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AFTER EASTER FISHING Based on John 21:1-14By Pastor Glenn Pease
 
The fisherman Clifford S. Ford of Springfield, Virginia has a picture and 70witnesses to vouch for this fish story. They were all abroad the Carolina, Queenoperating out of Morehead City, North Carolina. Ford was in such a hurry to getfishing that he failed to fasten his watch strap properly. When he reeled in a fish hiswatch fell into the ocean. He suffered his bad luck in silence, but then about 20minutes later there was a shout from another fisherman. "I've catch a fish with awatch stuck in its mouth!" "If its a Bulava its mine!" yelled Ford. And sureenough, it was his, and it was still ticking. This is something on the order of Petercatching the fish with the coin in its mouth.Lowell Thomas tells another fish story that is both tall and true. He tells of ClintErvin of Rochester, Indiana who was fishing at night with live frogs for bait. It wasnot good fishing, but then he made a splendid cast. The frog went sailing into theblack night. A moment later there was a tremendous tug at the line. To hisprofound astonishment the line did not go out or down, but rather up. Clint wasmystified. Even a flying fish could not go that high for that long. He was reeling inhis line like one reels in a kite. When he finally got it down, he discovered he hadcaught an owl. The owl had swooped down and taken both frog and hook, andproduced one of the most amazing fish stories ever.The world is full of fantastic fish stories that are true, because so many menspend so much time fishing on this planet that just about anything that can happenhas happened. The Bible has had a significant influence on the history of fishingexperiences, because fishing was the major occupation of the men that Jesus selectedto be his disciples. Peter, the leader of these hand picked men, is often called Peterthe fisherman. There is no way to write the biography of Peter and avoid thesubject of fishing. It was Peter whom Jesus sent fishing to catch that fish with a coinin its mouth in order to pay the temple tax. It was Peter who set the stage for thefinal fish story of the Gospels by saying, "I am going fishing."Peter's decision to go fishing not only influenced the other disciples to go fishing,but has influenced millions since. Charles Goodspeed in his huge volume ATreasury Of Fishing Stories begins with this story of John 21, and he says thesewords of Peter have promoted fishing excursions innumerable. John 21:3 is used asthe title page motto of the first edition of Isaac Walton's famous book The CompleteAngler. In this fisherman's bible Issac Walton has penned The Angler's Song.The men that are Savior dearDid choose to wait upon Him here,Blest fishers were; and fish the last
 
Food was, that He on earth did taste:I therefore strive to follow those,Whom He to follow Him hath chose.Peter, that great fisher of men, who by one sermon caught three thousand men,and brought them into the kingdom at Pentecost, was also a great fisher of fish, andby this one statement has lead masses to fishing for fish. In our men's Bible studywe got into a discussion on how we will occupy our time in eternity. Calvin B. Ellisin his poem The Devout Angler is convinced that Peter will help him catch the fishof his dreams. He writes,When in my pilgrimage I reachThe river that we all must cross,And land upon that further beachWhere earthly gains are counted loss,And issuing from the portal, oneWho was himself a fishermanWill drop his keys and, shouting runTo help me land leviathan.If there is fishing in the new heaven and earth, you can be sure to find Peter onthe water. Peter made the last chapter of John the greatest fish chapter in theBible. 7 out of 9 of the references to fish in John's Gospel are here in this chapter,and all 3 of the Greek words for fish and fishing are used here. There is no otherchapter in all the Word of God that can match it. If there is anywhere where Godwants to teach us some spiritual lesson through fishing it is here in John 21. So let'sgo fishing in this stream of revelation and seek to catch that which God has for ushere. First let's look at-I. THE FISHERMEN'S FEVER.Herbert Hoover once said, "The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men's lives the hours spent in fishing." Such is the conviction of fishing fanatics likePeter. He had some time on his hands while they waited for Jesus to appear, andlike most men who love fishing, he never dreamed of using that spare time with hiswife and family. Once the head is filled with fishing fever nothing else matters.Masefield wrote,I must go down to the seas again,For the call of the running tideIs a wild call and a clear callThat may not be denied.There's the bird's song and the wind's song,And the song of the leafless tree,But, Oh, the call of the sea's song,
 
The imperious song of the sea.This was the song that captured Peter, and when he said he was going fishing thefever immediately infected the others. There were times when the disciples wouldargue and resist, but on this occasion there was not a peep of opposition. Fishingfever is catchy, and they responded in full agreement, "We will go with you." Thesemen loved fishing. It was not a mere hobby and sideline interest. It was a vital partof the living. Lewis Carrol wrote,Take my friends and my home,As an outcast I'll roam;Take the money I have in the bank;It is just what I wish,But deprive me of fish,And my life would indeed be a blank.There are two ways of looking at this fishing fever fanaticism as it applies to any job, sport, or interest. From one point of view it becomes idolatry. Many feel Peteris to be condemned for this act. It is another in the long list of his acts of impulsivefoolishness. He had no business going fishing according to them. It is a sign of hislapse from faith, and a falling back into his old way of life. A. W. Pink even writes,"The fact that it was night also suggests that they were not walking as children of light." The fact is, however, that night was a common time to fish on Galilee. It wasnot unusual at all.Ironside said, "It is so much easier to go fishing than to give yourself to prayer."These, and other critics, all speak what is true, but do not find support for theirview in the text. It is true that Peter is impulsive, and it is true that being a fanaticfor fishing, or anything else, can be idolatrous, and cause you to get your prioritiesout of balance, but the fact is, the risen Christ does not even complain let alonecondemn these fishermen. Instead, He comes to the rescue and sees that their nightslabor does not end in vain. Jesus could not rightly grant them success if He wasopposed to their goal, and what they were doing. Jesus is not opposed to their lovefor fishing. He did not see idolatry, but industry in their fishing fever, and Hehelped them succeed.Jesus purposely selected men like Peter, who were fanatics for fishing, for Hewanted men following Him who would be as industrious in fishing for men. Anyfever, fanaticism, or enthusiasm can be used for the kingdom of God. Jesuscertainly did not look for fishers of men among those who had no enthusiasm forfishing for fish. He chose these men just because they had the fever. If you want aman to be enthusiastic about anything, you have got to find a man who isenthusiastic about something. If you want a soul winner, look to those who arefanatics, and who have a compulsion to be busy at some interest.
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