Jesus Taught in His
Glorified Body
Book of John Chapter
21
As we close out our
study of the Book of John. we will get another view of the "glorified
body" of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
appeared to the disciples the third time on the shores of the Sea of
Galilee.
John uses the term
Tiberius because of politics. The name this sea had been changed by
the time John wrote this book.
Peter had invited
the disciples to go fishing and at least 6 of them had gone with
Peter.
As the day had
dawned the Lord Jesus appeared on the shoreline, while these
disciples were several yards off shore at least a hundred yards.
So let's allow our
Savior to speak:
*****Joh 21:1 After
these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea
of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
Joh 21:2 There were
together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of
Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his
disciples.
Joh 21:3 Simon
Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go
with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and
that night they caught nothing.
After what things?
1) After Jesus had
met with Mary Magdalene.
2) After Jesus had
met with the other women who had come to the tomb but had left
leaving Mary Magdalene behind
3) After Jesus had
met the two disciples on the Emmaus rode.
4) After Jesus had
met with Peter.
5) After Jesus had
met with the disciples without Thomas.
6) After Jesus had
met with the disciples with Thomas.
It is after these
things that Jesus met with the seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee.
What did Jesus prove
to these disciples on this occasion?
Jesus Christ proved
that the disciples could do nothing without Him.
This something we
all need to know! Without the Lord Jesus Christ we are nothing.
Joh_15:5 I am the
vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
The men in typology
were fishermen but they had labored all night and caught nothing.
When they knew that
Jesus was on the shore and told them to throw the net on the other
side of the boat which should have no difference at all but with the
Word of the Lord, they became true fishermen!
Joh 15:6 If a man
abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and
men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will,
and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8 Herein is
my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my
disciples.
It is the same when
we witness for the Lord! If we do not have the Words of Jesus, the
Gospel of Jesus Christ we will never bear any fruit!
If we cannot be true
to the Word of God, we are useless to Him!
The Lord Jesus
resurrected from that death to prove He is God and that we must
depend upon His strength!
Jesus continued to
show Himself for as long as it took to make sure their faith was
solid.
Jesus does the same
thing today when He test our "Faith".
The body of Jesus
was the same body that had died upon the cross, but it was a
glorified body!
What is the promise
to each of us that believe?
Php 3:21 Who shall
change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious
body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all
things unto himself.
We should be able to
see that there will be some differences in our body after physical
death. Our Spiritual body will be made perfect while our earthly body
cannot be perfect.
*****Joh 21:4 But
when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the
disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
It should be obvious
that even though these disciples could not tell if this body was
Jesus, they could still tell that He appeared to be a human being and
not a something that was not a man. They were too far out in the sea,
to see clearly.
It was just breaking
dawn. Jesus walked over to the shore line but still they could not
tell until He began speaking loudly.
When Jesus speaks,
we will know Him!
*****Joh 21:5 Then
Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him,
No.
Joh 21:6 And he
said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye
shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw
it for the multitude of fishes.
We should be able to
tell by the words, of Jesus that He was expecting "a no"
answer. Normally one side of these boats would make no difference in
fishing, but the Lord knew exactly where the fish were because He
directed them to be there.
These disciples had
to be on the right side, and we are always to be on the right side of
the Word of God.
If these disciples
did not have enough faith to pull the net in and place it on the
other side of the boat, they would have never caught those fish!
John knew as soon as
he heard these words that it was the Lord Jesus standing on that
shoreline!
We should understand
that there is always a reward for being obedient to the Word of God.
Being on the right
side of the Word of God is to be "justified"!
The reward for being
obedient to the Lord, was not just the amount of fish that were
caught, but the Lord had prepared them a meal on the shoreline.
In typology, the
ship they were in represents the Church. The right side, points to
those who have chosen the Lord, the elect.
Jesus is the first
of the elect:
Isa 42:1 Behold my
servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I
have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the
Gentiles.
The Church is the
true, choosing the "Grace of God" over the laws of man.
Rom 11:5 Even so
then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by
grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no
more work.
The casting to the
net represents the preaching of the Gospel.
The promise of
finding the fish, is the assurance Christ gives of the success of His
Word, the Gospel.
Isa_55:11 So shall
my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto
me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
It is Jesus Christ
that has blessed the Word of God and carries with it the promises of
God!
