beloved congregation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I, in one way, was looking really forward to finishing up the Gospel of John, and yet there's a bitter sweetness, there's a rhythm that just comes in working through a gospel like this, and I was looking forward to finding out the last joy and wonder of all of this, and it was kind of disappointing in the study, Because there's so much discussion from the higher critics, and then the textual critics, and then the historic critics, and then all of these liberals who just don't want to believe that this is the word of the Lord, and they just nitpick, and pick here and pick there. And then the commentators feel like they've got to answer all of this nitpicking, and you just feel like going, enough. I just want to hear the story. I just want to understand what it is. You see, part of the problem with chapter 21 is that it seems like it's an add-on, and probably it was. Probably the gospel that John wrote, in terms of the main part of it, is finished in John chapter 20. But God had decided, the Holy Spirit had decided, Jesus had decided that there's a few things that need to be cleared up yet, and we'll see that this morning from John 21. R.C. Sproul is just wonderful on that. There's still things that needed to be said. And so John begins his gospel with an epilogue, or sorry, the prologue, in John chapter 1, verses 1 through 18. In the beginning was the Word. We find out who Jesus is. We've seen that Genesis 1 and 2 is all over that prologue. And now we have an epilogue. These are the things that I want to let you know as I bring all of this to conclusion. The Apostle John is elderly now by the time he writes this. He's probably in Ephesus, we think, together with the elders of Ephesus, putting the final touches on the book. He lays it out for them. And he says, we are convinced that this is the truth of Almighty God. For John says, as we'll hear this afternoon, I'm an eyewitness to all of these things. And then going back to what we read from John chapter 20, these are the things you need to know. because these are the things you need to believe. Jesus did lots of other things, but this is there so that you may, with Thomas say, my Lord and my God, that John chapter one, verse 18, no one has ever seen God, but Jesus, the son of God, who has revealed himself, has revealed God to us. And so we walk with Jesus this morning by the beautiful writing of the evangelist John there by the beach. We've already been in heaven with John in Revelation chapter 5, where they give glory to God for redemption. And now we get to go back in time to the time Jesus showed himself one more time to those seven men there at the sea of Tiberias. We have to spend a little bit of time with some of the interesting things in the text, but we're going to keep moving, because the story really is about Jesus. And we need to see Him. And we want to get rid of all that would distract us this morning and this afternoon, so that we are left with the Word of God, who became flesh. In Moses, we learn of the law, but in Jesus Christ, we learn of the grace and truth of God our Father. It's a simple theme this morning. Jesus provides a miraculous catch of fish. First of all, we'll see the disciples go fishing. And what does that mean? Then Jesus appears to them and gives them a commandment. And then there is that breakfast after success. And in this story, we will move through scripture and see how Jesus is pulling everything together, and John helps us understand these things. So after these things, after some time, how much time? We don't really know. Jesus appears to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way, this is the only time that the Sea of Galilee or the Lake of Galilee is referred to as the Sea of Tiberias. And we're going to see that that's important in terms of the setting. But he showed himself to Simon Peter. John likes that, formal names. Thomas, Didymus, the twin. Nathanael, remember he was called the one there was no guilt or guile in him. So interestingly enough, we have these seven, many of whom are the original disciples, the core group who Jesus called in the beginning. You have the two disciples of the sons of Zebedee. So that's James and John. And then we know that John is eyewitness to all of these things. He is the beloved son. together with his brother and then there's two other who are not named. And Simon Peter said to them, I'm going fishing. Now there's lots of questions about this. And many commentators will tell you that Simon Peter, Peter, has sinned. He ought not to have been going fishing. Now it is true they needed to go back to Galilee. And it seems that they went back to Galilee after a few days, so the feast is over. And remember, these men are a little bit uptight. They're worried because they belong to Jesus, who was the crucified one. They are seen as rebels who are connected with Him. And so they're still not filled with courage. These aren't the filled-with-the-Holy-Spirit-going-to-preach-the-lights-out when they are there on Pentecost Sunday back in Jerusalem. They heed the word of the Lord. In Luke, or rather in Mark chapter 16, Jesus told Mary Magdalene, I will appear to you, I will appear to them in Galilee. So they needed to go back there. But what are they supposed to do? Some people think, well, Peter ought to have started preaching. Peter and the disciples ought to have been instructing people about what really happened with Jesus Christ. They had seen the risen Lord. They had been breathed on, hadn't they? And we heard in the Gospel of John that Jesus breathed on them, that he said, you are going to be my apostles, you are going to be my witnesses. But remember, beloved, that there is a time of movement, a time of formation, a time where these disciples still are working through, who is this Jesus? Because everything they thought about him seems to be untrue. That he was going to be the son of David, he was going to be