Why is Your Net Empty?

In one regard, we come to John 21, and it is anticlimactic because it serves as an epilogue or an addition to the ending of this gospel account. Jesus has already been resurrected in chapter 20, and that is certainly the climax of the Christian story. 

 

However, there is still much that we can learn from this last chapter, and is testifies to the authenticity of John’s eye-witness account.  We spend today and next Sunday finishing this fourth gospel of our New Testament. 

 

Let me remind you of what happened in chapter 20.  It was Sunday morning after Jesus was crucified on Friday.  First, Mary and Peter and John found an empty tomb.

 

Second, Mary spoke to the resurrected Jesus.  She thought He was the gardener or caretaker of the garden tomb.

 

Third, Jesus appeared to the scared disciples in an upper room on Sunday night.  Fourth, a week later, Jesus appeared to the disciples again.  This time, Thomas was present and verified that the Jesus who had been crucified was now alive.

 

Fifth, John 20:30-31 reminded us of the purpose of John’s writing. 

 

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

Do remember these 7 signs in John’s Gospel?  1. Jesus turned water into wine (2); 2. Jesus healed the nobleman’s son from a distance (4); 3. Jesus healed the paralyzed man after 37 years (5); 4. Jesus fed 5,000 with two fish and five loaves (6); 5. Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm (6); 6. Jesus healed the man who was born blind (9); and 7. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (11).

 

In the first half of John 21, I want to show three pictures to you.  I want you to see a picture of futility, a picture of prosperity, and a picture of unity.  Then, at the end, I want to ask you, “Why is your net empty?”

 

 

1. A Picture of Futility, John 21:1-3

1 After 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.

 

Verse 1 tells us that after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples on other occasions.  This particular occasion occurred in Galilee. 

 

Remember that Jesus had told His disciples to go there, and that He would see them there in Matthew 28:10.  Galilee was north of Jerusalem, and the Sea of Tiberias is another name for the Sea of Galilee.

 

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

 

Verse 2 tells us that those present were Peter, always mentioned first as the unofficial leader of the twelve.  There was also Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two other unnamed disciples. 

 

In verse 3, Peter decided to go fishing.  Remember that was his profession before he left everything to follow Jesus.  If he was waiting on Jesus, and wasn’t sure what else to do, it would make total sense that he would fall back on what he knew best. 

 

The others agreed to go as well.  We also know that James and John were professional fishermen too.

 

They went out on the Sea of Galilee at night because that was when fish were known to be active in feeding.  However, pay close attention to the end of verse 3. 

 

They caught nothing…not one single, solitary fish.  These were professional fishermen who had been doing this for a long time.  It was the family business, and yet, this is a stark picture of futility.

 

 

1. A Picture of Prosperity, John 21:4-8

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.

 

The disciples had been on the water the entire night, and it was now getting close to dawn or sun up, and they had caught nothing.  Verse 4 tells us that Jesus was on the shore, but they didn’t know it was Him. 

 

Maybe He was too far away.  Maybe the water was splashing in their faces.  Maybe it was because of the darkness giving way to sunlight, but He yelled at them and told them to cast on the right side of the boat.

 

In one regard, you wonder why they would do what He said if they simply thought it was some stranger yelling at them.  However, on the other hand, what could it hurt if they hadn’t caught anything all night long? 

 

So they did it, and look what happened in verse 6.  They were not able to haul in the net because of all of the fish they had caught. 

 

Now why did Jesus tell them to cast on the right side?  Was it because He could see a school of fish there?  No, He caused the fish to be there.

 

By the way, one of the great truths of this story is that God blesses obedience.  When Peter and the others did what God the Son told them to do, God the Son blessed them with an enormous mess of fish.

 

Brothers and sisters, don’t ever doubt this truth.  God blesses our obedience.  Do you want God’s blessings in your life and on your life?  Do whatever He tells you to do through His Word!

 

When this happened, John knew immediately it was Jesus, and he told Peter.  Peter acted instinctively and jumped into the water and started swimming to Jesus. 

 

The other disciples stayed in the boat and hauled in the net full of fish that they had caught after casting on the right side doing what Jesus told them to do.  This is a picture of prosperity.

 

 

• A Picture of Unity, John 21:9-14

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.

 

In verse 9, Jesus evidently had supplied His own fish and bread, and we know He can do that, but He asked the disciples to bring some of their fish as well.  Why?  Because God has chosen to partner with us in accomplishing His will.  Yes, He can do it all, but we get to be join Him in this picture of unity. 

 

God can cause the whole world to be saved in a nanosecond.  However, His plan is for us share the gospel, and He will open hearts.  We join Him in that work.

 

God can accomplish anything, anytime, anyhow.  However, His plan is for us to pray, and He will bring His will to pass.  We join Him in that work. 

 

We know that John’s account is an eye-witness account because of the details.  He chronicled 153 fish that were caught that day. 

 

Is that a special number or have some special meaning?  I think it only means that John was there and saw it with his own eyes and wrote about it with own hand. 

 

By the way, don’t miss the end of verse 11.  Although there were so many fish, the net was not broken. 

 

It seems that John is saying that normally, a catch of that size would break the net.  This time, it didn’t. 

 

When we are obedient, God will work beyond what we think is normal or reasonable.  Paul said something similar in Ephesians 3:20.

 

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

 

So think about this related to our FLC and John 21:11. Normally, a church our size wouldn’t be able to raise the money, and normally, the net would have broken on a catch that size.

 

However, when they didn’t what Jesus said, God worked beyond what they thought was normal.  When we do what God says with our finances, I believe that God will work beyond what we think is normal.  Paul said He can do more than we ask or even think according to the power that works in us. 

 

What power is that?  The Holy Spirit is in in us, and our job is to obey His leading. 

 

In verses 12-13, these men had breakfast as Jesus had provided for them.  This was now then the third time that He had appeared to this group after the resurrection. 

 

The first was when Thomas was not there.  The second was with Thomas, and now this. 

 

 

Conclusion

So here is what I want to ask you this morning.  Why is your net empty? 

 

Is your salvation net empty because you’re casting on the self-righteous side of the boat instead of the trust Jesus side of the boat?  Call on Him to save you today.

 

Is your ministry net empty because you’re casting on the self-seeking side of the boat instead of the honor God side of the boat?  Ministry isn’t about you.  It’s about honoring Him and giving Him glory.

 

Is your marriage net or your parenting net empty because you’re casting on the self-serving side of the boat instead of the serve other side of the boat? 

 

Marriage is about serving your spouse.  You can teach your kids about leadership by modeling for them servant leadership. 

 

That’s what Jesus did when He died on the cross.  He served me and you by giving up self. 

 

If your net is empty this morning, would you throw it on the Jesus side?  If you will, you’ll be blessed beyond measure.