Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- An acrostic
- The biblical characters are so sad they do not recognise Jesus – examples
- This can be a picture of us
- We can fall on the Everlasting Arms of the Saviour
- These arms are available for His people
- Jesus is alive from the dead and lives forever more
- Jesus is Triumphant – over Satan, sin and death
- Jesus is Exalted to the right hand of the Father, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
- Jesus is Raised to life
- People are turning back to things of God
- We all know sorrow
- Example of Jane and Matthew
- Out of work, relationship problems, illness, hopes dashed
- Disappointment in ourselves
- Easter reveals disappointed people – the disciples who had abandoned Jesus
- Jesus appears to them
- He does not berate their behaviour, He speaks peace to their souls
- He appears to 7 of His disciples (v2)
- In a special way – by serving them breakfast (v1)
- Jesus had a particular word for Peter – to bring healing, restoration and recommission
- The women first saw Jesus Christ
- Jesus then appeared to the disciples – twice behind locked doors, then on the road to Emmaus
- Jesus lifted them up and gave them words of life
- Are people in the UK happy, joyful, at peace?
- Jesus removes all barriers to God
- E, A, S, T, E, R
- Everlasting Arms of the Saviour
- Triumphant
- Exalted
- Raised
- Let us look at some key phrases
Key phrases
"I am going fishing" (v3a)
- Example of Simon Peter
- Is this a positive or negative thing?
- Was it a statement of resignation?
- Who provided for them? – answer
- Who provided for them after Jesus’ death?
- Is he a good man wanting to provide – a natural and a right thing?
- Does it portray a sense of returning to his old life?
- Jesus later in the passage speaks of Peter’s future work
- Often in our hearts – there are two thoughts
- There are natural things to do
- We can often think we are not worthy to do other tasks – examples
"They caught nothing" (v3c)
- Peter would have been very disappointed
- Why does God allow our projects to fail?
- God has purposes and plans
- "Without Me you can do nothing"
- We must depend on God and not our strength
- Because He has a better plan
- He gives answers to our prayers
- The disciples would never had seen and understood Jesus’ miracle
- 4 out of the 7 disciples were experienced fisherman – there was nothing ‘wrong’
- God had something to teach them
"Cast your net on the right side" (v6)
- Jesus is tender in His question (v5)
- The disciples did not recognise Jesus – though His voice did not change
- Were they wrapped up in themselves – example?
- We can get wrapped up in our situations
- We do not recognise Jesus
- Examples of the women and disciples
- Sadness can veil reality
- Perhaps because their eyes were restrained
- Like on the Road to Emmaus
- Jesus gives a call and promise
- The disciples obey and blessing comes
- 153 large fish – and surprise the net is not breaking
- A renewed faith
- Yes Jesus had met with them
- But they likely still felt vulnerable
- Could they do this work without His presence?
- Jesus enables them
- God has different ways of renewing Christians
- Example of Mary, Thomas, the two on the road to Emmaus
- Jesus comes to His people today through the Holy Spirit and the words of the Bible
- A recommissioning miracle
- A repeat of the initial commissioning miracle in Luke 5
- Jesus is recommissioning them
- He is going to heaven but the disciples/apostles are to preach the Gospel
- God is a God of second chances
"It is the Lord" (v7)
- The disciple Jesus loved
- John – he had a more intimate relationship with Jesus
- Peter – jumped into the water to be with Jesus
- Mark 16:7 – tell Peter
- Peter had seemed to have forgotten – until this point
- Do we forget the promises of God?
- Do we forget He will not trial us beyond what we can bear?
- Ps 46
"Come and eat breakfast" (v12)
- Jesus has already been cooking breakfast
- The eat in silence – it is such a special time
- Jesus serves them breakfast (v13)
- Jesus is Master and Lord but also serves His people
- Do we remember the intimate times we had with God?
- Example of your salvation, special services, special places, special meetings
- This was etched upon Peter’s mind (Acts 10:41)
- Example of Matthew Wren
- Have an encounter with the living God
- If you seek Him you will find Him
- Are you seeking God?
‘153 large fish and the net was not broken’ (v11)
- How did Jesus know the fish were there?
- He is the Son of God – explanation
- He knew where the fish were
- He caused the net not to break
- A tremendous miracle of power and a blessing at His command
- Wales has known such blessing – revival
- We are now in days of decline and seccularism
- We do not need to ‘reinvent’ Christianity
- We must cry to God for His working power
- Jesus used the same men, boat and equipment – at His word
- We must pray for the power of the Holy Spirit
Closing Remarks
- If you are not a Christian – why not?
- Have you taken seriously the claims of Jesus Christ?
- Is He your Lord and Saviour
- Trust Him today