SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/6/2017
7:25 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Introduction
to John 21:1-14
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: John 21:1-14
Message of the
verses: “1 After these things Jesus
manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He
manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and
Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His
disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going
fishing." They said to him, "We will also come with you." They
went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when
the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not
know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not
have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No." 6 And He said
to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will
find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in
because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved
said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it
was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and
threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat,
for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging
the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal
fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them,
"Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." 11 Simon Peter
went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and
fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said
to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to
question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus
came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is
now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was
raised from the dead.”
John MacArthur entitles this 34th chapter of
his commentary on the second half of John’s Gospel “Epilogue—Part 1:
Self-effort or Spiritual Power?”
In our last SD we actually looked at the close of John’s
Gospel with the summary statement found in verses 30-31, which of course was
the purpose for John writing his Gospel book.
“Chapter 21 is an epilogue that, along with the prologue (1:1-18), bookends
the main part of the gospel,” writes MacArthur.
This epilogue answers a number of questions that were
raised in the readers’ mind, questions we will now look at.
“First, it answers the question of who would care for the
disciples after Jesus returned to the Father and was no longer physically
present.”
Second this epilogue brings closure to the story of
Peter. Peter had denied the Lord three
times as He said He would on the night of His arrest. Peter was nowhere to be found at the crucifixion
scene, and even when he saw the empty tomb he was not really certain what
happened. “The epilogue reveals that
Peter’s denial and doubt were not the end of his story by relating his
reconciliation with Jesus and the recommissioning by Him.”
“Third, it addresses a false rumor that the apostle John
would not die before the Lord’s return.”
“Fourth, it explains why John did not include the ‘many
other signs Jesus also performed’ (20:30) in his gospel.”
“Fifth, it addresses the issue of the disciples’ future
now that they would be without their Master.
Would He still protect them from the world?”
“Sixth, it reinforces the truth that the beloved disciple
was none other than John himself.”
“Finally, ‘The presence of an epilogue seems required by
the opening prologue in order to preserve balance and asymmetry of structure…Hence
both prologue and epilogue frame the Gospel in such a way that they form an integral
part of the theological and literary fabric of the entire narrative’ (Andreas
J. Kostenberger).’”
In past studies and perhaps sermons I have always learned
that Peter for the most part had decided to stop being a part of the ministry
that Christ has trained him to do over those three years that he was with
Him. When Peter said that he was going
to go fishing he meant that he was going to go back to the old trade he had
before he started following Jesus. As I
read this section perhaps the other disciples had decided to do the same for as
of this time they did not really know what they were suppose to do since this
was before the “Great Commission” was given.
These men now had seen the risen Lord, but did still not really
understand exactly what the Lord wanted them to do. I can conquer with this myself, wondering at
times if what I am doing is really what the Lord wants me to do. John MacArthur writes “The disciples could
depend on their former trades and pick up on life as they had left it before
Jesus called them, or they could continue in gospel ministry dependant on His
power and provision. These two options
face those who belong to Christ: are we
on our own, or do we follow Christ? The
answer is given here.”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I truly can
understand what Peter and the rest of the disciples named here were going
through. I truly believed that the Lord
wanted me to teach Sunday School for a while this summer, and yet there are
some things that make me wonder if this what He really wants me to do. I can say for one thing that Christ is
teaching me humility through this experience, something that is needed in my
life for sure.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
Trust the Lord to continue to give me
the things that He wants me to teach as we go through this 17th
chapter of John’s gospel.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Refiner’s fire, and like
fuller’s soap.”
Today’s Bible
question: “Who said, ‘Do You not know
that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?’”
Answer in our next SD.
6/6/2017 8:05 AM
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