sermon 2009/4/26

DATE: 2009/4/26
SCRIPTURE READING: John 21:1-19
SERMON: The Dawn of another Day
講道題目: 新的一日又天明
After Jesus died on the cross, Peter lost hope in everything. He resumed to his former occupation which was fishing again. Peter and his fisherman friends vowed to follow Jesus. Now they were back to square one before they saw the appearance of the risen Lord. Here was a boatload of men on the Sea of Galilee. They were cold. They were hungry, for they had been out all night fishing. They were unhappy because “that night they caught nothing” (v. 3). But just at daybreak they saw a figure moving about on the shore. Presently a familiar voice called out and they recognized the voice, (see vv.4-7.) Jesus presence there and his personal interest in those men put another look upon the entire situation. The presence of the Divine Spirit in this troubled, bewildered, disappointed world of ours put new meaning into it.
I. His first word to those men was one of friendly interest: “Children, have you any meat?” (v. 5)—have you caught anything? (1) He knew the hunger, the weariness, the unhappiness in that boat. The people who think that the Lord of life does not concern himself with these bodily necessities of ours had better read their Bibles again. (2) How much it means that there is God, not far from any one of us, who knows and cares! How much it means to have God standing by not with scorn for our weakness but with words of friendly interest on his lips! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6.) The Lord of life stood there on the shore; he is always there. The eyes of Divine Love looked out upon the troubled sea of human life to show what daylight might bring. “The dawn of another day”—how many people are anxiously looking for it!
II. The Lord who stood there met the needs of these discouraged men. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (v. 6). He knew where to fish and how to fish. When they drew the net to land, there was a fire kindled by his hands, with fish broiling and bread toasting on the coals. “Jesus said unto them, Come and dine” (v. 12). (1) That divine readiness to help us with our physical problems reaches a long way. But his ministry did not stop there. Man does not live by bread and fish alone. The Master knew that heart and soul have their needs. When he had fed those men, he said, “Simon...do you love me?”(v. 15). He would restore a satisfying relationship between himself and that fickle, impulsive man who had fallen down. The man’s whole future would turn upon his attitude at that point. (2) “Do you love?” There is no other joy like love in this world, and without it there would be no joy in the world to come. It would not be worthwhile to live if we did not love people. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (I John 4:16.) (3) When those seven men had declared anew their loyalty to Christ, it was the dawn of a new day. When those men had eaten the bread and fish which he gave them and had assured him of their love, they faced the future with their heads up. They felt that hence-forth their lives would be “hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). He had met their deeper needs.
III. He gave those men something definite to do. (1) Jesus knew full well the futility of any generous impulse which does not speedily find expression in wholesome action. Impression precedes expression, but the good impulse functions properly only where it is uttered in some form of useful effort. “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them” (John 13:17)—and only then. If you love me, do something about it. Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Tend my flock. (2) The men who had fished all night without catching anything were sent out to become “fishers of men.” They were to use the skill and patience they had acquired in that familiar occupation for higher ends. (3) Jesus sent them out to teach the nations what he had taught them, to make disciples of the nations as he had made disciples of them, and to baptize the nations into a richer sense of the divine helpfulness and into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Here was work cut out for them and laid ready to their hands. He promised them his guidance and cooperation: “Lo, I am with you always,” in that high task, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).
IV. Conclusion. Here in that scene by the lake we find the three basic interests of human life. (1) Something to eat: food, books, pictures, music, friends, the great outdoors, which feed and satisfies, strengthen and enrich the inner life. (2) Something to do: tasks worthy of our best powers, where we work out our salvation, knowing that God is working in us to accomplish his good pleasure. (3) Someone to love: worthy recipients of the best our hearts can offer, answering back in terms of affection. (4) “Now abide these three”: something to put into one’s life—faith; someway of expressing one’s life—hope; and someone to cherish within the heart—love.
Amen.
