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Sunday School Special : Lesson 156

Text: John 21:1-14
14 May 2023

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 14 May 2023 

Text: John 21:1-14 

Subject: The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ 

1After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” 

They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” 

They answered Him, “No.” 

6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 

11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 

14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 

John 21:1-14 

MINISTRY OF THE RISEN SAVIOUR 

1. The Lord Jesus continued to minister after His Resurrection

2. Some reasons why He needed to minister after His Resurrection

a) As Proof
i) The Lord Jesus had foretold His death and Resurrection
ii) He manifested Him as Living Proof
b) To clear Doubts 
i) The Disciples had doubts
ii) Thomas as an example 
iii) The Risen Lord graciously appeared to clear doubts 
c) To deepen knowledge 
i) The Lord Jesus appeared to 2 Disciples on the road to Emmaus
ii) The Disciples knew the basic facts of their faith in the Lord
iii) But they needed a deeper knowledge of the Scriptures 
d) The Holy Spirit had not been poured out yet 
i) This was the Interim period 
ii) Resurrection to Pentecost
iii) He still needed to minister to the Disciples 
e) To strengthen Faith 
i) There was basic but genuine Faith
ii) The Faith of the Disciples needed to be strengthened further
f) To restore  
i) Flagging commitment
ii) Repair relationship with the Lord Jesus
iii) Return to the Call the Lord had given to them 

A MAJOR PROBLEM WAS BREWING  

1. Peter’s decision to return to his old job as a fisherman 

2. His decision 

“I am going fishing” John 20:3 

a) He was not saying he was going for an outing 
b) What he meant was that he was returning to his past occupation 

3. The Influence Peter had on the other Disciples

a) The group of fishermen
b) The list:
i) Peter
ii) Thomas the Twin
iii) Nathanael of Cana in Galilee 
iv) James 
v) John (the sons of Zebedee)
vii) Two other disciples 
c) More than Half of the Group of Twelve  
i) They wanted to leave the ministry
ii) They wanted to return to their old job

ANOTHER FISHING MIRACLE 

1. There was once when Peter and his friends had caught nothing

2. Then the Lord Jesus caused them to catch a huge number of fishes (Luke 5)

3. A similar Miracle was going to take place

a) The Disciples had caught nothing the whole night
b) The Lord Jesus was at the shore
c) He urged them to cast their net on the other side of the boat
d) The Disciples obeyed and were surprised by the huge number of fish caught
i) 153 large fish
ii) The net was not broken
e) The Lord Jesus made breakfast for them
i) Bread
ii) Fish

CONCLUSION 

1. Patiently, the Lord Jesus manifested Himself again and again

2. His purpose was clear

a) He wanted to strengthen the weak faith of the Disciples
b) One special way to do this was to manifest Himself to them as the Risen Saviour

3. Our Challenge

a) To see our Faith refreshed and revived
b) To see our Faith deepened and strengthened