Influencing Our World - Fishers of Men

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Influencing Our World Fishers of MEN

INTRODUCTION Lk 5:1-8

I. JESUS WANTS US TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND COME TO HIM Jn 21:7-9; 10:10; 1 Jn 5:12; Mat 16:15-16; Lk 5:11; 5:28; 14:31; Phil 3:7-11

Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them -- fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 

II. JESUS GIVES US THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING CO-LABORERS WITH HIM Jn 21:10; Mk 6:38; Eph 3:10; Mat 13:47

 “Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you’ve caught.’” Jn 21:10

 “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety …” Eph 3:10

III. JESUS PROVIDES THE POWER WE NEED FOR SERVING AND OBEYING HIM Jn 21:11-14; Acts 1:8; Mat 6:31-33; 2 Pet 1:3; Mt 28:18-20; Acts 10:40-41

So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. 12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses?” Acts 1:8

IV. JESUS CALLS US TO BE FISHERS OF MEN Mat 4:19 

“Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”