Synopsis
After Jesus died on the cross, Peter lost hope in everything. He and his fisherman friends resumed to their former occupation. Then Jesus appeared to them.
I. His first word to those men was one of friendly interest: “Children, have you any meat?” (1) He knew the hunger. (2) It means that there is God, not far from any one of us, who knows and cares!
II. The Lord met the needs of these discouraged men. “Cast the net on the right side of the boat” (1) When he had fed those men, he said, “Simon...do you love me?” (2) “Do you love?” “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (3) When those seven men had declared anew their loyalty to Christ, it was the dawn of a new day.
III. He gave those men something definite to do. (1) Jesus said, “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Tend my flock.” (2) The men who had fished all night without catching anything were sent out to become “fishers of men.” (3) Jesus sent them out to teach the nations what he had taught them.
IV. Conclusion. Here in that scene by the lake we find the three basic interests of human life. (1) Something to eat.(2) Something to do.(3) Someone to love.
Amen
讲道大纲
耶稣被钉之後，彼得对一切都失了信心。他和他的同伴们再次出海打鱼。那时耶稣显现在他们面前。
甲． 耶稣第一句话就是亲切的问候： "小子！你们有吃的没有？" （1）他知道他们肚子饿。（2）神是关怀我们的。他离我们不远。祂知道也关心。
乙． 主满足这群失望丧志之人的需要。“你们把网撒在船的右边，就必得着” （1）让他们吃饱之後，耶稣问西门彼得：你爱我吗？（2）“神爱我们的心，我们也知道，也信.” (3) 当这七个人宣告他们肯向耶稣效忠时，新的一天已见黎明。
丙． 他派给他们工作。（1）耶稣说：你喂养我的小羊；你牧养我的群羊。。。（2）这班整夜劳苦一无所获的渔夫再一次成为得人的渔夫。（3）耶稣差派他们去传福音给万民听。
丁． 结论。主在提比哩亚海边的显现，把人生最需要的三大问题都给解决了：（1）人需要食物。（2）人需要工作。（3）人需要爱和被爱。
阿门
Pastoral Prayer:
O God your mercy is over all, we beseech you for our brothers and sisters in every place, and most especially for those who are in any way distressed.
Visit the sick with your comfort and healing power. Come to the bereaved with your peace, and increase in them the faith that love is stronger than death. Hasten with your protection to those who are sorely tempted; make them strong to resist and conquer. Draw near to all who are lonely, all who are anxious, all who are cast down and discouraged, and to those who suffer in the suffering of those they love, that they may be strengthened with all power for all endurance and patience.
Look in your might upon those who have no helper. Defend the poor, and save the children of the needy. Make haste for the relief of those who know the pains of hunger and those who are persecuted and those who are discriminated against, exploited, and oppressed. Show your compassion to every victim of injustice, and to those who inflict loss and pain upon others show the demands of your righteousness and the inexorable working of your holy laws.
Reveal unto us, we beseech you, those things in ourselves which are adding to the sum of human misery. Help us to repent of these our sins, and give us grace to consecrate ourselves to your service, that we may be used by you to help one another and to set forward the blessed kingdom.
We thank you for the family of Huo Yan and Mu Ai. You give them a beautiful and healthy baby girl last week. The arrival of their daughter Kathleen（可磬）born on April 16 at Ottawa hospital has brought joy, hope and happiness to all who love them. May this child grow up full of grace and gain favor from God and men.
We pray for the in-law’s family of brother Tom Doon, (譚耀棟)，whose daughter in law’s grand mom passed away at the age of 101 years old. We ask for peace and comfort to the bereaved family who are experiencing grief and loss.
We pray for the joint Mandarin devotional meeting which is concluding this evening. Bless the speaker Rev. Felix Liu as he delivers the message that the glory of the Lord will be revealed. May we see more and more people come forward to make commitment to Christ. And may the healing and teaching ministry he involves receive heavenly benediction from you.
Now teach us to pray as you once taught your disciples how to pray… Amen.