After these things Jesus [a]manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called [b]Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and 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 also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have [c]any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about [d]one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. John 21: 1-8
The disciples were with Jesus about three and half years. They saw with their own eyes great miracles and signs from the Lord Jesus. They heard Him and they saw him very close. Since the beginning, our Lord Jesus wanted them to have a steady faith in Him. For that, He proved Himself even after resurrection. He appeared them twice after resurrection before this third manifestation. They saw him and they heard him. In spite of that their faith was not established firmly. Jesus was not with them physically after his death on the cross. They felt that Jesus was not with them. Now, they did not have the (physical) fellowship with the Lord. They were moving away from the Lord. They felt disappointment in their faith. Before few days, He appeared them two times. There was a small gap of few days between His second appearance and third appearance to His disciples. But still they did not encourage themselves to have a firm faith in Christ Jesus. When we are moving away from the fellowship of the Lord, this is going to happen even in our lives. Many of us are experiencing such disappointment in continuing our faith. We can notice that. We can sense it when we do not have a sufficient amount word of God or prayer in our lives. We you notice such disappointment in faith; remember you are moving away from His fellowship.
In fact, Jesus when He called them, He told them what He was going to do with them. As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw [a]James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away [b]to follow Him. Mark 1:16-20. Jesus told them that He was going to make them as fishers of men. Peter and his brother Andrew were casting a net in the sea. They were in the sea and Jesus was on the shore. When they heard His call, they decided to follow Him. Similarly, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother were also called. They also immediately left their father for His kingdom’s sake. They left their father with the hired servants. They had hired servants. That means they were rich. They left their father, boat and riches for His kingdom. Look at their faith in the beginning. They had taken a firm decision to follow Him. They were with Him three and half years. Now, look at them. They were together with others. When Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing, all others with them said -We will also come with you. What happened to their first faith? Did not they see with their own eyes the miracles and wonders that Jesus had done? Did not they leave everything to follow Jesus in the beginning of their faith? Did not He manifest Himself two times after resurrection (before this 3rd manifestation)? Then, why were they saying to go fishing? It was because there is lack of fellowship with the Lord for few days.
We can also notice another man Nathanael of Cana in Galilee sitting with them. Actually, he was not a disciple of Christ. But he was a man of pure heart. Read the following text: The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He *found Philip. And Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip *said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael *said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” John 1:43-49. Jesus himself testified that of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! Psalms 32:1-2. See this man. Though in his spirit there is no deceit, he was not called by the Lord to become His disciple. Now this man came to His disciples to have a fellowship with the disciples. Nathanael might have thought that – ‘ I have no chance to become a disciple like these Peter, John and others. At least I could learn something from them about the things of heaven and about Jesus. They have seen the Messiah very close. They are very fortunate. Let me draw myself near to these disciples so that I can increase my faith and have a good relation with the Lord”. But what happened to Nathanael? He was taken to fishing. When some people come to you thinking that you are children of God and you are with God, how are you dealing with them? Are you really behaving in such a way so that their faith can increase? Or are you spoiling their faith? You and I should choose such a fellowship which should encourage the faith of others. Look at this verse: I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalms 122:1. People around King David were like encouraging the faith of one another. When people around King David asked- Let us go to the house of the Lord, he was very glad. Our fellowship with others should encourage one another’s faith but not like discouraging their faith.
It is written- But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Our Lord knew that they went to fishing. Lord can respond even before the day was breaking. He could stop them going to fishing that night. But he did not do so. The same Lord who came to see them on the morning could have come to them to stop their doings. But He did not come. Why? Our Lord teaches many things practically. He responds to us at the Right Time. He responds at such a time so that we will learn a lesson which we will never forget in our lives.
