (Lk. 24:13ff); He appeared to Simon (Lk.24:34; I Cor.15:15); and Jesus appeared to the inner circle of disciples, first without, then a week later, with Thomas (Jhn.20).
The text for today, however, records Jesus’ third resurrection appearance to his inner circle of disciples, in this case to seven of his close friends. They are: Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the two sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples (whose names aren’t mentioned). The point to observe is that these disciples have been with Jesus from the beginning. Jesus has mentored them ever since he began his public ministry.
The second observation centers on the significance of Jesus’ resurrection appearances. Why does Jesus show up—then here, then there, coming and going at will? Why does not he linger or stay permanently with his disciples? The answer is profound: Jesus wishes to communicate that from now on till his final coming at the end of time, things will be different. Jesus no longer will relate to his followers as he did before his crucifixion.
For example, before Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples could touch and see and talk with Jesus whenever they saw him and heard him talk. As long as they were in the “neighborhood” of Jesus, the disciples had direct, physical access to Jesus. But the resurrection has changed all this.
During this 40-day period, the Lord Jesus is preparing his disciples to relate to Jesus differently. Jesus’ physical departure into heaven would mean that his disciples would have to get used to Jesus’ physical absence and learn to relate to Jesus’ spiritual presence here on earth. Prayer and spiritual discernment, as well as carrying out the task at hand—these are now the order of the day—for Jesus’ disciples then, as well as for us today.
The third observation from the text is key to understanding God’s Word for us today. This passage contains two scenes with a unifying theme. The first scene is found in verses 1-14 and includes a boat and lots of fish; its theme is fishing and points to the disciples’ task at hand. The second scene is found in verses 15-25 and includes a charcoal fire, some bread and fish; its theme is feeding and points to restoration with a particular task at hand. What holds these two scenes together is the unifying theme of “there’s work to be done by all Jesus’ followers—the work of fishing and feeding people for the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
THE FISHING SCENE
Soldiers who have been in combat will often have flashbacks, where they all of a sudden see before them a scene that took place in the heat of combat. Flashbacks are the brains’ way of processing or working through significant moments in the past. As we consider the fishing scene in this text, think flashback.
For example, when the Lord Jesus began his public ministry, he called together an inner circle of disciples. They were Simon Peter, Nathaniel, the sons of Zebedee, and others. In Luke 5 we learn that Jesus used the context of fishing to teach his disciples of their mission in the future. They would become fishers of men.
The flashback memory at the beginning of the disciples’ training includes: (Luke 5:1-11)
a. Jesus telling Simon Peter
“to put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Mind you, the disciples had been unsuccessful in catching any fish that night. The flashback memory also includes
b. A miraculous catch. Simon Peter, out of deference or respect for Jesus, obeyed and they caught a huge amount of fish, so much so that their nets began to tear, and they were able to fill two boats with fish. That was the time when the disciples realized that this Jesus was “someone else.” And that was the time when Jesus told them, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”
Now here’s the catch: the flashback memories going back to Jesus’ recruitment of his disciples at the beginning of his earthly ministries serve as a catalyst or take off point for Jesus’ disciples at the end of his earthly ministry, to tell the world about the crucified, risen Lord Jesus Christ, who will forgive our sins, raise our bodies from the dead and grant us eternal life with him on the renewed heavens and earth.
Consider: the 7 disciples are at a critical stage in their lives: Jesus has undergone a change; he will leave them to go to heaven. So what will there be left for them to do? The disciples go out to fish; they catch nothing. Then Jesus appears on the shoreline. At first, they don’t realize it is Jesus. He asks them if they caught any fish. They said “No!” Then Jesus tells them: “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
They do what this stranger tells them to do. And they are unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. They catch 153 large fish, but unlike the first time in their flashback memory, this time the net does not tear.
And it’s in this context, that the disciples not only recognize this stranger on the shoreline as their Master, the risen Lord Jesus. They also make the connection between the first miraculous catch and this catch: the work they were trained for by Jesus—the catching of fish, the catching of people—is at hand. When the disciples throw their net of the gospel onto the nations of the world, they may expect a huge catch of men, women and children who will become Jesus’ followers.
And when fish become followers there is a task to be done by all Christ’s followers: fish and then feed the masses with the gospel story and the rule of Jesus Christ. Within the context of our daily living, you and I must fish—and feed the masses with good news.
THE FEEDING SCENE
Again, think flashback. As we consider the feeding scene in the text, take note of that charcoal fire. A few weeks ago, on the night that the Lord Jesus was betrayed, Jesus had a conversation with his disciples. They all pledged loyalty to him, and Peter especially emphasized that he would lay down his life for Jesus. But Jesus prophesied and said to Peter: “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (John 13:38).
That very same night, the Lord Jesus was betrayed and led into the courtyard of Israel’s high priest. Peter and John followed at a distance. Inside the courtyard, while warming himself near a fire, Peter stood and denied (three times) that he was not one of Jesus’ disciples—and a rooster began to crow.
It’s this flashback memory that repeats itself, but now in reverse order. The flashback memory oozes with pain, for Peter abandoned and denied his Master. This precious moment on the shoreline of the Sea of Tiberias, however, oozes with a healing balm. For here, at this charcoal fire, the risen Lord Jesus restores Peter’s relationship with him. And the Lord Jesus gives Peter—and all of us who are followers of Jesus—a task to do: fish people and feed the flock, the people of God.
Jesus asks: “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?…Simon son of John, do you truly love me?…Simon son of John, do you love me? Jesus is still asking this question from all of us. And just as he restored Peter and gave him marching orders to carry out the task at hand, so the Lord Jesus tells each one of us today: “Feed my lambs; take care of my sheep; feed my sheep.”
Probing the debt of Peter’s love, the Lord Jesus also predicts Peter’s cross as part of his service of the Lord: “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” The task at hand for Jesus’ inner circle of disciples would come with great sacrifice. Most of the disciples suffered persecution and a violent death.
Our discipleship also comes with a cost. Perhaps there won’t be a violent end, but the task at hand does come with a cost—the cost of commitment, of self-surrender and self-denial. The task is clear: fish and feed. Go and lead people to a committed and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his church. Go ahead.
Do this wherever God has placed you: In the home, at work, at school or in the public domain—wherever you have an opportunity to cast the net of the gospel and lead people to Christ, do it. And whenever you have the opportunity to develop relationships with people, feed them with truth, with God’s Word, with the love of Christ.
We live between the time of Jesus’ resurrection and his final coming. The task is clear: fish and feed people for the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Now and always! Amen.