John 21

Posted on May 4, 2017 in Bible (NT) in a Year |

Thursday

Breakfast on the beach.

John 21 – Today’s reading.
 
We did a six-week study in our Wednesday children’s ministry on this very passage of scripture. The message of the study was to recognize our own encounters with Jesus and that we see Jesus in our everyday lives. You remember when Jesus spoke to Thomas in the upper room and said “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” We may not see the physical Jesus present in our lives, but there are so many times that we see Jesus in the everyday activities in our lives. When we experience healing, when we are in a financial situation and miraculously money shows up that we hadn’t expected. When we walk away from an accident that should have killed us. When we look at the beauty of nature and wonder at how this incredible world fits together so well. 
 
What I loved about this story and the message is how well it ties us back to the first encounter Jesus had with his disciples. They were fishermen and Jesus told them he would teach them how to fish for people. How to bring others to Christ.
 

But first Jesus needed to restore Peter and help Peter to be the leader of His Church as He had already told Peter He would be. (Matthew 16:18). And so like before Jesus calls Peter away from fishing to continue his ministry.

I think there are times in our lives where we get off track or go back to what is familiar to us. Old habits spring up. But Jesus is always there to guide us back; to remind us that we have a purpose, a mission to complete and that work is never done until God calls us home.

Did you notice that Jesus goes through a progression while he is speaking to Peter? He first talks about feeding the lambs. That’s helping the new Christian or new disciple get the training they need to begin their journey, then as they grow Jesus tells Peter to care for his sheep. We are called to nurture the Christian along and then Jesus tells Peter to feed His Sheep.  The best way to feed a maturing Christians is to get them out into the field, help them to help others. (now this is not a strict formula but rather a list or diagram for being church to the world).

In a recent conference that I attended, one of the bishops that spoke (Bishop Matthew Thomas) shared that “going and sending is part of the legacy of the greatest ministers. In fact, the greatest thing you accomplish… will not be what you do, but what you enable to be done by others. “

Jesus promised the disciples they would do greater things. John 14:12, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
 

Greater, because of the Holy Spirit working in us, and greater because we are always better when there are two or more. I hope that you are sharing what you have learned with those around you. Time to do some fishing.

Praise Jesus for serving Breakfast on the Beach

Pastor Kathy