John - Week 58

The Reason 

READ 

John 20:30-31 

30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. 

These verses include the purpose of John’s Gospel. If you were doing a book review, you would search for the purpose of the author. Then you would read the book to see if he accomplished his purpose. So also with the Gospel of John. A reading of it reveals John clearly demonstrated that “Jesus is the Messiah the Son of God.” It also clearly points out that if one believes in Jesus he will “have life by the power of his name.” As such, the Gospel of John is an excellent Gospel to use in telling others who Jesus is and how one can come into right relationship with Him by believing in Him as Savior. 

REFLECT 

Have you considered using John’s Gospel to answer those who want to add to the message of salvation? For instance, if someone says there are other things one must do to be right with God, you could ask, “Where does it say that in the Bible?” Many have memorized John 3:16. You could comment, “It doesn’t say that in John 3:16.” 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, scan John’s gospel especially looking for verses that tell one how to become right with God. Especially examine John 3:16-18; 5:24; 6:28-29; 11:25; 12:42. 

Beside the Sea of Galilee 

 READ 

John 21:1-2 

1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 

This now brings one to the last chapter in John’s Gospel. When this was first written, however, there were no chapter or verse divisions. Those were added much later to make for easier referencing. So from chapter 20 one would read right on into chapter 21. Jesus appeared to seven of His disciples: Peter, Thomas (the previous doubter), Nathanael, James and John (the sons of Zebedee) and two other unnamed disciples. The specifics in this chapter again reveal an eyewitness report by the apostle John. 

REFLECT 

Have you thanked the Lord lately for how blessed people are today to have an eyewitness report of the life, death, resurrection, and the appearances of Jesus afterwards? This is not hearsay evidence; it is the first-hand report of an eyewitness.  

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read through some chapter breaks in John to notice the flow of events. Usually a chapter division is made to indicate a change of topic, although this is not always the case. Then you could also scan what is said in Hebrews 11 and then go on to chapter 12, skipping the chapter break. This will tell you who the witnesses are in chapter 12. 

Fishing Advice 

 READ 

John 21:3-6 

3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 

4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 

6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. 

The six others decided to go fishing with Peter.  Think of all seven out the entire night without catching anything. At dawn Jesus stood on the shore but they didn’t recognize Him. Yet when this “stranger” told them to cast the net on the other side of the boat, these seasoned fisherman thought it was worth a try. Without them knowing it at first, this was a sovereign act of Jesus on their behalf.  In His post-resurrection body, Jesus did another miracle. 

REFLECT 

Do you fish? If so, if you had been out all night and caught nothing, would you take a stranger’s suggestion to try the other side of the boat? Why do you think the disciples did? 

RESPOND 

In the Old Testament, God especially blessed Joshua and Caleb because they “wholeheartedly followed the Lord” (see Numbers 32:11-13). They were the two of the twelve spies who wanted to enter the land after spying it out. The other Ten disagreed, however, and discouraged the people. Determine that you will follow the Lord wholeheartedly as you read the Scriptures and seek to honor Him in all you do.  

Breakfast Waiting 

 READ 

John 21:7-9 

7 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. 

Although at first the disciples didn’t recognize the person on the shore, now John recognized it was Jesus. Peter had his problems, but he was quick to want to go meet Jesus. Think of something in your area that is about 100 yards in length. In the United States this would be the length of a football field. That was a long way for Peter to swim. The others brought the boat with the fish and found Jesus making breakfast over a campfire. Significant is that in the original language of the New Testament, the word for “fish” is singular. Jesus had only one fish on the fire. How was He going to feed seven hungry disciples with that? 

REFLECT 

If Jesus were to physically appear today, how anxious would you be to go meet Him? Perhaps you couldn’t swim 100 yards, but what would you do? 

RESPOND 

Jesus could have easily fed the seven hungry disciples with some bread and one fish. Read John 6:4-13 to see what Jesus did with a young boy’s five barley loaves and two fish. 

Catch of the Day 

READ 

John 21:10-12 

10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 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. 

Although Jesus could have fed the men without their help, He asked them to bring some of the fish they had caught. This is a reminder that God prefers to do His work through human instruments when possible. Typical of fishermen, they knew exactly how many fish they had caught. It was unusual that the net had not torn with the big load of large fish. The disciples surely had many questions they would have liked to ask the resurrected Jesus, but they didn’t have to ask who He was. They knew He was the Lord.  

REFLECT 

Had you been there with the disciples, what would you have liked to ask Jesus? Do you think you would have had the courage to ask? 

RESPOND 

God loves to use human instruments in accomplishing His will. For instance, He wants the Gospel to go to all nations (see Matthew 28:18-20). But the way this will be done is through people. Do a mental check to consider the ones you have shared Christ with recently. If everyone was doing what you are doing, what are the hopes for reaching all nations?