Warriors Arise: September 15, 2020
John 21:6-7 (NKJV) And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
Have you wondered why 'the disciple whom Jesus loved" told Peter? Maybe they were side by side. Even so, generally the first one with the answer tells everyone else. I'm pretty sure, they were all wondering who was on the shore, who had given the instruction on where to cast the net, and how He knew. While they were preparing the net to throw they might have been sharing those very thoughts. But why did John tell Him?
Maybe John told Peter because Peter was the unspoken leader. Peter was the one who told them, "I am going fishing" and they joined him. Peter is the one Jesus called blessed and prophesied over:
Matthew 16:13-19 (NKJV) When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Peter is also one who is focused, on task and at times, oblivious to things happening around him. He is a first responder, ready to defend, and if he must, walk on water to know it is Jesus. I don't know how many of us would have gotten out of the boat to walk on water to see if it was Jesus, but Peter trusted the voice. Peter ask, "Lord if it is You tell me to come." What request for verification! Most of us would have said, "Lord if it is You come in the boat." Not many of us would have wanted what they thought was a spirit to call us out onto the water.
Why did John tell Peter that it was Jesus on the shore? Evidence of their history together would say that if Peter thought the man on the shore was the Lord, He would either recognize the Lord or stop at nothing to find out.
Generally, the one that gets told first is the one who will respond first or who needs to respond. It used to drive me nuts when my mother would elbow me in church. I knew all too well that she thought what the pastor had just said was for me. As much I as I might have wanted to pretend it wasn't, she was going to indicate, with an elbow to my side, so I knew I needed the point. As irritating as I was that she felt she had to point it out, I couldn't deny that it pertained to me. She was right; it was something I needed. When I went on to college, single life, marriage and then a parent, she would send me cassette tapes of different messages she heard from Focus on the Family, Chuck Swindoll, and Charles Stanley. God worked through my mom. Those tapes were exactly what I needed at the time. The lessons I learned from them still minister to me today. (Thanks Mom!)
John knew Peter needed to see Jesus. Remember, it was Peter and John who ran to the tomb after the three women came back on Resurrection Day professing an angel had spoken to them and Jesus is alive. The angel's message, "Tell the disciples and Peter...". Why was Peter singled out? I think it parallels John's reason for telling Peter first. Thomas had his one on one with Jesus, when they waited 8 days for Jesus to return and reveal that He was alive.
John 20:26-29 (NKJV) And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Peter had not had his moment with Jesus. Peter needed to resolve the conflict within, a conflict with which most of us have had to deal. Peter denied knowing Christ 3 times on the eve of His crucifixion. Even though Jesus told Peter at the Last Supper, this was going to happen, Peter refused to believe Jesus. He couldn't imagine denying His Lord. Peter had professed on a number of occasions that He would die with Jesus. The problem, Jesus didn't need Peter to die for Him. Peter was not the Christ, the Messiah. It was not Peter's time to die. Jesus needed Peter to live.
At the time, Peter did not see the bigger picture. He wanted to be faithful to Jesus, a loyal friend. But Jesus needed Peter to live. He needed Peter to be protected during the chaos. Peter would not be resurrected this time, only Jesus. What if Peter had not denied being one of Jesus' disciples? Maybe the mob would have killed him or he might have been crucified right along with Jesus. This was not God's plan. Peter was needed alive; it was not his time to die.
But Peter still needed to settle the matter with Jesus. No one ever questioned Peter's loyalty as a friend to Jesus nor his faithfulness to all Jesus had taught them. Sometimes we can judge ourselves more harshly than the Lord. When we do, we allow the enemy to condemn us and we think it is ok, because we deserve it. But God is the judge, not us and definitely not the enemy. In order to get the matter settled we must go to the Judge instead of punishing ourselves by remaining condemned by the enemy. Jesus had taught the disciples to take care of the matter before they get before the Judge, settle things with your adversary. Peter needed to speak with Jesus. Peter needed to know the Lord's forgiveness.
Why did John tell Peter first? Maybe the one who was secure, in the love Jesus had for him, recognized one who was struggling to know if he should even be loved by the Lord.
Father, I ask for You to come and minister to my heart, my mind, my soul. There have been things that I know You have forgiven me for, but whether it is the enemy reminding me or the fact that I can't forgive myself. I ask once again to be forgiven for my sin against You. I was wrong to dishonor You for my own selfish desires. Will You forgive me? I ask for those who know and walk in the love the Lord has for them to see the needs others have and to meet them. I pray we would recognize Your presence and point others to You so they can make things right with You. I pray for repentance to come to those who are swallowed up by sin. I pray Your people would acknowledge their sin, repent, forgive themselves and embrace the freedom You offer. I ask for Your people to know Your voice, to recognize who around them needs to know the Lord is near. I pray we would have the boldness and compassion to tell them of Jesus. There are people who are being overcome by condemnation and need to know it is not from God. They need to know You are ready to receive them, cleanse them of their sin, and restore them to their place in Your kingdom. I ask for Your people to send them to You in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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