Page 122 - Fundamentals Ebook

John 21 is the “how” of the great commission. It’s told in terms of
Peter’s restoration; coming back to the Lord. If you have that
chapter before you I want you to glance at verses 1-14. Don’t read
it. Just glance at it. Just scan it and run your eyes through the text.
You will notice that it’s about fishing. The Bible tells us that seven
disciples gathered at the Sea of Tiberius. The Lord filled their nets
with one hundred fifty three fish.

Alright, set that aside. Now look at the second half of the chapter,
15-23. Verses 15, 16 and 17 say, “Feed my sheep, feed my lambs,
feed my sheep.” The second half of the chapter is about
shepherding. In John 21 you have a story; fishing and shepherding.
That’s the Great Commission. Fishing is winning souls to Jesus.
Shepherding is training people in the Lord. That’s not my idea. In
Matthew when Jesus called Peter, He said, “I’ll make you fishers of
men.”

Let me tell the story in my own words. Seven disciples gathered
together in Galilee. We have the names of five of them; Peter,
Nathanael, Thomas, James and John. There are two that are not
named. I know who they are. That’s you and me. So, they gathered
at Galilee.

When they arrived they were waiting for Jesus to show up.
Matthew 26:32, “But after I have been raised, I will go before you
to Galilee.” Matthew 28:7, “And go quickly and tell His disciples
that He has risen from the dead; and behold He is going before you
into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
Matthew 28:10, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and
take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall
see Me.” Mark 16:7, “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is
going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He
said to you.”

They had a clear word from heaven. “After I arise again, I’ll meet
you in Galilee.” The angels told them to go to Galilee. Jesus told
them to go to Galilee. So, these seven disciples go to Galilee. Why