It is the Lord!
I had 21 fulfilling days during the reflection we shared. I have come to know more about God while enjoying every bit of the experience. I must confess the 21 days wasn’t perfect but it was worth the while. In fact, there were days I felt I had failed myself and may rather quit, but like Peter in John’s gospel today (Chapter 10), there is always this reassuring voice. A voice that test my will and love for God. This voice enquires of me; do you love me? Won’t you continue with the reflections? Like Peter, I reassure Jesus or I would rather say, I reassure myself, of my love for God and the desire to do his will. Again, like Peter, I follow!
Click below to read the full text of John Chapter 21.
21 Day Lighting Experience – John Chapter 21
21 After this, Jesus appeared once more to his disciples at Lake Tiberias. This is how it happened. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (the one from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were all together. 3 Simon Peter said to the others, “I am going fishing.” “We will come with you,” they told him. So they went out in a boat, but all that night they did not catch a thing. 4 As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water's edge, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then he asked them, “Young men, haven't you caught anything?” “Not a thing,” they answered. 6 He said to them, “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.” So they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had caught so many fish. 7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken his clothes off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples came to shore in the boat, pulling the net full of fish. They were not very far from land, about a hundred yards away. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it and some bread. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore full of big fish, a hundred and fifty-three in all; even though there were so many, still the net did not tear. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 So Jesus went over, took the bread, and gave it to them; he did the same with the fish. 14 This, then, was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from death.
Jesus and Peter
15 After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” 16 A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” and so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep. 18 I am telling you the truth: when you were young, you used to get ready and go anywhere you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you up and take you where you don't want to go.” 19 (In saying this, Jesus was indicating the way in which Peter would die and bring glory to God.) Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”
Jesus and the Other Disciple
20 Peter turned around and saw behind him that other disciple, whom Jesus loved—the one who had leaned close to Jesus at the meal and had asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus answered him, “If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” 23 So a report spread among the followers of Jesus that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die; he said, “If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you?” 24 He is the disciple who spoke of these things, the one who also wrote them down; and we know that what he said is true.
Conclusion
25 Now, there are many other things that Jesus did. If they were all written down one by one, I suppose that the whole world could not hold the books that would be written.
So what about you? How often do you get these questions? How often would you deny yourself of doing God’s will? Or maybe, you don’t know when the Lord comes calling. Maybe, our greatest challenge is to discern (and know) when the Lord comes to us and how to reach out to him.
Our reflection today seeks to question one critical aspect of the life of a Christian, a follower of Jesus, a child of God. The question is simple; do we really know the Lord? Does our heart discern and tell us when the Lord appears to us? Can we discern the voice of truth from Lies? What are the signs that point us to the Lord and reveals him to us? Does our heart see that which the eyes cannot see? Is our heart yearning for the Lord? Moreover, when we have seen the Lord, do we immediately, reach out to him?
We spent over two weeks sharing a Lighting Experience with revelations from the gospel according to John. We said earlier that John’s style of writing about Jesus was unique because he was direct about the person of Jesus. John presented Jesus with several “I AM” analogies which opened our eyes to who Jesus is, can be and even more. Jesus is always the I Am that makes the positive difference. Wherever Jesus is present, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, Jesus is the Light that brightens up situations. That is what he did today when Peter and his crew fished all night to no avail. He came and said the word. Behold, there was a great catch. Do you recognize Jesus in the word?
It is the Lord!
We have been Christians for years or might have read about Jesus for years, how much do we really know God? When God presents himself in our situation, do we recognize him? Do we fail to recognize him in critical moments? We sometimes fail to recognize him in our families, our society and in places we may not expect. Now as Christians, Christ-Like, do we fail to allow others recognize Jesus in us? We must let the light of God shine in us and through us.
However, in order to know or recognize God we must first love him with our heart. When we love God we gain the discernment about things of God. Remember, it was the disciple that really loved Jesus that recognizes him first. Our sole purpose as created beings is to know God, love him and serve him. Would it be proper to say that Jesus always loved this disciple because the disciple knew Jesus!
Psalm 36:10 expressly explains it: that God continues to love those who know you and to do good to those who are righteous.
Click below to read the full text of Psalm 36.
21 Day Lighting Experience – Psalm 36 (GNT)
Human Wickedness
Sin speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; they reject God and do not have reverence for him. 2 Because they think so highly of themselves, they think that God will not discover their sin and condemn it. 3 Their speech is wicked and full of lies; they no longer do what is wise and good. 4 They make evil plans as they lie in bed; nothing they do is good, and they never reject anything evil.
The Goodness of God
5 Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is towering like the mountains; your justice is like the depths of the sea. People and animals are in your care. 7 How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find[b] protection under the shadow of your wings. 8 We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness. 9 You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light. 10 Continue to love those who know you and to do good to those who are righteous. 11 Do not let proud people attack me or the wicked make me run away. 12 See where evil people have fallen. There they lie, unable to rise.
The verse advises us to take this critical point with us as we end the reflection. We must do what it takes to know God and to live in righteousness by bearing the light of Christ. When we know Him we have the discernment to recognize Jesus in others and act appropriately to them. When we act in righteousness, we act in our capacity to bring hope to the challenging situations around us. And God continues to bless us!
The world is in darkness, it needs the light of Christ; as light bearers what are we waiting for? We all are bearers of the light of Christ and must light up our various corners of the world. We are expected to allow the world recognize Jesus Christ in us. That is to say, can our family see the light of Christ in us? Can we bring hope and joys to our society? We must share a lighting experience. Then everyone can call out – it is the Lord.
Thank you for being part of our journey in the 21 Day reflections on Lighting Experience. And may you truly lighten up your world as you share this experience around you. Amen!
May you know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death. Philippians 3:10.
God bless you!
Speechlesswaters