Pastor Richard Waldschmidt
John 21:1-14
"IT’S JESUS"
I. He Cares.
II. He Counsels.
III. He Keeps You!
In the name of our living Lord Jesus, dear fellow redeemed children of God,Just before Easter we had to put our dog Archie to sleep. Old age just caught up to him. He had only lived at our house for about a year and a half. He grew up on a farm in his younger dog days. When it became apparent that he was not doing well, I called his former owners. They came down to visit him one last time. Archie had not lifted up his head most of the day, but when the doorbell rang and he heard their voices, he struggled to get to his feet. He couldn’t get himself up but he let up a combination cry/bark that seemed to say, “Oh you’re here!” Today in God’s Word the disciples let out a cry that says, “Jesus is here!” They had been through some long days but then they saw Jesus there on the beach. There might be days when we struggle to make it to our feet. Maybe today is one of those days. Along with the disciples this morning we say, “It’s Jesus!” I. He cares. II. He counsels. III. He keeps you.
There are also days when it seems that everything is “hurry up and wait.” Maybe that’s the way Jesus disciples were feeling as Jesus told them to go to wait for Him in Galilee. Sometime after Easter the disciples had gone to Galilee but now were waiting for Jesus to come. "I'm going out to fish," said impetuous Peter. Remember that many of the disciples had been fishermen so since there was nothing else to do, why not? They got skunked. They caught no fish. All of a sudden they noticed a "stranger" on the shore. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you caught any fish?"
Jesus called out “Friends.” He didn’t call out, “You rascals! There you are! I’m going to pay you back for deserting me in the Garden of Gethsemane. He didn’t use his power to come up behind the disciples and overturn their boat like they deserved. Jesus doesn’t treat us like we deserve either. He doesn’t crush us like we deserve for all the times we have deserted him. He calls out, “Friends!” to his disciples and in His mercy He calls us “Friends!” to you and me. It’s Jesus. He cares for you. “Friends, haven’t you caught any fish?” The disciples being experienced fishermen must have been gritting their teeth when they called back, "No!" The disciples might have been thinking “Hey! Mind your own business!” But that wasn’t the attitude Jesus had for His disciples. He didn’t say, “I’ll mind my own business.” With that question “Haven’t you caught any fish?” Jesus showed that he was concerned about the disciples. He had just rescued the whole from the jaws of Satan. You might think that Jesus would sit back and rest a while and not be concerned about anything for at least a while but instead Jesus is concerned about how many fish the disciples have caught.
Even with all of the big things going on in the world like sequesters and North Korea Jesus is concerned about how things are going in our lives- our struggle to put food on your table or our struggles in school, struggles with our aging or the aging of a loved one. So he has not only done the big thing of rescuing you and me from an eternity in hell’s flames but he is also concerned about the seemingly little things in our lives-how we did on the math test, how things are going at work and yes, even how many fish we catch. In Psalm 139 King David said about his risen Savior: "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."
Someone once said, “We all admire the wisdom of people who come to us for advice.” We all think we have the best advice. But then there are times when we all have to admit that we don’t know what to do. But here’s Jesus! He counsels us.
To the fishless disciples, Jesus 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." Remember something like this happened before with Jesus and his disciples. The lights went on in John’s head. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Peter does the first thing that popped into his mind. He jumps into the water. It seems like he can’t wait to see Jesus and hear him talk. "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. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards." There is no better place to look for advice than Jesus.
What things do you need counsel about in your life right now? Is your conscience tormenting you? Jesus said, “It is finished!” from the cross. Your sins are all paid for. Are you following a path of sin? Jesus, your Savior says, “Go and sin no more.” Are you wondering what’s on the other side of death’s door for you? Jesus says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions. I’m going there to prepare a place for you.” Are you tired and weary? Jesus says, “I will give you rest.” In His word Jesus directs us to what is really important in life. "A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." "What can a man give in exchange for his soul." He told His followers that only one thing is needful." Jesus points our hearts and eyes away from this temporary world we are passing through to our real home in heaven.
Are you wondering a little about how you going to make it through the next months? Time is flying by- there so much to do and not enough energy or time or money put food on the table let alone all the things that need to be paid for? It’s Jesus! He keeps us. He provides all that we need and more! “The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11Simon 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. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead." The Lord provided more fish than their boats could handle- 153 big ones, to be exact! Notice too the simple way Jesus provided what the disciples needed and more. He not only provided the fish, He also cooked them breakfast. Perhaps it isn’t always with a miracle on the shores of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus provides for us but certainly it is our risen Jesus who is responsible for our every breakfast, lunch, and supper, every snack along with everything else he provides for you and me each day. As the psalmist says, "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." Jesus was a sight for sore eyes for the disciples. Jesus is a sight for sore eyes for us. It is the Lord! He cares. II. He counsels. III. He Keeps you. Amen.
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