Threshing Floor Tabernacle

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. [Mt 27:62, 63]

Having consented to His shameful death by crucifixion, these religious leaders were sore afraid that the influence of Jesus alone would persuade His disciples to “steal” Jesus body and lie to the world of that day by saying “He is risen from the dead”. They considered Jesus to be a deceiver. Their solution was to guard the tomb until the third day and the hoax would be over/exposed. The third day rolled around and His tomb was found empty. The disciples were hiding and the guards were dumbfounded as the seal gave way to the Angel and he rolled away the stone. 

It was the due diligence of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary that stirred them to go early, while it was still dark to the tomb to anoint Jesus with sweet spices. As they were going they asked themselves, “Who’s going to roll away the stone?” But they didn’t let that stop them – as they arrived they found the stone already out of the way.

Christ had risen from the dead as He said He would. After His Resurrection, Jesus met the disciples again at the Sea of Galilee. By this time they had decided to go fishing. This is where many in the Body today miss it, after Jesus comes into our lives there’s a tendency to return to the old pattern/routine we did. For many, life is no different than it was before Jesus. They only add Him to the routine of things. Jesus is more than just a new addition, renovation, or tenant, He’s the new Owner. Jesus told the disciples to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men. It’s automatic – follow Jesus and you will fish for men. Fishing for fish was their old lifestyle! Fishing for men is the new life in Christ!

Finish the sentence, you can’t teach an old dog                                  ; new wine is for                                . Jesus didn’t spend 3.5 years with the disciples for them to return to their old ways and habits. He sowed into their lives preparing them for what was to come after His departure to the Father. We are the result of their labors, prayers, obedience to the vision, and sacrifice. We are them today. What Jesus laid out for them must continue today and will be enforced until He returns. The mandate is the same for every generation.

An old lifestyle is a life without Christ – His life, His power, His mission, His passion, His commission. It’s a life devoid of the power of Jesus that traverses from day to day into vanity while ignoring the will of God. Going fishing is like a “what’s next, or now what” in our time. Jesus gave the disciples an instruction, “tarry in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on High.” Up till that point they had experienced God’s power by the authority of Jesus. Now God was about to take up permanent residence in them just as He has in us today who are the called according to His purpose. The power is real, undeniable, transferrable, and transforming. What next? Christ Encounter.