When word reached Paul that the churches in Galatia were being misled by false teachers, he took pen and parchment and crafted his warning. In comparison to Paul’s other epistles, the Epistle to the Galatians starts with a very different set of opening comments. Typically, when Paul began a letter to a church, he would start with praises of what the church was doing, and then move on to a prayer that he was currently praying for them. As we begin reading Galatians, we find that Paul takes no time for any of that. The danger is imminent, and Paul answers with urgency, skipping over the usual formalities.
Apparently, when the false teachers had attacked, they had not only taught error; they systematically sought to remove Paul’s credibility among the Galatian believers. They argued that since Paul was not converted until after Christ had risen and returned to heaven then he could never have been personally commissioned by Jesus, and never have seen the resurrected Christ. According to them, without those two things, then Paul had no authority as an Apostle. But their arguments were unfounded.
In Acts 9, Paul (called “Saul” at the time) was persecuting the church when he was interrupted by the bright and shining glory of a resurrected Jesus. Paul’s entire conversion hinged on the truth that Jesus personally intercepted and called him to follow Him. Paul was eventually confirmed and sent out by the other Apostles in Jerusalem, further validating what was already settled on the road to Damascus. Any who would deny that Paul was a true apostle, either did so from ignorance or from willful deceit. Whatever the reason for these claims, the problem was that the false teachers were not only undermining Paul’s authority, but that they were undermining the very gospel that Paul had preached.
As Paul starts his epistle, with ferocity he devastates the claims against his apostleship - “Paul, an apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father).” In other words, “When you challenge my authority, you are standing in opposition to Jesus, Himself.” The Apostles were the authoritative representatives of Jesus in the early church. Paul may have come a bit later than the others, but his conversion on the road to Damascus had secured him a place as one of the Apostles.
As Paul continues his introduction, he attacks the heresy that had begun to creep into the Galatian churches. He does this, not by first naming the error, but rather, by first naming the truth. Up against the things that Paul has already taught the Galatians, the lies of the false teachers stand in glaring contrast. Paul begins with, “Grace and peace have come from God, and from Jesus, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us…to whom be glory forever and ever.” The false teachers taught that the believers must add things to the work that Christ had already accomplished. Paul, however, reminds the believers in these first few verses that God has already done everything in Christ that we need for forgiveness and peace. Finally, in Paul’s estimation, only God and Christ deserve the praise and glory for our salvation. If we saved ourselves, we would be able to brag about our power. By simply preaching the truth, Paul drew a clear distinction between truth and error. Paul will eventually attack the heart of the problem, and eventually will appeal to the Galatians to return to the gospel truth that he originally delivered to them from Christ.
Food For Thought: If Paul was converted after Christ had returned to heaven, how could he call himself an Apostle?
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Introduction: Epistle to the Galatians
During the lifetime of the Apostle Paul, there was a region known as Galatia in the center of Asia Minor, where modern day Turkey exists. The entire Province of Galatia during the reign of the Roman Empire was comparable in size to all of the land of Palestine. At the time of Paul, many of the people of Galatia were descended from Celtic invaders who had conquered the region around 300 B.C. The name “Galatia” comes from the Latin, Galli, which is more commonly transliterated as “Gauls.” As a people group the Northern European cousins of these Asia Minor Gauls have received a bit more historical recognition because of their constant attacks against the powerful Roman Empire, including most famously a series of wars against Julius Caesar.
In Scripture, the first time that we meet the people of Galatia is in Luke’s account of “The Acts of the Apostles,” or simply, the Book of Acts. In Acts 13 and 14, Paul traveled and preached the gospel through Antioch in Pisidia (a different Antioch than the one where Paul and Barnabas were commissioned for missionary work), Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra. These cities all fell within the boundaries of what the Roman Empire designated as the Province of Galatia, although whether or not Paul actually preached to any ethnic descendants of the Gauls is still debated.
While there may still be a matter of debate about the audience to whom Paul was speaking, there is no debate that he and Barnabas travelled through Galatia declaring the good news of the gospel to those who lived there. The message that Paul and Barnabas preached in Antioch in Pisidia was at first rejected by the Jewish inhabitants of the city, but when the Gentiles of the city heard it they gathered the whole city together to hear the gospel. Luke writes in Acts 13:48-49, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published through all the region.”
