4 June 2013 by Stewart Chew
SHORES OF TIBERIUS (John 21:1-14)
Song:
SHORES OF TIBERIUS
(Song and lyrics – S.Chew 1999)
ON THE SHORES OF TIBERIUS
JESUS BECKONS TO THEM
THEY WERE TIRED AND HUNGRY
NOT ONE FISH DID THEY CATCH
THEN, THEIR NETS NEARLY TORE
THEY’VE SEEN IT BEFORE
ALLE-LUYA, ITS THEIR GREAT RISEN LORD
ALLE-LUYA, ITS THEIR GREAT RISEN LORD
COME AND EAT WITH ME
THE FOOD I’VE PREPARED
THE FISH’S IN THE FIRE
THE BREAD I’VE BROKEN
THEN, THEY ALL WOKE UP IN AWE
THEY’VE SEEN IT BEFORE
ALLE-LUYA, IT’S THEIR GREAT RISEN LORD
ALLE-LUYA, IT’S THEIR GREAT RISEN LORD
Shores of Tiberius
Jesus had just been crucified, dead and was buried. All the disciples were devastated. Peter, James and John had gone back to do what they did before. On that day it was a very unrewarding session of fishing along the shores of Tiberius. They had toiled unsuccessfully all day long in the hot sun and finally gave up in disappointment.
As they settled to clean their nets, the calling of a lone stranger from some distance along the beach caught their attention. He was beckoning to them and signalling to them to go out from where He stood to cast the nets out. James and John did not pay any attention to the stranger and carried on with their task of cleaning the nets. However, Peter stopped and stood up and sheltering his eyes from the bright sun, peeredintently at the stranger. They couldn’t believe it when Peter relented to His shouts and then gave instructions to take the boat out to give it one more go. It was not like they had not tried it umpteen times all day long by crisscrossing the sea without so much as a handful of fingerlings to show! Nevertheless they responded to Peter’s call.
Lo and behold! They were amazed by the immediate results. The nets were swollen with big fish that they were not able to haul the huge catch into the boat. Straining to hold the nets, they shouted to some of the onlookers to come in and help them! Peter, who was too stunned to be pulling the nets with them, fell on his knees and raised his hands with praise and gratitude. It occurred to him that a supernatural thing had just taken place. He knew that a miracle had occurred. He then realized that the lone stranger on the beach wash is Lord. Jesus had returned to them as He had promised that He would! Alleluia!
Later, on dry land, with a small group of His followers who were still excited and talking about the catch, Jesus BBQed some fish.With His disciples seated close to him, He gave the fish to them and ate some Himself. Although they were still in awe of Jesus, it had slowly sunk in that it was indeed Jesus who had returned and was there seated in front of them.
Jesus had demonstrated to all of us what it meant to be very loving and caring to the people we love and we serve. What Jesus had shown is the true heart of a loving Master who had temporarily left his disciples yet had longed so much to be back to encourage them! He particularly wanted to see Peter. Simon Peter had earlier publically denounced Jesus and later followed Him when the Roman soldiers took him away. He actually witnessed the beatings, crucifixion and death of Jesus. How much sadness and depression Peter must have experienced after he took all the blame of Jesus’ demise upon himself! However, the fact that Jesus is alive again changed all that. The forgiveness that he had received from Jesus made him a totally different person! The realization of the truth of the resurrection of Jesus had made Peter the loser into the indomitable Peter the Rock!
The resurrection of Christ to all of us means that the fear of death is gone forever! Upon this great truth hangs the whole plan of the redemptive programme of God! If there is no resurrection, then there could not be any salvation! Jesus says “I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelations 1:18). Jesus promises all believers “Because I live, you shall live also” (John 14:19).
On that day, in a certain small cove far away along the shores of Tiberius, Peter and the other disciples abandoned their nets in the boats for good to follow the Master once again!
Note: Stewart Chew is a retired senior lecturer in School of Medical Sciences, Curtin University in Perth, Australia
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Reference for pictures:
http://ubdavid.org/knowbiblefolder/knowbiblegraphics/3_24_title.jpg
http://maxinecooper.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/jesus_peter.jpg
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