77~More About “Grasping Glory”

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BACKGROUND FOR THIS EPISODE

(In Order of Appearance)

NEW TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE:

John 18:15-16 – Simon Peter and another follower went along behind Jesus, but the high priest knew the other follower. This man went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. ¹⁶Peter stood outside at the gate. The other follower, the one known to the high priest, went outside and told the gatekeeper to let Peter come in.
John 20:19 – It was late that same Sunday. The doors were locked where the followers were gathered. They were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood in the middle of them. He said to them, “Peace be to you!”
John 21:1-3 – Later, Jesus showed himself again to the followers at Lake Tiberias. This is the way he showed himself: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (the one called “The Twin”), Nathanael (the one from the town of Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two more followers were all together. ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing!” They said to him, “We are coming with you, too!” They went out and got into a boat. They caught nothing that night.
Aristophanes lived about 400 BC. The earliest manuscript we have of his writings was penned 1300 years after he lived, and there are only ten ancient copies still existing. Yet, people do not question Aristophanes or his writings. On the other hand, full manuscripts of the New Testament still exists that was penned 250 years after Jesus, and thousands of fragments representing the entire New Testament still exist today that were penned the same century Jesus lived.
Matthew 25:31-36 – “When I come with my glory and all my angels, then I will sit on my glorious throne. ³²All the people in the world will be gathered in front of me. I will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³He will put the sheep on his right side and the goats on his left side. ³⁴Then I^b will say to the people on the right side, ‘You are blessed by my Father. Come, take what belongs to you—the kingdom which was prepared for you since the beginning of the world. ³⁵I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you took me into your home. ³⁶I had no clothes, so you gave me some clothes. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in jail and you came to visit me.’
Luke 5:1-11 – Jesus stood beside Lake Gennesaret.^a Many people pushed to get all around him. They wanted to hear the Word of God. ²Jesus saw two small, empty boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen were washing their nets. ³Jesus climbed into the boat which belonged to Simon. He asked Simon to push away from the shore a little. Then Jesus sat down and, from the boat, continued to teach the crowd on the shore. ⁴Jesus finished speaking. He said to Simon, “Take the boat into the deep water. If all of you will drop your nets into the water, then you will catch some fish.” ⁵Simon answered, “Teacher, we worked hard all night long trying to catch fish, but we caught nothing. But you say I should lower the nets into the water, so I will do it.” ⁶The fishermen dropped their nets into the water. They caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to rip! ⁷They called to some friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came and both boats were filled so full of fish that they were almost sinking. ^8-9The fishermen were shocked because of the large number of fish that they caught. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” ¹⁰James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were amazed, too. (James and John were partners with Simon.) Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will catch people, instead of fish!” ¹¹The men brought their boats to the shore. They left everything and followed Jesus.
John 12:12-13 – The next day, a large crowd came to the festival. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³they took branches from palm trees and went out to meet him. They were shouting, “Hosanna! Give praise to the king of Israel who is coming with the authority of the Lord God.”
Matthew 26:47-49 – While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, came. There was a large crowd with him. They had come from the most important priests and the elders of the Jewish people. They had clubs and swords. ⁴⁸Judas, the betrayer, had given them the signal to arrest the one he would kiss. ⁴⁹Judas went immediately to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” Then Judas kissed him.
Matthew 26:56 – All this happened to make the writings of the prophets come true.” Then all of Jesus’ followers left him. They ran away.
Matthew 28:5-6 – The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to the cross. ⁶He is not here! He was raised from death, just as he said. Come, look at the place where he lay.
A first-century stone coffin has been discovered in a Jerusalem catacomb bearing the sign of the cross and dedicated “To Jesus…Jesus son of Joseph.” Israeli archaeologist, Prof. Eliezer L. Sukenik, discovered a popular burial cave for first-century Christians in the Jerusalem suburb of Talpiot in the “Valley of the Judgmenent of God.” Within it are dedications, “To Jesus, the Lord,” and “Jesus…Ascended.” A stone coffin is marked with the sign of the cross and the name “Matthias,” the same name as the apostle who took Judas’ place (see Acts 1). A stone coffin found near the tomb of “Simon Barsabas” (Barsabas was a disciple considered for taking Judas’ place – see Acts 1:21 and 15:22), this dedication is inscribed: “To Jesus, the Lord.” The burial cave where the stone coffin was discovered was sealed no later than the year 42 A.D.
Matthew 4:18-19 – While Jesus was walking beside Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. They were Simon (called Peter) and Andrew, his brother. They were fishermen, and they were throwing their nets into the lake. ¹⁹Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishermen—of people!”
