Scripture John 21:1-17
Afterward (doubting Thomas) Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So, they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. (imagine the night…all night throwing the net on the left side of the boat)
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. (How often does Jesus speak to us and we don’t realize it is him?) called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered.
He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus (John) said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. (feeding the 5000) This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. (10, 11, now-7)
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. "
How did Jesus begin and end ministry with the disciples? A miracle catch of fish. Luke 5:1-11
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
SO that’s it, from beginning to end - start and finish the same -become fishers of men? Right! It is right, but it is NOT ALL! Jesus reminded them how important it is to catch fish. And now, on the beach he shows them, unlike the first catch that was too large to count, and was causing damage to their equipment; now they could account for each fish and their nets would not break. After that quick visual reminder, he now lets them know the second part of their work for His kingdom.
Notice that they are no longer facing the sea when they come to breakfast with Jesus, they are facing the hillside, the pastureland behind him. And Jesus speaks to one--through whom he speaks to all.
3 times Peter had denied Jesus, now 3 times Jesus asks Peter if he truly loves Jesus and every time with increasing frustration at the question being repeated, Peter replies Lord, I love you. And each time Jesus responds with a new command - Feed my sheep. You are no longer only a fishermen -you are now a shepherd. It is important to catch fish and keep catching fish, but that is not all you have to do, you must become a shepherd - one who teaches.
The fish wiggle through life darting here and there and you do all you can to snag them. Now the fish have become sheep and the fisherman has become the shepherd and sheep need to be taught where to find pasture and drinking water. That work is never done.
It was not the responsibility of the fish to get caught, it is however, the responsibility of the sheep to seek out shepherds who can teach them the way of the great shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.
One of many ways to take that responsibility is a system that started in the late 1700’s and highly promoted by a man named (Slide) Robert Raikes - the system was called “Sunday School.” It was designed for working class children who did not have opportunity to receive an education. It was promoted by churches but was designed to teach reading and writing - the textbook for both was the bible. Today, the emphasis has shifted to teaching the bible so all Christians - all ages - wealthy and poor can apply the bible to life.
Sunday School teachers used to get paid. BUT, maybe they still do when you consider Edward Kimball. He lived over a hundred years ago. He was a Sunday school teacher in Boston, where a young teenager became part of his class. The young man was a country boy. He didn’t know the ways of the city or of the church. But, he came to Kimball’s Sunday school class.
When the teen first came to his class, Edward Kimball handed him a Bible. When Mr. Kimball said, "Turn to the Gospel of John," the country boy didn’t know how to find the Gospel of John. Edward Kimball recognized what was happening, and while the other boys were snickering, he opened the Bible to the Gospel of John and handed it back. When he asked the boys to read, the country boy fumbled as he read.
Edward Kimball wasn’t discouraged; he had perspective and saw possibilities in the boy. Kimball worked with him, and after some months he went down to the store where the boy was working, went into the back room where he was stacking boxes, and led that young boy to faith in Jesus Christ. That was the beginning of the ministry of young (Slide) Dwight L. Moody, the world’s greatest evangelist during the 1800’s.
You didn’t know Edward Kimball, an obscure Sunday school teacher who had a vision. But his vision transformed a young man who became a significant person in the kingdom of Christ. SS teachers, you have a highly valued task. Sheep/students you have a valuable opportunity before you to spend 45 mins beyond worship to learn what God’s word has to teach you about God and about how you are to follow him. “Sheep, do you love me? Then follow me to Sunday School and I will show you how to live in greener pastures!”
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