The Third Sunday of Easter
April 10, 2016
John 21:1-14
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “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. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 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. 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. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 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. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the LORD. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. (NIV1984)
Dear fellow worshipers of our living Lord and Savior,
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Imagine this: You’re walking through the store when you unexpectedly meet someone you have not seen in quite awhile. After you exchange the usual pleasantries you ask them what they have been up to. They respond by saying, “Oh, you know— the same ‘ol same ‘ol.” Do you think they would say that with enthusiasm bubbling over in their voice? Probably not. The phrase “same ‘ol same ‘ol” usually indicates that there is not a whole lot “new” or “exciting” taking place in a person’s life. They are just dealing with the ordinary events of life as they shuffle along from one day to the next.
“The ordinary events of life.” That sounds kind of, well, “ordinary” doesn’t it? It does not seem to leave much room for “excitement,” or, “enthusiasm,” or “energy” does it? That would be true, my friends— but only if we allow it to be true! As we look at our sermon text for today I would like us to study this portion of God’s holy Word from the perspective that enables us to see that: Ordinary Events Bring Extraordinary Opportunities.
Our text for today finds seven of Jesus’ disciples gathered by the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, or as it was also known, the Sea of Galilee. In obedience to what the risen Christ had said to the women on the morning of Easter Sunday (Matthew 28:10) these disciples left Jerusalem and went to Galilee where they waited for Jesus. It appears as though these men returned home to the place where three years earlier Jesus had called Peter, Andrew, James and John into full-time service as His disciples (Matthew 4:18-22). As they waited for Jesus Peter finally said, “I’m going out to fish.” John tells us that the other men quickly responded, “We’ll go with you.” Since most of these men had at one time been professional fishermen on the Sea of Galilee it is certainly not surprising to find them returning to a familiar— shall we say “ordinary?”— event of life as they waited for Jesus.
After spending the entire night fishing with no success whatsoever John tells us of yet another “ordinary event” that took place. He says in our text, “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered.” Anyone who has done much fishing has undoubtedly had this same “ordinary event” take place in their life. You come in off the lake empty-handed and invariably someone will ask, “Did you catch anything?” With very little fanfare or enthusiasm you say, “No. Not today.”
No sooner had this ordinary event taken place when John tells us that an extraordinary opportunity was given to these seven disciples. John continues in our text, “He (Jesus) 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 huge number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’” We do not know why the disciples did not automatically realize that the person standing on the shore was in fact Jesus. Perhaps it was still too dark outside. Perhaps they were just a little too far from shore. Perhaps they were too tired from a long, hard and fruitless night of fishing. But when they tossed their net on the right side of the boat and instantly got a huge catch of fish— John knew! John remembered the last time this exact same thing had happened to them and so he joyfully exclaimed, “It is the Lord!” (See Luke 5:1-11)
The risen Christ Himself saw to it that an ordinary event in the lives of His disciples, namely fishing, brought to these men an extraordinary opportunity, namely, a miraculous catch of 153 fish! But that was only the beginning! John tells us that once these men reached shore they were given yet another extraordinary opportunity. Listen to what John says, “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore…Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’”
The very ordinary event of eating breakfast after a long hard night of work brought with it an extraordinary opportunity for these disciples. They were given the opportunity to enjoy a breakfast that was both prepared and served by none other than their risen Lord Himself!
What I am hoping you will see in these words of Scripture, my friends, what I am hoping you will take home with you today is that the ordinary events of your life very often bring to you extraordinary opportunities. These disciples did not know that the ordinary event of fishing would bring to them the extraordinary opportunity of not only having a miraculous catch of fish, but also the extraordinary opportunity to enjoy breakfast with the eternal Son of God. At the same time— Jesus knew! Jesus knew exactly how He was going to use these ordinary events in their lives to bring His disciples these extraordinary opportunities. I am convinced that what Jesus did for His disciples here in our text He also does for us, His disciples today. Let me share with you some real-life examples.
Many years ago I met a lady by the name of Rosina when she was 96 years old. She wanted to join our congregation. Due to her age it was not unusual for me to receive a telephone call informing me that Rosina was in the hospital. It didn’t take me long to find out that Rosina saw the “ordinary event” of going to the hospital as an extraordinary opportunity to share the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every time someone came into her room, before she allowed them to take her vitals, before she allowed them to draw any blood, before she allowed them to give her any medications Rosina insisted on taking a moment to share the Gospel with them. Once she had talked to them about Jesus then they could do whatever they needed to do.
When I was serving the Lord in Miami I had a homebound member who lived on Miami Beach. Whenever he went into the hospital I always made sure that my devotion with him centered on an Old Testament text with a New Testament application. Why? Since Miami Beach was predominately Jewish there was a very good chance that the other patient in his room was a physical descendant of father Abraham. Therefore I wanted to take the ordinary event of a hospital visit and use it as an extraordinary opportunity to possibly bring the message of the Lord’s Messiah to someone who may have never heard that the Lord has fulfilled His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob— in Jesus of Nazareth.
I also had a member in Miami who rode the bus to work each and very day. Instead of using that time to sleep, instead of simply daydreaming along the way, instead of reading the newspaper this individual used that time on the bus as an opportunity to read and study his Bible. For at least one hour each day this individual used the “ordinary event” of riding the bus to work as an extraordinary opportunity to concentrate on growing in his personal relationship with his Lord.
Not too long ago one of my members in my previous congregation told me about a conversation he had with some people at work. The conversation centered on how much this world has changed— and certainly not always for the better. After telling these individuals about some of the changes he has witnessed in his lifetime one of them said to my member, “Well, I suppose an old goat like you would know.” How could such an ordinary event bring an extraordinary opportunity? Easy! Using the Lord’s own account of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) he explained to that individual that while it is true that at one time he was indeed an “old goat,” a “goat” who deserved to be separated from God forever because of his sins, now through faith in Jesus as his Savior from sin he was no longer an “old goat” but rather he was a “new sheep,” a “sheep” who will enjoy living in God’s heavenly Kingdom for ever and ever!
Do you see what I am trying to say, my friends? There are any number of “ordinary events” that you and I experience in our lives that can indeed bring us the extraordinary opportunity to either grow into a deeper relationship with our risen Savior or to share the message of our risen Savior with someone else. The key is to keep your eyes open! Instead of shuffling through life with the same ‘ol attitude toward the same ‘ol ordinary events that you encounter day in and day out, stop for a moment and look around. Look to see if those ordinary events are God’s way of bringing you an extraordinary opportunity! For example, could an ordinary visit to the doctor’s office bring with it an extraordinary opportunity to confess your complete confidence in the One who is the Great Physician of both body and soul— whether it is with someone in the waiting room, a member of the staff or perhaps even the doctor? Could something as ordinary as a lunch break bring you an extraordinary opportunity to spend a little extra time reading God’s Word or reading one of the devotional booklets we provide here at church— which in turn may lead one of your co-workers to ask what you are doing and why? Could an ordinary conversation with an unchurched neighbor or friend bring you the extraordinary opportunity to invite them to come to church with you?
Ordinary Events Bring Extraordinary Opportunities. My prayer this morning, my friends, is that you keep your eyes open so that by God’s grace what was true for the Lord’s disciples so many years ago will also be true for you, the Lord’s disciples today.
To God be the glory!
Amen