Matthew 14:22-33 – Soon Jesus made his followers get into the boat. He wanted them to go on ahead of him across the lake, while he sent the crowds away. ²³After Jesus sent the crowds away, he went up on a mountain to be alone and to pray. It was evening, and Jesus was the only one there. ²⁴The boat was already a very long way from the shore. The waves were beating against the boat; they were heading into the wind. ²⁵It was after three o’clock in the morning when Jesus came to them. He was walking on the lake. ²⁶When Jesus’ followers saw him walking on the lake, they were alarmed. They shouted with fear, “It’s a ghost!” ²⁷Immediately, Jesus spoke to them, “Be strong! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” ²⁸Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is really you, then tell me to come to you on the water!” ²⁹Jesus said, “Come!” Then Peter got down from the boat and went toward Jesus, walking on the water. ³⁰But when Peter saw the way the wind was blowing, he was afraid. He began to sink. Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. Jesus said to him, “Oh, you have so little faith; why did you doubt!?” ³²When they climbed into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³They all worshiped him, saying, “You really are the Son of God!”
Luke 5:3 – Jesus climbed into the boat which belonged to Simon. He asked Simon to push away from the shore a little. Then Jesus sat down and, from the boat, continued to teach the crowd on the shore.
Luke 22:33-34 – But Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go to jail with you. I will even die with you!” ³⁴But Jesus said, “Peter, I tell you, before the rooster crows in the morning, you will say that you don’t even know me three different times!”
John 21:3-6 – Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing!” They said to him, “We are coming with you, too!” They went out and got into a boat. They caught nothing that night. ⁴It was now early in the morning. Jesus stood on the shore, but the followers didn’t know that it was Jesus. ⁵Jesus said to them, “Young men, you haven’t caught anything, have you?” They answered, “That’s right.” ⁶Jesus said to them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some fish.” They did so. There were so many fish that they were no longer able to pull the net into the boat.
Luke 5:4-10 – Jesus finished speaking. He said to Simon, “Take the boat into the deep water. If all of you will drop your nets into the water, then you will catch some fish.” ⁵Simon answered, “Teacher, we worked hard all night long trying to catch fish, but we caught nothing. But you say I should lower the nets into the water, so I will do it.” ⁶The fishermen dropped their nets into the water. They caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to rip! ⁷They called to some friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came and both boats were filled so full of fish that they were almost sinking. ^8-9The fishermen were shocked because of the large number of fish that they caught. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” ¹⁰James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were amazed, too. (James and John were partners with Simon.) Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will catch people, instead of fish!”
John 21:7-13 – Then the follower whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “That is the Lord Jesus!” When Simon Peter heard this, he put on his clothes (he was stripped) and he jumped into the lake. ⁸They were near the shore, about 100 yards away. The other followers came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. ⁹When they got to shore, they saw hot coals, with some fish and bread cooking on them. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” ¹¹Simon Peter got into the boat and dragged the net to shore. The net was full of big fish—153 of them! As many as there were, the net was still not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast!” None of the followers dared to ask Jesus, “Who are you?” They knew that he was the Lord. ¹³Jesus went and got some bread and fish. He gave it to them.
Luke 22:54-62 – They seized Jesus and took him away. They brought him into the high priest’sⁿ house. Peter was following from a distance. ⁵⁵The soldiers started a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat together. Peter sat with them. ⁵⁶Because of the light from the fire, a servant-girl saw Peter sitting there. The girl looked closely at Peter’s face. She said, “This man was also with Jesus!” ⁵⁷But Peter said that this was not true. He said, “Lady, I don’t know him.” ⁵⁸After a little while, a different person saw Peter and said, “You are also one of the men who follow Jesus.” But Peter said, “Mister, I am not!” ⁵⁹About an hour later, another man kept insisting, “It is true! This man was with Jesus. He is from Galilee!” ⁶⁰But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹Then the Lord Jesus turned and looked into Peter’s eyes. And, Peter remembered what the Lord had said to him: “Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will say that you don’t even know me three times.” ⁶²Then Peter went outside the courtyard, and cried bitterly.
John 21:15-17 – After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I like you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶Jesus asked Peter the second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I like you.” Jesus said to him, “Be a shepherd to my sheep.” ¹⁷Jesus asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you like me?” Peter was sad, because the third time Jesus asked, “Do you like me?” Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I like you!” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep!
John 21:20-22 – Peter turned and saw the follower coming behind them. (This was the man whom Jesus loved, the one who had been sitting at the supper table very close to Jesus. He had asked Jesus, “Lord, who is the one who is turning against you?”) ²¹When Peter saw this man, he said to Jesus, “Lord, . . . and what about this man?” ²²Jesus said to him, “If I want him to stay alive until I come, what business is it of yours? You follow me!”

OTHER JESUS QUOTES IN THIS EPISODE

SPECIAL CHARACTERS APPEARING IN OTHER EPISODES

Season 4, Flood Gates, “The Shallow Road”

Season 5, Promise Keeper, “Day Extraordinaire”

Season 5, Promise Keeper, “Fallen Star”

Season 5, Promise Keeper, “Power in the Breaking”

Season 6, Shadow of Death, “Dawn Eyes”

Season 3, Folk Hero, “Catch the Wind and Water”

Season 6, Shadow of Death, “Torch Flight”

Season 1, Dream Maker, “Empty Net Syndrome”