the lion of Judah, he's going to be the warrior king, he's going to chase all those goyish Romans out, he's going to restore the kingdom back to Israel. And now they have to deal with the fact that what Jesus said to Pilate is really true. My kingdom is not of this earth. They have to deal with everything they've been through, being called there by the Jordan, hearing John the Baptist, following Jesus, seeing signs and wonders, being instructed by him for three years, watching Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, the hatred of the Jewish leaders, and then the hatred of the Jewish people. walking into Jerusalem, to Hosanna, loud Hosanna, praise be to God, Lord God save us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of David, look at our king. And by the end of the week they're crying out, crucify him, crucify him. They're beating him, whipping him, spitting on him. They put him up on the cross, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Into your hands I give my spirit. Jesus breathes his last. And all of that whirlwind, all of those three years, are there ended in the silence and the horror of dead Jesus laying in a grave. Peter's denied Jesus three times. Judas Iscariot has sold Jesus out. All of the other disciples have run away but for John. What a week. What a time, what a three years, what a seminary training, which is just about three years normally. And then he appears. Seemingly out of nowhere. Women coming back and saying, we have seen the Lord Jesus. The grave is empty. Peter running, John outrunning him because he's quite a bit younger. Looking in, John believes. Peter doesn't understand. And Jesus comes. And Jesus enters the room. And he says, peace be with you. Look at me, look at my hands and look at my side. You know it's me. And he looks at Peter and we wonder, peace? Did Peter have peace? Was there more that the Lord needed to do with Peter? Then there's Thomas, not sure, do I believe it? Do I believe the testimony? Unless I see it, I won't believe it. Jesus appears to him and he says, blessed are those who have not seen, those who believe. People like you are truly blessed that we believe in this risen Savior, what we believe on the testimony of these 11, these 7 with the Apostle, of the Word of God that's been taught to us by parents, brought to us by friends, preached to us by faithful pastors, As Jesus sends his people out into the world, he's alive, he's risen. But in that moment, these men are still ill-equipped, they do not have the Holy Spirit. Jesus still needs to teach them. And so in the providence of God, Peter says, I can't just sit here and do nothing. My wife, remember Peter had a wife. If he had a mother-in-law, he had a wife. And we know that his mother-in-law was sick and healed. His wife is sitting at home. What are we supposed to eat? Where have you been? There's businesses to run. These men own boats, they own nets. Jesus hasn't come yet. They're not sure what they will do. What would you do? What would you men do? Would you sit and wait in a room, not knowing? Peter said, I gotta do something. For many of us, that's how we grieve. We grieve by getting busy. We grieve by getting so busy that we're distracted. Brothers, I'm going fishing. And it's interesting that that's what he's going to do, isn't it? Of all the things he could do. And see, people say, well, isn't that exactly what Jesus told them when he called them? We read that in the other Gospels, the Gospel of Luke, for instance. Come follow me. Jesus comes to those men and they're fishing by the sea. And he says, now you fish, but I will make you fishers of men. But at this point, the fishers of men, called to be fishers of men, are gonna go fishing for fish. The gospel doesn't berate Peter, Jesus doesn't berate people, but in the providence of God, something amazing, something special, a God moment, a revelation of Jesus moment is going to happen. The men go out, they get in their boats, and all night there is nothing. You know, there are those stories in our lives, aren't there? It's good to talk about them. Those stories when God did something so special, so wonderful in your life, it just sticks with you. It just changes the way you see everything. It often can happen in a time of tragedy or personal sorrow and personal struggle, and then Jesus does something, God does something that's just so fantastic, it sticks with you. And you can see with John, this story, it had to be told. We went fishing. We're good fishermen. We went fishing all night and we caught nothing. And now the sun begins to rise and there's a man standing at the beach. Now, by the way, that's not abnormal. For there was men, fish salesmen, brokers of fish, who would talk to those men, have you caught anything? I'd like to buy your fish. When you get it, bring it in here, bring it to me. So when that man is standing there, he speaks out to them and he says, children, have you had any food? Now that is the literal translation FF Bruce is probably right. What the fishermen heard was, lads, my boys, have you caught anything? And they cry out, you know how water makes sound, Kerry? They're about 110 meters out, 100 yards out. No. No, in fact, we haven't caught anything. And then this man says cast the net or actually shoot the net to the right side of the boat. Now, by the way, that's a very paganistic understanding. There was a superstition that if you cast to the right side of the boat or the starboard side of the boat, you're going to get something. But we know that that's not true. That's not what's going on here. They've been fishing on one side. And now the man who we know is Jesus, because we're all knowing thanks to John, says put it over the other side. Now, you wonder if the men are starting to think And starting to wonder because in Luke chapter 5 the same thing happened Jesus went out with Peter on his boat taught people all day out of the boat, and then they went fishing and they caught nothing and Then