Caught By God

Text: John 21:1–14 ESV

What is Jesus saying to us at and after Easter? 

This sermon is the last in a series of our Easter messages that we have had. We have covered Jesus in His last hours upon the cross and have been moved to say…”there is no one like Jesus”. No one has lived like Him and surely no one has ever died like He died. The way He died, where He died, why He died, and how He died. At his death, He did more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). If the life of Jesus has not won your loyalty, surely His death has. And even the most hard-hearted and irreligious of men, like an obstinate Roman soldier who was an expert in watching humans die, could see and say, “Surely this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). If you were ever unsure of who this person of Nazareth was who walked and talked on this earth for 33 years, let it be said, that on that Good Friday, we all saw God. And that by the third day we were certain He was God. 

We said that the Resurrection power was not only at work 2,000 years ago, but that this power that raised Jesus from dead is the same power at work in you to destroy demonic strongholds, to kill covetousness, to burn away boastfulness, to silence superiority, to humble the haughty, and to bolster the broken. You are empowered with God’s power. The Resurrection tells us God is not weak, and the God in you is also not weak. So, stop serving sin in your life with some sort of slavish mentality, but you have been given divine power (2 Corinthians 10:4) and have been Spirit of power (2 Timothy 1:7). The Spirit of power says, Be strong in the strength He provides and Stand, quit succumbing (Ephesians 6:10, 13)!

Your life matters to God. Last week, Don reminded us your bodily life matters to God and it should matter to you. That who you live for and how you live in this fleshly body matters. You see, there should be alignment between your soul and your body. If your soul is saved, then your bodily flesh should reflect that salvation. You should live a saved life, not a lost life. We must remember that in a moment, at the sound of the trumpet on the great day of the Lord your body will be changed to a new, glorious body and it will be so beautiful that angels will be tempted to bow down to you. But who will get this changed body? The one whom God changed on earth and consequently, what is the fruit of that change? Answer: a changed life. A changed lifestyle. This is inevitable when in your body you have resurrection power and potential within you. It doesn’t lie dormant, does it? No, it drives you!!

An analogy: You are like an ole’ jalopy, a rusted out and barely holding it together car frame. But God has taken a Tesla “Double D” dual electric motors and placed them under the hood of your life and just a tap of the petal taps into the motor and you fly. You could go anywhere you want because you’re the driver, but you are not the owner. You are owned by God and given a set of directions to drive where He has directed. This isn’t a joy ride or a Sunday afternoon drive, but a purposeful and planned journey He has you on. Are you just driving in life, or are you following directions? Are you just going, or you have a destination you are going towards? 

What am I saying here so far? Jesus has won me (my affections). Jesus has changed me (He has risen in power and He is powerfully giving me a risen lifestyle). Jesus is owner over my life and lifestyle. I am not the owner, but stewarding my life in the owner’s best interest. 

What else does God have to say to us in His third appearance? What else do we need to hear before He leaves? Answer: “I love you.” Oh, how your God loves you! If you are to be caught by God, caught by His calling of “Follow Me”, you cannot do it apart from being hooked by and hooked on His love! There it is, Caught by God, Hooked on Love. I want you to know and feel the Love of God that’s better than life itself that pours over you through these two passages about Peter. (John 21:1-14, Luke 5:1-11).

What is the process to reel in Peter into the relationship Jesus is really after? That question takes us to Jesus’ third appearance of Christ to His men before He is taken up in heavenly resurrection. Let’s read verse 1: 

“After this Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias , and he revealed Himself in this way.” (John 21:1 ESV)

Where is He? 

Jesus is at the Sea of Galilee (also called Tiberias, and also referred to as the Lake of Gennesaret). It was the only significant freshwater lake in the region, it accommodated a flourishing fishing industry, and was a spot for the sick to gather because of its semi-tropical environment and sulfur springs. It was 13 by 7.5 miles, and only 141 feet at its deepest point. A lot happened here: 80% of Jesus’ recorded ministry and miracles happened in and around this lake in an area known as the Evangelist triangle (which was an 8 sq mile area between Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Tagbha). 

So much happened around this lake. When no fish were found by professional fishermen, Jesus hauled them in, in nets that could not contain them. When storms ravaged and raged and filled the most seasoned of sailors with fear, Jesus said ‘Be still” and silenced storms on this lake. Jesus walked over the water of this lake! Demons bowed before Him at this lake and armies of demons named “legion” were cast out of men at this lake. He fed 4,000 and 5,000 men out of a couple of fish and bread around this lake. Jesus preached probably the most famous and memorable Sermon the world has ever known close to the shores of this lake. 

