THE RISEN CHRIST REINSTATES PETER
John 21:1-25
Key Verse 21:15
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ Yes, Lord’, he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’”
John chapter 21 is the epilogue or the ending of the gospel John. Usually the ending of a book is the most important. Its words are to stick with us and give us a good conclusion that will make us think and ponder about and even inspire us to do great things. In this final chapter, the risen Jesus once again appears to his disciples. He comes to them in his great unconditional love to restore them and to personally reinstate Peter as his top disciple. As we know, Peter had denied Jesus three times. Spiritually he was a broken man. Humanly, he felt like a failure. But Jesus came back to him, anyway, to show his love for him and to strengthen him personally so that he could become the rock of faith that Jesus had predicted.
How did Jesus do this? By giving him a very special mission to feed his sheep. This was the best way in which Peter could express his love for Jesus. And it was the best way in which Peter could best glorify God. Through this morning’s message, may God help you to accept his personal love. May God help you to know how you in return can express your love for this Jesus who loved you first.
Part 1. “COME AND HAVE BREAKFAST (1-14)
Let’s read verse 1-3 “Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish, ‘Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”
The words, “afterward” refers to after the risen Jesus had appeared to them. When the risen Jesus appeared to them, they were happy and were overjoyed. All their doubts and all their fears vanished. They all gave each other “high-five’s”. However here we see that they were not with the risen Jesus, but back in Galilee, their home town. Why did they come here for? Perhaps it was because he had told them that after he had risen he would meet them in Galilee (Mk.14:28) But most likely it was because they all felt like a bunch of failures in being faithful and loyal to Jesus, especially Peter.
As we know, the disciples all ran away from Jesus when he was arrested and led to trial. Peter himself, denied Jesus three times in order to save his own life. Now they felt bummed out and directionless. In despair, Peter said, “I am going out to fish.” This expression of Peter and his desire to fish shows that he went back to his old life before he was called by Jesus. He just wanted to bury his head and find comfort in what he was familiar in order to forget what had happened. He wanted to escape from what he did and forget the past. He was not really a good example to the other disciples, because they followed his example. Of course, fishing in itself was not bad. It was the fact that they did not confront their past sins of being faithless to Jesus and denying Jesus. And because they remained in despair and self-pity.
When we fail in trying to be faithful to the Lord we often want to go back to our lives and forget our deep frustration and sense of failure. Some people watch videos all night into the early morning to escape their sense of failure and frustration. Others go back to their old lives before they met Jesus thinking it was not really so bad. But what was the result of the disciples night of fishing? The fish didn’t welcome their return. They caught nothing, not even one small fish. The fish seemed to laugh at them and avoid them.
The words, “they caught nothing”, shows the result of life without Jesus. It is a fruitless life. Earlier Jesus had told them, “ I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (15:5) Look at verses 4-5, “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but his disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No’, they answered.” In this fruitless time and in this most despairing time for the disciples, the risen Jesus came to them like the good shepherd he is and found them. Jesus stood on the shore like a lighthouse on the shore of the beach ready and willing to guide them back to him and the way of faith. He came to restore them both humanly and spiritually.
However, they were too obsessed with their own problems to recognize Jesus was standing there. He called them, “Friends” even though they did not recognize his voice yet. “Friends, haven’t you any fish?’” Jesus first called them “friends.” What a great word to his disciples. Jesus might have rebuked them immediately by saying, “You bunch of unfaithful smelly and hairy fishermen! And you Peter, why did I ever chose you?!”
But Jesus did not rebuke them. He did not come to exercise his authority on them and pound them for being full of mistakes and make a list for them to see all their mistakes. Instead, he graciously and loving called them friends. We see here that Jesus’ view of his disciples did not change even though they had been unfaithful to him and denied him. To Jesus, these disciples were the ones whom God had chosen out of the world. He knew that they were the future heirs of God’s great work to spread the gospel message to the world. He knew that they were the ones who were to inherit the kingdom of God. He knew that God who began a good work in them would complete it.