Paul and Barnabas would eventually be chased out by the Jewish leaders in that city, but their work had begun. They had been able to share the good news of the gospel to all those who lived in the region. Although Paul would travel away, he never would forget the churches that he had helped to start, and the believers that he had seen converted in the region of Galatia. Eventually others would come along behind Paul and seek to undo what Paul had taught. They were not satisfied with the gospel that they heard, and they desired to teach a new message.
When news of this subterfuge reached Paul, he made it a priority to pen an epistle of warning to the Galatians. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote a letter admonishing the Galatian believers to hold firmly to the message he had taught them. He warned them of the false teachers who would ruin them, and encouraged them to love one another and continue in the faith. Many of the warnings that Paul wrote nearly 2,000 years ago are incredibly applicable today. With the rise of cults and the prevalence of false teaching, it is important that we hold firmly to the truth of the gospel.
Food for Thought: Where did the Province of Galatia get its name?
In Scripture, the first time that we meet the people of Galatia is in Luke’s account of “The Acts of the Apostles,” or simply, the Book of Acts. In Acts 13 and 14, Paul traveled and preached the gospel through Antioch in Pisidia (a different Antioch than the one where Paul and Barnabas were commissioned for missionary work), Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra. These cities all fell within the boundaries of what the Roman Empire designated as the Province of Galatia, although whether or not Paul actually preached to any ethnic descendants of the Gauls is still debated.
While there may still be a matter of debate about the audience to whom Paul was speaking, there is no debate that he and Barnabas travelled through Galatia declaring the good news of the gospel to those who lived there. The message that Paul and Barnabas preached in Antioch in Pisidia was at first rejected by the Jewish inhabitants of the city, but when the Gentiles of the city heard it they gathered the whole city together to hear the gospel. Luke writes in Acts 13:48-49, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published through all the region.”
Paul and Barnabas would eventually be chased out by the Jewish leaders in that city, but their work had begun. They had been able to share the good news of the gospel to all those who lived in the region. Although Paul would travel away, he never would forget the churches that he had helped to start, and the believers that he had seen converted in the region of Galatia. Eventually others would come along behind Paul and seek to undo what Paul had taught. They were not satisfied with the gospel that they heard, and they desired to teach a new message.
When news of this subterfuge reached Paul, he made it a priority to pen an epistle of warning to the Galatians. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote a letter admonishing the Galatian believers to hold firmly to the message he had taught them. He warned them of the false teachers who would ruin them, and encouraged them to love one another and continue in the faith. Many of the warnings that Paul wrote nearly 2,000 years ago are incredibly applicable today. With the rise of cults and the prevalence of false teaching, it is important that we hold firmly to the truth of the gospel.
Food for Thought: Where did the Province of Galatia get its name?
Friday, January 16, 2015
John 21:24-25
As the Gospel according to John began, we used the illustration of a courtroom to understand what the Apostle John’s goal was. He was seeking to give undeniable proof to the fact that we find in John 20:31, that “Jesus is the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Systematically, John presented the evidences, one after the next, to demonstrate that beyond a reasonable doubt, Jesus truly was the Messiah.
Through accomplishing the miraculous, through His own testimony, and even through the testimony of those around Him, it was clear that Jesus was the bodily fulfillment of the promised Messiah. Jesus demonstrated inexplicable power over the natural element of water, converting it miraculously to wine. Jesus showed that He had power over disability and disease when He supernaturally healed the man who had been lame for 42 years. Jesus exhibited again inarguable ability over nature when He took five loaves and two fishes and unbelievably converted it into a massive feast that fed thousands. He revealed His unearthly wisdom as He stood amongst the greatest scholars and scribes of His day and left them bewildered and even at times frustrated because of His overwhelming command of the truth. It was from the spittle and mud on the fingertips of the powerful Jesus that for the first time one born blind would receive his sight. With His words He raised a dead man back to life. On the back of a donkey He rode into Jerusalem under the praises of the people. After being savagely beaten and dying, He overcame Death by resurrecting victoriously over it.
His works spoke for themselves. But arguably more powerful than His works were His words. In teaching, He had demonstrated that none could argue with His understanding of the Law. The precision with which He could think and illustrate brought challenger after challenger, all of which agreed that they could not best Him. With that impeccable reason and clarity of communication, He had stated that He was without a doubt the Son of God. He had come to be the Messiah who would save the world by dying on the cross for sinners. His life met His teaching, and eventually the testimony of all those around Him would match the reality of His life. Even as Jesus stood before John the Baptist, the prophet, He had been introduced in redemptive language, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Those around him would have to admit that He was indeed the Messiah.
