Restored for Mission (John 21)

Intro: Lots of things my wife, Grace, loves about me. All day. But maybe her favorite – She will tell me that I need to work on something and grow in some particular area of my life (shocking, I know) – as a husband, father, pastor. And she’ll keep reminding me – sometimes for years because I’m so hard headed. And then one day, a friend or someone will tell me the exact same thing Grace has been saying for years – and it’ll finally register. IDKW. 

And I’ll go to Grace and share with her what that person said to me. And guess what Grace says? – Are you kidding me? You think that’s the first time you’ve heard that? I’ve been telling you for years! (Have any other husbands been here?) It took one more time for it to finally make sense to me. But at least it did. That’s what counts, right?

Context: Jn. 21. Last chapter of John’s gospel. Bibles. Turn. Echoes of familiar stories – Disciples should have known from the first time but needed another go around.

Text: Jn 21 1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 

Again – Jesus has shown himself on multiple occasions at this point after his resurrection. – Mary Magdalene, Disciples, Thomas – In John’s gospel. Others – 2 Disciples on Rd to Emmaus – Lk. 24. 1Cor 15 – 500+. 

Proof that people weren’t making up Jesus’ resurrection. They weren’t so sad that they wished Jesus were still alive. Or made it up. There were not only multiple eye witnesses, there were also multiple occasions where Jesus revealed himself as alive after dying and being buried in the tomb for 3 days. Jesus’ resurrection is as verifiable and indisputable, if not more, than any event in history.

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. (Unnamed – Kind of feel bad for them. Left out. WhatsApp Group Pic – Untagged.) 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Ok great. Jesus is alive. But what now? Peter – IDK. Not sure what to do. I’m going fishing. See what’s happening here? Peter’s not just killing time or finding something to do because he’s bored. Peter was going back to his life before Jesus. Before Jesus called Peter to follow him, Peter was a fisherman.

Many of you have felt this pull before or even feeling it now. You committed your life to Jesus, to follow him. But if you were to take an honest assessment of your life and whether it looks any different at all after putting your faith in Christ – you’d say not really. You’re constantly feeling a pull to your old self, your old addictions, your old habits, your old ways of life. Why is that?

Why for Peter? – He had already seen the resurrected Jesus. So why wasn’t he going out to tell people about it? He’s not hiding in fear anymore. But why’s his life not radically changed at this point? 

For Peter, something was missing. There was something else Peter needed from Jesus.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” (This should have probably caught the disciples’ attention – Who else would call them “Children”? Kind of offensive for a grown man to call other grown men – Children/Boys.) They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” (Ok. This really should have tipped them off. Cause this has happened before…Lk. 5 – Jesus first called the disciples. The disciples were fishing all night and caught nothing – so they bring everything back to shore. And Jesus – who they don’t really know comes along, gets into their boat, and tells them to go out a bit and cast their nets again. And they catch so many fish, their nets start to break. Peter – Realizing Jesus was no ordinary man, falls to his knees and says – Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O LORD. And after that, they left everything to follow Jesus. No more fishing for them.) So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” (And finally, they realize it’s Jesus.)

1. Our power is Jesus’ power working in and through us. Here you have a bunch of expert fisherman that have a big problem – they can’t catch any fish. They’re supposed to know where to go out to drop their nets to catch the fish. But nothing. 

This shows us – Even with the gifts and skills God has given us – We can accomplish nothing on our own apart from God. And it’s especially true when it comes to pleasing God. Scripture – Our best deeds before God – unacceptable – dirty/filthy. We are completely and utterly helpless on our own. And completely dependent on God for everything.

So God chooses us and uses us not because of our strengths but because of our weaknesses, our inabilities. And it’s in our weakness that God makes his power known. (2Cor. 12. Kids – Help me lift this. – How much did they really help? None.) God invites us to join in his work but he’s doing ALL the heavy lifting.

Remember – Jn 15 – You can do nothing apart from me. Yes, God has gifted us and given us abilities to use in life and ministry. But let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that anything you have accomplished, anything you have, or anything you hope to do is because of you. Even the very breath in your lungs, your very life, is in the hands of God.

True: Church – Anything of any value that is done here – Not because of me or Ps Eric, the staff, the elders, or you – our skills, ideas, etc. – It is only because of the power of God working in and through us. That’s for anything exciting that we see happen, any meaningful ministry and fruit at Garden City.

