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Gospel : John 21:1-14
Déjà-vu? Have you ever felt "I've been here before"? Here at the lakeside
James and John, Peter, and Andrew had this experience:
1. THE MIRACULOUS CATCH-OF-FISH 4-8; 11
For the benefit of James and John, sons of Zebedee.
a. Before:
Before, Jesus had borrowed Zebedee's boat to preach from (Luke 5:4-11). As a
reward, Jesus said "Launch out into the deep and let down the net". They did,
and there was a miraculous catch. James and John were promised they'd be
fishers of men if they'd follow. They followed. Had it been all for nothing?
b. Now:
Now, Jesus hails the boat: "Have you caught anything? No? Cast the net on
the other side!" Again a miraculous catch; not just little ones: 153
whoppers! Yes, we'll catch big men: no, they won't get away!
2. THE MIRACULOUS WALK-ON-WATER 7
For the benefit of Peter.
a. Before:
Before, the disciples had been rowing across the lake in a storm (Matthew
14:24-32), when Jesus came walking on the water. Peter asked to come; did so;
feared; began to sink; and was rescued. Doubt was admonished by Jesus; Deity
was acknowledged by Peter.
b. Now:
Now, Peter was stripped for work; but on realising it was Jesus on the beach,
he put on his fisherman's oilskin and stepped overboard! Surely you don't
dress up to dive into the water; you strip off to do that! Did Peter intend
walking ashore fully clothed? We are not told that he didn't.
3. THE MIRACULOUS FISH-AND-BREAD 9, 13
For the benefit of Andrew.
a. Before:
Before, Andrew had doubted whether 200 denarii-worth of bread would feed the
5,000 (John 6:5-13); let alone the 5 rolls (artous) and 2 sardines (opsaria)
that the small boy offered. Yet Jesus blessed and broke, and 5,000 had enough
to eat with 12 basketsful to spare!
b. Now:
Now, Jesus had prepared "a barbecue" (anthrax) on the beach with "a sardine"
(opsarion) and "a bread roll" (arton) already cooking on it - not for himself;
he didn't need earthly food any more. Jesus took the roll, broke it and gave
it to all seven of them; and so with the sardine. He challenged them, "fetch
some of the big fish (ichthues) you have just caught" (John 21:10). They did;
but they didn't need to cook any! Neither dared they ask the Stranger who he
was. They knew it was the Lord; and so do we!
They knew it was the Lord by "many infallible proofs". So do we.
___________________________________________________________________________
In Christ,
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
