The Gospel of John | Joining The Mission of God – John 21:1-14
A follower of Jesus Christ is not one who simply sits back but someone who carries on the mission of Jesus Christ in the world in the strength of God.
The disciples had begun to settle back into their lives and somewhat trying to return to normal. Though, how could they. Their life had been changed over and over. God had taken on flesh, died, and come again. They had gone from hiding behind locked doors scared of the repercussions of following Jesus to simply going back to their jobs. Thus, for seven of them, they went fishing one night, the usual time for fishing. It was at this time that Jesus appear to them in the middle of the night and told them the familiar phrase they had heard once before “cast your nets on the other side.” John recognized it was Jesus but Peter took everything he had into his arms, jumped out of the boat to go to Jesus Christ.
As the disciples cast their net on the other side, their nets filled to the brim with over 153 large fish. The load had been so full that the disciples needed to tow the net back, being unable to lift it into the boat. As dawn broke, it became clear that it was Jesus calling to them and it was Jesus who provided for them. Now, as the disciples returned, Jesus had not only provided for their needs but also prepared a meal for them. Calling to them, Jesus had them bring their fish to add to the meal that He had already begun and they enjoyed the presence of God before them.
The disciples once again found themselves fishing with the command from Jesus to throw their nets off to the other side. Where they once found nothing according to their own efforts and ability, suddenly, when following Christ, their caught more fish in their net than they could possibly imagine. Now, as Jesus returns to the disciples, their missions is to represent Christ in the world as they seek to become fishers of men once again. A follower of Jesus Christ is not one who simply sits back but someone who carries on the mission of Jesus Christ in the world. Yet, this is not done in our own striving but according to the strength and provision of Jesus Christ who has already provided everything we need and succeeded in our place.
The Lord Still Provides
Christ had returned and the disciples had somewhat returned to their daily life. Returning to fishing, they found themselves struggling in the same way they did once before. When they heard the voice of the Lord and followed Him, they found the result to far exceed their own expectations. In the coming days, the disciples would take hold of the mission that God had set before them as they would go into all the world to proclaim the Gospel in all the world. In their work, the Lord provided for the miraculous catch of fish. When they returned to the shore, the Lord had already provided a meal and a way to cook it. And in their missions to proclaim the Gospel, God would provide whatever they needed.
Trusting in the provision of the Lord means we run towards the things of God with a reckless abandonment. Peter, seeing it was Jesus who called out to them, gathering what He had and swam to Jesus. Likewise, we can trust that Jesus will provide for us everything we need to live our lives in the fullness of Jesus Christ. The follower of Christ will wrestle with thinking that God is inadequate as we attempt to take our lives into our own hands. We think that sin can offer a better life than Jesus Christ or that our efforts will produce better than God. Only God can provide for the needs of our life and allow us to enjoy the presence of God in our daily lives. Our relationship with God is one of basking in the presence of God for all eternity but we cannot neglect that Jesus wants to provide for His people and be glorified in our daily life starting today.
- How did Jesus Christ provide for the disciples throughout this passage?
Joining The Mission of Jesus Christ In The World
On their own efforts, the disciples failed. For people whose profession had been to fish, they had no success in their evening run for fish. As Jesus called, though, the disciples began to work in a manner in keeping with the word of God. Out of their obedience, they joined the mission of God, and bringing back the fish, they added to the flame that Christ had already prepared for them on the beach. Some understand the specific number of fish to represent the multitudes of people that the disciples brought to Christ (yet this is a highly debated interpretation). No matter the interpretation of the number though, it is clear that the disciples brought their fish to the finished work of Jesus Christ who had already cooked fish on the flames. Even if the disciples had accomplished nothing, God would still have been victorious.
The life of the Christian is not one of passivity and simply sitting back but one in which we go into all the world to proclaim the Gospel. Yet, the call to share the Gospel is not one of obligation but honor. We have the honor of joining Jesus Christ at the table and joining in His already victorious work. He secures the victory, He secures the results, and He calls all things to Himself for His sake for for His glory. Thus, we can pursue the mission of God with the same fervor as Peter did. We can rush with all that we have to be in the presence of God and brings all things to His feet knowing that our efforts are not in vain but that Christ has already won. Our lives can be lived knowing that Jesus Christ has already been victorious. As we follow Christ, we join Him in His mission in the world so that every person would come to know Jesus Christ and honor Him as King and Savior of the world. We do not need to fear the judgment of the world because the victory of Christ cannot be taken from His hands.
- Why do you think Peter so quickly swam to be with Jesus Christ?
A New Day Dawning
The disciples began fishing in the middle of the night, the ideal time to fish given the circumstances. Yet, John is clear to indicate that Jesus stepped on the shore just as day was breaking. He appeared to the disciples at first light. With John’s prolific use of the imagery of darkness and light, we cannot expect that this is mere coincidence but an intentional with heavy significance. Christ appears with the coming of the light, shining in the darkness, and providing a way where there was no way. As the disciples followed Jesus, they stepped into the light of Christ, following Him wherever He goes.
The sin of mankind had kept them in a spiritual darkness that we did not even know we were in. In fact, we had come accustomed to the dark as just a part of life. Yet, as we step into the light, the truth becomes apparent and clear. Jesus brings the light into the darkness to restore hope for humanity through the forgiveness of sins. He is the light that shines forth in the darkness and the hope that rises out of despair so that all can be with Him and delight in His glory for all eternity.
- Describe the interaction between light and darkness in this story?
Discussion Questions
- Where else have you see the disciples following Jesus Christ in the casting of their nets. How are the stories similar? How are they different?
- What is the signifiant about the fish and the net after the disciples begin to follow Jesus’s instruction?
- Why do we sometimes hesitate to join in the mission of Jesus Christ? What fear do we have that sometimes makes us hesitant to join in the mission of God?
- How does understanding where our victory comes from help us to follow Christ, wage war on sin, and join the mission of God?
About The Author
Daniel Burton is the founder of The Gospel Outpost. He is passionate about discipleship and seeing people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. To find out more about him, check out his Author Page.
