OceanSide church of Christ

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THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (32)

The Third Appearance of Jesus to the Apostles (2)

John 21:7b-14

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     In our last study of the series, “The Sayings of the Crucifixion,” Jesus appeared to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberius, or, better known as, The Sea of Galilee.

 

See the source image     Sea of Galilee - Tourist Israel

 

B.      Peter and six other apostles fished all night, but they caught no fishes. 

 

C.     When the morning had come, Jesus was on the seashore.

1.       The apostles did not know it was Jesus.

2.       He asked them about their catch.

3.       When they told Him they had caught nothing, He told them to “cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find” (John 21:6).

4.       They did as Jesus had said and the net was so filled with fish that they were not able to draw it.

 

D.     We closed that lesson noting that John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, confessed to Peter saying:  “It is the Lord (John 21:7a).

 

E.      Let’s continue our study which we have entitled:  “The Third Appearance of Jesus to the Apostles” (John 21:7b-14).

 

I.                    THE ANIMATION OF PETER (John 20:7b)

 

A.     He clothed himself

 

Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked…

 

1.       Fishing can be a very intense job.

2.       Too many clothes could be confining while fishing.

3.       Thus, Peter removed his outer garments and only worn the light clothes that were close to his body while fishing.

4.       This was considered being “naked.”  (See 2 Sam. 6:14, 20).

5.       Before parting from the ship, Peter “girt his fisher’s coat unto him.” 

 

B.      He cast himself into the sea

 

 and did cast himself into the sea.

 

1.       Two views:

a.       Some believe Peter cast himself into the sea in order to get to Jesus as quickly as possible.

b.      Others believe that Peter entered into the sea in order to better hold the catch of fish that the apostles had just made.

2.       Knowing Peter, most likely this impetuous act was done in order to get the shore as quickly as he could.  John’s revelation that Jesus was on the shore seemed to prompt his actions.

 

II.                 THE ARRIVAL OF THE OTHERS (John 21:8)

 

And the other disciples came in a little ship, (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

 

A.     The actions of the other disciples are put in contrast with the actions of Peter.

1.       They came in a little ship to the shore.

2.       They were the ones dragging the net with fishes.

 

B.      Two additional points:

1.       A little ship

a.       Was this a different boat than the one in which they had caught the fish?

b.      They probably boarded a larger ship at the docks.  When they saw Jesus, they were off shore.

c.       A large boat would not have been able to get close to the shore.

d.      Often smaller boats were attached to the side of the larger ship in order for those on board to be able to reach the shore if needed.

2.       Two hundred cubits:  If a cubit is 18 inches, they were about one football field (300 feet) out into the sea.

 

III.              THE ASSOCIATION WITH JESUS (John 21:9-12)

 

A.     The cooking (John 21:9)

 

As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

 

1.       These men had been fishing all night.  To come to shore and see a meal prepared for them must have been a welcomed sight.

2.       The question that some have asked is:  “Was this meal prepared miraculously?”  or, “Did Jesus prepare this meal himself?” 

a.       This is another one of those questions that needs to be put in our “Questions to Ask in Eternity” book.

b.      I would like to think that Jesus prepared this meal for the apostles knowing that He was going to be in their presence that day.

 

B.      The catch (John 21:10-11)

1.       The request (John 21:10)

 

Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

a.       Jesus brings the focus back upon the miracle that was performed.

b.      He requests the disciples to bring the fish which they have caught.

c.       Had he not made this request, the readers of the New Testament would have been left in the dark as to the enormity of the catch.

2.       The results (John 21:11)

 

Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty three:  and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

 

a.       The nature:  “full of great fishes”

1)      Strong (3173):  the Greek word is megas, meaning big

2)      Thayer:  great in mass and weight

3)      Vine:  used of external size, form, and measure

b.      The number

1)      153 fish were caught

2)      That is a lot more than a stringer or a cooler full

c.       The net: 

1)      “…yet was not the net broken.”

2)      The miracle seemed to not only be on the fish being caught but on the net as well.

 

C.     The conversation (John 21:12)

1.       The request (John 21:12a)

 

Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine…

 

a.       Jesus shows Himself to be a man of hospitality.

b.      He entertains the disciples on this occasion.

c.       Although sometimes brief, the Bible reveals important qualities that Jesus possessed that we, too, should possess (1 Pet. 4:9).

 

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

 

2.       The recognition (John 21:12b)

 

And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou?  knowing that it was the Lord.

 

a.       Prior to their arrival at the shore, there may have been some doubts in the minds of some of the men as to whom this individual was.

b.      Seeing Him.  Hearing Him speak.  And, witnessing the miracle of the fish negated the need to ask who this was.

c.       They were soundly convinced that this is the Lord.

 

D.     The communion (John 21:13)

 

Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

 

1.       As the host, Jesus took the lead in serving His guests.

2.       Again, we see Jesus in the position of a servant to His disciples.

3.       LESSON:  Good food and good company are a time of great blessing and joy.

4.       NOTE:  There would not be many more times that Jesus and His followers would get to spend valuable time like this together.

IV.              THE AUTHENTICATION FOR THE THIRD TIME (John 21:14)

 

This is the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

 

A.     Jesus had appeared to them while they assembled together in a room twice in the past.  Now, He appeared to them on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

1.       Different places with different people present would strengthen the fact of Jesus’ resurrection.

2.       The mission of the apostles would be undergirded by Jesus’ resurrection.  They needed to be fully convinced of the fact.  Multiple appearances of Jesus would bolster their faith.

 

B.      There were at least three other appearances of the Christ up to this point in time.

1.       Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mark 16:9)

2.       The two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-15)

3.       Peter (Luke 24:34).

 

C.     LESSON:  God knows that evidence is very important to a person’s faith.  He does not hesitate to provide evidence in abundance (See Heb. 11:1).

 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Don’t you know the disciples were pleasantly surprised to see Jesus early that morning on the Sea of Galilee.

 

B.      Too, they must have been overwhelmed when they took such a catch of fishes at the command of Jesus.

 

C.     The meal that they shared with Him that day must have been an enjoyable experience for all of them.

 

D.     Jesus, however, had some business to take care on this occasion.

1.       John 24:15 begins with these words:  “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter…”

2.       We will delve into that conversation in our next lesson on “The Sayings of the Crucifixion.”