The Church is to
obey the Word of God for the Church to gather the fish.
What's that old
saying? "I catch them, but God cleans them", is still the
truth!
But, Simon Peter
could not wait to see the Lord again.
*****Joh 21:7
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the
Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his
fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into
the sea.
Joh 21:8 And the
other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from
land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with
fishes.
Joh 21:9 As soon
then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and
fish laid thereon, and bread.
Joh 21:10 Jesus
saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Each of us who are
genuine will experience the super natural care of the Lord.
Jesus showed to
these disciples the reality of His surroundings, so they could
believe that He was certainly the "Risen Savior".
The fish upon the
fire represents all those who will be tried by the Lord to see if
they are true to the Lord.
1Co_3:13 Every
man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every
man's work of what sort it is.
Peter dove in the
water and swam to shore eager to see Jesus. The other disciples
stayed in the ship (the Church) to make sure the fish made it to
shore safely.
The message of the
Church must always contain the truth of Jesus Christ!
Act 3:13 The God of
Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath
glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the
presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Act 3:14 But ye
denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be
granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed
the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we
are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his
name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see
and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect
soundness in the presence of you all.
Then Simon Peter
helped to bring in the fish:
*****Joh 21:11
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes,
an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet
was not the net broken.
Joh 21:12 Jesus
saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask
him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Joh 21:13 Jesus
then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
Joh 21:14 This is
now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after
that he was risen from the dead.
Peter drew in the
fish and noticed not one was lost. The Lord will not lose any of the
fish caught by His disciples!
Joh 10:27 My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able
to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my
Father are one.
We can find the
Gospel in everything that Jesus did when He walked among us!
There are many great
thoughts on the number 153 fish. One theory is that the Lord blessed
153 persons during His time upon this earth.
By talking, hearing
and eating the Lord Jesus Christ proved He was in a living body of
flesh but was a glorified body.
Remember a glorified
body is a body of perfection and we do not have any clue of what a
perfect body would look like!
A glorified body is
real, and it is a perfect body and as believers we will each have
one, one day soon.
After worship, and
joy, and the peace we get from knowing Jesus Christ, the next great
thing we get from the Church is fellowship.
Jesus had prepared a
meal, not from the fish that these had caught, but with fish and
bread He had gotten Himself.
The Lord is always
giving us gifts that we do not deserve!
Heb 2:16 For verily
he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed
of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore
in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that
he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining
to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in
that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour
them that are tempted.
Jesus Christ is
everything we need, and He is the only one who knows what we
need!!!!!
These disciples
began to understand that they knew what Jesus wanted them to know.
Not like a brain washing but the truth!
When we understand
the Lord, we understand the truth of life!!!!!
John lets us be
aware that this was the third time that the resurrected Christ had
appeared to His chosen disciples.
We must clearly
understand that the success in catching fish or men, comes from the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus just wants us
to be busy about the Masters, work.
If souls are not
coming to the Lord, it is not because there are no fish.
Joh_4:35 Say not
ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say
unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are
white already to harvest.
The facts are that
the Church has far too many men ready to put the brakes on the
progress of the Church!
Just as the Lord
does not relieve us from labor in this world, (he that does not work
does not eat), Jesus also will not relieve us the labor for souls
until the day we die. Remember it is the Lord that will call us home
"when he is ready"!!!!!
We must remember why
the Apostle John was writing this epistle!
Joh 20:30 And many
other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which
are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these
are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Not till after they
had dined did Jesus show us what it is to be a disciple!
*****Joh 21:15 So
when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith
to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith
unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith
unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter
was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?
And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest
that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
There are many
things we feel in our doings from day to day, but it is the feelings
of love that move us the most!
Peter was a natural
born leader so in the presence of the other 6 Jesus went straight to
Peter. Not so much because he had denied the Lord but to insure Peter
clearly understood his mission.
We are never to take
worldly objects and love them more than we love the Lord Jesus
Christ!!!!!
We are never to have
idols we cherish more than the Lord!!!!!
We all have close
friends and family and most have spouses, of which I no longer have,
but we are to never love them more than we love the Lord.
In fact we will
never love them properly until we put the Lord Jesus Christ first in
our lives!!!!!
The truth is Jesus
loves all of us more than we can ever understand so He is our example
to learn what love is all about!