Read this verse: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 4 The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to [a]break up. Jonah 1:5. Lord told Jonah to teach His word to the people of Nineveh that their wickedness has come up to Him. Therefore, they should repent lest His wrath come upon them. But Jonah did not do so. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He paid the fare. Whose money it is? It is God’s. God might have thought- “Ok. Mr. Jonah. You are using my money, my name as Prophet of God and not doing the work which I have entrusted to you. Go wherever you want to go. How can you escape from me?” Our Lord could have stopped Jonah before buying the ticket. Our Lord could have stopped Jonah by missing the ship. Is it not? But he did not do so. He responded at the right time. The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. Why after entering the ship, God caused a great wind on the sea? We know the remaining story happened there. The Lord wants to teach a practical lesson to everyone so that they will not repeat such mistakes in our lives.
In the above passage, – But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.”. We can notice two things:
(1) The disciples could not identify that it was Jesus. How then Peter and Andrew while casting their net in the sea came to Jesus who was going along by the Sea of Galilee? How did they identify him from afar? Why did not they identify now?
(2) The disciples could not even identify His voice when He said- Children, you do not have any fish, do you? It was the same disciples who heard him very close for three and half years. Why could not they identify His voice now? He himself said- “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10: 2-5. When we are away from his fellowship, our faith will be getting worse. We may not be able to SEE and HEAR Him. This is the worsening stage of our faith.
Further, in the above passage, He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. The fish we very near to them and they were on the right side. Though the fish were very near to them, they could not identify them. Those who could not identify Jesus with their EYES AND EARS, can identify fish ( a blessing ) very near to them? The things we are searching for and the blessing we are seeking for are very near to us but we cannot identify them. We may say many reasons why we are away from His fellowship and we are striving very hard to achieve the worldly things. Do you think it is possible for you to achieve your goals without Jesus in your life? Though the target or blessing (FISH) is very near to you, you may not recognize it and get it. It is because they cast the net as Jesus directed, they were able to find more fish for which they tried all the night. They caught full. The net was not torn. It means a complete blessing and no loss in their business or attempt. Why cannot you ask His Counsel in all you do? The Bible says- I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalms 32:8. Seek His counsel. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5. Without Jesus you and I can do nothing!
Therefore,
(1) Have strong fellowship with the Lord and His believers. Always read the word of God to strengthen your faith as well as others.
(2) Have a fellowship with them who can encourage your faith.
(3) Notice that if you are feeling a disappointment in faith, it is a sign you are going away from your Lord. This can cause the gradual closure of spiritual eyes and ears.
(4) Do as your Lord Counsels so that you can succeed. Never tell that this worldly attempt is a reason of your losing fellowship with God. Ask His counsel to guide you.
“And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels: must we fetch you water out of this rock? Numbers 20:10”
Whatever may be the surroundings besieging you; never let your mouth speak words without self-control. It applies to all His people. Whoever you may be! Whatever great things you did by the name of the Lord!
They spoke- ye rebels. Were they permitted to speak so? Remember your mouth is given not to insult others. Nor it is given to you speak whatever you want or to judge others! God warns his people to be careful to choose every single word. It is because you need to give an account of every single vain word. “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36”. Also, read- “But I say unto you, That whosever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire Matthew 5:22”. You may see that the Lord told them- “you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them Numbers 20:12”. In other words, it meant that they would not enter the Promised Land. Why this happened? Main reason was their words.
Also, remember God does not like those who exalt themselves. See yourself that words are not of haughtiness. God is not a respecter of persons. All are equal before Him. There is a probability even so called chosen people may also speak words which provokes the anger of the Lord. This may be because of losing their self control when they are besieged by difficult situations. But our God is not a respecter of persons. In Him there is no partiality. In the above verse, you may see they spoke- must we fetch you water out of this rock? Is it their strength that brings water out of the Rock? Do the miracles happen in the hand of a mortal man? No, man is only a medium through which God performs his will. We are empty vessels and fit for nothing. It is the Lord who needs to be glorified always. We need to learn humbling ourselves before the Lord and His people. Read this- “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are un-profitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:10”.