Title: Jesus at work
Contents The theme of the first Summer Bible School is that the Lord who is still working, that is, the risen Jesus, is still working. Studying the Acts of the Apostles is the same as the subject of the District Worship Lesson. The Gospel of John records the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus up to 20 chapters. It gives the impression that it ends with verses 20:30-31. But the Gospel of John ends in chapter 21. John 21 can be said to be a kind of appendix. John 21 deals with the work of the risen and risen Jesus even now. It shows Jesus working through us as disciples. We are introducing the Lord who reveals His power through us. The relationship between the entire Gospel of John and chapter 21 is the same as that of Luke and Acts. The Gospel of Luke records what Jesus did on earth. The book of Acts records the work of the resurrected Jesus through his disciples.
Today's text records the incident where the risen Jesus caught a fish through the disciples. Through this incident, the secret of effective ministry is being taught. Gentlemen, Jesus who worked through the disciples is working through us. You want to show your abilities. He wants to make known His presence through the manifestation of His power. He wants us to bear abundant fruit. Through today's Word, I hope that you will discover the Lord Jesus who works through us today.
1. The Lord cares about our work.
Jesus' disciples were waiting for what would happen next in Galilee. Simon Peter said, “I am going to fish.” The other disciples also said that they would go with them. They went fishing on the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Tiberias. Verse 3 says they got into the boat. It's not a paid boat. The Greek word for ship has a definite article. That ship soon. It is a fixed ship. So whose ship is it? It must have belonged to Peter. They got into a boat and went out to the Sea of Galilee to catch fish with their nets.
Did they catch a lot of fish? This is verse 3. “I did not catch anything that night.” The Sea of Galilee is known for its abundance of fish. It was night, so it was a good time to catch a lot of fish. They were all keen to catch fish and were experienced fishermen. But they labored all night and did not catch a single fish. Everything is there, but the result is not good. Have you ever had this experience? I did my best. I made an effort. The results do not meet expectations. We are disappointed when we work hard and get nothing. The greater our expectations for work, the greater our efforts, the greater our disappointment. Like us, the disciples must have been disappointed and tired.
So, why did this happen? Guys, isn't it strange? It is strange that not a single fish was caught in the net. Soon it will be a miracle. Why did this happen? The Lord called them to be fishers of men. Is it wrong to go fishing? Have you left the Lord's work and went to the world's work? If this is correct, how should we understand the catch of many fish in verse 6? The Lord's words in verse 10, “Bring some of the fish you have caught now,” acknowledge that it was a good thing they caught fish. The Lord blessed them that they caught fish. There is nothing wrong with them going fishing.
Then why didn't they catch one? They were fishermen and did their best, but with no results. Why? John 15:5 can help us. “Apart from me you can do nothing.” As John 15:5 says, they left Jesus and labored. Look at verse 4. Jesus was with them, but they did not know. After all, they did it their own way. The Lord who was with them did not let them catch them. So they toiled all night, but to no avail. But even here we have to be careful. Unless you do your best, you must not attribute bad results to the special providence of the Lord. In such cases, it is the fulfillment of the Lord's general will that you reap what you sow. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 warns, “If anyone does not want to work, he is commanded not to eat.”
In the text, the disciples were experts in catching fish. Had a great time and a meaty place. There were nets and there were ships. Seven did their best. I worked all night long. Of course, we had to catch a lot of fish. Oddly enough, none of them were caught. I couldn't catch Jesus who was with me.
2. The Lord wants to work through us.
Now the day was dawning. Perhaps it was the moment they gave up and turned back. The risen Jesus appeared to them. This is verse 5. “Children, do you have meat?” They admitted they didn't. admitted failure. “No.” They are confessing their incompetence. Then the Lord instructs. “Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find it.” The disciples heard the word of the Lord. It was an instruction that did not fit their experience. It was not in line with their theory. But they cast their nets on the right side of the boat just as the Lord had said. How did it go? They caught so many fish that they couldn't even lift their nets. How many did you catch? The other disciples came in a small boat and caught so many fish or nets that they came. full caught in the net. Caught 153 large fish alone. Look at verse 11. “There were so many, but the nets were not torn.” The Lord made them catch a lot of fish. Gentlemen, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life to them. The risen Lord is the solver of all our problems.
Gentlemen, why did the disciples not catch them at first, but now they catch a lot?
Here we caught the same fish. Nevertheless, at first he left the Lord and did his own thing in his own way in his own strength. But the second was initiated by the Lord. They acknowledged their failures and followed the Lord's way. He obeyed the word of the Lord without relying on his own experience. The results are surprising. The Lord caught many fish through His disciples.
What are you guys doing? Are you doing your own thing? Or are you doing the Lord's work? Are you doing it your own way? Is Jesus doing it through you? Are you getting plenty of fruit? Are you getting poor results? Ladies and gentlemen, the risen Jesus is still working today. You care about what we do. He wants to show his power through us. He wants to give you abundant fruit. Ladies and gentlemen, the risen Jesus is still working through us. May the Lord guide you.
3. The Lord meets our needs.
The disciples who caught a lot of fish found Jesus with them. Verse 7. “The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘Lord.’ Simon Peter was naked, and when he heard the word ‘Lord,’ he put on his robe and jumped into the sea.” In this way, the Lord is testifying of His presence through His power. Even today, He wants us to know that He is with us through the work of the Lord. John and his disciples knew that the Lord was with them. He knew that the Lord had caught many fish through him.
Peter jumped into the sea and came to the Lord. Other disciples also came by boat. When I got to the land, the Lord was waiting with a piece of bread on a charcoal fire. The risen Lord was concerned about the cold and hunger of the disciples. The Lord invites us to come and have breakfast, and he brings the bread and gives it to us. They also brought fish and gave them to us. This shows the Lord's love and care for his disciples.
Guys, do you believe that this Lord is with you? Do you believe in the Lord who makes us bear the fruit of our labor with power? Do you know the risen Lord who meets all our needs? Paul introduces the Lord in Philippians 4:19. “My God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Now they know that the Lord is with them. Verse 12. “No one dared to ask who you are, because they knew that it was given to them by the disciples.” It means you know everything. They are more interested in the Lord than the fish they catch. No wonder. Wouldn't it? Naturally, you should pay attention to the Lord. That's right. But look at verse 10. “Jesus said to me, Bring me some of the fish you have caught.” Jesus is also interested in the fish caught by his disciples. So Peter went and hauled the fish to land and set it up. There were 153. what do you mean? Jesus, who is still at work, is also interested in what we are doing. it's the world He wants you to intervene in what you think is tomorrow. He wants us to bear abundant fruit through His power. He wants us to have abundant fruit.
Through these events, the disciples learned the wisdom of their mission to live in the world. I have experienced the secret of effective ministry in this world. I realized the secret to success. No matter how hard we try, if the Lord does not work, we will end up in failure. Because we do our work in our own strength. But when our work is turned into the work of the Lord and the Lord works through us, abundant fruit is guaranteed. I hope you all experience Jesus who is still working through us. I hope you will experience the Lord who wants to give you abundant fruit. I hope that you will entrust everything to the Lord and do the Lord's work in the Lord's way so that you can live an abundant life.