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

IDKAY – But if I’m trying to swim fast – I don’t put on extra clothes. If anything – You take clothes off, right? But Peter, being Peter, puts clothes on and jumps into the water to swim to shore. Wound’t rowing in a bow with a few other people would be faster than trying to swim on your own? OR Hey Jesus – Just call the boat to shore. We have a lot of fish. Or let me walk on water again and I’ll run over to you. 

But look at all the effort Peter exerts. How hard he’s working. All the while 

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. (Everything was already in place. Made ready by Jesus. He didn’t need any of Peter’s efforts. But…) 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” (Invitation) 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” (Invitation) Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

2. Our rest is in Jesus’ finished work. Jesus clearly doesn’t need our help. But he invites us to be a part of it. Bring me what you have (Not because I need it) and come and fellowship with me – because everything is already taken care of. You can rest and enjoy me.

Jesus’ invitation to Peter and to us is to rest in him. Jesus doesn’t need us to prove anything to him. You don’t need to work hard or at all for his love or approval. – You already have that fully in Jesus. That’s why he would go so far and do the unthinkable in becoming one of us to die for us. Why else would he? If we had to earn it – He’d never have come! 

When Jesus said on the cross – It is finished – There’s nothing left for us to do. There’s nothing missing in Jesus’ saving work that we need to add or make up for.

It’s resting in Jesus’ love and his finished work for us that sets us free to serve him out of joy – not out of obligation or to prove or earn anything.

Significance of 153?

-God – Hebrew grammar

-Divine work of God – Triangular number 10+7 (Commandments/Gifts)

-Nations – 153 species of fish known in the ancient world. Net.

-Or just 153. – What I think.

15 When they had finished breakfast, (Jesus was not a ghost/spirit. Jesus is not just a hallucination. Jn 20 – Physical body but the ability to walk through walls. Scars where his side and hands were pierced. And also eat. – Awesome Foreshadow – In heaven, we are going to be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, enjoying Jesus and heavenly foods. – What will we be celebrating for all eternity? Jesus’ worthiness and his saving work for us.)

Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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 a second time, “Simon, son of John, 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 John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (Invitation)

3. Our confidence is Jesus’ gracious love.

Notice how this setting is familiar – Remember what else happened around a charcoal fire. – Peter denied Jesus. Jesus has set up the exact scene on purpose.

And when Jesus asks Peter if he loves him “more than these” – Some people think Jesus is referring to the boat and fishing gear symbolizing Peter’s old life – But I think Jesus is recalling Peter’s own words – At the last Supper – Jesus tells Peter he’s going to deny him not just once, but three times. And Peter overconfidently says even if the rest of these guys deny Jesus, he never will. But he was the only one to deny Jesus, at least that was recorded and what we know.

So everything is set up to take Peter back to his failed words and actions – Why ask Peter three times? Why make a point of it? Isn’t once enough? Peter already said he loves Jesus. – Jesus is not trying to be mean or humiliate – That’s not the way of Jesus – To point his finger at you and accuse/shame/guilt you. – Loving.

“Love” – Agape (Sacrificial Love) vs. Phileo (Brotherly love). Phileo – Lesser love than Agape? Maybe not. Phileo used by John for 1) God the Father’s love for his son Jesus (Jn. 15:20) 2) the Father’s love for us, his children (Jn. 16:27), and 3) Jesus’ love for us (Rev. 3:19, Jn. 11). Not necessarily convinced. More important – I think – What is Jesus doing here? 

He’s fully restoring Peter – Denied Jesus 3 times – even to a little girl. Not like a bunch of scary guys were going to get him. He denied Jesus to a harmless little girl. Fearful. Hiding. Imagine how bad, how broken, Peter must have felt. He denied even knowing Jesus – How was Jesus ever going to use him? Could he be trusted? Was he worthless now? But in his love, Jesus restores him fully – so there’s no question of where Peter stands with Jesus – what Jesus thinks of him. This restoration was what Peter needed.

See – The cowardly, the weak, the fearful, the overconfident, the failures – to all those who will come to Jesus – He will fully restore. Not on any basis of what we have done but what he’s done for us.

So your failures are not reasons why God cannot use you. In fact, failures almost seem somewhat like a prerequisite. – That should give us a lot of hope. God can use the vilest/worst of us. Grace.