We must always
remember the length of suffering the Lord has done to show us what
true love is all about.
Jesus Christ gave us
the gift of His love while we were mired in sin, showing Him nothing
but hatred.
If we are observant
as we look out over the world of today, we see more hatred than we
ever have, and hatred is the absence of love!!!!!
The leadership of
Peter needed to be reinforced publicly before those that gone fishing
with him.
We know when the
Lord Jesus called Peter by his full name the conversation was very
important!
The most important
trait we must have as Christians is the love we have for our Lord and
our God, Jesus the Messiah!
We must understand
that we are nothing and can accomplish nothing without Christ Jesus!
1) The first
question Jesus had to Peter was "did he love the Lord more than
he loved these other men".
Jesus could have
also been talking about the family of Peter.
One more thing is
that Jesus was talking about Peter's love of fishing and his
business.
Remember Peter was a
business man along with James and John as partners who were also
amongst these other men.
Our love for the
Lord must be true and must be sincere!
Every true Pastor
has loved Jesus more than their family and their career. As disciples
we are to be no different!
Jesus ask for
"agape" love, but Peter did not respond with agape love but
"phileo" love.
You need to look
these things up yourself so you will know the difference. We are all
to know the difference!
There are even some
who have made up their own Christ and not the Christ as described in
the Scriptures.
Jesus Christ is the
God of the Bible and we had better understand that!
2) The next question
Jesus asked Peter was "did he love with God's love".
We are not only to
love Jesus more than anyone else in our life, but we are to love
everyone else with the same love that God has shown to us.
Our example is still
John 3:16 but let’s look at some other passages also.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved,
let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that
loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that
loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is
love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son
to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved,
if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No man
hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in
us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 Hereby
know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us
of his Spirit.
1Jn 4:16 And we
have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love;
and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is
our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is
no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath
torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1Jn 4:19 We love
him, because he first loved us.
It takes time to
learn this love and show it to others, but this is what the Lord was
asking Peter and the same love Jesus ask of every disciple.
3) The third
question Jesus asked Peter was "do you really love Me as your
brother".
Jesus now asked with
"phileo" love. It takes time to learn the love of God but
until then we must be loyal not only to the Lord but also to our
brothers and sisters in Christ!
We must be loyal not
only to Jesus Christ but also to the entire Word of God.
There is no modern
interpretation of the Scriptures. The Scriptures have said what they
have always say and God's Word is just as vital today, just as it was
in the time of Peter and this was something Peter needed to lock into
his heart.
Words are wonderful
but if those words do not originate from a heart dedicated to the
Lord Jesus Christ, then they are meaningless words!
Without the love of
God as described here, Peter could never have done the things the
Lord has asked him to do.
We owe a lot to
Peter today because we know he learned the love that Jesus was
insisting on this day on the shore of Galilee.
Peter could now feed
the sheep of the Lord!
Act 20:28 Take heed
therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood.
Some of the flock
will be one way:
1Pe 2:1 Wherefore
laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies,
and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn
babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1Pe 2:3 If so be ye
have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1Pe 2:4 To whom
coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen
of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as
lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Some of the flock
will have progressed:
2Ti 2:14 Of these
things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that
they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of
the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Study to
shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun
profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more
ungodliness.
Then there is the
special ministry of the Pastor:
1Pe 5:1 The elders
which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall
be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the
flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Pe 5:3 Neither as
being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when
the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory
that fadeth not away.
Then the Lord got up
close and truly personal with Peter.
*****Joh 21:18
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst
thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be
old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee,
and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
Joh 21:19 This
spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he
had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
We need to
understand as Christians, the Lord requires a total commitment in
following the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit
who is that "another".
What do we know
about the Apostle Peter?
Peter lived for
about 36 more years after this day with Jesus and he was tied to a
cross upside down (because he insisted) and when the nails were
driven in, he was carried by another to the place he was crucified.
Before Peter was
saved, he, more or less did what he pleased, and this is the thing we
must give up. We must follow the lead of the Holy Spirit!
If we cannot give
the Lord Jesus full control of our bodies, then we are "foolish
Christians"
Eph 5:15 See then
that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore
be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Tradition says that
the wife of Peter served with him in his ministry and she to, was
martyred the same day as Peter, right in front of him so the last
thing he saw was his dead wife.
