May 7, 2020
Come and Let's Go Fishing!
John 21:1-14
Karianne Drews
Central Truth
As children, we must come to Jesus for instruction and receive His guidance and power to do what He calls us to do. We can do all things when we go to Him first instead of trying to operate in our own strength.
Key Verse | John 21:5-6
Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No." 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.
John 21:1-14
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
1 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 1 21:8 Greek two hundred cubits; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters 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.
Dive Deeper | John 21:1-14
This passage begins with the disciples fishing back in Galilee after being commissioned by Jesus and having just received the Holy Spirit. This return to their former life is not what the Lord had called them to. After attempting to fish all evening using their own strength/ability, they catch nothing.
Oh, how easy it is for me to do the same thing—rely on my own strength and do what is comfortable and familiar. But our walk with the Lord is always more exciting and abundant when we rely on Him!
Next we see Jesus on the shore giving three specific actionable instructions to the disciples.
Instruction 1: Jesus calls them as "children" (Matthew 18:3) to cast their net on the right side of the boat. They catch so many fish they can't even haul the fish into the boat. Lesson: Obey what He asks you to do as a "child of God" in a submissive posture always ready for instruction, and act with immediacy to serve Him. He promises that He will make us fishers of men (Matthew 4:19) and can give us all we need to succeed abundantly in good works (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Instruction 2: Jesus then gives specific instruction to bring in some of the fish that had been caught. Peter isn't the first to recognize Jesus on the shore, but he is the one who jumps into the sea to swim to Jesus and later hauls the net ashore. Lesson: Act with excitement and joy knowing the Lord will be with you. Make Him known to others, and invite them into a relationship with Jesus.
Instruction 3: Jesus then tells the disciples to come and have breakfast. Lesson: Enjoy fellowship with Jesus now and meals with others (Acts 2:46). It is a lesson that takes on new meaning in current circumstances!
Discussion Questions
1. How often do you rely on your own strength and move forward with something without praying and asking the Lord for guidance and instruction? (Philippians 4:6)
2. Are you eternally focused every day as you go about your agenda and interact with others? (Matthew 6:33)
3. How quickly do you respond when the Lord asks you to do something? Do you respond like a child with excitement and joy?
4. Do you love the Lord more than you love other things in life, such that you are willing to seek Him ahead of your own comfort or selfish interests (like Peter jumping out of the boat) and to bring Him glory? (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27) What fear holds you back from jumping out of the boat like Peter? (John 21:7; 2 Timothy 1:7)
5. How often do you meet with others and share what the Lord is doing in your life? Do you listen to what He is doing in others' lives and encourage them, too? What action will you take this week to get to know some other people better, and how will you encourage them? (Hebrews 10:25)