As John closes this great testimony, we see a sort of witness statement. He says, “I’m the disciple which testifies of these things, and writes these things.” In effect, “Perhaps you noticed at each of the stories there was a disciple that followed along and witnessed it all. That disciple is me.” This was not a list of hearsay events. This was not a list of wives fables that were handed down through misguided and myth-birthing centuries. This document, this Gospel account, this entire treatise that we just heard came from the mouth of a first person witness to these events.
The evidence is clear. The testimony is sure and without flaw. Now, what we are left to do is what John set out for us to do: believe, and that believing we might have life through His name. Jesus is indubitably the Messiah who came to save the world. We would do well to see the witness and believe.
Food For Thought: In John 21:25, John claims that there are limitless other stories that he could tell about Jesus. Why do you think John didn’t write any more of the things that he had seen?
Through accomplishing the miraculous, through His own testimony, and even through the testimony of those around Him, it was clear that Jesus was the bodily fulfillment of the promised Messiah. Jesus demonstrated inexplicable power over the natural element of water, converting it miraculously to wine. Jesus showed that He had power over disability and disease when He supernaturally healed the man who had been lame for 42 years. Jesus exhibited again inarguable ability over nature when He took five loaves and two fishes and unbelievably converted it into a massive feast that fed thousands. He revealed His unearthly wisdom as He stood amongst the greatest scholars and scribes of His day and left them bewildered and even at times frustrated because of His overwhelming command of the truth. It was from the spittle and mud on the fingertips of the powerful Jesus that for the first time one born blind would receive his sight. With His words He raised a dead man back to life. On the back of a donkey He rode into Jerusalem under the praises of the people. After being savagely beaten and dying, He overcame Death by resurrecting victoriously over it.
His works spoke for themselves. But arguably more powerful than His works were His words. In teaching, He had demonstrated that none could argue with His understanding of the Law. The precision with which He could think and illustrate brought challenger after challenger, all of which agreed that they could not best Him. With that impeccable reason and clarity of communication, He had stated that He was without a doubt the Son of God. He had come to be the Messiah who would save the world by dying on the cross for sinners. His life met His teaching, and eventually the testimony of all those around Him would match the reality of His life. Even as Jesus stood before John the Baptist, the prophet, He had been introduced in redemptive language, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Those around him would have to admit that He was indeed the Messiah.
As John closes this great testimony, we see a sort of witness statement. He says, “I’m the disciple which testifies of these things, and writes these things.” In effect, “Perhaps you noticed at each of the stories there was a disciple that followed along and witnessed it all. That disciple is me.” This was not a list of hearsay events. This was not a list of wives fables that were handed down through misguided and myth-birthing centuries. This document, this Gospel account, this entire treatise that we just heard came from the mouth of a first person witness to these events.
The evidence is clear. The testimony is sure and without flaw. Now, what we are left to do is what John set out for us to do: believe, and that believing we might have life through His name. Jesus is indubitably the Messiah who came to save the world. We would do well to see the witness and believe.
Food For Thought: In John 21:25, John claims that there are limitless other stories that he could tell about Jesus. Why do you think John didn’t write any more of the things that he had seen?
Thursday, January 15, 2015
John 21:18-23
According to Jesus, the duty of a true disciple and follower is to share the gospel with others and to make disciples out of those who are converted. With this formula having been extended, Jesus looked to Peter, and made a chilling prophecy. With just a few words, Jesus explained to Peter that the day would come when Peter would be killed for being a follower of Jesus. This must have been disconcerting to say the least, but the discomfort must have met with a sense of hope.
The last time that Peter had been put to the test of his faith, he had fled and denied Jesus. Now, Jesus was telling him that the day would come when in the face of persecution Peter would stand his ground, never depart from the faith and ultimately join Christ in suffering a martyr’s death. It must have been reassuring to Peter who no doubt wondered what would happen if he were ever put to the test again. The last time, before the arrest in the midnight garden, Peter had been so emphatic about how he would be willing to die for Jesus and that he would never leave the side of Jesus. When Peter’s zealous imagination was met with the flash of torches against cold steel, his heart melted as he retreated into the night with curses and lies. Now, on the bank of the Galilee over a fish breakfast Jesus himself had said that Peter would never back down again. What a reassuring reality.
