THE POST RESURRECTION FISH FRY BREAKFAST WITH JESUS

Proclamation:

“This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.  When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’  ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘You know that I love You.’  Jesus said, ‘Feed My lambs.’”  John 21:14-15 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were recorded by the Apostle John under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this the final chapter in the Gospel according to John, he records the conversation and the events related to the post resurrection fish fry breakfast that Jesus had with His disciples.  Jesus appeared to His disciples a third time by the Sea of Galilee.  They had been fishing all night and had not caught anything. (John 21:1-3)  Early the next morning, Jesus told them to cast their nets on the right side of their boat and they caught more than they could haul in. (John 21:4-6)  When they landed, Jesus prepared a fish breakfast for them. (John 21:9-14)  Jesus feed them physically and then tells them to feed His sheep, speaking figuratively. (John 21:15-17)  Most of the Bible scholars think that Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times, and Peter responded “yes” three times, to clearly reinstate Peter who had denied Him three times. (John 18:15-17 and 25-27)

Application:

There are times when we think that we know what we are doing but The Word of God tells us to do something which is contrary to our way of doing things, as Jesus did here with these fishermen. (John 21:5-6)  We will be much more productive and effective if we would do things His way.  We would also be much more effective if we would feast on God’s Holy Word before we try to share it with others.  None of us is perfect; we all sin and occasionally break our fellowship with The Lord God and we have to be “reinstated”.  Our family membership status does not change but we can lose the joy of our fellowship with Him.  We need to pray as David prayed, “… Create in me a clean heart … Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation …” (Psalm 51:9-13)

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY - HE IS RISEN

Proclamation:

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.  Come see the place where The Lord lay.”  Matthew 28:6 (KJV)

Explanation:

These words were recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the apostle Matthew.  When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the mother of James, arrived at the tomb where the body of Jesus had been placed, they encountered an angel who was sitting on the rock which had sealed the door of the tomb. (Matthew 28:2)  The angel told them that he knew that they were looking for Jesus who had been crucified, but He was not there. (Matthew 28:5-6)  The angel said that He is risen. (Matthew 28:6)

Application:

All four gospels give an account of the post crucifixion resurrection of Jesus, The Christ. (Matthew 28:6, Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6, and John 20:11-12)  Belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is essential for salvation of our lost soul. (Romans 10:9)  There are recorded witnesses to His death on the cross and the placing of His body in the tomb.  There are also many witnesses to His resurrection.  He appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9 and John 20:14-18), then to two of His disciples as they walked towards the village called Emmaus. (Mark 16:12 and Luke 24:13-32)  He appeared to His disciples in the upper room as they ate without Thomas, (Mark 16:14, Luke 24:35-51, and John 20:19-22) again in the upper room with Thomas present, (John 20:26-29) and at the sea of Tiberias. (John 21:1-14)  For forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3) Jesus appeared to His disciples, spoke to them, and at times He ate with them.  His disciples also witnessed His ascension from a mountain in Galilee. (Matthew 28:16-17 and Acts 1:9)  This happened and there are multiple witnesses to verify it.  The question is do you believe it?

THE POST RESURRECTION BREAKFAST MESSAGE

Proclamation:

“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them.… When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’  Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is it to you?  You must follow me.’” John 21:20-22 (NIV)

Explanation:

After the resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, Peter and four of the other disciples went fishing but did not catch anything. (John 21:3-5)  Jesus appeared on the shore and told them to cast their nets on the other side. (John 21:6)  They did as He said and they caught so many fish that the boat almost sank.  Jesus told them to bring some of the fish which they had just caught and He prepared a meal for them. (John 21:12)  After they had eaten, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him and then three times He told him to “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:15-17)  Then He told Peter to follow Him and Peter noticed that John was following them.  When Peter asked Jesus about John, He replied, “What is it to you?”  Then Jesus told him you just follow me.

Application:

The disciples who saw Jesus after the resurrection then went back to doing what they were doing before they met Him.  Jesus again appeared and gave these experienced fishermen instructions on how to catch fish.  When they followed His directions they caught more fish than they ever had before.  Jesus fed them with some of the fish which they had just caught then He told them to feed His sheep.  Jesus also made it clear that they were to follow Him and do as He had told them.  They were not to worry about what the others were doing.  The first point here is, after we accept Jesus as our Savior we are not to return to doing the same exact things that we used to do.  Second point, even experienced, knowledgeable, successful people can do better by following the instructions of Jesus.  Third point, ghosts, visions, and aberrations do not eat.  This is proof that Jesus did physically appear to them after the resurrection.  Fourth point, Jesus has work assignments for each of us to do with respect to kingdom building.  Fifth and final point, we are not to worry about what others are doing because that is not our business.  We are to mind our own business and to make sure that we follow Jesus.

Blessed For Believing Without Seeing

"Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see My hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into My side.  Stop doubting and believe.'  Thomas said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'  Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' "  John 20:27-29 (NIV)

The Apostle John records that in a post resurrection meeting with His disciples Jesus confronted Thomas who initially did not believe that He had risen from the dead.  Jesus told Thomas to touch the holes in His hands and the wound in His side.  Thomas saw the evidence of the crucifixion and he believed.  Then Jesus said, "Blessed are those who believed without seeing the evidence.

The first time that Jesus appeared to His disciples, who were in a room with the doors locked, after His resurrection, Thomas was not with them. (John 20:19-20 and 20:24-25)  The next time that He appeared to them in a room with the doors locked was a week later. (John 20:26)  This time Thomas was there with them.  Both Luke and John record that Jesus told His disciples to physically examine His wounds from the crucifixion. (Luke 24:36-39 and John 20:24-29)  The disciples saw proof for themselves and they believed.  Jesus said that all of us who believed in His resurrection, without seeing the physical proof that He is who He says that He is and the He rose from the dead, would be blessed.  Our belief and faith comes from hearing The Word of God. (Romans 10:17)