#73 - AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY - Studies in John’s Gospel

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JOHN’S LAST RECORDED MIRACLE OF JESUS - NOT HIS RESURRECTION, BUT CATCHING FISH

John 21:1-14 - “After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. [2] Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. [3] Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. [4] Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” [6] He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. [7] That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. [8] The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. [9] When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. [10] Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” [11] So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. [12] Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. [13] Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. [14] This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

Our text is significant because John pulls our attention past the event of the resurrection of Jesus to what comes next. Jesus never said, “Follow me, and I will save your souls.” He said, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of men - people catchers!” This final chapter in John’s account brims with images of fish and sheep. We’re immediately focused on reaching and discipling. John is carrying us all forward. There’s a momentum in this account that reaches all the way into today’s date.

1) THERE’S A REASON JOHN INCLUDES A FISHING MIRACLE AFTER HIS ACCOUNT OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

John 21:1-3 - “After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. [2] Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. [3] Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”

I don’t think it’s possible for any of us to imagine what it would have felt like being in that fishing boat. There had to be a strange blend of wonder and confusion. Some of the men belonged in a fishing boat and others didn’t. Some were fishermen and some weren’t. There was evidence of the new fellowship of the resurrection in that boat.

With the seasoned fishermen were new followers like Nathanael and others who were there, not because of old associations, but because of their new shared interest in Jesus, the Christ. That fellowship of the Resurrection was still holding this band together, fishermen and non-fishermen alike. There all together still in that boat.

But now what? One can’t help but feel everything is in suspense - on hold. And remember, that little boat carries the earthly hope - the only earthly hope - of the entire church. It is no exaggeration to say the entire church enterprise depends on the propagation of the witness of these men for its future. Once Jesus ascends there is no one else.

And here we find them. They have no plan. They don’t know where Jesus is or where He went or when they’ll see Him again. They have no mission - no assignment. They don’t know what they are to do next. There is nothing left for them but the old tug of the sea air, the splashing of oars in the water, and the casting of nets. They have all the facts of the death and resurrection of Jesus but are driven by no impulse to do a single thing with them. What next? Fishermen love to fish. Life has to fill up with something.

There is powerful insight in the way John ends his account bringing these fishermen disciples back to the very place Jesus first called them a couple years earlier. These fishermen were all at their boats and mending their nets when called by Christ and commissioned. They were given that strange new title - “fishers of men”(Matthew 4:19). Their nets would fill up, not with fish, but with people needing their sins divinely forgiven and their hearts filled with the joy of life eternal.

Think about it. John doesn’t include what we call the great commission the way Matthew and Luke do. No. John carefully brings all these men back - back to where it all began. Jesus is going to call them all over again, but with a miracle - another sign. He’s going to re-call them with the all the authority and provision of the risen Lord of all.

2) JESUS COMES TO HIS DISCIPLES, NOT IN THEIR SUCCESS, BUT IN THEIR ABJECT FRUSTRATION AND FAILURE

John 21:4-6 - “Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” [6] He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.”

It’s hard to choose which is the greater miracle. Is it the net, easily thrown in the opposite side, immediately strained with the mass of 153 large fish? Or is it the fact that all these skilled fishermen, plying all their expertise and knowledge, casting a wide net from sunset to sunrise, yet not snaring even one fish? Not even one random strike? Not one single wandering, careless fish in the whole sea with a large net, seven hard working men, and a whole night’s casting?

Remember, this is not some solitary fisherman casting off a dock with a single line and hook. This was a sizable net. And how many times did they cast it? And how many times - from dusk to dawn - did they know as soon as they drew up the net - even before it ever reached the surface - that from its light weight, it was completely empty?

The only thing fishermen like to do more than fish is catch something. These are the ones to whom our Lord comes. The emotional flash of resurrection joy has been momentarily eclipsed by the everyday frustration of hard work with no reward.

Jesus is not with them in the boat. He is distant. They have no sense of His presence, though He is risen and they know He is risen. What they feel is the disappointment of unfulfilled effort. What they feel is failure. What they feel is fatigue. They’re emotionally adrift along with their boat.

I don’t think this is a fanciful reading of the account. If anyone has doubts let him ask honestly what it is that keeps people from rejoicing in what they know to be true about their risen Lord. What makes God distant even when belief is present?

Isn’t it too frequently the case that we try to muster up faith and reliance on a Lord we don’t see while we know it will be up to us to make sure our lives are sufficiently supplied and secured? Don’t we quietly assume only hypothetically that our lives will be better off in the center of God’s will but we can’t chance living as though that were true. Jesus isn’t anywhere to be seen. Life can’t be lived in a prayer meeting. Get the boats and the nets. We have to live in the real world.

