Restored to Love
John 21
If you need a bible…
Intro:
Last Sunday we left off in the Gospel of Luke with the disciples sifted,
scattered, and scared! Today we are the Gospel of John to hear how
Jesus restored the disciples, especially Peter, after their failure and
defeat.
One keen pastor observes that the chapter right before this one, John
chapter 20, concludes with the final events of Jesus’ life on earth. He
says, in this chapter we see Jesus resurrected from the dead, we see
Jesus appearing to His disciples and celebrating with them. In literary
terminology, he says, it’s a great climax to an extraordinary adventure
and a perfect close to the Gospel message. The last verse of that
chapter, John 20:31 writes,
"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His
name."
It’s a complete and appropriate ending that we could just close the
book and go home rejoicing at what it says. But the fact is, that under
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John did not conclude his Gospel with
chapter 20. He gave us an epilogue… a final word, if you will, to wrap up
the story. Clearly, John wanted you and I to know the rest of Simon
Peter's story. We need to see how Peter moved beyond failing Jesus to
becoming the leader of the newborn Church. So, I have a question for
you; Are you struggling to move beyond defeat? I want you to see that
Jesus can, and wants to restore you just as he did with Simon Peter! Let
Jesus add another chapter to your life. Let him restore you to himself
and give you a new beginning.” (Jack Graham)
Last week, as we looked at the sifting of the disciples in Luke 22, we
saw that failure, disillusionment, and defeat was used by the Lord to
strip the disciples of any pride and self reliance. This experience, this
trial, would leave them with nowhere to turn but to the resurrected
Lord. As we’ll see today, the Lord doesn’t leave His disciples (you) in a
disillusioned and defeated state. His plan is to restore his disciples after
such defeat. How?
How does Jesus restore you? He restores you by:
1. Re-minding. (verses: 1-14) He wants you to remember some
things. He wants you to…
a. Remember your calling
b. Remember that Obedience brings blessing
c. Remember that He provides
2. Re-evaluation and Re-direction. (verses: 15-17)
3. Re-focusing. (verses: 18-22)
1. Re-minding- Remember!
21:1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at
the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee,
the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and
immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet
the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and
you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it
in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the
Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his
outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far
from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there,
and fish laid on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just
caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish,
one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net
was not broken.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the
disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and
likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after
He was raised from the dead.
-
1st principle: Jesus wants his disciples (you) to remember their
(your) calling.
- Look at verse 7, it highlights that they remember this same
exact scenario from past experience with Jesus.
- Notice John shouts “It’s the Lord.” It wasn’t eyesight that
revealed Jesus to him (it was still dawn). It was spiritual insight
from the past that revealed the Lord to him.
- So, verses 1-8 here recalls them back to their calling in Luke
5:1-11. Let’s go back and read it:
- Luke 5:1-11
5 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word
of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,
2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had
gone from them and were washing their nets.
3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and
asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and
taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out
into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled
all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let
down the net.”
6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of
fish, and their net was breaking.
7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and
help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they
began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying,
“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch
of fish which they had taken;
10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who
were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be
afraid. From now on you will catch men.”
11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all
and followed Him.
- Notice their calling here!
- Okay… back to our main text in John 21:3… notice in verse 3
that they fished all night and caught nothing and then in
morning Jesus comes along and tells them to drop their nets on
the other side of the boat.
- they obey his instructions and the result of them hearing and
doing what he said enabled them to catch a bunch of fish.
What’s the obvious lesson there? Obedience brings blessing!
- Remember that!
- Jesus wants His disciples (you) to remember that obedience
brings blessing.
- One final observation in this section of the text.
- In verses 9-10 we see Jesus with loaves and fishes already
prepared.
- Verse 9 is meant to remind the disciples of the loaves and
fishes miracles.
- Jesus wants his disciples (you) to remember the He provides.
- Verse 9-10 highlight this. Verse 9 is meant to remind the
disciples of the loaves and fishes miracles. He even provided
the fish they caught. Though, at times, you might feel like you
have nothing but He has provided for you in the past, He will
provide for your needs in the future. Trust Him in that!
2. Re-Evaluate and Re-Direct
In this second section of our text today there has been a lot of ink
spilled over the word love here and the word play going on between
Jesus and Peter. I’ll briefly highlight that but I would like to capture the
point of this section. I’ve titled this section: Re-evaluate and Re-direct.
Let’s read starting in verse 15:
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you
love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love
Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you
love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love
You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
In verse 15:
- When Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me” - here Jesus’ use of
the word love in the Greek is agape. Agape love and is defined
as all giving, unselfish love, or full commitment love.
- When Jesus says, “more than these?” – more than these what?
David Guzik says, “It is possible that “these” refers to the fish
and a fisherman’s life. Jesus could be asking Peter if he is
willing to give up fishing again to follow Him. But Peter had
claimed a superior love in Gospel of Matt 26:33. Does Peter still
have this proud estimation of his devotion for Jesus?”
- Peter responds, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” – Peter’s
use of the word love in the Greek here is phileo. Phileo love is
defined as reciprocal, friendly affection.
In verse 16:
- Jesus and Peter use the same words for love that they each
used in the previous verse. Here, Jesus uses agape and Peter
uses phileo.
- Notice this time Jesus says, “Tend My sheep.” – instead of feed
my lambs of verse 15.
In verse 17:
- Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do
you love Me?” - What really grieved Peter was the three-time
repetition, because it was a plain reminder of his previous
three-time denial. Jesus allowed Peter a three-fold public
affirmation of love to replace a three-fold denial, and gave him
a three-fold challenge to “feed My sheep.” (Guzik)
- This time both Jesus and Peter use the Greek word phileo in
speaking about love.
- To summarize this section, Jesus is asking his disciples (he’s
asking us) to face our point of failure and to re-evaluate our
commitment to Him.
- He wants re-direct our thinking from our failure to the work He
is committing us to.
- “do you love Me, He asks, …then feed my sheep” et cetera.
3. Re-Focus
In this third and final section well see the Lord wants our full attention
on Him. Let’s read starting in verse 18:
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded
yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will
stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where
you do not wish.”
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And
when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved
following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said,
“Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to
you? You follow Me.”
- Jesus’ point is to keep your eyes on Me, He says. Don’t worry
about my plan for others.
- He even states to follow even if it costs you your life.
- That’s commitment!
- Jesus’ command to Peter is (and to you), “You Follow Me.”
Communion:
Benediction:
24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’
Extra verses: