Warm hellos friends, brethren, co-workers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God, from here on the Gulf Coast. My wife and I pray you had an inspiring Passover and as we begin the Feast of Unleavened Bread at sunset this evening as we celebrate the Night to Be Much Observed you’ll continue to be joyous.
Last week, we examined some visible appearances of Jesus following His resurrection from the dead. There’s an interesting appearance recorded in John chapter 21. One of my favorite past times is to go fishing. I’ve also done a fair amount of ‘net fishing’ and cast net fishing over the decades. So, as a small boy, this recorded event in scripture caught my attention.
We find Peter and several other disciples went out on the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) to go fishing. They caught nothing even after fishing all night. (Having done this myself over the years, I can only imagine how frustrated they must have been to be ‘skunked’ as they say). Jesus appeared on the shore and as the boat with the disciples approached He instructed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. At first they did not recognize him. After doing so, there were so many fish caught in the net that they were not able to draw it in to the boat!
The apostle John recognized Jesus and told Peter. Peter, indicative of his personality, excitedly dove into the sea and swam energetically toward the shore. The others brought the boat to the shore along with the net full of fish they were dragging with them. Jesus had prepared a fire with fish cooking on it and bread as a breakfast for the fishermen.
Many years ago while on a visit to Guatemala, we were privileged to have some freshly caught fish and tortillas cooked by brethren over an open pit on the beach where my wife and I had been walking. It’s a memory that I haven’t forgotten. I can imagine the disciples were hungry after fishing all night, and this was a woo-hoo moment!
Jesus then told them to drag the net full of fish onto the shore. The interesting detail of the net containing 153 large fish is recorded. Then the observation is made, “This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.” (v.14) I have to think this was perhaps important to Peter, as this is the 3rd time for him.
Then Jesus has a very personal conversation with the apostle Peter. The event concludes with, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (v.25) We have a number of appearances of Jesus recorded, but perhaps this is only the “tip of the iceberg!” as they say.
The apostle Paul too makes a brief summary of the appearances of Jesus after He rose from the dead. “and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also. . .” (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)
These multiple appearances strengthened the faith and convictions of these early disciples.
We can recall Peter and the others boldly proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah and was attested by God to His fellow Jews by miracles, wonders, signs, and that He was killed by lawless men and then was raised from the dead. (Acts 2:22-24)
They proclaimed a message of repentance (Acts 2:38; 3:19) and when threatened and jailed by the religious leaders for preaching the truth, courageously declared their allegiance to God’s directives. (Acts 5:26-33)
When a number of disciples were harassed and the apostle James was killed by Herod Agrippa, Peter was put into prison by him also. God sent an angel to bring Peter out of prison, and after contacting the disciples, Peter left for Caesarea. (Acts 12)
The book of Acts then focuses on the work of the apostle Paul. Saul had been converted on the way to Damascus when he was struck with blindness and Jesus spoke to Him. The Lord told Ananias to lay hands on Saul and pray for his healing and to receive the Holy Spirit. Saul was then baptized and immediately began to fulfill the words of the Lord “to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)
The death and resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and His visible appearance following that was an important part of the message Paul brought to both Jews and Gentiles. (Acts 13:28-32) Paul stated, “But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.” (Acts 13:30-31)
You and I were not there among those who actually saw the resurrected Jesus “being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) However, we are like those whom Jesus referred to when he addressed ‘Doubting Thomas’. “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
So, we believe the record of the eye witnesses and the words of Christ and the apostles, and have faith in what those words convey. May God strengthen your faith in Him, His Word, and bless you in your walk with Him. During these Days of Unleavened Bread may you appreciate even more Him living in each of us, and the sacrifice He made for each one of us. Someday we too shall see Him as He is, (1 John 3:2) and rejoice just as His disciples did many centuries ago.
Arms up friends! Our prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Please do pray for us as well.
