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Lesson 8 |
The miracle of the great catch of fish. |
John Chapter 21 |
v1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
v2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Seven disappointed disciples all looking for guidance and comfort because the lord was no longer with them in the flesh. In their weakness they were open for any kind of leadership and ideas.
v3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
Remember the early promise that Jesus gave to Peter
Luke 5v10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
It only takes one person to mislead a group and the others will follow. Disappointment multiplied as the night went on.
v4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
While they had left the Lord He had not left them and by now their vision of the Lord was blurred.
v5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
The Lord inquires of their progress and still owns them as His children
And while they have nothing for Him verse 9 shows that He had something for them.
v6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
He did not ask them to move to another part of the sea but performed a miracle where they were.
v7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
The presence of the Lord will always cause fear to a backslider.
v8 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.
Help is never far away when the Lord decides to pour a blessing upon you.
v9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
v10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
The disciples were reminded that what the Lord gives to us still belongs to Him
v11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
All the fish that were caught in the net were landed on the shore The Lords net will never break.
John 10v28* And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
The last sign was telling Israel though they may leave the Lord One day He will gather them from all nations and bring them safely to the shore.