There was an old man who suddenly became gravely ill.  When the pastor came for a visit he noticed a chair beside the bed.  He said, "You must have already had company today." The old man said, "No, but let me tell you the story of the chair. Years ago I told a friend that when I prayed at night I frequently fell asleep, or I just couldn't concentrate on what I was praying about. So this friend suggested that I put a chair by my bed and imagine that Jesus was sitting there because he's promised to be with us. So, I started doing that and it made a big difference.  Sometimes I even think I see him sitting there."

After having communion with the man, the pastor left. Later that evening he got a call from the daughter.  She said, "Dad just died. Can you come over?"  So the pastor went to see her. The daughter said, "You know, I was in the room and dad seemed fine. I left for just a minute. When I came back, he had peacefully died. But there was something quite strange. Somehow, he had managed to turn over on his side and stretch out his arm and place his hand on the chair."

That old man needed to know Jesus was there, and as promised, Jesus was!  As John, his disciple, once said, “It is the Lord!”  We who follow Jesus need to know He is with us!  We long for his presence.  He has promised to always be with us.  He is constantly with us in his Word.  And when He shows us He is with us in other miraculous ways, when these wonderful things happen in your life, there can be no doubt…. It is the Lord!

The disciples were waiting anxiously for Jesus to be with them.  Remember, on Easter day, He had repeatedly told them to go to Galilee and wait for Him there.  So sometime after Jesus appeared in their locked room, the disciples went up to Galilee to await their next meeting.  They were waiting for direction from God, waiting to see Jesus, waiting to see what’s next.  They’re excited with the reality that Jesus is alive, but wondering what to do.

And what are a bunch of fishermen going to do while they are sitting around waiting next to a big lake full of fish?  Well, they’re going to go fishing!  What better way to pass the time?  Just like the good old days!  And what could have been more comforting and enjoyable for them than doing something they were used to, something that gave them security?  But not the most successful trip, was it?  Think it reminded them of a past trip where they caught nothing?

Suddenly there’s a guy on shore, about a hundred yards off, whom they don’t recognize.  He calls out, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”  “No,” they answered.  He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”  For whatever reason, they didn’t remember hearing those words before.  For whatever reason, they didn’t recognize Him – maybe it was too dark or too far away.  And for whatever reason, they listened to Him – maybe he had a certain kind of authority in his voice.  In any case, the professional fishermen came up empty, but the One who would call them to be fishers of men knew exactly where fish were to be found.

You and I now know what they would soon find out – It was the Lord!  As Jesus appears to the disciples on this peaceful morning, we learn some lessons about Him.  First of all, He is Concerned About our Catch.  After trying all night, the disciples still have no fish. The people Jesus loves like his own children can't even make a decent meal. In the ancient Middle East, for a meal to be considered complete, you had to have bread and fish.  Fish weren't just part of a healthy diet, fish were essential.  No decent host would let even his guest's slaves go without fish; to do that was to treat them as less than human, and be thought of as a poor host.  So, without fish, the disciples couldn’t even feel human. A whole night's work, and nothing to show for it.  Just an empty boat.  No breakfast.

Jesus cared about that.  Jesus cares about us the same way.  He doesn’t want you to constantly be up against a challenge you can’t meet.  He doesn’t want you to be cut off from the basics of life.  No matter how difficult things become, know that your Master cares about you. 

And that’s why He Tells Us What to Do.  The same way He gave the disciples directions.  “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”  The pros came up empty, but Jesus knew where the fish were to be found.  The disciples listened.  And they prospered because they did what their Master told them to do.  It is amazing how easy it is for us to succeed in life when we do what Jesus wants us to do.  Be honest.  Work hard.  Treat people the way you want to be treated.  Be reliable.  Don’t promise more than you can deliver.

We will do just fine when we follow God’s directions.  We have our neat little plans.  We know where the “fish” are.  We know how to fish for them.  We’ve got it all figured out.  We know exactly how we are going to do it.  Then God comes and says, “But have you listened to my plans?  Do you know what my direction is for your life?  Have you been listening to the Holy Spirit speaking to you in the Word?”  God has wonderful directions for our lives.  And when we listen to Him, things will turn out well.

