RESTORATION, GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU
JOHN 21:1-22
John 21:1-18
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing."
"We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. 5 He called out, "Fellows, have you caught any fish?"
"No," they replied.
6 Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!" So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
10 "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn.
12 "Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you."
"Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you."
"Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep.
This would be the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection. Each time was to encourage them of His power and authority over life and to prepare them for the mission that they were about to start.
The disciples were clinging together and not hiding out. Peter taking the leadership role decided to go fishing. Five other disciples decided to go with him. Man ought always be busy doing productive work. “Prov 16:27 Idle hands are the devil's workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece. TLB” When Jesus comes back He ought to find believers busy serving others.
POWER IN THE WORD
Jesus' first order is to remind us that there is power in His Word. He stood at the shore and asked if they had caught any fish? The answer was no. They fished all night came back empty handed, Jesus commanded Peter cast out net to the right side of the boat and you will catch fish, Peter did so
And 157 fish was in the net. So many that the other disciples in another boat had to come and help get the fish to shore.
This is proof that we are just ordinary people without Jesus. But in Jesus hands we are extraordinary. There is power in the name of Jesus. There
Is hope and assured success in the name of Jesus. We should start our day in prayer and never start everything in the name of Jesus
HOSPITALITY AND SERVING IS REWARDING
The next order was to prepare breakfast and serve the disciples
Notice HE called them CHILDRENS. We may be grown and we may be old, but we are still God’s children in need of his provisions. God loves us and cares for us as little children. Therefore we must at all times humble ourselves before the Lord.
When Jesus called out to them, they did not know it was Him. The command was given to Peter not the others. After the net was full of
Fish, It was John who recognized it was Jesus standing at the shore. Love knows the voice and actions of Jesus. Peter immediately humbled himself by putting on his outer garment.
SERVING IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF LOVE
John 21:12 "Now come and have some breakfast!"
When they got to shore with the fish, Jesus had a fire going with fish and bread ready to serve. He did not overlook their efforts. Jesus told them to
Bring some of the fish they caught to put on the fire. Jesus showed us the example of love by serving us first.
It was early in the morning. The men were tired and hungry. Jesus hospitality got them in the mood for listening. This is an example for us; Feed the body first and you have an attentive audience.
This is the same message of service as the last passover meal with the
Disciples. Jesus stooped low to wash the disciples feet.
LOVE THE MOTIVATION FOR DISCIPLESHIP
John 21:15
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you."
The “these” in the verse are the disciples that fished with Peter. Jesus used the the Greek word agape for love. It is the sacrificial love for us that showed on the cross for all believers. Peter use the Greek word Phileo which means brotherly love or love of a friend. Jesus responded, tend my lambs. A lamb is a baby sheep less than a year old. We start as believers as babes in Christ. Babes in Christ need training in the Word. Babes need
Constant training to survive the change in lifestyle.
John 21:16 Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.
Again Jesus said agape for love. Peter used Philio. friendship. Jesus you know you are my friend.
John 21:17 A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep.
Again Peter responded with friendship or brotherly love
If my wife ask me if I love her and I responded you know you are my friend, I would have a new address.
Jesus' questions was preparing Peter for the Leadership role in the Church that was established in His name. Upon our confession of faith the Church grows.
There are a number of reasons we can suggest that Jesus had in mind
For His questions to Peter,
I believe there is importance in the number three.
Peter denied knowing Jesus before men three times the night before the crucifixion, Peter even cursed the the accuser on the third denial
Peter dishonored the Father, the Son and grieved the Holy Spirit with his denials.
Jesus questions to Peter were to emphasize
that he had been forgiven. His confession before men and God was important to remove any doubt or guilt he had in his position as a leader of the new Way to salvation, not based on the Law, but grace and mercy.
The questions emphasized that agape the sacrificial love of God is the foundation of Faith and the the motivation to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The questions were a call to service, Loving Jesus requires active service and care of followers of Jesus, Peter was called to the job of fisher of men
And be full time throwing out the net of Word of God to catch men and
Draw them to Christ.
The meeting on shore line signified that abundant life is in obedience to Jesus and the commands of God.
The meeting on the shore of the sea of Galilee was the second time
Peter and his group had gone fishing and caught nothing. At the command of Jesus an abundance of fish was caught.
At the third question of his love for Jesus, Peter was hurt. He needed to understand the hurt he caused with his denial. He needed to understand
More than friendship or brotherly love was required of him. Agape, the sacrificial love for Jesus was required to endure the trials of discipleship.
DEATH TO SELF TO BE ALIVE IN CHRIST
John 21:18 "I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go." 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow me."
Like Christ, Peter's ministry would be productive but end in the rejection of men and crucifixion. While it is not included in the Bible, the apocryphal text Acts of Peter( 200 AD) records Peter request to crucified upside down
Because he felt unworthy to die as Jesus did.
The proof of Peter’s ministry glorifying God and it productivity
Is recorded in Acts written by Luke and 1st and 2nd Peter.
WE ARE ALL GOD’S WORK IN PROGRESS
John 21:20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who will betray you?" 21 Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?"
22 Jesus replied, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you
No matter how long we have been in church and how long we have served God, we all have more growing to do. We still have issues God is dealing with concerning our faith, actions and knowledge of Him.
Peter’s question about the Apostle John was an indication of that. He focused on John’s question at the passover table a splinter, rather than
The log in his eye, his denial of Jesus the night before the crucifixion.
None of us has the right to criticize the the actions of others. Rather our job is to encourage and uplift one another. Notice Peter was still dealing with an agape love issue.
Again Jesus commanded Peter to follow Him, that is to imitate His life. We can’t see our faults if we continue focus on what we think is failure in others.
WAIT PATIENTLY ON THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 1:4-5 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
It was 50 days after Jesus crucifixion that Holy Spirit was given to 120 disciples, men and women who were in an upper room in prayer.
The church got its official lunch on the day of Pentecost when the 120
Received the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit was
Evidence in them by their being enable to speak different languages that
They had not learned.
The example here is that we must learn to be patient until the Holy Spirit
Gives us guidance and directions and power to act on Jesus behalf.
All believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and access to its power if we summit ourselves to its guidance and direction.
Why did Jesus wait 50 days after His crucifixion to give the disciple the Holy Spirit?
Let me suggest a few reasons
The disciples had to get their heads set for the new role they would play in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Jesus appeared to the disciples from time to time to prove that He was alive.
They needed to understand that Jesus had the power to raise people from the dead. They needed to know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ raised dead men and women to life in Christ.
They needed to know that He was now in Spirit form without a body.
The evidence of this was that he could suddenly appear and disappear. He could walk through closed doors
He met with 500 other disciples ( 1 Corinthians 15:6)
The disciples needed to learn the important of unity in prayer
They had to organize themselves as one body in Christ Jesus.
SUMMARY
LOVE IS THE MOTIVATION FOR DISCIPLESHIP
THE EVENTS IN OUR LIVES ARE GOD’S DESIGN FOR PREPARATION
THERE IS POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD IT CALLS INTO PLACE WHAT WE NEED
SERVING IS AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
WAIT PATIENTLY AS GOD PREPARES US
WE ARE GOD’S WORK IN PROGRESS
GOD WANTS AN ABUNDANT LIFE FOR YOU
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