Author: admin

It is a paradox that seven people experienced at fishing on the Sea of Galilee could catch nothing after laboring all night while a carpenter with no boat or net had an ample fish breakfast cooking on the shore! Surely Peter and his companions had done everything they knew to make a catch. They surely went to their favorite fishing spot. They used their best net. They labored with zeal and determination. Yet as dawn arrived the morning light revealed their utter failure.

As soon as the weary disciples rejoined their Master, they had all the fish they required! In fact, there is no record of the disciples ever again feeling the need to go fishing for fish. They had found that when they follow God’s will, God takes care of their provision. With Him there is no want. In His will there is no shortfall.

Could it be that what we are vainly striving for is already available in abundance in Christ’s presence? Should we not set aside our own nets and hurriedly make our way back to Him? How long will we continue to labor through the night and catch nothing? When will we admit that apart from Christ, we can do nothing? When will we pack up our own plans and schemes and wholeheartedly follow Christ? Christ had no obligation to bless Peter’s plans and efforts, regardless of how noble. But once Peter surrendered his life to God’s purposes, Christ changed the world through him

At times we can become so consumed with the tasks before us that we are unaware of how far we have moved from where Christ wants us to be. Peter had fished all night without success. He was no novice. He knew how to fish on that small sea. Yet he caught absolutely nothing. All through the Gospels Peter had done what his Lord had told him to do. As a result, he always experienced success. But this time Peter had come up with his own plan. We are not sure why he went fishing. Perhaps he had the best of motives. But it is clear his Lord had not guided him to do so. Jesus was on mission to redeem a lost and hurting world. Peter had become focused on fishing for fish, something Jesus had taken him away from.

As soon as Peter realized that he was in a boat while his master was on the shore, he quickly rectified that discrepancy! Never one to do things in half measures, Peter leaped into the sea to join his master. That reunion would be fortuitous. For history would show that Peter walked closely with His Lord the remainder of his life. We do not hear of Peter fishing for fish again. There is no further mention of “the” boat in Scripture. That option in Peter’s life had been forever expunged.

How quickly do you rejoin the Lord when you realize you are not where He is? How readily do you surrender your plans when you learn that Christ has a different agenda? Perhaps you need to leap into the sea and make your way as quickly as possible back into your Master’s presence.

Easter is a wonderful season for Christians. We celebrate Christ’s victory over death, hell, and sin. We rejoice that God is victorious. We are reminded that nothing can overcome the will of God. But then Monday comes. It is time to get back to our normal lives. We have work to do. Problems to solve. Issues to tackle. Before we know it, we can return to the same normal living we have experienced for years.

No one had seen the hand of God in his day more than Peter had. No one had received Christ’s teaching or witnessed more miracles more than he had. Yet even after witnessing Christ’s resurrection and receiving His challenge to be sent into the world as Jesus had been sent, Peter determined to go fishing. He and six companions embarked in “the” boat. Supposedly those reading John’s Gospel would have been familiar with “the” boat. Perhaps Peter had not abandoned it as completely as Jesus had earlier instructed him to. Perhaps Peter was concerned he could not pay his bills or have enough to eat if he did not, at times, revert to his former lifestyle. Perhaps after his grievous failure, Peter was drawn to do the one thing he knew he could do well.

There are many things we can be tempted to do at night. Yet despite their efforts, on that night the experienced fishermen caught nothing. Clearly attempting things on their own initiative led to failure. At the dawn we often see our lives more clearly. The next morning the disciples saw Jesus. He gave Peter a fresh commission, to feed His sheep. We never hear of the boat, or Peter fishing, again. Peter could never go back to normal living again. How has Easter and all Christ has accomplished affected the way you are living?

Encounters with Jesus are life-transforming. They bring great joy. They give us courage and renewed resolve. How good it might appear if we simply camped our lives in an upper room and basked in our Savior’s presence! Yet inevitably with the fellowship we enjoy with our Lord will also come the inevitable command.

How easily the rejuvenated disciples might have determined to remain with Jesus indefinitely in the safety and warmth of the upper room. But that was not on the heart of God. Jesus informed His disciples that in the same way His Father had sent Him into the world, so Jesus was now commissioning His disciples. How was Jesus sent into their world? Humbly. Inauspiciously. As a servant. As one who lived His life to glorify God. As one who faced opposition and temptation. Yet ultimately as one who radically changed His world.

How is Jesus sending you into your world? In the same way the Father sent Him. It is not so you can have an easy life. It is not so you are popular and surrounded by loved ones who support you. He sends you into a hostile world so He can change it through you. Just as the Father was always with Christ, so Jesus will always be with you. Are you ready to be sent into your world in exactly the same way Jesus was sent?

Our focus determines everything in our life. If we look at people, their words and actions will dominate our thoughts and attitudes. If we focus on God, His words and activity will determine our steps. What we are in control of is where we give our attention.

The disciples had turned their attention to their enemies. They had fearfully locked the door hoping to keep their opponents away. They were meeting secretly, quietly, soberly, listening carefully to every sound in the street or step on the stairs. They had become obsessed with what others were or might do. Quite naturally as a result, they were disheartened.

Then Jesus appeared before them. When the disciples turned their gaze upon their risen Savior, their hearts were immediately made glad. How could anyone remain discouraged or downcast when they gazed upon the resurrected Jesus? Focus determined everything.

Where is it you have been giving your attention? On others? On problems? On what is beyond your control? Or, have you turned your gaze to Jesus? Have you determined to keep your attention transfixed on Him? The joy of your heart is the greatest indicator of where you have been looking.

What a glorious moment it was when the disciples saw their risen Lord for the first time! How thrilling to see Him! How amazing to commune with Christ right after having been raised from the dead. What questions they must have had of their Teacher! How fascinating to have been in the upper room with Him that evening!

