Third Appearance of Jesus To the Disciples

Returning to the Familiar

The Bible doesn’t say how long it had been since Jesus second appearance and his third. It is obvious that Peter made the choice to return to his old way of life. He was a fisherman. He told some of the other disciples that he was going fishing.

Peter was familiar with fishing and had made a successful business doing it. Since Jesus had not appeared with any further instruction, Peter went back to his old way of life. Fishing was something that he loved so he went back to it.

Jesus had commanded them in his first appearance in John 20:21

John 20:21 NASB95

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Though Jesus had commanded this Peter did not know what it meant. Peter was going in a direction that Jesus did not intend. Jesus wanted Peter to carry on hi mission of redemption through the sharing of the gospel.

Peter was the one who Jesus had chosen to begin the first century church. Matthew 16:13-20

Matthew 16:13–20 NASB95

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Peter could not start the church and run a fishing business. The starting of the church would cost him everything. It would cost him his time, his business, and ultimately his life.

We have tendency to do the same thing as Peter when we spend time apart from Jesus. When we get away from daily personal time with Jesus in His word and prayer our natural tendency is to migrate back to the familiar.

What is familiar to you? It could be the mundane schedule that you have that wears you out but brings no satisfaction. It brings no satisfaction because it has no purpose rooted in Christ. This is not to say that you have to change your schedule or what you are doing. It is saying that you must allow Christ to reveal the purpose for what you are doing. It is in this that you will find satisfaction.

There may be times where Jesus does call you to change what you are doing. It will require faith because we are comfortable in the familiar. Christ calling into change is always much better than staying where you are.

Tell story about telling people how to make money that perishes and being convicted about telling people about eternity with Christ.

Tell story about “holy discontentment” at Pinnacle.

Jesus Transforms the Ordinary

After fishing all night they caught nothing. Jesus told them to cast the nets on the other side. When they did, they caught 153 large fish. Jesus transformed an ordinary fishing trip into a meaningful fishing trip. However Peter’s response was much different than the first time this happened.

Luke 5:4–8 NASB95

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

The first time this happened Peter told Jesus to go away from him because he was a sinful man. Peter knew that he was in the presence of holiness and the shame of his sin did not need to be near holiness. This is worldly sorrow. However, the second time this happened Peter reacted much different. Let’s take a look. John 21:7

John 21:7 NASB95

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

Instead of trying to get away from the Lord, Peter swam towards Jesus. He knew that in his sinfulness he had to run to the Savior instead of away from the Savior. He knew he needed forgiveness for deserting and denying Jesus.

Jesus invited him to breakfast. Jesus did not turn his back on Peter for denying him but invited him to have a meaningful breakfast.

Jesus is the same way with us. When we sin, we do not need to run from the Savior but to the Savior. He will welcome us and have meaningful time with us as well.

Tell story of boy that said “I have to tell my father what I did.”

Jesus Restores Peter

Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. The interesting thing about Jesus question and Peter’s answer are their difference. Jesus asked Peter if he “agape” loved him. Peter answered that he “fileo” loved him. Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him unconditionally with the deepest of all loves. Peter answered that he loved him as a friend or a strong liking.

Jesus asked Peter if he loved fishing more than he loved him. His action would demonstrate the answer. Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep. This meant that Peter would have to give up fishing and begin the new testament church.

Jesus forgave a sinful man that denied him and used him to start the church that has lasted until this day and will remain until Jesus returns.

I ask you this morning do you love Jesus? Are you willing to feed his sheep? Are you willing to follow his purpose for your life? It starts by surrendering your life to him!