Likewise, when we have put our faith in Jesus, we become Jesus friends. His friendship is not a conditional one, but an unconditional one. He does not desert us like human beings might do. He promises that he will be with us to the very end of the age. Especially, he wants us to trust in his unfailing love when we know we have sinned against him and have been unfaithful to him. He wants to restore hope and confidence in us with his unfailing love.
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Look at verse 6 to find out how he began to restore them. “He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” Wow, a large number of fish after a long night of having absolutely zero fish! According to verse 11, there were 153 fish!
This great catch of fish was a miracle! It happened because Jesus wanted to restore them in his great love. Their failure was the opportunity for Jesus. They had failure written all over their faces in big letters. However Jesus came back to them to turn their failures into success; from fruitlessness to bearing much fruit. This is the story of Jesus Christ through out the ages. This year God helped Shepherd David Brogi to graduate from college. He started not four or five years ago, but over 20 years ago. This might be a record. Jesus took his past failures as a student and made him a successful student who could receive his degree and diploma.
Let’s read verses 7-8, “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord’, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.”
Simon Peter was so excited about this catch of fish that he acted very strange. He put his clothes back on and jumped into the water. He forgot about the other disciples and just swam with huge strokes splashing the water. Let’s read verses 9-11, “When they landed they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.”
What was Jesus doing there? He had made them breakfast. In verse 12 he said to them, “Come and have breakfast…” He knew that the way to a man’s heart is first through his stomach. So he fed them a delicious fish burger breakfast. He knew that they were also tired and hungry. He fed them like a mother feeding her hungry children.
This scene depicts the wonderful love of Jesus. Jesus took care of their physical needs. He humbly served them and helped them to get warm and dry and comfortable. According to John 1:14, Jesus is God the Father in the flesh who came to this world to make his dwelling among us. He is full of grace. His grace is shown by coming to serve sinners and love them to the end regardless of their past failures and mistakes. His love is unconditional, unmoving and unchanging. When we have failed to love him, he will never fail to stop loving us. Hebrews 13:8 says of Jesus in this way, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
I have three children, one girl and twin boys. I confess that sometimes I love one more than the other based on how their behavior is. If one of them becomes rebellious and does something even though I tell him not to do it, my love grows cold for him, and I take it personally. If my daughter acts mature I love her more than the twin boys, thinking she is the greatest. But if she has a behavior lapse, and starts to whine and complain, then I turn to my twin boys. This shows that my love is conditional and changing based on the situation.
But Jesus’ love never fails. Jesus will always love us even when our love for him grows cold. He will love us even at the times we were faithless and helpless. His love is an encouraging love. It is a love that restores the sinner. Our time of failure is the best opportunity to meet Jesus and to know his wonderful love for us. In our darkest hours, Jesus comes to us and invites us to eat with him. Revelations 3:20B says, “…If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” This is Jesus’ invitation to have fellowship with him., All we have to do is to open our hearts to him then he will satisfy us with his word and with his presence and forgive all our sins and restore us. We must remember that in Jesus there is no failure, no failure. Jesus who called each of us can not fail. There is no failure in the life of faith with Jesus.
As the disciples ate with Jesus, they were very quiet. None of them dared look Jesus straight in the face, especially Peter. None of them dared ask Jesus if he was the Lord. They knew he was the crucified and risen Lord. They were indeed amazed at his love for them.
What turned out to be a failure in fishing and with the disciples being even more discouraged turned out to be a beach party with Jesus. Look at verses 13-14, “Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.”
Part 2. FEED MY SHEEP (15-25)
The disciples had enjoyed a delicious breakfast made by Jesus. Everyone ate and was very satisfied. However, a pressing problem still remained in Peter’s heart and Jesus knew it. So Jesus approached Peter personally with a question. Let’s read verse 15, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?…” This question is also asked in another way in verses 16 and 17. Verse 16 Jesus asks Peter, “…do you truly love me?” and in verse 17, “…do you love me?”
But let’s look at the first question imposed by Jesus, “Do you truly love me more than these?” What did Jesus mean when he asked Peter, “more than these?” What are “more than these?” The more than these are the things that caused Peter to deny Jesus.