Does it not seem unusual that Jesus began His first visit with His disciples by showing them His hands and side? Why did He do that? Was it so they would recognize Him? Of course, except for John, none of the disciples had witnessed Jesus’ wounds. That would not have been something they could have identified.

Could it be that Jesus showed them the wounds of His crucifixion so His disciples could see that they did not need to fear the world and what it could do to them? They were hiding behind locked doors for fear of their enemies. Yet their enemies had done their worst to Jesus and yet there He stood triumphantly before them. The world had used its cruelest execution. It had subjected Jesus to death, humanity’s most invincible foe. The bulwarks of hell had imprisoned Him. Yet there He stood. Victorious.

Could it be that we need to take a fresh glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as well? Do we need to be reminded that there is nothing on earth that the risen Christ cannot overcome and decisively conquer? What is it you fear that may be holding you back from courageously living for Christ?

The world can be an intimidating place! The enemies of God abound and they hate God’s people. While it is considered politically incorrect to criticize other faiths, people often feel complete freedom to scoff at the claims and practices of Christians. If we are not careful, we can be cowed into silence and fear the forces of darkness.

It is not surprising that whenever heavenly visitors spoke to people, their first words were generally “Peace” or “Be not afraid!” This was first because the messengers themselves often invoked terror to those who heard them. Second, it was because God’s people often were wracked with fear and anxiety.

Don’t be surprised if God urges you to fear not. While He may not remove your critics or opponents, He will bring you peace. He can calm your heart in the midst of the fiercest storm. He can provide spiritual tranquility even as your enemies shout their vilest threats. Anxiety and fear arises from a lack of faith. We do not truly believe God will do in our lives what He promised in Scripture. We worry we might be the first person God fails to protect or guide.

Our focus needs to be on the risen Christ who says “peace” rather than on the sound of our enemy’s footsteps outside the door. If we will focus on Him and do what He says, we will be amazed at how the problems around us fade away in their power to alarm us.

There is no testimony more compelling than when people relate their encounter with God.There’s something fresh and dynamic about a people recounting to others what God said to them.

In Jesus’ day, a woman’s testimony was considered highly questionable. Courts of law would not accept them as valid evidence. Such were the viewpoints prevalent among society at that time. As in so many ways, God completely turned the social views of that day upside down! Who was the first eyewitness of the greatest miracle in history? A woman. Who informed the disciples that their Lord had risen from the dead? A woman. The Lord of the universe entrusted the most important news in history to someone who would not have made an acceptable witness in a contemporary law court.

God can likewise use our testimony to dramatically impact peoples’ lives. We don’t have to have a theology degree to be able to testify to what we have experienced of Christ. We don’t have to be able to translate Scripture from its original Greek or Hebrew to be able to relate to others the life transforming encounters we have experienced with Christ. We simply must faithfully relate what we heard and seen of Christ. The Holy Spirit will take our witness and confirm it in the hearts of others. Of course we cannot share what we have not experienced. Some Bible scholars must drone on about archeological data and obscure hermeneutical debates because they have no personal encounter with Christ to relate to others. Don’t ever diminish your own spiritual pilgrimage and first-hand encounters with Christ. It is the most compelling news you will ever share with anyone.

One of the most profound contradictions in the Christian life is weeping in Christ’s presence. In God’s presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). In His presence is peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6). In His presence, our yoke is easy and our burden is light (Mathew 11:28-30). Yet countless Christians weep and are disheartened in the presence of the resurrected Christ.

Mary was weeping next to an empty tomb! If it had still been sealed shut, she would have had ample reason to grieve! Had Jesus’ beaten and tortured body continued to lie in state, tightly wrapped in burial linens, she could have been excused for her tears. But such was not the case!

Every prophecy Scripture had foretold of the Messiah’s victory had come to pass. Every promise Jesus had made to His disciples concerning His death and resurrection had been fulfilled. The stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty. The burial clothes were discarded. The sentries guarding the tomb had fled. Jesus’ enemies were distraught. There was absolutely no reason to weep!

At times the risen Christ must ask the same question to us: “Why are you weeping?” In light of the fact that the resurrected Christ has called you to your assignment, He sustains you, protects you, guides you, and provides for you, why are you discouraged? Can people thwart God’s purposes for your life? Can your circumstances exhaust God’s provision? Can your critics cancel God’s will? Is there anything you face that is too complicated or difficult for the risen Christ to achieve victory? In light of all that Christ is and is doing, why are you discouraged?

Disappointment is a certainty when you lead others. People will inevitably let you down. The best laid plans will not work as you intended. Critics may abound. The joy and zeal you felt as you commenced your work can evaporate as you experience failure and frustration.

Jesus knew about disappointment. He suffered painful betrayal. His most loyal lieutenants abandoned Him. Yet Jesus never lost His joy. That is because his joy did not originate from people but from His fellowship with His Father. No one could remove God’s presence from Him.

Likewise, Jesus assured His disciples that upon His resurrection, no one could take their joy away. No one. We will of course have those who will try. They will criticize us, betray us, abandon us, question us, and seek to thwart us. They may even be successful. But our joy does not stem from the accomplishment of our plans or from the accolades of others. It ought to come from fellowship with our Lord (John 15:11). That is something not even our most sinister enemy can steal from us.

If no one can take our joy from us, why are there so many joyless Christians? The answer is: they surrender their joy. They decide they cannot (or will not) hold on to their joy if they are treated acertain way. They willingly yield their joy to their circumstances and surrender that ground to their enemies. But it does not have to be that way. Jesus promised that no one and no circumstance is powerful enough to remove the joy that emanates from His presence in our lives. Have you surrendered your joy? If you have, return wholeheartedly to God’s presence and let Him restore it to you.