John 21:1-14 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed he himself.… John's Gospel, which seems to come to a close with the end of the preceding chapter, is here re-opened. You can see John laying down his pen and rolling up his scroll, when he has put in the last sentence of the preceding chapter. But that Holy Spirit brought these things to his remembrance, and he eagerly unrolled his scroll and added them. It is thus not inaptly described as "a postscript to the Gospel." And it is not over curious in us to ask why John should have put in this chapter. 1. It might be sufficient to say that these things were added because of their interest. That is the reason underlying our own postscripts. Indeed, with certain correspondents, it has become a bye-word that the P.S. is really the letter. 2. It might be said that John added these things to tell a good story of Peter. John loved Peter, and Peter's character has never been any the worse for this chapter. You know some one like Peter. He is under a dark shadow to-day, and he deserves it. But you know something to his credit, and when all people are running him down, shame to you that you are not telling it. 3. But I rather think that John added these things because of their bearing upon his purpose in writing a Gospel, viz., to show the Divinity of that Man from Nazareth. Now, this stands or falls by His resurrection, which this chapter proves in its very first line. "After these things Jesus showed Himself again," and again, and again. Here is proof upon proof of what can never be over-proved, that Jesus rose from the dead. Let us look at — I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DISCIPLES. 1. Certainly they were strange circumstances. About two or three years ago they had been called into fellowship with Christ, and with each other, and that had meant for them a time of perpetual excitement. The fellowship of Christ to-day may be a humdrum affair, but it was not so then. And I would say if you want an exciting life, don't kick over the traces and go off as did the prodigal son — that is the flattest kind of life ever tried; but if you want a racy, bracing life, come and be a whole-hearted disciple of Jesus. For the last two or three weeks this excitement has been of the intensest kind. They had seen their Master betrayed, crucified, buried. But He had risen from the dead, and had said: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost. As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." Yet here they were away up in Galilee, as idle as a harrow in the frost. 2. This waiting for Jesus to come to them was doing them good, and Peter's speech is the proof of it. We see them grouped together, and talking with one another about what they knew of Jesus and what they expected from Him. "Ah! He will be sure to come, and come soon." Thus at times would they utter the wish of their hearts; but at others, with minds burdened with a great fear, they would ask: "But what if He should not come?" Under these circumstances I can imagine Peter suddenly assuming a brave and determined look, and saying, "Well, come He soon or late, or not at all, our families are here, and there is plain, honest, homely work to do." Now that, I think, is a token that Simon Peter was improving, and that this time of waiting was a training, intended to strengthen faith. He is not now the blustering coward of the judgment-hall, whipping out his sword, and striking the wrong man in the wrong place. Peter could have done far better with an oar than a sword. But now Peter is sobered; our Lord's prayer and hopes for him are to be realized after all. "Satan hath desired to have thee. Thou wouldst make a splendid devil's servant. Thou wast born to lead men either from God or to God. I need men like you." His faith has not failed. He strengthens his brethren, and they say unto him, "The thing is good. We also go with thee." May God send back to His Church to-day a good score of Peters. 3. Now our Lord makes no mistake when He calls a man like this to Himself and to His service. God deliver the Church from the paralysing power of men "Who never say a foolish thing, and never do a wise one." The Church to-day has far too many men ready to put breaks on her progress — cautious men — but far too few men of steam power, men to tell us what to do, and who go and do it. II. THE MIRACLE IN RELATION TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES. The miracle has a lesson, one face of which looks towards our work-a-day life, while the other looks towards one's spiritual work for Christ. 1. Let us deal with the worldly aspect. These men were taught very sharply that success in catching either fish or men must come from Christ. Christ told them: "You cannot get fish without Me, and you cannot go back to your secular life — you are spoiled for that." Ah, dear backslider, you need to hear this! A man who is a fisher or a fishmonger may become an apostle, but an apostle can never return to his old worldly calling. You will either be exceedingly miserable until Christ forgives and restores you, or the name and doom of castaway shall be thine. But the night's failure and the morning's miracle surely taught them that Christ is Master in all departments of life, and must be looked to with a single eye for all success that is worth having. Remember that these men were born and bred to fishing. Have you ever tried to advise a fisherman? You had better not, for if you do you will very likely get an answer a great deal plainer than polite. Somehow Peter had grace and sense enough to check the word that was rising to his lips, and to do as he was told. And it was well that he did so, for soon the pull upon the back rope made John draw his breath and dart the look and the word into Peter. "This is the Lord." So still does the Lord visit His people at their work. But we draw a hard and fast line, on one side of which we are Christian workers, and we are all for faith and prayer; but then, on the other side, we are tradesmen or their wives, and the world, the flesh, and the devil take it out of us right round the week. The Lord wrought this miracle in order to obliterate that dividing line, and to teach that all success worth having will come from Him. Then what a grand religion ours must be for working people! In these days, when the word "unemployed" is continually in our ears, and the dismal thing perpetually in front of us, what a splendid religion is that of Christ! What a difference it makes between the unemployed man who believes in Christ, and the unemployed man who has no such belief! The feet of both are in the gutter, but the head of one is in heaven. Both alike must go round seeking for work; but he who loves the Lord, before he starts on his weary journey, goes down upon his knees before Him at whose girdle hang the keys of shops and yards and offices, and prays: "Lord, Thou hast done the great thing for me; wilt Thou see me lack a covering and a crust?" and such a man cannot be unemployed — he is glorifying God, and verily he shall be fed. 2. The other face of this miracle looks toward that spiritual work in which, from the very fact of our being disciples of Christ, we must engage. Do not raise the plea that now I am speaking of ministers and those who are actually under some kind of ordination. Nay, if your fish. ing is not capable of being spiritualized from mere bread-winning and fish-catching into soul-saving, then it is the worst for you. If you cannot take Christ into your business, anal so serve Him there, that you should spread abroad such an influence of Christ's grace and presence as shall serve as a bait to entangle in the meshes of a net those who come in contact with you, then wash your hands of it, and have done with it for ever. Only remember that in this fishing for men we must look to Christ for our orders, and serve Him implicitly. How many boats are plying on the dark waters of London, and yet how few fish are caught, how few souls saved! What is the reason? It cannot be that there are no fish; the waters are seething with what we profess to be seeking. Then why should the net come empty to the boat so often? Is not this the reason — that we believe in Christ in a sort of dumb way, but we are not looking at Him and we are not getting His orders? If any of us lack wisdom, let us ask of God, and it shall be given us. He that winneth souls is wise, but it is with a wisdom that cometh straight from above. (J. McNeil.) Parallel Verses KJV: After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. |
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