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Bible Study Corner


John 21:6,10-11 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

The setting for these verses is on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias) after the resurrection of our Lord. Peter, impatient and impulsive has decided to go fishing. They are there beside Galilee waiting on the Lord to show up as He has instructed them (Matt. 26:32, Mark 14:28, Matt. 28:7). They fish all night but catch nothing and early in the morning as they near the shore Jesus appears on the shore of Galilee and calls out to them asking if they have any fish, knowing well that they didn't. When they answer negatively Jesus tells them to cast the net on the right side of the boat "and ye shall find". Immediately they fill their net with fishes. The weight of which is so great that all seven disciples that are in the boat can scarcely drag the net to the boat.

It is at this time that John recognizes Jesus and tells the others "It is the Lord" (Jn. 21:7). Peter grabs his outer garment and jumps in the water, wading to shore as they were only about 100 yards out. The rest of the disciples struggle with the fish in the net and finally make it to shore where they find Jesus has prepared for them a meal of fish and bread on an open fire.

The next event is what we need to see. Peter, at the arrival of the boat, hurries over to it and proceeds to drag the fish by himself up on the shore and out of the water!

You say what is strange about this. Well think about it. 7 men could scarcely do earlier what one man is now doing. I don't think Peter even realized what he had done. Jesus in verse 10 tells the men to "bring what ye have now caught" and immediately Peter does what earlier would seem impossible. Now I don't know what each fish weighed but they were evidently large. Peter at the command of Jesus receives strength to do what otherwise couldn't have been done. This is what we need to see. At the command of Jesus Peter does what he could not have otherwise done.

We often think the task is too great. We often think that God is asking of us beyond what we can do. We use the words "I can't" when God asks of us. The lesson here is simply if God has asked of us then He has equipped us; He has empowered us.

I am reminded of a story of a mother lifting an automobile off of her child without any assistance of anyone or any thing. Where did her strength come from? Did it not come from God in her time of need? Look back through the Bible at some of the stories. Look at Sampson. Where did his strength come from? You say, his hair. I say you are wrong. His strength came from God and remained as long as he was obedient. His hair was simply what God used to work through. Look at Peter when he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Was it the water that held him up? No, a thousand times no. It was Jesus working through his faith placed in the God who stood before him and as long as he kept is eyes and faith on Jesus he stayed on top of the waves. The moment he wavered he sank! If it had been the water he would have remained on top. Peter had said "bid me come"; Jesus said "come" and as long as he did not think of circumstances he walked! Think about it.

Has God bid you do something that seems too hard? Trust Him for what ever supply you need to accomplish His bidding.

Hillbilly

Poetry Corner

To Do Thy Will


How I can hold still
When it is the gift of faith
Moving me to do thy Will?

Is it me at all?
Or the One who answered
My prayers and call…

Lord Jesus set me free
Cleansing me of my sin
Greater is He
Who now dwells within.

His light shines upon my path
Protecting me from darkness
That I may not suffer God's wrath.

In His church, He gave me a part
In telling others
Of a brand-new start.

Holy Spirit guides my way
Helping me to speak
The words I earnestly pray.

How I can hold still
When it is true faith that
Teaches me to do thy Will?


Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do thy will ; for thou art my God:
thy spirit is good;
lead me into the land of uprightness.

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