But with this confidence came the reality that Peter would one day die for his faith. There was no turning back. There was no abandoning. Jesus had declared it there in front of several disciples, and Peter would eventually feel the nails and beams of a Roman cross. Peter never looked back. Until his death, his boldness and faith was unmatched. Not only was he part of the church, Peter was called to the role of leader in the Jerusalem church. Peter would preach, and train others, and would ultimately fulfill the command to “follow me” as Christ had commanded, by making disciples of those he saw come to the faith.
Hearing the sharp truth from the mouth of Jesus, Peter looked at John, and asked Jesus if John would die the same way. Jesus answered very quickly, and apparently in a way that others would misinterpret later on. In effect the answer that Jesus gave was this, “What ever I will, is what will happen to John. What you need to be concerned with is what I have told you.” This is consistent with everything else that we learn from scripture. The call of God on us is to love and obey him, not to inspect the hidden will of God for the lives of others. Jesus knew that Peter’s knowing what would happen to John would not help Peter to follow him any better. Instead, Jesus reissued His call on Peter, “Follow thou me.”
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the successes and designs of other people’s lives. We often try to template our lives, imagining that although we have a completely different set of God ordained circumstances and personal characteristics, somehow we could make our Christian life or ministering exactly like someone else’s whom we idolize. The call of Jesus goes to all of His disciples the same, “Follow me.” Jesus was not bound up in the compare and copy technique of ministering. He saw the goal of loving others, and glorifying God as the fuel that drove him. We would be wise to see only His example as the perfect one to follow.
Food For Thought: Why did Jesus tell Peter not to worry what would happen to John?
The last time that Peter had been put to the test of his faith, he had fled and denied Jesus. Now, Jesus was telling him that the day would come when in the face of persecution Peter would stand his ground, never depart from the faith and ultimately join Christ in suffering a martyr’s death. It must have been reassuring to Peter who no doubt wondered what would happen if he were ever put to the test again. The last time, before the arrest in the midnight garden, Peter had been so emphatic about how he would be willing to die for Jesus and that he would never leave the side of Jesus. When Peter’s zealous imagination was met with the flash of torches against cold steel, his heart melted as he retreated into the night with curses and lies. Now, on the bank of the Galilee over a fish breakfast Jesus himself had said that Peter would never back down again. What a reassuring reality.
But with this confidence came the reality that Peter would one day die for his faith. There was no turning back. There was no abandoning. Jesus had declared it there in front of several disciples, and Peter would eventually feel the nails and beams of a Roman cross. Peter never looked back. Until his death, his boldness and faith was unmatched. Not only was he part of the church, Peter was called to the role of leader in the Jerusalem church. Peter would preach, and train others, and would ultimately fulfill the command to “follow me” as Christ had commanded, by making disciples of those he saw come to the faith.
Hearing the sharp truth from the mouth of Jesus, Peter looked at John, and asked Jesus if John would die the same way. Jesus answered very quickly, and apparently in a way that others would misinterpret later on. In effect the answer that Jesus gave was this, “What ever I will, is what will happen to John. What you need to be concerned with is what I have told you.” This is consistent with everything else that we learn from scripture. The call of God on us is to love and obey him, not to inspect the hidden will of God for the lives of others. Jesus knew that Peter’s knowing what would happen to John would not help Peter to follow him any better. Instead, Jesus reissued His call on Peter, “Follow thou me.”
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the successes and designs of other people’s lives. We often try to template our lives, imagining that although we have a completely different set of God ordained circumstances and personal characteristics, somehow we could make our Christian life or ministering exactly like someone else’s whom we idolize. The call of Jesus goes to all of His disciples the same, “Follow me.” Jesus was not bound up in the compare and copy technique of ministering. He saw the goal of loving others, and glorifying God as the fuel that drove him. We would be wise to see only His example as the perfect one to follow.
Food For Thought: Why did Jesus tell Peter not to worry what would happen to John?
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
John 21:12-19
Peter and the other disciples hurried to the shore to be with Jesus. As they came close, Jesus offered some breakfast to them. John makes sure to mention that no one had to ask who it was that they were eating with; rather, all the disciples were thrilled to be with Jesus again. Settling in after the meal, Jesus looked to Peter and asked him a very pointed question- “Simon, lovest thou me more than these?”
