A few days before he finished his earthly course, and his last Passover, three Gospel accounts describe Jesus entering the temple complex and overturning the tables of the moneychangers. This was at the close of his ministry, and is recorded in Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15, and Luke 19:45.

However, the Apostle John relates an overturning of the tables event that seems to occur at the beginning of our Lord’s ministry, also in the context of the Passover (John 2:13‑17). It is only the Apostle John’s Gospel that relates all four Passovers that Jesus celebrated after his baptism; the other evangelists cover only the last Passover. Here is the list of Passovers from the Gospel of John:

• John 2:13, “The Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”
• John 5:1, “After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [1]
• John 6:4, “And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.”
• John 12:1, “Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany.”

Jesus said, “no man putteth new wine into old bottles” (Mark 2:22). The Pharisees realized that if they accepted Jesus’ teachings, they would have to give up on all their traditions, their entire system would have to be changed, and this made them fearful. Even if they could not answer him, even if they saw that his teachings were far above what they ever learned, they willingly opposed the light that was amongst them. In consequence, His blood came upon them and their house was left desolate.

But his true followers, who worship God in Spirit and in Truth, know that their faith in God is not dependent on the system, or on the synagogue, or on the temple.

A GREATER OVERTURNING

Likewise at the second advent, in the harvest, the teachings and the practices developed for thousands of years cannot hold the new wine, the new teachings, and meat in due season. So our Lord returned and overturned the system that was preventing people from knowing God’s loving character and the beautiful plan of salvation. Our Lord also revived the concept of full and unreserved consecration, the in‑depth devotion to our heavenly Father that was hidden by the system and its traditions. In Romans, Paul writes about our baptism into Jesus’ death. We thank the Lord that he opens our eyes to understand baptism, and to practically live it and be dead to sin.

When we talk about the Babylon, our minds automatically think of the churches around us, their belief in traditional doctrines that we know are not true. As a whole, that is correct and we thank the Lord that he opened our eyes to understand the meaning of a full and unreserved consecration. But the Spirit of the world also is a danger for the true followers of Christ.

In R5678, subhead “Why Thousands Are Falling,” Br. Russell suggests that the spirit of the world and Babylon can be a delusion for sincere Christians. Unfortunately many will fail this test: “This is the time long foretold, when ‘a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand.’ Why will all these fall? Because they have neglected this necessary development of character; because they have failed to put on the whole armor of God; because under the delusions of the Adversary and the spirit of the world and of Babylon they have become deceived in their minds.”

The harmful characteristics of the Nominal Systems are its teachings and practices, setting forth fear, rather than love, full devotion, and a sacrificial life. These are core values that Satan always tries to twist to deceive if possible even the elect.

WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS?

We need to learn the same lesson that given to the early church. Even if they accepted Christianity and gave their lives in a full consecration to the Lord, it took them many years to leave behind the old teachings, the old practices, and to grow in the image of His son.

“Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). Do the teachings of Christ develop in us such a love that moves us to give our lives for each other? This is described by the apostle. “That they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Jesus overturning tables in the temple complex

Judgment will be rendered and just consequences follow. This may be seen as a contemporary fulfillment of overturning the tables. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13).

TWO MIRACULOUS CATCHES OF FISH

The first miraculous catch is described in Luke 5:1‑11. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus boarded Peter’s fishing boat and taught the people from there. He then directed Peter to launch into deep water and let down his nets. Peter responded that they had tried all night but had not caught anything, yet he obeyed and did as Jesus had instructed.

They soon caught so many fish that the nets started to break. Faced with such an obvious miracle, we read, “He fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8).

How many times do we face God’s power, His goodness, and mercy in our lives? Does this make us to be more like Peter, recognizing how weak we are without him?

Does this encourage us to leave everything behind and be fishers of men, and to serve our master even more, and live just for him?

ANOTHER MIRACULOUS CATCH

The second account of a miraculous catch of fish is in John 21:1‑14. It occurred during the 40 days of Jesus’ post‑resurrection appearances. A few apostles including Peter, James, and John were discouraged due to their unfilled expectations of Jesus’ ministry, so they returned to their original fishing trade.

As we look at these events, and retrospectively look at our lives, we may find ourselves in similar situations. We can get discouraged when certain things do not occur as expected. Maybe our ideas or efforts are not supported by brethren as we had hoped. This can cause us to give up, or spend our resources in a different direction. In moments like this, it may be necessary to remember how much the Lord has helped us in our lives and put our expectations aside. We should accept the Lord’s will whatever it is, because he knows what we need better than we do ourselves.

The apostles fished all night without success.  In the morning, a stranger on the shore asked if they had anything to eat. The answer was “no,” since they had not caught anything. The man then told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat, and when they did they drew in a “multitude of fish.” Now, logically, if there were no fish on the left side of the boat, there would be none on the right side either.

Jesus, beckoning from shore, to cast their net on the right side

However, their obedience suggests a certain humility. At this point they did not know who Jesus was and, despite being experienced fisherman, they obeyed. This is a powerful lesson. We should have open ears, and be willing to consider the advice and help from others. God speaks to us through His word, and sometimes through brethren, friends, and even strangers. After a successful catch it was John who said: “It is the Lord.”