Artist Bill Herring loves his home state of Texas. He sees beauty in the landscape, even in the dry desert ground and the dull, green bushes. Ordinarily, this landscape is dry and ugly. But then there comes what Herring calls the "golden hour." Sometime in the fall, these bushes bring forth gorgeous yellow flowers. Just before sunset, when the fading sunlight washes over the caramel soil and the lush yellow flowers, it lends everything a shimmering, golden glow. What once looked dull and lifeless, in the glow of the golden hour, takes on a whole new beauty.

This was the disciples' golden hour, the hour when everything would begin to fall in place for them.  Jesus appears to them and challenges them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat – and the harvest of fish which they reap is beyond their wildest dreams. If there is one totally predictable theme in the Bible, it is this: blessings follow obedience. The disciples obey, and suddenly they catch a boatload of fish.

It’s amazing what God can do for us!  He Gives Success to our Labours!  That’s the third thing convincing us that It is the Lord!  John was convinced this man on the shoreline was the Lord when their nets were suddenly filled with 153 fish!  A detail clear in John’s mind! Jesus performed this miracle to get the disciples’ attention, remind them of who He is and what He has done, and show that when we are faithful in doing what He wants us to do, He will bless it!

I’m a pastor.  A church planter.  I’m constantly trying to evaluate and improve how we can carry out Christ’s mission.  I get all excited about ideas and programs and innovations, to the point of driving people crazy, thinking how we can get into the community more, do what we do better.  I try coming up with all these ideas.  And then I get to this section of scripture, and realize the only thing God requires of us is obedience.  He doesn’t ask us to be good fishermen, or skillful in throwing out the net.  He just says, “Trust me.  Obey me, and make sure that you’re on the right side of the boat.  And I’ll put the fish in the net!”

A small boy was digging in his sand box. He finally struck a rock as he dug in deeper. He kept on digging and found it to be a huge rock that he could barely move. He struggled and fought to get the rock out of the box. With one final effort he used all his strength to get the rock out of the box. All it did was roll back and smashed his fingers. So he just sat there and cried. All of a sudden he felt a big shadow come over him. As he looked up through tear filled eyes he saw his dad. He explained to his dad that he used everything he had to get the rock out of the box but failed.  His dad said, “You did not use everything you had. You did not ask me to help.”

God asks us to be faithful in serving Him.  HE will bless the efforts!  I’ve learned that time and again here at Cross of Life.  We try all these things.  We strive to get the Word out to more people.  We do things we are really proud of.  We have all these “lines” in the water.  And all of a sudden, God makes a fish jump into the back of the boat.  HE gives the blessings!

Finally, when big blessings happen in our lives, we know it is the Lord because He takes Care of Our Needs.  Jesus, with everything else going on, considered that the disciples might be hungry after a night of fishing.  And He took the time to feed them.  In fact, breakfast was miraculously ready and waiting for them on shore.  Our Lord takes care of our needs.  He doesn’t want to see you hungry.  Or hurting.  Or in need.  Want proof?  See his willingness to give up his own Son for you and me.  He did that to make sure we would be at peace with Him forever.  Forgiven for all our sins, rebellion, betrayal, self-centeredness, and lack of faith.  So friends, like the disciples, let’s not even dare to question “Who are you?” when we see and experience the Lord’s blessings in our lives!  Like John, let’s confess with conviction, “It is the Lord!”

In this last episode with the disciples, Jesus’ purpose was to strengthen their faith.  And He teaches us that when we follow His command, and do his will, HE will give the blessing!That applies as you and I go out now to be fishers of men.  Let’s do His work!  Let’s share Him with others!  Let’s change the world with Jesus’ love!  Let’s be messengers.  He will bless it!

An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. “Pastor, something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There’s been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he’s just a boy.” The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. “I feel it all,” he replied, “but God knows I’ve tried to do my duty.” On that day the minister’s heart was heavy as he stood before his flock.  As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign.

After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, “Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher—perhaps a missionary?” Again tears welled up in the minister’s eyes. “Ah, this heals the ache I feel,” he said. “Robert, I see the God’s hand in this now.  May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher.”

Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the kingdom of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa’s most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning in the old Scottish church.  Let’s be faithful to the Lord.  Then leave the results to Him!   Amen.