Wednesday, November 13, 2002
Dear Family:
On October the 19th I wrote to you about verses in John 21. The disciples had gone fishing and Jesus came to visit them there and even had breakfast with them. I asked you to consider the questions below.
1. What had they been doing since Jesus had visited them the last time?
2. How were they making a living?
3. Why were they not out preaching and teaching of Christ?
4. How is it that they all agreed to go fishing?
5. Why is it important that they went forth immediately?
6. Why did they fish all night and catch nothing?
7. Where did the fish come from?
8. Why are the number and size of fish mentioned?
Let's examine the first question.
John 20:19-23 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.(KJV)
So what had they been doing since Jesus had been crucified? I believe they were in shock, depressed, scared, hiding and living in tremendous fear. Their excitement and motivation was gone. They were terrified that they too were going to face the same fate as Jesus had. They were hiding behind closed doors. So many times when we experience trying times or set backs in life we tend to lose direction. We fall into the trap of depression and lose our joy, excitement and motivation to continue. Some even quit trying and become victims and prisoners of the woe is me syndrome. Notice what Christ said when he appeared to them. "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:" He said peace be unto you and his words were preceded by again. Jesus had offered them peace before. He had shown them miracles, promised them the Holy Spirit, power, peace and joy. Yet, here they were back in a state of fear and without peace. Do you remember the day when Christ came walking to the disciples on the sea? The storms were raging, the boat was being tossed to and fro and in the middle of the storm Christ came to them literally walking on the storm. The amazing thing is that Peter got out of the safety of the boat and began to walk to Christ. He too literally walked on the storm. It wasn't until he looked around and saw where he was that he said to himself, "I can't do this", and then began to sink. Once he thought about what he was doing he lost faith and began to sink. What a shame!. Isn't it sad that so many times we set out to do something really great and in the middle of it we stop and say I'm in the middle of a storm? I'm walking on water, I'm walking on the storm but I can't. I'm not supposed to be here doing this. This is impossible, I've got to stop, I've got to accept failure and/or defeat. Even my friends are saying I can't do this. I guess I had better quit. I don't know what your storm is. I don't know what that miracle is you are about to accomplish, but I know this: Peter did not sink until he took his eyes off Christ and began to look at the storm. Keep your eyes on Christ and walk on. Peter took his eyes off Christ and through lack of faith and through fear began to sink. Peter could have drowned but he reached up to Christ and they walked to the boat. If Peter had kept the faith He could have walked to Christ and then walked arm and arm to the shore or boat or wherever. Just imagine the thrill of walking arm and arm with Christ on the storm.
Love ya Dad, Dad2 and Chuck
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