That is Peter loved the world and himself more than Jesus. He was swayed back and forth. Perhaps this was why Jesus at first also called him “Simon son of John.” He didn’t call him Peter here because he was still spiritually shaky, emotional and unpredictable like the sand.
Peter’s heart was in fact divided. Sure, he loved Jesus. However, he could not love Jesus more than himself and his future plans. He looked like he really loved Jesus absolutely. But when it was either Jesus’ neck or his neck, he went and saved his own neck first even if it meant to deny Jesus.
Now Jesus’ question is really to challenge Peter. Jesus wants to restore his love relationship with him. But first Peter must confess his love and cast out the “more than these” that are dividing his relationship with Jesus. If we study Genesis we see that God blessed Abraham with the promised son Isaac. To Abraham, Isaac brought much joy and laughter. But then one day, God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Why did God ask him to such a thing?
It was to test Abraham to see if he really loved God first in his life, more than Isaac. Does Abraham love the giver of the blessing more or the blessing itself? Abraham showed that he loved God more by getting ready to sacrifice Isaac and when he was about to sacrifice him as God commanded him, the angel of the Lord stopped him and God called out from heaven, with his blessing on Abraham, “and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me.” gave Abraham his promised blessing. (Gen.22:18)
In Revelation 2:4-5 Jesus rebukes the Church in Ephesus because they had forsaken their first love, Jesus himself. He said, “…You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Jesus was more gracious and personal to Peter. He did not rebuke him to repent. But he wanted his love confession. He wanted Peter to love Jesus more than anything else. He wanted his undivided heart and full devotion.
Jesus’ question is the same to us. Do we truly love Jesus more than these? Do we truly love Jesus more than our present jobs? Do we truly love Jesus more than our families and our children? Do we truly love Jesus more than even our life and our careers? Jesus does not ask this question without himself being the example. Jesus was ready to ask Peter this question because Jesus himself had laid down his life on the cross. Peter knew this. Peter knew that Jesus suffered and died for him. Jesus showed that he loved God more than his own life, and he gave his life for us. Jesus did not ask Peter or ask us to do something he did not do.
After this question, Jesus asked Peter almost the same thing two more times. He asked him, “Do you love me” a total of three times. Not once, not twice, but three times until Peter was hurt that Jesus kept asking the same question, “Do you love me….do you love me…. Do you love me….more than these?” Peter could not avoid such questioning. His lips said yes the first time, but his heart needed more confirming and more conviction. So it was necessary to say it at least three times.
Here we see Jesus’ love for Peter. His question to Peter was not to hurt him and give him a hard time. It was to restore his relationship with him. It was to reinstate Peter as Jesus’ top disciple. Reinstate means to restore. I experienced this when I was a student at UM. Because of my low GPA I was kicked out of UM. Then I went to UMUC to retake the classes I had failed. I needed to get my GPA back up. When my grades improved I was reinstated back to UM.
As a disciple of Jesus, Peter had been unfaithful at the time when he should have been faithful. He had failed Jesus. But despite his failure, the risen Jesus came back to Peter to restore his life. He came back to Peter to help him make this confession of love so that he could truly love Jesus more than these. All Jesus was first looking for was a love confession from his heart. Truly God’s work in our life to restore us can only first begin when we make a love confession that we love Jesus more than these. Then God works powerfully in us and through us.
Peter was so moved by Jesus’ grace and tender love. Peter was so comforted by Jesus that he could confess his love for Jesus three times. He was deeply touched by the risen Jesus who did not rebuke him but gently restored him and who knew his heart. When Peter confessed his love to Jesus it was if all burdens and guilt were exiting his heart. After his confession of love his heart was at peace. He felt the warmth of Jesus’ love.
However, the confession of love did not end the conversation with Jesus. Jesus did not say after it, “Good for you Peter! Good for you! I am happy now that you confessed your love for me.” Instead Jesus gave him the command to feed his lambs, take care of his sheep and to feed his sheep. Jesus was not looking for lip service from Peter. He wanted action to show his love. The best sign that we love Jesus is to feed his sheep.
