WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DON\’T KNOW WHAT TO DO
John 21:1-14
FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS
V:1-2. \” Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.\”
A. When you are going through difficult time it is good to have brothers in Christ
around you.
1. You can comfort one another.
2. You can pray together.
3. You can discuss future plans together.
B. The disciples had been with Jesus two times since His resurrection.
1. They were eye witnesses to His death and resurrection.
2. What ever plans and hopes they had before Jesus death and resurrection
had been shattered.
B. Even knowing that Jesus was alive did not change the emptiness they felt
of not having Jesus as their constant companion
1. Their leader was gone and they were left with mission that was not
defined.
2. Still considering the words of Jesus, His death and resurrection
probably left them in a state of confusion.
3. They probably were putting themselves on a guilt trip for abandoning
Jesus during His crucifixion.
DON\’T HAVE A PITY PARTY
V:3 \”I\’m going out to fish,\” Simon Peter told them, and they said, \”We\’ll go with you.\” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. \”
A. When you are going through some difficult times it is better to do something
rather than sit and meditate on your misery.
1. Peter went back to doing what he was comfortable doing.
2. There is great solace in occupying your time in what you are good at
doing.
B. It is good to share your sorrow with others who may be going through the
same thing.
1. The best thing to do in times of sorrow is not shut down and go into
seclusion.
2. God made us so that we are social creatures.
3. We need the comfort that comes with companionship.
4. When we open up and share our stories we can gradually return to
sense of being normal.
C. Even if your activity does not produce the desired results, just
getting out with other people can be psychologically helpful.
1. I believe there are times when everyone need a shoulder to
lean on.
2. When we take our focus off our problems we see the joy of the
Lord all around us.
INVOLVE YOURSELF IN WHAT YOU CAN DO WELL
V:4-5. \”Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, \”Friends, haven\’t you any fish?\” \”No,\” they answered. \”
A. When we quit having a pity party, the Lord will show up
1. The devil is the source of our pity.
2. Jesus came that we may have joy. John 15:11 states, \” I have told you this
so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. \”
3. When we focus on our problems, we lose sight of Jesus.
4. When we focus on our problems, we lose sight of the joy that\’s in Jesus.
B. Jesus knows where we are and our state of mind.
1. I think Jesus lets us go through trials so that we can come to the realization
that we need Him.
2. Jesus addressed His disciples as friends.
3. Jesus came to comfort His friends.
C. Jesus uses food to feed the stomach and the Word to feed the soul.
1. Notice, Jesus used their occupation to start a conversation with
His disciples.
2. The disciples were fishing, so Jesus asked them about fish.
3. People love to talk about their interest.
SEEK THE VOICE OF JESUS
V:6. \” He 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.\”
A. They had fished all night with no success.
1. Following Jesus directions, they caught a large number of fish.
2. The right hand of Jesus is the hand of power.
3. At the command of Jesus, fish appeared in large numbers on the right side
their boat.
4. At the command of Jesus Peter and the other disciples caught
more fish than their boat could handle.
B. John 10:10 states, \” The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come
that they may have life, and have it to the full. \”
1. A pity part is the devil\’s work.
2. A full life for believers is the work of Jesus.
3. If you want a successful life, you need to listen and follow the commands
of Jesus.
4. The time we spend having a pity part is wasted time which can push
us into a depression.
5. When we focus on Jesus, joy returns to our lives.
6. Imagine the joy the disciples had when they pull in this large
number of fish.
REFOCUS ON THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD
V:7. \” Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, \”It is the Lord!\” 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. \”
A. The Lord is always with us, but it is up to us to recognize His presence.
1. Sometime we have to be reminded that Jesus is in front of us.
2. The value of having other believers around us is to refocus our attention
on Jesus.
B. Peter\’s mind was not in the right place.
1. When he realized that Jesus was watching him, he immediately dress
for the Lord.
2. Perhaps, Peter jumped in the water to cleanse himself.
C. When you get right with the Lord, others will follow.
1. Those around you are blessed by your obedience.
2. When you come to Jesus, you draw others to Him.
SHARE YOUR TROUBLES WITH JESUS
V:9-10. \” 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.\”
A. When you come to Jesus, He will prepare a table for you.
1. Jesus can provide for both your physical needs and your emotional needs.
2. It can be uplifting when people prepare for your needs.
B. Jesus is prepared for all believers to come to him.
1. He is the bread of life.
2. The fish may represent God\’s abundance for our physical needs.
3. God provides for the desires of the flesh and the desires of the spirit.
WORK KEEPS YOUR MIND OCCUPIED
V:11. \” Simon 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. \”
A. God is the source of all our needs,
1. It is up to us to go to the source to get what we need,
2. God expects us to work for the material needs He provides.
3. God does not respect lazy people.
4. God provided the fish, but Peter and the disciples had to work
to get the fish ashore.
B. When we follow God\’s commands we get the fulfillment of
promise of an abundant life.
1. God provided 153 large fish, enough to supply the needs of all the
disciples who were apart of the fishing expedition.
2. We will never be disappointed when we follow Jesus,
FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS IN THE LORD
V:12-13. \” 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. \”
A. At the last supper before His crucifixion, Jesus served the disciples bread and
wine.
1.The bread represented His body which was bruised for their sins.
2. The wine represented the His blood which was shed for the atonement of their
sins.
2. The last supper represented His death and resurrection.
B. This breakfast represent the newest of life in the resurrected Jesus Christ.
1. This breakfast represented the age of grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2. This breakfast represented the hope for an eternal life with Christ.
FOCUS ON YOUR ETERNAL SALVATION
V:14 . \”This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised
from the dead.
A. The Lord was persistent in lifting the spirit of His disciples.
1. He was persistent in making sure His disciples understood that He
had risen.
2. Jesus was persistent making sure that His disciples understood that
His death was not the end but a new beginning.
B. This core group of disciples was the start of Gospel preaching.
1. The eleven disciples were the start of the Church of Jesus Christ.
2. Each visit of Jesus with His disciples before His ascension into heaven was to
impress upon them their eye witness testimony of the risen Savior.
THANK GOD FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way North
Houston, Texas 77041.
For More Lessons follow me on facebook and visit my
blogs, revmmitchell,com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
