THE POST RESURRECTION FISH FRY BREAKFAST

PROCLAMATION

“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.’ …  Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ …  This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.”  John 21:9-14 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John 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 sat and ate with them.  He 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 18:15-18 and 18:25-27)  The Bible Book of John ends by testifying that what he had written was true and he stated that Jesus did many other things which were not written down. (John 21:24-25)

 

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 ask to be forgiven for our sins and to pray as David prayed, “… Create in me a clean heart … Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation …” (Psalm 51:9-13)

HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID

HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID

PROCLAMATION

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He is risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.’ ”  Matthew 28:5-6 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle Matthew.  After the body of Jesus was placed in Joseph’s tomb, a large stone was rolled in front of the entrance. (Matthew 27:59-60)  The chief priests and the Pharisees convinced Pilate to post a guard at the tomb to prevent the Jews from stealing the body and claiming that He had risen from the dead. (Matthew 27:62-66)  After the Sabbath, at dawn there was a violent earthquake.  An angel of The Lord came down from heaven, went to the tomb, rolled the stone away and sat on it. (Matthew 28:1-2)  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb and they saw the angel.  That was when the angel spoke to them and told them that Jesus, The Christ, had risen as He said that He would.  After the women left the tomb to tell the disciples the good news, Jesus appeared to them. (Matthew 28:8-10)  Later Jesus met with His eleven disciples and they worshiped Him.  He spoke with them and gave them what is referred to as “The Great Commission,” to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:16-20)

APPLICATION

The crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, is recorded in all four of the gospels. (Matthew 27:26 to 28:8; Mark 15:15 to 16:8; Luke 23:23 to 24:9 and John 19:16 to 20:10)  It was predicted more than four hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 53:5-6)  The resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, was not witnessed; it must be believed.  Thomas believed after he saw for himself and touched the wounds in His hands and side.  Blessed are those of us that have not seen and yet believe. (John 20:27-29)  However, after He rose from the grave, He appeared for man to see Him on more than forty different times before He ascended to heaven. (Matthew 28:9-10 and 28:11-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-50; and John 20:11-29 and 21:1-23)  For forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3) Jesus appeared to His disciples, spoke to them, touched Him, and at times He ate with them.  His ascension to heaven from a mountain in Galilee was witnessed by the disciples. (Acts 1:9)  The Word of God says it and that settles it.  He is risen.

HE IS NOT HERE HE HAS RISEN

Proclamation:

“… Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!  Remember how He told you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be risen again.’”  Luke 24:5-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Three days after His death on the cross, (Luke 23:42) and His burial in Joseph’s tomb, (Luke 23:50-53) Jesus, The Christ, rose from the dead.  Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb with spices to anoint His body but He had already risen. (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-7, and John 20:1-10)  Two angels appeared in the form of men in shining garments and told the women that Jesus was not there.  He had risen. (Luke 24:6)

Application:

The basis for our Christian faith is the belief in the virgin birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.  Our very salvation depends upon that belief. (John 3:16 and Romans 10:9)  The Bible documents that Jesus appeared to a number of individuals during the forty days after His resurrection before His ascension to heaven.  He appeared to Mary Magdalene, (Mark 16:9 and John 20:11-18) to the women as they left the tomb, (Matthew 28:8-10) to Cleopas one of the two men as they walked in the country, (Mark 16:12) to His disciples without Thomas, (John 20:19-23) to His disciples with Thomas present a week later, (Mark 16:14, Luke 24:36-49, and John 20:26-29) to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee, (John 21:1-25) and to His disciples on the mountain just before He ascended to heaven. (Matthew 28:16-17, Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9)  

SEEING IS BELIEVING BUT BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE WITHOUT SEEING

Proclamation:

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.’”  John 20:29 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were recorded by the Apostle John under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and His post resurrection appearances to Mary and to His disciples.  Mary was the first to get to the tomb but Peter and John looked into the tomb and saw that the linen which Jesus had been wrapped in was lying where they had laid Him. (John 20:1-8)  After the men left, Jesus appeared to Mary outside the tomb. (John 20:11-17)  Later Jesus appeared to His disciples when Thomas was absent (John 20:19-24) and then again eight days later when he was present. (John 20:26-29)  Thomas said that he would not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw Him for himself and saw the print of the nails in His hands. (John 20:25)  Thomas believed because he saw the evidence for himself.  Then Jesus offered a special blessing for those who would believe in Him without seeing the evidence for themselves.

Application:

Some people only believe that which they see for themselves.  There is an empty tomb where they laid the body of Jesus, The Christ, to provide proof that He lives.  However, those who do not believe will not accept this as evidence.  After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joses, (Matthew 28:1) Cleopas and the man walking with him, (Luke 24:18-34) and to His disciples three times. (John 20:19-24 and 20:26-29 and 21:4-14)  Jesus showed Himself alive and appeared to them over a period of forty days before ascending to heaven. (Acts 1:3)  Blessed are those of us who believe in His death, burial, and resurrection without having seen Him.