Jesus had a global impact and a global influence, not by having a global ministry, but by having a local one. Jesus started small, yet he went very, very deep in this lake region. If this final lake scene is a reinforcement of the first lake scene in Luke chapter 5, where he first called his disciples, then Jesus knew that if fishermen were to be caught, he must let his net down into the deep (depth of heart). You see, this story is not about the disciples fishing. It's about Jesus, the fisher of men, fishing for man. It's not about the disciples letting down their nets and bringing in fish, but Jesus hauling in the greatest catch of all—which were the men He would later call. Jesus, the great fisher of men, was not about fish that day, but fishermen. Jesus, from the first day to the final day, is about fishermen. He is the fisher of men and he is out fishing for man. He is the most decorated and distinguished fisherman. He has caught the hardest, heaviest, rarest, deadest, least likely of fish. But the most important question remains: Has He caught you? Have you been caught by God? Will you be caught by God? (and not just caught by his conversion, but caught by the call of God on your life?)

Who is there? 

Let’s read verse 2:

“Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.” (John 21:2 ESV)

Now, as amazing and astounding as all that Jesus did around this lake, the most impactful and significant act was not all that He did, but who He did it in front of. In this parable, Jesus is not looking to give some men a fish and feed them for a day, but to teach some men how to fish and feed them (and others) for a lifetime!! Before they can catch others, He must catch them! Jesus knew, the great visionary God, that to fulfill a vision for mankind, that vision could not be disconnected and implemented, exist, or flourish apart from forming real valuable and filling real vital relational needs of the ones He would envision! 

Coleman states, “It all started by Jesus calling a few men to follow him… So, men were his method of winning the world to God. But love was his lure of winning them to Him.”

What are they doing? 

Let’s read verse 3: 

“Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” (John 21:3 ESV)

What do you do when you want to catch men? You enter their world. You step into their shoes and you meet them on their turf. That’s the entire story of the incarnation and that’s the entire story of Jesus’ ministry. Meet these men in their profession, meet them in their safe place, meet them in their hobby, or meet them where they go by default. Commentators are unsure why they are here now, even after being shown evidence of the Resurrection. Commentators don’t know if they were returning back to their profession because they doubted the validity of Jesus’ promise of “peace be with you” and “as I have been sent and I send you as the Father sends me…” Commentators don’t fully know if this is an indication the disciples have given up on Jesus’ vision, or they are just going fishing to pass the time until the promise of the Holy Spirit comes that they have been waiting on. So, whether they are waiting and willing or doubting and deserting again, we do know this: They are fishing and it's at this moment that Jesus will treat this as a real life living parable and re-catch his men to their calling! 

Coleman states: “It is good to tell people what we mean, but it is infinitely better to show them. People are looking for a demonstration, not an explanation.” Coleman also states, “One living sermon is worth a thousand explanations.”

The sermon is getting ready to be shown. Let’s read verses 4-6:

“Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”” (John 21:4-6 ESV)

So, Jesus is re-catching His men’s confidence and commissioning. 

Where did this happen the first time?

Let’s go back to the first time Jesus won his disciples around the same lake a short couple of years before—same place, similar story :

“On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.” (Luke 5:1-6 ESV)

Where are we at in each of these real-life parables? We are at two places almost simultaneously. The disciples realize they have nothing, but upon Jesus stepping in, they have everything. They go from zilch to a zillion. From broke to billionaires. They are “over and out” to overflowing in both circumstances! WHY? Because Jesus is present!!

What does Jesus’ presence produce in Peter? How is his posture different? In one story it produces lowliness, brokenness, and emptiness; it grants a repentance and utter humility that can only happen when Jesus wins a man to weeping and undeservability. Simon Peter feels completely broken in one story, but not so in the other. In the first story, He catches Peter with repentance. But in the second story, he will catch Peter similarly, yet differently. He will call Him in reassurance. Sure, there will be a reminder of Peter’s denial and a reminder of repentance, but Jesus will reassure, reinstate Peter, and resend Peter, with the words Follow Me TWICE!! 

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:15-22 ESV)

We know in each circumstance Peter was caught. He was caught for the purpose of God, “Follow Jesus and help others follow Jesus.” Each catching was after that goal. Same end. Each catching produced a somewhat similar response in Peter too. 

“On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)

In the first, in Luke 5, it was worship through repentance. In John 21, it was worship through pursuit of His presence!! In the first it was, “Get away from me, LORD…” and in the second, at the sound of the word, “LORD”, it was, “I must have Him, I cannot stay away From him.” [Aside: if Jesus is not desirable to you, it's not that Jesus is undesirable or unattractive. It's that you are not seeing him. To see him is to crave Him. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man, upon finding, went and sold all he had to buy that field.” So you must see, then sacrifice, and then you will be satisfied.] So, Peter was caught for the same purpose (Follow Me), with largely the same posture (worship as a result of brokenness or worship the result of immense beauty), but how about the process that Jesus took to win Him? 

How did He catch Peter? He hooked Him in his heart, by the lure of His love! 

Coleman says, “Love is the only way to win the free response of men, and this is possible only by the presence of Christ.” I want us to see the presence of Christ in Peter’s life that made Him jump in Jesus’ boat, and the presence Christ is aching to have in your life! Oh, how He aches for you!! We are about to see how deliberately and surgically Jesus inserts His love and presence into Peter’s pain!