finally Jesus against it cast your net deeper and deeper And they did that. But that time, the nets were so full, they were bursting. They had to bring in all the boats and put the fish in the boat. But there were so many fishes in the boats that the boats were beginning to sink. And then Peter looks at Jesus and he says, I am a sinner. Don't even look at me. And Jesus says, I will make you fishers of men. Did they remember? Because it is an interesting thing that some men, they don't really know, standing there at dawn, says, throw your nets on the other side, and these fishermen say, really, you think we don't know how to fish? This is our career, this is what we do. Yeah, we've been, quote-unquote, unlucky, unfortunate, but they don't. Some people say it's because maybe they thought that the man standing where he was could see a school of fish, but really, does that make sense in the dusk, in the dawn of the morning? In the darkness, yeah, I can see some fish over there. This is a Jesus moment, beloved. This is when Jesus the shepherd speaks and his sheep hear his voice. This is when Jesus takes command of the situation and God the Father in his providence moves so that these men become obedient. And they shoot that net. over to the other side, and it becomes full. But there's a difference now, isn't there? So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of the fish. But here we read that even though there were so many fish in verse 11, the net was not broken. What are we to make of all of that? I think we all know fishermen. Or fisherwomen. Even my little granddaughter, she's like two and a half years old. Oh, did you go fishing? Yeah, I went fishing. How big were the fish? Oh, yeah, that big. Yeah, perch that big. Fishermen have a way of embellishing stories. Do you think this is a cool fisherman story? Or do you think this really happened? 153. They caught 153 large fish. So normally what they did after the catch, they pull the nets in, And they would keep the large fish and throw the small fish out. Now look, there's a lot of talk. All the way back to Jerome and the ancients. What does 153 mean? And you know what we have to say, I don't know. There probably is something that it's 153, but again, Sproul just kind of cuts through it. And he says, you know what they did? They counted up the fish. They had to divide it by seven. And when they put it all together, they realized that 153 isn't divided by seven. They remembered how many big, it's not just any fish, 153 large fish are in that net. It's a miracle, isn't it? This is amazing. This is a great fish story. Kind of reminds us of Jonah. Jonah is sinking down, he's going to die, and God sends a fish to save him. Now God is going to redeem, he's going to restore, he's going to reconcile, he's going to commission his disciples. Now he sends 153 fish. Because he's Jesus, he's the new Adam. And God gave Adam dominion over all things, including the fish of the sea. And Jesus stands there on the shore, and he commands the fish of the sea of Tiberias. This is the power of Jesus Christ. This is the new Adam, true God and true man, what Adam was and then beyond. This is the Jesus who is gathering and defending the church. This is the Jesus who is a shepherd, and he knows the men are hungry, and he knows it's time for breakfast, and he knows that they need to know who he is so that they can go forward in that strength and in that marvel. John looks and he goes, that's the Lord. And in a typical John way, it's quiet, it's pensive, it's contemplative. But Peter, Peter, did you notice there he did something that you normally wouldn't do? When you jump into the water, we read then that the disciple that Jesus loves said to Peter, it is the Lord. And when Simon Peter heard it, verse 7, it was the Lord. He put on his outer garment because he had removed it. Do you think he's worried that Jesus hasn't seen him before without his outer garment? They're fishermen. He had been, as we heard in Luke chapter 5, all day and all night out with Jesus Christ. Peter is acting in respect. No Jew will see someone who is in his mind superior without dressing up and showing respect. He will not stand before Jesus in his either bare back or his inner garments. So he ties that robe around. This is a religious act, beloved. This is an act of faith. It is our Lord, and he jumps in that water. I can't help but thinking if he wondered that time about that he walked on water. Not this time. Still 110 meters. That's a long swim. It's so impetuous. Impeter-ish. And he jumps in that water, and they go, and they get to the shore, and the other men, the other six are straining and rowing, and they bring those nets in. By the way, they had to drag them in because the boats would have sunk. And by the way, don't you find it interesting that when they get to the shore, and they see that it's Jesus, what's Peter doing? Peter pulled that whole load in all by himself. How big was this man? How strong was this man? There's all these interesting, remarkable things that we learned. And so some of the commentators just refer to Peter as Big Peter for the whole rest of that time. This big, powerful, strong man now comes before the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Lord Jesus says, bring me some fish. But when they get to the shore, they see that there's a charcoal fire burning. And on that fire is laid a fish. And Jesus has bread. Now that may not be for you and me a normal breakfast, but that is a breakfast for them. So think about that for a moment. Jesus is at the Sea of Tiberias. Jesus is at the Lake of Galilee. Jesus is on the beach. Jesus had in John chapter 6, we read, taught for a whole day there by the Sea of Galilee, and there were so many people that he asked the disciples, who will feed these? And they looked, and they didn't know how. And then Jesus took the fish, and he took the bread, and he multiplied it, and he fed them. And now he will do it again, whether it's 5,000 or