Fish, Feed, Follow

 

Brother David Green

This last chapter of John’s Gospel is a wonderful short story within itself. The apostles had not yet been vested with authority and special gifts to embark upon the Great Commission they were to receive (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15). Christ having been crucified and risen was no longer in their daily presence. The first three verses tell us that seven disciples including Peter had gathered at the sea of Tiberius. Having no other direction, Peter says, “I go a fishing” and they all busy themselves and ship out to sea to fish. Such is the case with every Christian. There will always be occasions when the saint is devoid of purpose, waiting on the Lord for direction, help and healing. But there is never a moment they cannot be in prayer, study, thinking on good things, fellowshipping with other saints, or even simply working with their hands. These are actually divine means which help the soul from becoming completely discouraged and cast down while waiting upon the Lord (Psa. 42:6,11; Jonah 2:7; Phil. 4:6-8; Mal. 3:16).

In verses 3-9, the disciples fish all night without success. When morning comes, Christ appears on the shore and instructs them to cast their net on the right side of the boat to which they comply and net a great multitude of fish. The manner and extent of their sudden success causes John to realize it is the Lord who spoke to them and tells Peter who immediately jumps into the sea to go to Christ while the others bring the boat dragging the net full of fish to the shore. Upon arriving, they find Jesus has prepared a fire and a fish and bread for them to eat. Observe the picture of this passage: Christ at the beginning of His ministry had personally called these men to drop immediately their employment in this world and follow Him; to leave their homes behind and be at their Savior’s side for the duration of His ministry; listening to His voice day and night; seeing the miracles; experiencing hardships on one hand and glorious interaction with the Father on the other; receiving constant instruction from the Master teacher; hearing the most compelling, soul striking, heaven wrought sermons ever to be delivered; entering in prayer with the Son of God…and then in a moment all of this is taken away. Indeed, how empty was the sea into which they cast their net that night. What a great void in their hearts; in their daily lives. “I go a fishing” says Peter. What else but to return to his former work. But, as the night draws toward an end, behold, the Bright and Morning Star arises on their shore. Their Savior, our Savior, for the great and swelling love wherewith He loves His people is flawlessly faithful to the detail to supply their every need. Every time. At the right time. Even when they are lost, confused and without direction. Yea, especially then. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all (Ps. 34:17-19). Christ, the ever-vigilant shepherd, appears to His saints to guide them even when unlooked for and fills the nets of their hearts with blessings, just as the disciples’ fish, great in number and great in substance. Calling them out of their emptiness and void. Harkening to the sounds of His instruction. And through His blessings they are made to realize it is the Lord stirring their souls with all haste to draw nigh to Him (Hosea 11:4; Luke 24:13-32; Psa. 37:17,24,39; 84:11). As they are joined with Him, “come and dine” He affectionately beckons. None resist or question (vs 12) knowing in their heart of hearts it is the Lord. How thrilling those moments are when Christ actually speaks to our labored and empty life renewing the remembrance of our former fellowship with Him causing us to say aloud to our soul, “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that I am not consumed, because His compassions they fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness” (Lam. 3:21- 23). Whether the saint is as zealous as Peter and leaps into the sea with all speed, or, if they continue in the ship and diligently row to bring themselves to Christ (vss.7,8), it makes no difference. God dispenses his gifts as He will and the use of each is equally honoring and accepted of Him (Rom. 12:6-8; 1Cor. 7:7; 12:4-11). He has prepared for one as He has for all: the warmth of fire from His effectual call, the bread of His fellowship and communion, and the meat of His word from which to be strengthened and encouraged (vss. 9, 12, 13).

Note here, verses 9-13, the Savior even in His resurrected, glorious state continues to act in the same form in which he came as a man, that of a servant (Phil. 2:7). Our calling is no greater than the Master’s. Let us learn that whatever state we are in naturally or spiritually, high or low, weak or strong, we never put off the mantle of servitude. Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:19, “for though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant to all…” Christ teaches this very important Christian character in this simple act here with His disciples.

