RISEN FROM THE DEAD- GUIDE THROUGH LIFE John 21

Risen from the dead, Jesus Christ the Lord showed, or made Himself visible, to His disciples after these things. What things? It is important that we link the remarkable events of the resurrected Lord with this present chapter.

Chapter 20 recorded Mary Magdalene’s coming to the grave, amazingly discovering it was empty and unoccupied. Further, John outdistanced the brawny Peter and they saw the collapsed grave clothes, and knew that He was risen. Later our Lord rewarded Mary Magdalene with a personal visit, when He revealed Himself to her with one word, ‘Mary’. Of all transformed people ( once immoral ) she was chosen to let the disciples know He was alive.

The same chapter records the breath-taking appearance of the Lord to His disciples, with Thomas absent and unbelieving. Despite this wonder, Thomas belonged to the modern sceptics. Eight days later, the Lord reappeared, directing Himself to Thomas, allowing him to put his finger in the scars of His hands and shove his fist in the side wound. ‘My Lord and my God’ was Thomas’ appropriate response. It should be our response, too.

The last verse in this 20 th chapter tells why our Bible was composed, ‘ These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that believing, you may have life through His Name’. That’s why the Scripture adds ‘ after these things.’ We must always follow these leads lest we miss God’s holy purpose.

The risen Lord showed Himself to seven of His disciples at the Sea of Galilee, where He had given much of His remarkable bible teaching and performed such miracles. The Saviour linked His risen ministry to His earthly life., encouraging His disciples to continue daily living for Him, Who died and rose again. This theme runs through the remaining verses in this exciting chapter.

The blustering Simon Peter heads the list of disciples on four occasions. The Lord prepared him to be the preacher of the Day of Pentecost and leader of the disciples. Yet , Peter rebelled as he said, ‘I go fishing’ ( v3 ) . He meant, ‘ I am breaking off my relations with this Person,. I am sick to death of this spiritual battle. I’m going back to my old profession as a fisherman.’ Is it surprising after the supernatural rising from death, that Peter should revolt? Some of our bitter rebellions have followed God’s special blessing .

Is this the same man who heard his Lord say, ‘Follow Me. I will make you a fisher of men?’ Three years later, he determined not to go further with Christ.

Peter drew the other fellows with him in deserting his Lord. ‘We are going with you.’ ‘They went out and immediately got into a boat, and that night they caught nothing.’( v5) They were accomplished fishermen, professionals, knowing every current in the Sea of Galilee, prevailing winds, and tidal movements with the moon cycle. And years of experience in these waters However, this was man-directed, inspired by a sense of personal adequacy and self-sufficiency. Peter’s castle collapsed like sand, dragging the other fellows’ hopes with him.

They would be blue with exposure, cold, hungry, hypothermic, shocked and disheartened. But help was near. ‘ When the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.’ ( v6) Our risen Lord comes near to us in the most desperate moments of life. We must recognise His features even though physically we may be exhausted.

The risen Lord spoke to them, ‘Children (Boys, still under tutoring, unshaven, immature, ) have you any food?’ They answered Him, ‘No’. They had heard the resurrected Lord speak to them without grasping the sheer wonder of His voice.

Many times our Lord must speak to us as mere boys and not grown men.

‘He said to them,’ Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you shall find some.’ ( v6) They were at the end of the tether, not able to contest the advice of this Stranger. They were glad they followed the direction , for ‘They cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.‘ That night they learned that Christ-directed service merited the Father’s blessing, while humanistic, man-empowered direction was fruitless. Do we learn this?

John, the follower whom the Lord loved, recognised Him, the all-together

lovely One ) , saying ‘It is the LORD.’ Peter responded immediately when he

heard that ‘it was the Lord’. A lover knows the voice of the dear one as in the

Song of Solomon. The Holy Spirit would surely convict Peter of his rebellious

return to his old calling. The other six had not recognised their Lord. How often

do God’s people miss the sweet Presence of the Lord of glory, even when He had

conquered death and robbed the grave of its terror.

Peter threw his outer garment over him and dived into the sea. Scripture does not tell us what happened as Peter met his Lord. Did he choke out his confession of blasphemous denial, and this latest show of defiance, sobbing as he clung to the risen Lord. I shall ask Peter when we walk the heavenly streets of gold together just what happened when he met the Lord.

The other six disciples came in a little boat, for they were only 100 yards from the shore, dragging the net filled with fish. ( v8 ) Surprise! Surprise! For as soon as they came to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

Exhausted, chilled to the bone, hands blistered, unaccustomed to the oars, and insensitive with freezing, hungry, thirsty and defeated: such men met the Lord of glory. The fire of coals. The warmth of it. The smell of fish simmering on the coals, the best way to cook fish, stirring the taste buds. Sight, sound, hearing, smell and taste are all the senses, proving God’s Son had risen from the dead. One of the unforgettable moments in their personal history.

The grace of God overflowing! Peter recalled the last fire of coals in the high priest’s palace, and his brazen rejection of his Lord. They all recalled the two miraculous feedings of the five and four thousand men. regardless of women and children, with five small loaves and two small fish. Memories flooded in.

Next week, God willing, we shall continue our Lord’s amazing experience.