It is the Lord!

"It is the Lord!" – John 21:1-14 The disciples are now on the Sea of Tiberias. The disciples had traveled north to their homes in Galilee. The Lord Jesus met them there. The phrase "in this way" means that John is about to describe the way Christ appeared to them.

I. Jesus is going to meet seven of His disciples.

A. There were four absent at that time.

1. Peter decided to go fishing in the lake and the others announced that they were with him.

2. "Jesus has been in creation," so there was the sea, to the disciples, this was the sea of Jesus.

3. The sea seemed to have not a single fish.

4. The dejected (not much in spirit) in the boy disciples.

5. Jesus was waiting for them when they came paddling to the "beach."

6. When it was "dawn," they didn't recognize him.

7. Perhaps it was still very dark or perhaps they were prevented from recognizing Him by the power of God.

8. Friends, do you have anything to eat?

9. Very tired, discouraged, frustrated, they answered: No.

10. There was the great God creator of the sea, fishes, Who makes the choice of them the disciples.

11. The miracle worker for the fish: Jesus.

12. To them He was a stranger.

13. They replied, even if a stranger, to His counsel, "they cast the net on the right side of the boat."

14. Jesus advised them to cast it to the right and they obeyed without seeing Him.

15. There was Jesus giving direction for what they should do.

16. And a wonderful thing happened!

17. A large load of fish.

18. So many that they couldn't get out of the net!

19. This shows that the Lord Jesus had a perfect knowledge of where the fish were in the lake.

20. Why not trust Him?

21. (7) John was the first to acknowledge the Lord and "at once" he told Peter.

22. But he had taken off his clothes so that he could move around fishing.

23. Peter tightened his outer clothes and headed for the beach.

24. (8) The other disciples very diligently bring the boat to shore.

25. The Lord had (9) breakfast ready for them.

26. A fish on top of them and bread; the embers.

27. He created fire, fish and bread.

28. Jesus is not dependent on our "poor efforts."

29. The disciples gathered the fish, a miracle of Jesus.

30. (10) Now He said to them, "Bring some of the fish, not to boil them, but to count them."

31. Thus, you will remember that "the secret of success" is to work under Him and to act with implicit obedience (or express or manifest) to His word.

32. (11) The Bible gives us the exact number of fish in the net "one hundred and fifty-three".

33. Disciples like Peter and others who knew about fishing had to be amazed (fascinating, miraculous) that "the net was not broken."

34. This is evident that "God's work done in God's way will never be without God's resources."

35. Jesus will take care that the net does not break.

36. (12) The invitation "to eat" is heard and the disciples gather around the campfire to partake of the good things Jesus has provided.

37. The disciples had a strange feeling of "wonder" and solemnity (large size, abundant in) in Jesus' presence.

38. There He was, in "His resurrection body."

39. They would have liked to ask Him many questions, but "they didn't dare."

40. They "knew" it was the Lord Jesus.

41. You, brother, must know who Jesus is.

42. Even if they felt that a certain air of mystery enveloped His presence.

43. Jesus now served them breakfast.

44. And perhaps they remembered a similar occasion when He fed the five thousand with a few loaves and fishes. (Mark 6:30-44)

45. This was already the third time John mentions that Jesus appeared to His disciples.

46. Here on the beach of the blue Lake of Galilee. Amen