If we confess our love for Jesus because we think we know his love, then we must feed Jesus’ sheep and we must love them as he has loved us. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” So how can we express our love for Jesus? It is to feed sheep and take care of his sheep. This is a sign of my commitment that I love Jesus. What happened to Peter because he made this love confession to Jesus and Jesus had this conversation with him? Peter’s life was reinstated to be the top disciple. He earnestly and with the love and compassion of Jesus taught all kinds of sheep.
Later he wrote in 1 Peter 5:2-4, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers---not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted over you, but being examples to the flock.”
Feeding Jesus’ sheep should not be a burden to us. They are after all not our sheep, but Jesus’ sheep whom he wants us to take care of. Feeding sheep should be our personal expression of love to Jesus and a show of a thankful heart towards him. It is a great honor and privilege to feed his sheep. Feeding sheep should not be because someone tells me to do so. It should not be because I want to please someone or because I want to have more sheep then my coworker. It should be done personally to Jesus, showing him that because I love you I want to feed your sheep. I want them to know the love that you have shown me. I want them to know this wonderful truth in the Bible. Feeding sheep takes sacrifice and a committed heart. After all, this is what Jesus did for us. Those who confess their love to Jesus can go anywhere to feed sheep. I was encouraged lately to see Missionary Moses Chang’s earnestness to learn Spanish. He will retire in a few years from his job, but he does not plan to retire from God’s work. He plans to go to one country in South America, not because the weather is warmer, but because he wants to feed Jesus’ sheep out of his love for Jesus.
As long as we have a love relationship with Jesus we can keep on feeding his sheep and we never grow tired of it. Feeding sheep in this selfish, individualistic and fast paced society is very challenging. When we are busy, and occupied by life’s problems it is our first priority to take care of ourselves. But I pray we can overcome this by knowing Jesus’ personal love and wonderful grace. Our souls need to be refreshed with Jesus’ love to us and we need this personal confession of love for Jesus.
I find it a great victory and a great joy to go fishing and to feed his sheep after work, especially when I am tired. I give thanks to God who gives me strength to deny myself most of the time to feed his sheep and to search for his sheep. However, I know I can’t do anything if I don’t first accept his love for me. In the past I failed to raise up even one shepherd at UM, so I lost my job. I realized I didn’t love Jesus more than my life. But Jesus didn’t fire me. He didn’t give up one me. Instead he sent me to GMU to find many lost sheep. He led me to meet Jonathon who is a real wandering sheep without life direction. I pray that I may love Jesus more than my life everyday so I can begin bearing much fruit.
I pray that each one of us may feed Jesus’ sheep, even one sheep. Let’s do something for Jesus that will last for all eternity and that will make God’s history.
After Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep, he told Peter the kind of life and death he would experience. Let’s read verses 18-19, “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’”
Peter would live a glorious life in feeding Jesus’ sheep. His sacrificial life would be the encouragement for the body of believers throughout the ages. He became the rock of faith that Jesus said he would and he wound up being crucified upside down because he loved Jesus more than his own life. The words “follow me” were Jesus’ first words to Peter. “Follow me!” these are Jesus’ words to us who want to come and know him. He said, “if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Following Jesus is a life commitment. No matter what happens to others, if they have an easier life, we must not complain to Jesus saying, “my life is so hard! Why did you give me so many crosses?!” No, to follow Jesus and to feed his sheep is a personal matter between you and King Jesus. Jesus planned your life for you when you confessed your love to him. We should accept his cross and mission as his love for us to make us fruitful in this life so that we may share in his glory in the kingdom of heaven. (Ro.8:17)
Feeding Jesus’ sheep is the conclusion of John’s gospel. Despite our weaknesses and sins, God chose us all by the grace of Jesus to participate in his divine mission to feed his sheep. Our love for his grace to us is to become like a good sacrificial shepherd like him for his sheep. May Jesus’ love move your heart to feed his sheep. May God strengthen you to express your love by feeding his sheep.