Witness to Identity of Jesus

When Jesus made his third visit, to the disciples after the cross, it was at the Sea of Tiberias. Some of the disciples, still felt a bit lost, and got together. Peter, the one upon whom Jesus will build His church, said, “I am going fishing.” So, one normal day, was touched with the presence of the resurrected Jesus, over a simple meal.

One Normal Day

The disciples saw Jesus, a couple of times since He had risen from the dead. But on this day they felt the pull of normalcy and went fishing. These men were fishermen. They were used to being on the water catching fish. And as happened at least once before, their night of toil yielded nothing.

The Resurrected Jesus

In the morning, the resurrected Jesus, stood on the shore. “Have you any food?” He thought about food, for in this story as in the previous, He asked if they have anything to eat? Then Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side. Peter recognized the directive. Jesus brought Peter back to the event where he first recognized Him, the time he realized he was a sinful man, and had been called out to be a fisher of men..

A Simple Meal

When they arrived on shore, Jesus already had a fire going. They smelled the fish over the open fire and saw the bread. Jesus told them to bring some of the fish they caught and Simon Peter dragged the net in, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty three of them, yet the nets did not break. Then He called them to come and eat. They knew who it was. John writes, “Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.” Jesus came to them, in their everyday of working and being hungry and revealed to them again, He was the Son of God. It was one normal day, touched with the presence of the resurrected Jesus, over a simple meal.

With our eyes focused on the New Year and our ears inundated, where do we go to find the truth? Where do we find credibility in a world of self-adulation? In the teaching of Jesus to the Jews, He did not rely on the witness of Himself nor of people, not even John the Baptist for His identity. Jesus pointed the Jews to the witness of John (the Baptist), the works He did for the Father, as well as the scriptures.

Witness of John

Jesus knew that the Jews respected John the Baptist. He says they were willing for a time to listen to and gain from his teachings. It was John who prepared the way, who spoke of Jesus when he said there was One coming far superior to him. He wouldn’t even be worthy to loose His sandal. In fact he called Jesus the Lamb of God and identified Him as the Son of God. Jesus did not need the witness of John but the Jews did.

The Works He Did for the Father

If you believe John, Jesus told them, there is still a greater witness. Look at the works that I do. The Jews knew that the works of Jesus were only possible if God was with Him. God the Father, on the day of His baptism announced, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” God sent Him on a mission to reveal the Father to the world and to restore what sin had destroyed. They had never seen God nor heard His voice. Their disbelief kept them from hearing His word.

The Scriptures

Further Jesus told them how all their studying of the scriptures did not profit them. They believed that in studying the scripture they would have eternal life. The scriptures were only a means to teach of Jesus, through whom eternal life would come. They were written by men of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Even Moses spoke of the coming of Jesus and yet they remained in their disbelief. After Jesus left the tomb He opened the eyes of His disciples and taught them how the scriptures from the writings of Moses through the prophets, spoke of Him. The Scriptures speak to the identity of Jesus. The Jews were missing it. They held Moses in high regard and yet missed his message. Jesus told them they were more concerned about receiving honor from each other than from God.

With our eyes focused on the New Year and our ears inundated, where do we go to find the truth? Where do we find credibility in a world of self-adulation? In the teaching of Jesus to the Jews, He did not rely on the witness of Himself nor of people, not even John the Baptist for His identity. Jesus pointed the Jews to the witness of John (the Baptist), for their sake, the works He did for the Father, as well as the scriptures.