This is where John places his last recorded miracle. The disciples are doing what fishermen do. They fish. And John has them once again filling up their time with the daily tasks of ordinary life. Just like we all do. They and we are believers in Jesus. But He’s not visible. He doesn’t feel here. And we have lives to live. We have bills to pay. We have futures to secure. Soccer games to attend. Groceries to buy. Work to get done.

But then, as is so often the case in our busy lives, life on this world’s terms keeps coming up as empty as those nets. And even if we don’t always come up as empty, we still feel the weight of frequently trying to live by bread alone. Lots of work with little satisfaction.

That’s when Jesus calls from the shore:

3) OUR LIVES WILL BE MOST SATISFIED IN OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD’S CALL

John 21:6-8 - “He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. [7] That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. [8] The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.”

John tells us they had been casting their net on the left side of the boat (port?) and they shifted it to the right side (starboard?). It seems like something more drastic would have made better staging for the miracle to come. Walking on water again would have had impact. Switching sides of a small boat is not a very big change.

What’s the difference between the left side and the right? Only Jesus’ command. The left side was their side. The right side was the Lord’s side. And those few yards mark the greatest transition in the universe.

We’ll never know what made them switch sides. There’s nothing in the text to indicate John knew this yeller on the shore was the Lord until after they dropped the net and caught the mass of fish. But they listened. They were willing to be interrupted. They were willing to admit what wasn’t working, which is almost always the hardest thing to do. They were willing to trust. They risked their way into fruitfulness.

A lot of people don’t. They think it’s enough that they’re believers in Jesus and His resurrection. They’re fishermen casting their nets with Jesus no where to be seen. Or they’re accountants. Or plumbers. Or software producers. Or bankers. They just do what they do and believe Jesus rose from the dead. There. That’s the Christian life. Like everyone else, only we believe some stuff.

And then someone really hears Jesus call. They long for something different and bigger. They’re tired of empty nets - tired of the unspoken numbness of laboring for bread that perishes. They know they were saved to be fishers of men - catchers of people. They think more actively about what resurrection and eternal life and calling and supernatural provision do to the lives claiming them. They don’t just believe these things. They bet on them. Those are your world-changers.

4) DID THEY KNOW JESUS, OR DIDN’T THEY?

John 21:9-14 - “When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. [10] Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” [11] So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. [12] Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. [13] Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. [14] This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

What is John doing to us in that twelfth verse? They wanted to ask Jesus who He was. And they knew who He was. Don’t you hate it when the Holy Spirit jumbles your brain with inspired text? Sixty years later John recalls post-ascension conversations with those other disciples and it became obvious that not just John, but all the disciples wanted to ask Jesus who He was - verse 12 - “....none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord." Every one of them was dying to ask but didn’t. And then John also records they all knew it was the Lord.

Here’s my opinion about what’s happening in this account. Remember, by John’s recording this is the last miracle before Jesus’ ascension. He’s leaving them for a very, very long time.

Now look back in our story. John is the first one to identify the stranger on the shore as the Lord - John 21:6-7 - “He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. [7] That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea”

Question: How did John know it was Jesus? Was it just that he had better eyesight than the rest? I don’t think so. They’re all too far to identify Jesus by sight. No. John knows it’s Jesus because he’s seen this kind of miracle before:

Luke 5:4-10 - “And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” [5] And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” [6] And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. [7] They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. [8] But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” [9] For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, [10] and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

John recognizes Jesus by what he has seen Jesus do, not by the physical appearance of His face. And that should mean a great deal for people like us who have never seen Jesus’ face. Jesus is taking these followers beyond the experience of Thomas. Jesus is taking them into His post-resurrection - and soon post-ascension - era of ministry. There is no “touch my hands and my side” in this account. Jesus is gently pulling them into the time when they will walk by faith more than physical appearance.

John tells us they all had a hard time once they got on the shore with Jesus. They knew Him and didn’t recognize Him at the same time. Like with Mary at the tomb and the two on the road to Emmaus there is sameness in the resurrected Christ and difference. There is that bridge of revelation to be crossed that we discussed two weeks ago.

Now Jesus is leaving and they are sent out again to reach this world. But it won’t be with a photograph of what Jesus looked like. They will carry His message and His love and His power. And Jesus is preparing these disciples for His absence - for the time when they, just like we, will believe in a Christ who can no longer be touched.

But these disciples can rely on His provision even when they no longer have His physical presence. They will fish for the lost and dying in this world, just as we, remembering that the risen Christ - both before and after His ascension - is still present by faith to do what He did while physically present with them.

And He can still fill the nets after His resurrection just as He did before His resurrection. “Lo, I am with you always.” Yesterday, today, and forever.