And God doesn’t use you despite your failures – Well I guess I don’t really have any good options. No one else is available. So I’ll just have to go with him/her. No. God uses you because of your failures. You’re supposed to recognize – it’s not about you! Grace.

If you show up in heaven – God – Why should I let you in – And your response is – I tried my best to be a good person and do the right things – You’ve got it all wrong. The only acceptable answer – Because Jesus paid the price for me.

God doesn’t save you or love you based on your own merit. And neither does he use you based on your own merit. It’s not about how much or how strongly we love Jesus that sustains our faith, it’s Jesus’ perfect love for us that holds us up. Because we will all fail. But his love never will. It doesn’t change – based on how good or bad you are. It’s constant.

Purpose to Jesus restoration – What’s he tell Peter to do? – Feed/Tend my lambs/sheep. The fruit of truly loving Jesus. – You cannot say you love Jesus if you do not love the church. If you are disconnected from the church. If you’re not engaged in the church family in meaningful ways with your life.

How looks different. But everyone should be in some form be in community, serving, giving, using their gifts to build up the church family.

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

4. Our freedom is in Jesus’ call to faithfully follow him.

Basically, Jesus is saying to Peter – Why don’t you mind your own business? Here’s Peter, he’s with the resurrected Jesus. Eating with him, fellowshipping with him, being fully restored by him. He’s then invited to walk with Jesus, and Peter’s distracted by John, who is following behind them. Why isn’t Peter just enjoying and consumed by being with Jesus in this moment?

So many – care so much, so distracted, derailed from what God is doing in their own lives because they’re so focused on other people. Listen – There’s a problem if we’re more experts on what God is doing or needs to do in other people’s lives than our own.

Many are too hyperfocused on other people in a bad way:

-Oh that person needs to do this and that. 

-I can’t believe they think that.

-They need to grow in maturity.

-They have so many problems. 

-They really need to change.

-They have what’s coming to them. God’s going to teach them a lesson.

Jesus – Why are we so concerned and obsessed with the speck in someone else’s eye when we have a plank in our own? (Mt.7)

Sometimes, the best thing to do is to be faithful to what God has called you to instead of getting all in other people’s business. And I’m not talking about being in each other’s lives. We need to do that. We’re supposed to “one another” (ex’s).

But this is different – I’m talking about being so overly critical and judgmental and concerned about what other people are or aren’t doing that you can’t be faithful to what God has called you to. 

And you don’t need to compare yourself to other people. – “Comparison is the thief of joy.” They have their calling and you have yours. It’s not all going to be the same. And that’s ok. You can be secure and faithful to Jesus calling in your life and that’s all you need. (MYOB)

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

There was so much more to Jesus’ ministry. I wonder what all else he did. (Exs) But here’s what’s so amazing, I don’t really have the wonder – the ones we have were given to us on purpose. And they present to us such a clear purpose of who Jesus was and what he accomplished through his life for us.

John’s gospel is all about Jesus – not about us at all. Everything – God’s love for us, his work for us. Behold and Believe – Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world – because he lived the perfect life we could not live, he died the death we deserved on the cross for us in our place, and he rose again after being buried for three days, defeating sin and death forever. And he invites us to believe in him and to join him in his mission to save the world.

Like Peter, Jesus has fully restored you for his mission. Can’t just go back to your old life like nothing ever happened. – If that’s what your life looks like – there’s no life change whatsoever – If people around you, even nonbelievers, can’t tell something is different about you – the way you love, forgive, serve, generous – the way you reflect and share Jesus – you have to ask yourself whether you truly believe in him. Because…

There is no other appropriate response – God here’s my life. It’s all yours. You’ve loved me. You’ve redeemed me. You’ve made me a son/daugther. You are worthy of my life. Everything I am and everything I have is for your glory. 

Your Mission – Came to save sinners and to make them into sons and daughters by laying down your life, and you’ve made me a fisher of men, then that’s my mission too and I’ll lay down my life for it too. 

What greater honor is there? That we are invited into God’s life changing work.

If you’re here, maybe this is just your first or second weekend ever being at church. The message of the gospel is clear – Jesus has done everything necessary to save you. It’s a free gift he offers to you. You only have to receive it. And once you do, you’ll find the hope and joy and the life you were created for – and you’ll be restored back to God and have his presence for all of eternity. That’s what Jesus is inviting you into today. I’m inviting you into today…