Now, Christ seems to use what He has done before, that is, in giving them good instruction and then providing them food and fellowship, to approach Peter with his own personal charge and commission to do the same spiritually. After they had dined, Jesus says to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” The Lord uses Peter’s original name, as though because of his denial of Christ the name Peter was as yet not worthy. Peter responds, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” But he fails to answer the question if he loves Jesus more than the others. We must not be surprised to have our true affections questioned when having done that which makes it doubtful and separates us from our God who now may show His displeasure to us (Isa. 59:2). Every remembrance of sin, even pardoned sin, renews the sorrow of a truly penitent heart. Jesus then charges Peter to “feed my lambs” and poses the question twice more, “feed my sheep.” Peter finally solemnly appeals to Christ as He who knows all things, even the secret things of the heart, to reckon the truth of his love for the Savior. It is good to beseech the Lord who knows the hearts of all men (Acts 1:24) to examine and prove us to make us more humbled and caring of the love He has given. No one is qualified to feed the lambs and sheep of God who does not love him more than all. This being true, then the first and great calling of the minister, is to feed His sheep and lambs. This is vital to the spiritual well-being of the saints and was the great duty of the Apostles’ commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15). If God’s people are not fed by the preaching and ministering of the gospel a famine of soul will be found. Be sure, though, it is the duty and blessing of all saints to feed one another through edification (1Thess. 5:11; Rom. 14:19). Thus, thrice the Lord demands the focus of Peter to feed His beloved people whom he purchased with great price.

Emphatically, and almost suddenly, Jesus begins to reveal to Peter the long generation of his service to God and what type of death he would experience (vss. 18,19). Christ’s love to His saints is so comprehensive that even their death is a thing highly esteemed (Psa. 116:15). For this, His kindness and mercy are especially interposed. Knowing Peter would die the horrific death of the crucifixion, the Lord who has power over death to remove its sting (1Cor. 15:55), both from the knowledge of its coming and the actual experience, does exactly this for Peter. It may appear at first a harsh thing that Jesus revealed to Peter’s mind the type of death he would die so many years in advance. But, see how instantly the Balm of Gilead is applied: “This spake (Christ), signifying by what death (Peter) should glorify God” (vs.19). The promised antidote is greater than the disease; Peter now knows for a certainty that his death will glorify God and he will be present with the Lord forever more upon that occasion. Now, more than ever before, the servant is prepared to obey his Master’s call; to feed the sheep all his remaining years and to “follow thou me” in life, through death, and to glory.

Ah, but no sooner had Christ’s injunction “follow thou me” left his mouth than Peter “turning about” sees the disciple John and asks the Lord, “what shall this man do?” (v.20). Peter’s impetuous temperament once again challenges his focus. Just as the occasion when he asked to walk on the water to come to Christ (Matt. 14:28-31), Peter once again turns his attention away from the Lord to another object and immediately the value of all that Christ has just revealed and instructed him begins to sink from sight. Peter’s concern is so irrelevant and improper it elicits a blunt and almost sarcastic response from Jesus, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me." It is the saint’s duty to first see to their own affairs and mind their own duty to follow Christ. It is from the success of this order that by tending to the beam of our own eye first we shall then see more clearly how to better attend to the affairs of others (Luke 6:42). Christ would have us mind our own work and not be curious about unknown events not revealed for our knowledge or concern. Too often we are anxious about things which are of themselves nothing to us. We must be careful not to intermeddle in other’s affairs where we have not been commissioned by the Lord and His word. Many curious questions and concerns have occupied the mind and time of a saint that could be better used in things profitable to the cause of Christ. If we attend to the duty of following Christ as we ought, we shall find neither the heart nor the time to occupy ourselves in things that evoke, “what is that to thee?” from the Lord.

Here is our blessing. Here is our vessel: the child of God is under the wonderful obligation to follow Christ. It is their honor as well as their duty. It is their safety to follow Him and no other. It is for their comfort for every problem by which they are warmed and feed. It ends in happiness here and hereafter when at death they shall glorify their Father in heaven. And finally, at the sound of the last trumpet, in the twinkling of an eye they are changed; incorruptible and immortal; with Christ their Savior forever more. Therefore, beloved saints, be ye stedfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1Cor. 15:58). Fish, dear saint, and “come and dine.” “Feed my sheep.” And always…“Follow thou me.”