In general, the two catches of fish may well represent the gathering of God’s people and the final selection and sifting in both harvests. Many are called, but few are chosen, and fewer are faithful unto death. In both harvests, the chief reaper is our Lord who came to gather his people. In both harvests the number of those pretending to be God’s followers was very high, pictured by the many fish in the sea that were not caught. Only a very few were chosen, i.e. taken in the net.

Jesus gave a number of parables that help make this connection. In Matthew 13, our Lord gave the parable of the wheat and tares. God’s people grow together with the rest of Christianity, but he returns at the end of the age, to gather his faithful jewels.

Another parable, which is even more directly associated with the picture of fishing, is the parable of the net. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away” (Matthew 13:47, 48).

The sea is full of fish, even as Christianity is spread all around the world and contains many who profess Christ. The net in the parable catches just a few fish and even these will be sorted again. This illustrates God’s high standard and how much is required to be more than overcomers.

SOME DEEPER LESSONS

At the First Advent our Lord came to “gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable” (Luke 3: 17). “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:11, 12). He chose twelve disciples as the foundation of the church and many other “Israelites indeed.” These received him as their Messiah and followed him to the end and are now rejoicing with him. At the Second Advent, Jesus came to separate the wheat from the tares.

In another parable the wise virgins that filled their lamps with oil were ready to enter with Jesus when he arrived, and continue to do so until the full completion of the church (Matthew 25). In Luke 12:35‑37, those who are attentive and hear the knock of our Lord during the harvest, and open themselves to the Truth, receive a wonderful feast. As Jesus said in John 14:2,3, he went “To prepare a place for you,” and now has “come again [to] receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2,3).

A DIFFERENCE IN DETAILS

There are a number of details that draw differences between the two catches of fish. In both instances it was difficult to pull in the net, showing that many are called. In the first catch, at the opening of Jesus’ ministry, many fish were taken in, but the account does not say how many. In the second catch, at the end of Jesus’ ministry, we are told specifically that 153 “great” fish were caught (John 21:11). Providing an exact number perhaps suggests that in the harvest of the Gospel Age, the number of the church will be complete. Whereas the previous catch, the first catch, was just the beginning of the selection process for the members of the church.

In the first catch the nets broke, probably showing that the Judaic teachings, the Law, could not hold any fish catch, or bring salvation. Jesus opened a new way and gave a new commandment. For the second catch, during the Second Advent, the net did not break. The same work of revealing God used by Jesus at the First Advent, and during the Gospel Age, will be used in the Kingdom.

Additionally, for the second catch, the narrative specifies that they were close to the shore, only 200 cubits away (John 21:8). This indicates that we are very close to the Promised Land, the Kingdom. It also says that there were seven apostles fishing that day (John 21:2). This may show that the church will be complete after the 7 stages of the Gospel Age.

For the first catch, Jesus was with them in the flesh.  For the second catch they recognized him only through his works, showing that at the Second Advent he is invisible to the world and seen only through the eye of faith.

In the second catch Jesus said, “Come and Dine” (John 21:12), indicating that Jesus returns with meat in due season for his followers. The word “dine” is defined as “the principle meal” (G709), meaning supper. Supper (sup) is also indicated in the following text. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Supper is the last meal of the day, again indicating that we are very close to the completion of the church, the last meal of this age.

In both cases they could not catch anything on their own, showing that without the Lord we can do nothing. He is the Captain of our Salvation, the forerunner. He is the head, we are the members. He is the shepherd, we are the sheep — he is the vine, we are the branches. Let us listen to his voice, and together with him join in this great work of the harvest. “But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore” — indicating that he returns in the morning of a new age (John 21:4).

When Jesus asked them to come and dine, none of the apostles asked who he was. He simply broke the bread and gave it to them. They recognized him through the miracle of the fish and even the way he broke bread. He wanted them to recognize him not through the flesh, but through the Spirit, and through his works.

The Apostle Paul encourages us in the same way to be spiritually minded. “Henceforth know we no man after the flesh” (2 Corinthians 5:16). How well this fits with our returned Lord! He came not as a human being, but in a spiritual form, invisible to the entire world, as a thief in the night. As the apostles did not see the familiar Jesus, neither can we see him with our natural eyes. But we can recognize his presence through His works.

It is not a coincidence that the nation of Israel was spread throughout the world, but after 2,000 years brought back to life as a nation. We also see present society falling apart. These are the works of our returned Lord as he prepares the world for his incoming kingdom. Jesus said that no man would put a piece of new cloth on an old garment (Matthew 9:16). So, the events we are witnessing in the world should not plant any seeds of fear in our hearts, but rather encourage us to “look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

On a personal level, it is imperative that we see his presence and works in each of our lives, in our daily activities and experiences. We should be like the Apostle John who sat quietly in the back of the boat telling his fellow apostles, “It is the Lord.” Or we can be more like the Apostle Peter, who, after hearing John’s words, put on his coat and jumped into the sea, enthusiastically rushing to Jesus’ side.

Our goal is to live so close to Him, that his invisible nature becomes visible and clear to us. May the Lord bless us to be faithful to Him to the end!

— Adapted from a discourse by Br. John Bivol

 

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[1] Editor note: was this a Passover? Purim? Other? In any case, it seems there must have been a Passover between the one mentioned in John 2:13, and the one mentioned in John 5:1.

 

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