But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. John 21:4-6.
When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. Luke 5:4-7.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Let us do things together, let us reason together, and I will be there with you to will and to do according to purpose. Let us together joyfully draw water from the springs of Yeshuah. You can do nothing without Me but you can do all things with Me.
Life should not be a lonely struggle for you, I did not ever desire that you live without Me being actively involved with you in all you do. WhenI sustain you and maintain you in life, you might as well draw close to Me as well and let Me help you to live days of Heaven upon the earth. Snuggle under My wings. Life is much more pleasant done together with Me. I can give you wisdom, good health, answers, revelation, impartation, direction, correction, protection, and perfection. There is no true gain apart from Me. There is no true and lasting joy apart from Me. In My presence there is fullness of joy. Joy unspeakable filled with glory. Come taste and see My goodness.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
I am El Shaddai, the God of more than enough. Shaddai in Hebrew simply means “enough.” I have everything you will ever need and far beyond that. I AM the God who looks ahead and provides. Yahweh Yireh, as Abraham named Me by inspiration of My Spirit.
Today we are going to consider the miracle that Jesus performed after I raised Him from the dead while He was still instructing the apostles upon the earth before He left to ascend back to Heaven to pour down My promise of the Holy Spirit. There is much to learn here for it is one of the final lessons given to the apostles while Jesus was on earth with them.
It takes place at the Sea of Galilee (which was also called the Sea of Tiberias and the lake of Gennesaret and the Kinneret), where a similar incident had occurred when Peter, Andrew, James and John left their fishing boats to become fishers of men after a miraculous catch of fish.
After Jesus had walked through the doors of the upper room to show Himself to the disciples hiding there, both on the day I raised Him and eight days later, Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. John 21:1-3.
But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” Notice, He calls them “children,” in the upper room when He breathed on them they had been born again, now they were My children and joint heirs with Him. They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” John 21:4-5.
This should remind you of what had happened about three years before. “Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” Luke 5:1-5.
Where Peter first answered the call of Jesus would turn out to be where he was called again, but not only to be a fisher of men, but also a shepherd of those he would bring into the safety net of the Church that will be drawn up at the rapture.
And just as when first called the result to letting down the nets was amazing, so it was at the second call.
So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.” John 21:6-8. This time there is one boat that does not begin to sink and one net that does not begin to break.
Now go back to what happened at the first call after Peter obeyed and let down the nets, “When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.” Luke 5:6-11.
They left the fish behind, walking away from worldly gain, to go to the higher realm of seeking out and saving the lost with Jesus. Note here the fish are beyond count and the nets began to break and the boats began to sink. The church had not yet been established as Jesus had not yet died for your sins or been glorified. But that was yet to come and those who made the commitment to follow Him would see it unfold.
This time though the results are very different for the age of grace, the church age, was dawning, but Pentecost was still to take place. You will notice that this time Jesus was standing upon the shore as day was breaking. The first call had been well into the day, after the night fishing was well over and Jesus had taught the crowds at length. This signified the ending of the age of the Old Covenant, Jesus being the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.
Now in the second call it did not end there with the catch, there is much more. This time Jesus would feed them and show them that you do not just catch people but you feed them as shepherd in the shelter of the church.
And the encounter continues, “So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.” John 21:9-11.
I show you many things here about the role of the church. Jesus had already prepared a table before them but they were to bring the new catch as well. This shows the church as having both the Jews who followed Jesus as well as all the years of the Word entrusted to My people Israel and My Words spoken by the prophets under the inspiration of My Spirit, and the gentiles (the nations other than Israel) coming to the table together to eat the bread of life. And Jesus Himself prepares the meal and serves it.
And you should know that there are no idle words in the Bible. My Words are not idle words they are your very life. Simon Peter, the one whom I had given the revelation that Jesus was the promised Messiah was now the one I called to lead the early church. He was the first called to go as a fisher of men and now again would be the first called to shepherd the people brought into the church.
And this time a tell you the number of fish, 153, and that the net was not torn. One net and a 153 large fish. What am I showing you? 153 is the number of the nations (large fish) that will become born again nations filled with believing leaders and citizens, Christian nations, that will be safely in the net of the church and pulled up at the rapture. These are the nations that at the judgment of the nations will be at My right hand.
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:31-33.
And another facet of both the miraculous catches of fish is the about the way I supply for the work of the ministry, that is, for Kingdom assignments, with all you need and more beyond that. The latter glory of My house will be greater than the former glory for I will shake the wealth of all the nations into My house in the period of the latter rain, which is beginning now. And My house is no longer limited to the temple in Jerusalem, for every believer is My house, being a temple of My Holy Spirit, and together you are as living stones building the edifice of the church filled with My Spirit. You are members of the Body of Christ, each one of you a new creation in Christ created in Him for a life of good deeds prepared and provided for in advance that you may walk it out with Me in Christ Jesus your Lord.
And in both instances, at first they were fishing on their own without Me seeking worldly gain by toil. But without Me you can do nothing of higher value. But when Jesus came and called in the fish everything changed. The Kingdom flowed in. In the Kingdom things run to you, you do not run after them.
“Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 28:1-2.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33.
And on another level, it is impossible to witness to others without doing it with Me (“catching fish”). Do not do it for Me to prove something to Me but do it with Me as a partner.
But let us go back to the second call by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was waiting for them on the shore and He said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.” John 21:12-14.
Jesus the good Shepherd was feeding his sheep and thus showing them the new facet to their call of being fishers of men. They were now to go not only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel but out to the nations to call them and then shepherd them by feeding them with My Word and with the bread of life.
“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21.
Jesus would feed them and they would feed others. It all has to do with love. Jesus did all He did for you from love. He is My compassion reaction to you to save you and keep you always with Me.
“Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6.
And He taught Peter this, and the others there through what He said to Peter. It is love that should impel you to shepherd others in the way of salvation, your love for Me that comes from knowing of My love for you. “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.” He said to him, “Feed My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love (phileo) Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (phileo) You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Peter was no longer able to affirm that he had the kind of love that would never deny Jesus. the unconditional love that lays down its life for another, he was humbled by his three denials when he had affirmed that he positively would lay down his life for Jesus, but later he would. And Jesus foretold this to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!” And here we see the second call after the three denials and the resurrection.
Peter was reinstated and loved. All was new. And he became the leader of the little flock that then grew and grew bringing in the nations. He was a fisherman and a shepherd. And towards the end of his life in the world, he wrote, “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:1-4. And Peter did. He is with Me now, crowned in glory.
I love you. Run so as to win. I will provide. Feed My sheep with what I feed you.