Playing Your Roles

John 21:1–7, 11–12, 15–17, 20–23 (KJV)

John 21:1–7 (KJV)

"«[1] After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea

 of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. [2] There were together

 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in

 Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

 [3] Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, 

We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately;

 and that night they caught nothing. 

[4] But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the

 disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 

[5] Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered

 him, No. 

[6] And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye

 shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the

 multitude of fishes. 

[7] Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.

 Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat

 unto him (for he was naked), and did cast himself into the sea.»"

So one of the disciples discerned the pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ, and

 another cast himself into the sea to quickly get to the Master. The one who

 recognized the Lord remained on the ship (John), but the one who loved the

 Lord most (Peter) left everything just to be with Him.

When the Lord Jesus found Simon Peter, he was a fisherman, and the Lord

 had him surrender his boat for a time, so He could minister to the people on

 the shore. Peter's boat became the platform from which the Lord ministered.

 Peter was among His first fruits. He was one of the first disciples called to 

service and discipleship.

So when the Lord appeared to the disciples, He gave them a sign. 

He repeated the very miracle He had performed when He first called Peter.

When He called Peter, He said to him, "Follow me, and I will make you a 

fisher of men." That was the symbolism of the miracle the Lord 

performed—the miraculous catch of fish.

So after the disciples tarried and gathered in the upper room, 

the very same disciples who asked the Lord,

 "Why couldn't we cast out devils?" cast their net, caught many souls,

 and drove out many unclean spirits.

John 21:11–12 (KJV)

«[11] Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, 

an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was

 not the net broken. [12] Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none

 of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.»

One of the disciples must have said to the others, "Why does the Lord keep 

disappearing and appearing? Why doesn't He just stay?"

At this point, the body of Jesus was scarred from the great discomfiture 

He endured on the cross. Most likely His wounds were still wrapped. 

Most likely He had a cloak on, and His wounds were still visible.

Someone might ask, "But why did He not heal Himself? He healed the sick, right?"

The same way Judas expected Him to wriggle Himself free from the 

Pharisees after he sold Him, just as He had escaped from the crowds

 that previously tried to seize Him.

The Bible says, "By His stripes we are healed."

His stripes are the testament of His sacrifice. They are the evidence of our 

substitution.

He said to Thomas, "Put your finger into My hand." (John 20:27)

And Thomas said, "My Lord and my God."

The scars of Jesus remain a witness that He played His role.

John 21:15–17, 20–23 (KJV)

«[15] So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of

 Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; 

thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 

[16] He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas,

 lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. 

He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 

[17] He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

 Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?

 And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest

 that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.»

«[20] Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved

 following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, 

which is he that betrayeth thee?»

«[21] Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

 [22] Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 

[23] Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple

 should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will 

that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?»

When the Lord Jesus Christ was teaching one time, He said,

"I have come that you may have eternal life, and have it to the full."

(John 10:10.)

He went further to say,

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the one true God, 

and Your Son Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent."  (John 17:3.)

He had fulfilled this ministry in the life of John, who knew Him even when the others did not.

He said to one, "Work for Me."

And to the other, "Live for Me. Just position yourself rightly so I can

 reveal Myself to you and show you great mysteries."

They both played their roles, and they did so faithfully.

The Call

Sometimes all the Lord desires is fellowship.

Sometimes all He requires from a man is intimacy—your passion, your attention.

There are some to whom God reveals Himself, yet keeps hidden from the world.

There are some whom the Lord guards jealously and will not allow to

 be dishonoured or carelessly accessed. They are His. He has marked 

them for Himself.

Enoch was such a man.

He would disappear, spend time with the Lord, then appear.

Not everyone the Lord reveals Himself to is meant to start a church.

As a matter of fact, one of the chief agenda of the Lord in this hour is to 

break down denominational barriers and unite the Body of Christ.

The gifts of God are to bless the Body of Christ, not necessarily to open new 

churches or ministries.

However, if the expression of that ministry requires a new platform, the Lord 

will instruct the vessel to do so.

A lot of prophets leave their place simply because they have a gift.

Many people never received the calling... yet they took off. How can the Lord 

entrust such people with more?

In other scenarios, He expects us to use the little we've been given faithfully 

in order to receive more. Sometimes there is the call, but there is no response.

That is why it is important to be well acquainted with the role the Lord has 

called you to play.

Devotion 

Likewise, in a family, a man's role is to provide, protect, build, and instill 

discipline.

There are men who shut their wives away from the rest of the world, 

believing her only role is to please him.

The woman's role is to govern the home, nurture, instill peace, love,

 healing, joy, and unity.

Little wonder the Bible says, "A wise woman builds her home, but the foolish woman tears it down."

The error of many women is that they build concrete mountains on

 watery foundations.

They erect monuments on a foundation that was never laid.

So what happens?

Everything crumbles because the head did not lay the foundation.

What is the role of the children?

To submit, obey, and honour their parents.

As the Bride of Christ, we ought to build our lives on the foundation He has 

laid for us.

How do we build on that foundation?

By building ourselves up for Him, by preparing ourselves so we can 

manifest His virtues and reflect His image at the hour of consummation.

Purpose 

When God created Adam, He did not create him merely to perform or work for Him.

He created Adam to exist for His pleasure and to enjoy fellowship with Him.

Adam was like the bride of God, the apple of His eye.

But God saw that Adam needed someone like himself, since there was 

such a great difference between Himself and Adam. So He made one

 just like Adam and brought the femininity that already existed

 within him out of him.

What better way is there to provoke a man than to go after his wife?

The disobedience of our first ancestors proved disloyalty and infidelity.

So they were cast out of their marital home.

But God grieved greatly and tried to reach out time and time again.

So He told His prophets:

"Israel has played the harlot and has gone after other gods, so 

I will make her destitute and unattractive, so that when her lovers 

look upon her they will have no desire for her. Yet I will come to her, 

nurse her, restore her, and keep her all to Myself." 

Ezekiel 23: 22-29. Jeremiah 3:1-2. Hosea 2:5-10.

God honoured us when He paid our bride price through the priceless 

sacrifice of His Son.

He has brought us back to Himself, the devil no longer being a factor. 

No matter how much we fail, He says, "I will forgive you, and I will keep 

coming back, because you are precious to Me."

He has brought us into an inseparable union with Himself.

Did He not say, "I will give men for your life?"

So the Lord Jesus did the work, and our role is to live for Him because

 we are the Bride of Christ.

Preparation and adornment 

Therefore, let us adorn ourselves with pearls of godliness, 

garments of purity, and bangles of reverence, knowing that 

we have been bought with a price. Let us long for our Groom in 

intimate fellowship.

Because He is coming.

(There's more on this in my book titled Pillars of a Lasting Marriage. 

The book is several posts down, so just scroll until you find it.)

Finale.

As the children of God, we ought to submit to God's will, obey 

His instructions, and honour Him with our very lives every day.

May God's loving-kindness abide with you now and always.

Amen.

Shalom.