The Need For Full Obedience
February 9, 2022
Commentary
Jesus now appears at the Sea of Galilee. Peter, Nathaniel, James, John and two other unnamed disciples were together (vv. 1-2). Peter, the man of action, said he was going fishing and the other disciples decide to go too. That night they fished but caught nothing (v. 3). The next morning Jesus tells them where to cast the net. They obeyed and now the result was a multitude of fishes (vv. 4-6). No doubt in “their” fishing they were sincere and worked hard but there were no results. Notice the difference when they followed Jesus’ direction. It was interesting to note that John was the first to realize that the stranger on the shore was the Lord Jesus (v. 7). Jesus had prepared breakfast for His disciples on the beach and now Jesus gives Peter opportunity to have his hunger satisfied and enjoy some fellowship before talking with him about his spiritual condition (vv. 8-13). This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead (v. 14). Some observations: They didn’t know it was Jesus (v. 4)They didn’t have any fish to eat (v. 5)They learned that it pays to obey (v.6)They caught a multitude of fish (v. 6)They ate breakfast with the risen Lord! (v.12)
Application
One of the things that the disciples did right in this story was.....they obeyed! Jesus said “cast the net on the right side.” Their response was full obedience, and my response should be full obedience as well! They caught 153 fish! I need to remember that I am not the only one who needs to fully obey! Even Jesus, according to Hebrews 5:8, was subject to this kind of obedience!
John 21:1– 14 (NET)
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now this is how he did so. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael (who was from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of his were together. 3 Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you don’t have any fish, do you?” They replied, “No.” 6 He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tucked in his outer garment (for he had nothing on underneath it), and plunged into the sea. 8 Meanwhile the other disciples came with the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.
9 When they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire ready with a fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you have just now caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, 153, but although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said. But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.