P a g e 1 John 21:1-13 Encountering the risen Christ on the beach 1) Expect the dawn to follow the night 1-4: Early in the morning But when the morning was now come (KJV) Just as day was breaking (ESV) When the sun came up (MSG) The sun comes up/it's a new day dawning It's time to sing Your song again/whatever may pass And whatever lies before me/let me be singing When the evening comes Darkness and light, night and day, these are themes that John uses as he tells the story of the gospel. Jesus on the cross darkness descending on the land. Mary in the garden on resurrection day very early in the morning while it was still dark The disciples fishing all night catching nothing in the darkness and now Jesus standing on the shore as the sun rises the dawn of a new day. This is imagery that is found throughout the scriptures and on into the popular culture and music of our day It s a new dawn, it s a new day, it s a new life for me and I m feeling good. This is the promise of the prophet Isaiah to God s people ultimately pointing to Jesus, the Messiah, the one who will come to save his people from their sins.
P a g e 2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. (Isaiah 9:2) Matthew spells out for us how Jesus came to fulfil this prophecy of Isaiah: Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Matthew 4:13-16) Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. (John 8:12) What Jesus offers us first and foremost is truly a new dawn and a new day a new resurrection life. He offers us translation from darkness to light from night to day. Not a makeover, or a patch-up, or a make-do but a completely new life a new birth. Forgiveness of the past. Healing of wounds Restoration of hope The promise of eternal life When Jesus comes into your life in this way it is like a new dawn The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. (Proverbs 4:18)
P a g e 3 This is the gospel the good news. And it is available to us all. Whatever darkness you are facing, whatever night you are experiencing you can personally encounter the risen Christ at the break of a new day. In the account here, we read of the disciples fishing all night and catching nothing. They were doing what they had always done but now the nets were empty, there was no success, there were simply long dark hours where nothing happened. St. John of the Cross penned a poem which referred to the dark night and the reference is now made to the dark night of the soul. Periods of our life that seem dark, where God seems to be absent, where our nets are empty, our work seems to produce little or no success, and we long for the dawn and the light Psalm 130 From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. 2 Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin. Waiting for the dawn working in a factory on the night shift Sleepless nights
P a g e 4 Because of the Lord s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. (Lamentations 3:22-24) Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30) Night for us can be sickness or bereavement or a spiritual crisis or a time of life or difficult circumstances. But the dawn will follow the night and there you will encounter the resurrected Christ! Expect it. Wait for it. Pray for it. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. (John 21:4) 2) When you encounter Jesus expect things to change (sometimes dramatically) 5-8: These were experienced fishermen on home territory. They knew the waters. They knew the best time to fish. It wasn t like me fishing. Isaac and I went fishing in Florida last year with mixed success! Sometimes you can be doing the same things you have always done And yet nothing seems to be happening. Nothing seems to be working We sometimes forget that ultimately we are co-workers with Christ.
P a g e 5 Jesus said, in fairly stark terms, apart from me you can do nothing There is a bit of a comical moment here for me: 5: Friends haven t you any fish? No they answered. I am not sure how that No came out. Probably through gritted teeth And thanks for asking Mr Expert on the sea shore. No we have not caught any fish But then comes Jesus command try again. On the other side I wonder if you have ever tried and failed. Tried to change. Tried an area of ministry. Tried to repair a relationship. Maybe Jesus will call to some of us today try again. Is there is an area of your life or ministry or gifting where you have perhaps thrown in the towel.? It is important that you listen for the voice and command of Jesus and his promptings he may be telling you to try again. This time the time and the place is right. You may be one throw away from bulging and overflowing nets This is an important moment. Will they obey Jesus command or will they say: we ve tried that before and it doesn t work.?
P a g e 6 I was speaking to a friend this week who was telling me of some missionary friends of his in Paraguay. They had ministered in an area for several years and had seen very little fruit very few people turning to Christ so they went on a retreat to seek God and to see what they should do next. While they were away an evangelist came to the village where they had been ministering and led many people to Christ. When the missionaries returned they had a village full of people waiting to be discipled and a church ready to grow and be led. The turnaround is, of course, not always that dramatic! Sometimes, it is a slow dawning, a first glimpse of light,. But the sun will rise and fruitfulness will return and you will experience your resurrection day. It is important that you remain obedient to Jesus even and especially when you don t see anything happening When you can t see that he s working When you can t feel that he s working You have to know that he s working 3) Come and have breakfast with Jesus 9-14: Words that people are longing to hear: From Philip Yancey s Vanishing Grace quoting Mark Rutland - The healing and redemptive grace of God 1) I love you 2) I forgive you 3) Supper (or food) is ready We have such a moment here. The healing of a memory and the restoration of Peter..
P a g e 7 Sights and sounds and smells that remind us of certain times and places and events. The charcoal fire the betrayal. And now.. I love you I forgive you Come and eat. Jesus does this with each one of us. He restores us He forgives us He loves us He replenishes and feeds us He lays a table for us in the presence of our enemies. There is something wonderful about a God who sends angels to make a meal for a tired and depressed prophet, or one who rains down food on a fleeing people in the desert, or a saviour who cooks bread and fish for some tired and weary followers. He will do the same for us he loves you and he knows what you need and he is gracious and compassionate his mercies and his compassion are new every day If you have been experiencing a dark night of the soul. I hope and trust that soon you will be able to sing.
P a g e 8 It s a new dawn, it s a new day, it s a new life for me and thanks to Jesus I am feeling good.. Community group questions and discussion points: 1) Consider the themes of night and day / darkness and light that John uses. Read Isaiah 9:2 and Matthew 4:13-16 and John 8:12. What Jesus offers us first and foremost is truly a new dawn and a new day a new resurrection life. He offers us translation from darkness to light from night to day. How
P a g e 9 has this been evidenced in your life? 2) St John of the Cross referred to the dark night of the soul times of our life when God seems absent, nothing seems to be happening, doubts arise and faith wanes. Have you experienced this? What can cause it? How should we react to it? How can we get through it? 3) What might it look like in your life or the life of someone who is currently experiencing a frustrating night of catching no fish to expect and experience a new dawn or a new day? Consider the promises of scripture found in Psalm 130, Proverbs 4:18, Lamentations 3:22-24 and Psalm 30. 4) Read verses 5-8 and imagine the scene. What must it have been like for the disciples to catch so many fish when Jesus got involved? 5) In what areas might we try again when we have fished all night and caught nothing? Where might we be tempted to give up where can we ask for Jesus to get involved and to change things? 6) Read verses 9-14. Jesus invites his disciples to have breakfast. There are three things, according to Mark Rutland, that people are longing to hear: a) I love you b) I forgive you and c) supper s ready! How does Jesus sometimes minister to us when we are discouraged or disappointed by our own sin?