What the “these” are in context is not absolutely certain, but the text does seem to indicate that Jesus was talking about the fish that they had just caught. I would say this for a couple reasons. 1) It doesn’t seem right to ask Peter if he loves Jesus more than the other disciples, this would not be a standard that Jesus would expect from any one disciple. Rather, every disciple should give full devotion and love to Jesus. 2) The second reason I could see in context is that John spent quite a bit of time describing the fact that Peter was fishing, and that Peter had brought the fish (John points out specifically 153 of them) up to share them for breakfast with Jesus. I think a bit of inspection of the text really seems to indicate that Jesus was asking Peter, “Do you love me more than you love these fishes?” So if that is what Jesus was saying, what did He mean by it?
Perhaps, since Peter had left off as a disciple and had returned to his previous job, Jesus was probing Peter’s heart to see if he really wanted to abandon the gospel ministry and return to fishing. Now, with fishes and Jesus directly in front of him, Peter is forced by Jesus to choose which is more valuable and more worth pursuing - Jesus or fish. Peter could spend the rest of his life doing what he had grown up doing, mending nets and catching fish, or he could press on to more lasting things ministering the gospel to other people.
I think with this view of the text, the words of Jesus seem a bit clearer. “Peter do you love me more than these fish? Then feed my sheep. (take care of those who are my own)” He had already called Peter to be His disciple, but now, He was telling Peter it was his task to share the gospel and make more disciples out of the other followers of Jesus. Being a true disciple did not mean that Peter had received the gospel from Jesus and simply returned to work as if nothing had happened. Being a true disciple meant that Peter’s life and ambition and goals must change. Finally, Jesus reissues his call to Peter, “Follow me.” Just as Jesus made disciples, it would now be Peter’s job to preach the gospel and to train disciples.
The call to Peter is extended to all those who would truly be the followers of Jesus. A true disciple is marked by these things: a love for Jesus, a desire to communicate the gospel, a desire to make disciples (and not just converts). While Peter became a full time minister fully-devoted to teaching and training others, you would not necessarily have to do the same to obey the call of Jesus on His disciples. No matter where you go, or what you do, hear the call of Jesus to follow Him.
Food For Thought: What perhaps were the “these” that Jesus was talking about in “lovest thou me more than these?”
What the “these” are in context is not absolutely certain, but the text does seem to indicate that Jesus was talking about the fish that they had just caught. I would say this for a couple reasons. 1) It doesn’t seem right to ask Peter if he loves Jesus more than the other disciples, this would not be a standard that Jesus would expect from any one disciple. Rather, every disciple should give full devotion and love to Jesus. 2) The second reason I could see in context is that John spent quite a bit of time describing the fact that Peter was fishing, and that Peter had brought the fish (John points out specifically 153 of them) up to share them for breakfast with Jesus. I think a bit of inspection of the text really seems to indicate that Jesus was asking Peter, “Do you love me more than you love these fishes?” So if that is what Jesus was saying, what did He mean by it?
Perhaps, since Peter had left off as a disciple and had returned to his previous job, Jesus was probing Peter’s heart to see if he really wanted to abandon the gospel ministry and return to fishing. Now, with fishes and Jesus directly in front of him, Peter is forced by Jesus to choose which is more valuable and more worth pursuing - Jesus or fish. Peter could spend the rest of his life doing what he had grown up doing, mending nets and catching fish, or he could press on to more lasting things ministering the gospel to other people.
I think with this view of the text, the words of Jesus seem a bit clearer. “Peter do you love me more than these fish? Then feed my sheep. (take care of those who are my own)” He had already called Peter to be His disciple, but now, He was telling Peter it was his task to share the gospel and make more disciples out of the other followers of Jesus. Being a true disciple did not mean that Peter had received the gospel from Jesus and simply returned to work as if nothing had happened. Being a true disciple meant that Peter’s life and ambition and goals must change. Finally, Jesus reissues his call to Peter, “Follow me.” Just as Jesus made disciples, it would now be Peter’s job to preach the gospel and to train disciples.
The call to Peter is extended to all those who would truly be the followers of Jesus. A true disciple is marked by these things: a love for Jesus, a desire to communicate the gospel, a desire to make disciples (and not just converts). While Peter became a full time minister fully-devoted to teaching and training others, you would not necessarily have to do the same to obey the call of Jesus on His disciples. No matter where you go, or what you do, hear the call of Jesus to follow Him.
Food For Thought: What perhaps were the “these” that Jesus was talking about in “lovest thou me more than these?”