whether it's 15,000 or whether it's seven men, this is nothing for Jesus. Where did Jesus get the fish? I don't know, but he is the new Adam. The fish and the bread, the harvest from the sea and the harvest from the land, interesting on this Thanksgiving weekend, are in the hands of Jesus who uses it to call his people. And those nets. I know when we read it, the event is true, it happened, but there is in the sense of those nets, once they were broken, now they will not break. And when we, the reader, think about it, the more we read scripture and we think of Jesus who said, the kingdom of God is like a dragnet going through all of the earth, collecting all of those fish, the elect children of God. And he's going to do it through these men who are going to be the fisher of men. Jesus calls And He commands and they listen. So was it wrong for the fishermen to go fishing? No, because God was going to do something very special and He did. And then Jesus comes as the new Adam and He appears to them and He commands them and by the power of Almighty God they obey and they are filled with wonder. This is a beautiful God moment. a changing moment, a miraculous moment that if John hadn't written chapter 21, we would never have known. But you need to know that Jesus is gathering his people That Jesus is not only concerned with your spirit and your soul, but also your body and your material means. He is the Good Shepherd, and He sounds His voice, and His people follow Him. Which is how this all started. Who are you? Are you the One? And they went to His house. Jesus says, come and see. And then when they understand who he is, we read in John, he said, come follow me. Not without Him gathering, not without Him coming to us, not without Him providing all of these things. For all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him, because He is the Lamb of God who was slain. He is the one who rose from the dead. Earth cannot hold the body of Jesus Christ. So where Adam lost dominion, To dust you are, from dust you are, and to dust you will return. Jesus, who comes from heaven, takes on the dust, overcomes the dust, and now is the ruler of the heavens and the earth, and your Lord is the ruler of the universe. And the ruler of the universe is your Lord, my Lord, and my God. Think of Peter and that boat, the first time Do not look at me, I'm an unclean man. And Jesus says, don't be afraid. I will make you fishers of men. And that's what Jesus says to you this morning. Don't be afraid. I will take care of you. And so Jesus prepares for them this beautiful breakfast. Now it's time to put faith in action, isn't it? Now it's time for them to really come to understand who he is. Come and eat breakfast. Yet none of the disciples asked him, who are you? They know who he is. They know that he is Lord of Lord and King of kings who can feed 4,000 and 5,000. The fish and the bread remind them. This is the Jesus who washed their feet before he served them the Lord's supper as part of the Passover supper. Take and eat. Take and drink. Remember and believe. You know how intimate it is? How intimate it is for the king to eat with people? Again, this is more of a Middle Eastern context. And we're going to have to learn that, beloved, as our Middle Eastern neighbors come in. They're going to invite you in for food. And don't say no. If you need to take a little antacid, go ahead. But don't say no, because that's an insult to them. I'm inviting you into my home to make you my friend. Maybe we don't have to go out into all the world. Maybe the world is coming to us. But are we ready? This is the way you need to think of it. Now, if Jesus is saying, I want you to understand you're my friends. Remember he called them children? They heard lads and boys, but we need to hear children. You are my brothers. You are the children of God. You are my children. I will take care of you. Now eat with me. Have breakfast with me. Talk with me. Socialize with me. What prime minister does that? What president does that? What king or queen in the world does that? They're always aloof. They're too far above us. They're too superior. I guess they don't have time, but Jesus always does. Talk with me. Pray with me. Communicate with me. I will dialogue with you through the Word, through the power of the Spirit. Respond back to me. Come and have breakfast. Come and eat with me. Be my friends. No one dares to ask because I think they're starting to understand. Blessed is the one who has not seen, but believes. Jesus is moving them, isn't he? Jesus is drawing them in to get them ready for the great marvelous work. Now, all of this is to set up the setting for what we hope the Lord willing to take up this afternoon, which is the restoration, the reconciliation and the commissioning of Peter. And by virtue of that, John, and then by virtue of that, the church. And then a testimony of the great things that everything we have heard this morning is true. But what do we need to see this morning? That the new Adam, who has broken the dominion of death and dust, has dominion over the earth, and he uses that dominion to gather his men, to make them fishers of men, which they pass on to the church, which we will then, as the church of Jesus Christ, through her missionaries, through her ministers, through you and your witnessing, will draw people into the fold of Almighty God. so that that preaching can be heard, and those nets, beloved, will never break. Because Jesus Christ is Lord of Lord and King of kings. He is using all things, including the creation, to gather and defend his people. Trust in him, love him, he communicates. Speak with me, for I love you, my children. For all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them everything I have commanded you. And, lo, surely I am with you even to the end of the age." What a fish story. What a story. Do you love to tell the story? Praise be to God. Repent and believe the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen.