5/1/11 John 21:7-9

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

(James J. Tissot 1886-1894 Second Miraculous Catch of Fish)













Thoughts: As when Jesus called them to leave their fishing and follow him (Lk. 5), so here the catch of fish was unexpected.  They went from nothing to too full nets. Christ reminds them by this miracle that He will enable their lives to be fruitful.  Surely this was proved true by the 12- who changed the world.  It is also true that Christ takes us and makes us fruitful for Him as well. 

Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to drop my nets and follow you.  I confess I have become entangled in the world.  Free me, that I might be fruitful for you.

John Calvin Abridged: The Evangelist shows that whenever we exceed our expectations, we should raise our hearts to God in thanksgiving, recognizing Him and His kindness. John goes before Peter in faith, but Peter exceeds John in zeal- throwing himself into the lake.

4/30/11 John 21:1-7 Fishing again

¹ Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

(Konrad Witz Swiss Altarpiece 1444
Museum of Art and History, Geneva)

Thoughts: Jesus appeared at the Sea similarly to when he appeared at the Sea when called the disciples at the beginning of his ministry (Lk. 5:1-16). Peter and the disciples- who once left their nets- are fishing once more.  Jesus tells them to fish again, and Peter recognizes him.  Jesus was in reality calling them again to leave their fishing nets and feed his people.  Jesus continually calls us back to serve Him when we feel like leaving or when we in fact leave Him.  The resurrection is a second chance, and He gives us a second chance as well. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you continually call- even when I do not answer.  Give me ears to hear your call.  Strengthen my resolve to put you first.

John Calvin Abridged: When Christ breathed on Peter, he ordained him to apostolic office.  But he abstained form the exercise of his office for a short time, until he received power from God.  That Peter fished is not inconsistent with his call but was a part of his private life. God permitted them to toil all night and not catch in order to perform the miracle. Christ does not command, but rather gives advice, and they still tried again with great perserance.  So we should persevere when we are weary- expecting God to continue to work. If we dislike our calling because it seems unproductive or unfruitful, we should learn here to persevere. 

4/29/11 John 2:1-4 Purpose in Marriage

¹ On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
⁴ “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied.

(Westminser Abbey)

Thoughts; On this day in which millions are watching a wedding, it might be asked why God even cares about marriage?  God cares about human relationships and human love.  He made us male and female- made for each other for love and for the joy of companionship together all of our lives, and for the joy of children (and thus the continuation of humanity).  Marriage and eternal love are the desires of almost everyone (90% say it is their goal).   Marriage is a boundary.  It is a boundary in which we commit the most vulnerable and important part of us to another human, and needs protection.  It is a boundary in that we forsake all others.  It is a boundary in that it is limited to the boundaries given in the Word of the Lord.  Why do we involve God in marriage?  We want and need His help, grace, blessing and love in order to make our love and relationships last.  We cannot manufacture God's blessing, we must humbly ask for it. 

Prayer: Your love, O Lord, develops my love.  Help me to grow in love for you and those you have put into my life.  Today, we also pray for blessing on William and Kate of England.

(Wedding at Cana, Paolo Veronese)

John 20:30-31 Miracles to help us believe and live

 ³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

(Jesus appearing to disciples on the Road to Emmaus;
James Jaques Tissot 19th century)

Thoughts: The Evangelist tells us why he was writing this book. It is not to record an interesting story, to elevate a cause, to lift up the names of the disciples.  The goal is that we might have life.  He says this many other times- "In him was life" (1:4).  "For God so loved the world...that whoseverer believes...shall have eternal life" (3:16); "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly (10:10).  The goal of telling these stories is that we might believe and have life.  Apparently, this is a reference to Jesus' making other post resurrection appearances not recorded here. The editing creiteria of whether a miracle was worthy of inclusion was whether it inspired belief and  brought life. Today much of our teaching and preaching is only to inform not to inspire or give eternal life.  As the Police said, there can be "too much information." 

Prayer: May I look for things that bring me to belief and life, Lord.

