John 21
Fishing
1-3After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.” 3-4The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.
5Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”
They answered, “No.”
6He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”
They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.
Jesus, why did they listen to a stranger? They didn’t know it was You. Do You want me to listen to a stranger now? You know I am struggling with a question. I think I know what is the right thing to do, but I am afraid. Are You telling me to listen to a stranger? I know Satan can use scripture like this too Lord. Please, make it clear to me. Please guide me very directly in this situation. Help me Lord.
7-9Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”
When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.
10-11Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.
12Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.
13-14Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.
Jesus, help me to see You in my life. Help me to see You in the person who makes my breakfast (my wife usually). Help me to see You in all the people who are around me. Help me Lord, to just be with You when I am with others. And Lord, the disciples had each other. I need a group of disciples to be with and to be friends with. Help me find that group Lord. I need some support around me Lord. Help me please.
Do You Love Me?
15After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17-19Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”
Jesus, give me the strength and faith to follow You as Your disciples here did. You have never asked me to sacrifice anything near what they sacrificed. You only ask that I walk in faith through the daily trials and upsets of life, and yet I fail. Help me to truly follow You daily.
And what does “follow me” mean for me? Help me to be calm and at peace in the storms of life. Help me to be kind to those who hurt me. Help me to serve others whether they appreciate it or not. Help me to be radical about avoiding temptation.
20-21Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?”
22-23Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You—follow me.” That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you?”
24This is the same disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down. And we all know that his eyewitness account is reliable and accurate.
25There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.
Jesus, this gospel is finished. I don’t know where You want me to go from here. I know I have some serious work to do. I know I have some confessing to do. I know I have some serving to do. Help me Lord. Help me change. It is time to change I need to be different. A lot different. It is time to be a true follower of You. Change me Lord.
*John21*