Let’s get to the Luke 5 scene: Scene #1—Luke 5. Jesus takes to a boat, very intentionally, and of all the boats on the shore, He picks Peter’s. And of all the mornings He could have chosen to preach from a boat, He chose this morning. The morning after “the Night”—yes, the Night of Nothing. The night of Peter’s exhaustion (“toiled all night and took nothing”), the night of Peter’s embarrassment (“coming back with empty nets”), the night of self-doubt (endless questioning), the night of “how are we going to make ends meet”, the night of not meeting expectations (of people counting on you). The night I would rather forget than relive. If there is a place that I believe is most painful for a man to come up short, it's at the workplace. It's his achievements, his productivity…He fails there, and to him, he’s a failure. Because I, and we, live with this lie: I am what I do. That is the pit of hell. Living like that is utter hell and it will kill you. 

I can imagine Peter there sitting there in that boat that morning, just longing for Jesus to end his sermon so he can escape and find some relief, or throw himself into fishing overdrive and put that long night of nothingness to rest in the recesses of his memory. Jesus knows this morning is not a normal morning, not most mornings, and he’s already got in the boat the man He is after. You see, we are not told what Jesus had to say to the crowd that day, because what’s important is what He had to say to His key man. That’s what really mattered this morning. 

Understanding this Night

This night of nothingness was the nerve that Jesus wanted to nudge. He caught Peter that morning, on one of the more important mornings. It was the morning that broke Peter, humbled Peter, exhausted Peter, and emptied Peter. But though it was all those things, Jesus was very near to Peter in his hour of need! We are reminded that Jesus was “getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land…” He took Peter back out to his failure the night before and made Him sit in it. He was all alone with Peter. He had him all to Himself. Then he made Him sit through some long sermons and process Himself mingled with what He might be hearing. It was a long morning. 

Question: Where are you in this process? You, in the act of failure, failed and coming back to shore looking to save face. You, out mending your nets to prove to yourself you are not that broken. You, at the house hiding from the reality that confronts you. You, aware that Jesus is in your boat yet? Maybe it's just you and He alone. Maybe it's been a long time and you are ready to be done with this. Are you about to row back in or jump out of the boat? Is he about to say something, or has he already said it and you are wondering whether you will obey it? He is in the boat, He’s in your boat!! In your life, in your marriage, your lust, your comparison. He’s in that overdrawn account, and He’s in your headspace, in that classroom, on that phone call, in your own all-nighter of nothingness. He is in your boat. Never second guess that. And He is there calling you to respond and waiting, not forcing. But, O How he loves you. What He is probably calling you to is to stick your net back down into that nerve, your failure and hurt, and pain. And he’s saying let me in. Go there with me. I promise you can go there with me, I so want to go there with you. I’ll be careful, it will hurt, I don’t want to hurt you, but I will help and I will heal! You see, I do want something for you Peter, so much more than you want for yourself and more than you could ever hope for. But there is something I want more. I just don’t want to catch something for you, but I want to catch you! This whole morning has been about you!!

What Peter became aware of

Why did Peter then throw himself down in adoration, humility, reverence, and awe? Because God loved Him. God was aware of his needs, his failures, God was in his life. God stepped in Peter’s boat after the night all Nights and jumped into Peter’s problem and was beside him in his brokenness. God’s love landed on Peter that morning. He wants His love to land on you too. Yes, even in the little things. Your little job, your little relationships, your little yet really big fears. “Do not be afraid, for now on you will be catching men.” What’s Peter not to fear? He’s not to fear because the one who has limitless love and infinite might cares for him and cares about his cares, his concerns, his hard all-nighters, and This Big God cares about the very little things in Peter’s life that very, very few know about. Your God wants to know you and meet you there. 

Oh, how he loves you. His call, “Follow me”, does not come void of care and compassion. It comes in the very context of Peter’s greatest concern and comes in the context of great care and compassion. 

Follow Him when it's hard, follow Him when it's heavy, follow Him when it's hopeless. It's much, much easier to join Him in His boat, knowing He has already been and is currently in yours! To end in John 21, when you see Him on the shore, throw yourself in the sea and swim to the arms of your Savior. The sacrifice will be great, but the gain will be greater! “Follow Me” He says, “Follow Me.” I’m not telling you to kick care to the curb. But I am telling you to kick self-care to the curb. Because the Savior’s care Is the only care that can cure!

Who wouldn’t want to follow after what we have read? Who wouldn’t want to follow after Him? So swim to Him, and don’t come up for air until you get to Him!

To be caught by God:

1. Obey Jesus in the boat – after your night of nights and mourning mornings. 

2. Obey Jesus to get out of the boat – follow him during, after, and through failure. 

3. Worship is always the correct cure, and repentance is always the right response.