John Calvin Abridged: If the Evangelist did not say this, some would think his account was exhaustive. It is not that other events are unworthy of recording, but these recorded events edified faith.  It is important to know that the Gospel was sealed by a vast number of miracles.  Some may wonder why we have to have miracles at all because we have the promises of God.  But the purpose of miracles is to give aid to faith and to prepare our minds to receive faith.  Miracles without faith or doctrine only would bring a confused admiration- but the object of miracles is faith.  Christ alone has the title "Son of God" for He owns that title not by adoption but by nature.  We obtain eternal life by faith.  When we are apart from Christ we are dead to God, and it is only by His grace alone that we are restored to life. 

4/28/11 John 20:24-29 Doubt and Faith

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

(Thomas by
Michelangelo Caravaggio 1602)

Thoughts; Thomas may be known as doubting, but he has more faith than most in America today.  He was willing to go to Jerusalem to die with Christ (Jn. 11:16). When Thomas did believe, he was willing to dive in wholeheartedly.  So he was willing to die, and so he worshiped Christ falling at his feet proclaiming him Lord and God.   He was a person, like many today, who wanted to see in order to believe.  He noted this in John 14 when he asked Jesus to show him the way (his answer was that he was the way, the truth, and the life no one comes to the Father but by Him 14:5,6).  Jesus rightly holds up those who believe without seeing.  Thomas will go down forever as doubting, and many who arrogantly demand to be convinced by Almighty God, will be branded as doubting as well.  But those who are willing to believe without seeing will be commended. 

Prayer: Help me to stop doubting and believe, O Lord.

John Calvin Abridged: The unblief of Thomas is related so that the godly will be more confirmed in their faith.  Thomas' wicked unbelief is common to most people.  But another proof of the resurrection (an invitation to touch) was given because of his unbelief.  Christ readily yields to the improper request of Thomas in order to show us he really desires us to have faith.   

4/27/11 John 20:19-23 The Message of Resurrection Peace

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Thoughts: Twice Jesus Invokes them to have peace in this short passage.  Jesus wasn't just saying "calm down" though they were probably pretty excitable about this one coming back from the dead.  Sunday evening they were huddled together in fear.  When He showed them his hands and his side- it was like showing them his driver's license- his identity was confirmed, and that brought then not only peace, but joy.  The second command to have peace for the task that was before them- being sent into the world as ambassadors of the gospel. The resurrected Jesus brings peace from worry and fear and peace for the calling we are given to fulfill.  If Christ were dead- the doors would remain locked.  If Christ did not say "Go into all the world... for Lo I am with you always" we would stay put instead of go out.  The resurrection assures us and also gives us courage to go out in His name. 

Prayer: May the peace of your resurrection ease my fears and strengthen me to speak for you.

John Calvin Abridged: The greeting of peace was a common Hebrew greeting.  It is a wish for all cheerfulness and prosperity of a happy life.  It would be similar to saying, "May you live well and prosper."  The second greeing of peace was to get their attention so that they would listen to his command to send them. 

4/26/11 John 20:16-18

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

(Greg Olsen)

Thoughts: Mary Magdalene does not call Him Jesus, but the titles- "Rabboni" and "Lord."  If she was married to Jesus like the DaVinci code and the gnostics say, then, she would have had a more endearing term.  While many husbands may want to be called "Lord" that would be a rare title indeed for a husband, even in those patriarchal days.  He was her teacher- teaching her about life and death.  He was her Lord, whom she followed, owing her allegiance her all to Him.  These are good titles for any of us to use of Christ.  He is not a dead teacher, and He is not a dead Lord. 

Prayer: Help me to have listening ears to hear you as my teacher and Lord.  Help me to have eyes that see you, the living Lord, at the tombs and heartaches of my life. 

John Calvin Abridged: Christ allowed Mary to make a mistake (not believing), but in one word He corrects it. John 10:3 says, "The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."  So in Mary we have an image of how we come to know Christ- He invites us by name as God calls His own sheep.  Mary's holding Him seems to disagree with the other gospels where Christ actually encourages the disciples to touch Him.  But here Mary threatens to touch him to the excess.  Christ does not forbid touching his body in order to remove doubt, but holding onto Him is unneeded.  Christ was concerned that they were overzealous about his bodily presence when this presence would eventually leave.