Peter was to die the
death of a martyr, but not John!
On seeing his wife's
death before his own eyes, it is said that Peter rejoiced because he
knew she would be waiting on him in Heaven when he got there.
We must understand
that the call of Christ will bring some persecution.
We are to follow the
lead of the Holy Spirit in everything we do, until the day we go home
to be with the Lord!
This was the life
that Jesus told Peter he would have, and Peter stood true all his
days.
We will all die
unless we are among the few will go home at the time of the Rapture.
2Co 5:7 (For we
walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and
to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore
we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of
him.
2Co 5:10 For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one
may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
2Co 5:11 Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made
manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your
consciences.
2Co 5:12 For we
commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory
on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory
in appearance, and not in heart.
2Co 5:13 For
whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober,
it is for your cause.
Jesus said to pick
up your own cross and follow Him and this is what Peter did.
Peter turned to see
John following and Peter asked Jesus what would John be doing in his
ministry.
And Jesus firmly
said:
*****Joh 21:20 Then
Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following;
which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is
he that betrayeth thee?
Joh 21:21 Peter
seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Joh 21:22 Jesus
saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to
thee? follow thou me.
Peter may have
thought all the Apostles would minister together as a group, but
Jesus told Peter that this was not going to happen.
Peter had gone into
business with John and his brother James and they were very close for
many years.
Peter wanted to know
what lay ahead for John.
We know that for
some reason, John was spared from a martyr's death and lived a long
life.
I believe that since
John was to take care of Mary the mother of Jesus, that he did not
suffer as much persecution as did Peter and we know the James the
brother of John was the first to die a martyr's death when he was
beheaded.
We should understand
that when Jesus said these things to Peter, it was not a revelation
of the will of God for John as some believed.
Jesus was dealing
only with Peter as Peter would remain the head of the Apostles till,
he died.
If and when we
called of God to do anything, then we need to concentrate on that
calling and not on what is happening elsewhere or with other
ministries.
Not that we are not
to help when called upon, but that we are not to allow our own
calling suffer for helping others!
We are to focus our
energy and our efforts on fulfilling the will of God for our own
lives.
We must also
understand our motivation to serve must remain our love for God, and
not our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are to do the
same.
We are certainly to
love one another, but Jesus Christ is the one who is to the first in
our love.
Our power to serve
comes from the Holy Spirit, and we need to pay close attention to
Him!
The one more thing
we are to understand being a Christian in the full will of God, this
will not keep us from growing old or from suffering as we grow old.
We must understand
that Paul was a great Apostle only because of that thorn that caused
him so much misery.
If we become too
rich in material things or physical comforts, we may forget that it
is the Lord who will provide.
If we become rich,
then those most of those riches are to be used in the ministry or the
ministry of the Church.
As Christians we are
to live without the favor of this world.
We cannot do without
devoted followers.
What would happen to
the Apostle John was to be no concern of Peter's.
What was said to
Peter about John was misunderstood. Remember it is John who has given
us these passages by the Holy Spirit, and we can believe what John is
saying.
*****Joh 21:23 Then
went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should
not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I
will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
Joh 21:24 This is
the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these
things: and we know that his testimony is true.
Since John did live
the longest of all the 12 Apostles, then he could give the Church the
truth of how the early Church withstood the world around it.
The Church is like a
ship on course through this world, taking the message of Jesus Christ
to all ports of call and the Church will sail boldly as long as the
world is not allowed into the ship (Church) that would cause the
Church to sink.
We can see that many
a ship are sinking, or struggling today because they have allowed the
world inside the Church doors!
In truth, as
Christians we should forward to death. Not to rush our death in any
way, but to know the joy of a job well done and going to the one
place that has no part of the world and that is Heaven!
We can understand
that the specific form and the manner of our death is predetermined
and arranged by God Himself!
The death and the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has made a dramatic change to
this world we live in.
We can only imagine
what this world would look like without the Church or our own nation
without the Church.
If we were to
understand a miserable future, then the Church would have been
useless all these years.
The Lord has
promised an eternal life in Heaven. A place where we cannot even
imagine the beauty of, where God accepts His adopted family and we
will eat as His table for an eternity!
John could not tell
us somethings because the Holy Spirit did not require them.
*****Joh 21:25 And
there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they
should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself
could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Amen
Let's Pray!