Monday, January 12, 2015
John 21:1-11
Now when he [Jesus] had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake…And Jesus said unto Simon, fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. - Luke 5:4-6, 10-11
When Jesus found the disciples, several of them, especially Peter, James and John, were fishermen by trade. After demonstrating His divine power over nature to them, Jesus called these fishermen to forsake their way of life and follow Him. It was obvious that if they followed Him, He could provide for them. It was abundantly clear that Jesus was worth following. Never before in their lives as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee had they seen anything like this. With such incredible power having been displayed, the disciples “forsook all, and followed Jesus.”
Years later, Jesus had been killed by the Roman soldiers and the Jewish leaders. The disciples had scattered in fear, knowing that if they were caught, they too might become the objects of persecution. However, as they sat trembling in an upper room a few days later, Jesus appeared to them and explained that He was no longer dead, but had resurrected. According to Matthew 28, He gave further instruction that they should go to Galilee and He would see them there. We don’t know how long it took for Jesus to eventually come to Galilee, but by the time He arrived it seems that some of the disciples had sort of given up on the call He had given them.
Whereas in Luke 5, they “forsook all,” now they had returned to their fishing boats and the livelihood they had known before Jesus. He had called them to minister the truth to those around them, but in His absence, they decided to go back to their previous lives as fishermen.
After their first fishing trip produced a fishless night, the disciples were surprised the next morning by a man on the shore who asked if they had caught anything. When they answered, “no,” he told them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. Obeying, instantly their net was filled with an impossible number of fish. Immediately, John recognized the work of Jesus. Pointing this out to Peter, in haste, Peter jumped over the side of the boat and swam to the shore to be with Jesus.
Jesus had not forgotten them. Here He was, with them, inviting them to come sit and talk, and learn one last time. He would not abandon them. Just as He had demonstrated the first time He called them, He would provide for them. He would take care of them. They didn’t need to turn back from their calling. They needed to trust Him, and press on. In the same way that He had given them confidence when they first met, He gave reassurance in these, His last days with them. Now, they should never turn back. They should never quit. The story had started with Jesus and a bunch of fishermen. The story couldn’t finish with these fishermen unchanged. They had been with Jesus, and now nothing could ever be the same.
Food For Thought: John makes a point of saying, “this was the third time Jesus shewed himself after that he was risen.” What were the other two times?
When Jesus found the disciples, several of them, especially Peter, James and John, were fishermen by trade. After demonstrating His divine power over nature to them, Jesus called these fishermen to forsake their way of life and follow Him. It was obvious that if they followed Him, He could provide for them. It was abundantly clear that Jesus was worth following. Never before in their lives as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee had they seen anything like this. With such incredible power having been displayed, the disciples “forsook all, and followed Jesus.”
Years later, Jesus had been killed by the Roman soldiers and the Jewish leaders. The disciples had scattered in fear, knowing that if they were caught, they too might become the objects of persecution. However, as they sat trembling in an upper room a few days later, Jesus appeared to them and explained that He was no longer dead, but had resurrected. According to Matthew 28, He gave further instruction that they should go to Galilee and He would see them there. We don’t know how long it took for Jesus to eventually come to Galilee, but by the time He arrived it seems that some of the disciples had sort of given up on the call He had given them.
Whereas in Luke 5, they “forsook all,” now they had returned to their fishing boats and the livelihood they had known before Jesus. He had called them to minister the truth to those around them, but in His absence, they decided to go back to their previous lives as fishermen.
After their first fishing trip produced a fishless night, the disciples were surprised the next morning by a man on the shore who asked if they had caught anything. When they answered, “no,” he told them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. Obeying, instantly their net was filled with an impossible number of fish. Immediately, John recognized the work of Jesus. Pointing this out to Peter, in haste, Peter jumped over the side of the boat and swam to the shore to be with Jesus.
Jesus had not forgotten them. Here He was, with them, inviting them to come sit and talk, and learn one last time. He would not abandon them. Just as He had demonstrated the first time He called them, He would provide for them. He would take care of them. They didn’t need to turn back from their calling. They needed to trust Him, and press on. In the same way that He had given them confidence when they first met, He gave reassurance in these, His last days with them. Now, they should never turn back. They should never quit. The story had started with Jesus and a bunch of fishermen. The story couldn’t finish with these fishermen unchanged. They had been with Jesus, and now nothing could ever be the same.
Food For Thought: John makes a point of saying, “this was the third time Jesus shewed himself after that he was risen.” What were the other two times?
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