John: The Restorer
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
We will follow our usual pattern of working our way through the passage. There are two main pictures here, the scene on the boat, and the scene between Jesus & Peter. Then there’s the closing verse to finish the book off!
Jesus Brings Fruitfulness
Jesus Brings Fruitfulness
A Picture of Ministry
As per usual in the book of John, there is some picture, or symbolism going on in the story. That seems to be the case here as well.
Where did we leave the story last time?
Jesus has performed many miracles (signs) and preached across the countryside. His work was mainly divided between the northern region around Galilee and around Jerusalem in the south. Capernaum, on the shores of Galilee was Jesus hometown, and the area was home to many of the disciples too.
Jesus had recruited many disciples with his preaching and signs, but many gave up, just as we were expecting. Yet some stuck with Jesus right to the end.
Jesus made it clear that he was on a mission from God the Father to bring the word of God to the world, and to save the “sheep” of God’s flock. He was here to rescue God’s people.
As Jesus traveled around and his following grew, this upset the Jewish religious leaders.
Jesus knew what he was doing, and he deliberately returned to Jerusalem, despite the risk.
After a Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus gave himself up to the religious leaders, who arranged his execution, with the reluctant help of the Roman overlords.
Jesus was crucified, and died, and was buried - all according to plan!
Yet a few days later, he rose from the dead!
He first revealed himself to Mary Magdalene, and then to the other disciples.
The body of the book ended at the end of the last chapter, where Jesus sends out his disciples in a great commission, with the HS they are to continue the mission of Jesus.
But, even though this is a fine place to end the book, John obviously felt the need to share a couple more stories to finish things up. Like Frodo boarding ships with the elves to the Undying Lands, we are given some resolution here.
Lets read:
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as 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.
Literally the Sea of Tberias - a pattern of renaming things based on who was in power.
In the wake of Jesus death & resurrection Disciples have gone back up north ( the other gospels share that Jesus sent them to a mountain up there to wait for him)
While they were waiting, they needed to eat! So they went fishing
(many think this is a sign of back-sliding, that Peter was returning to his old profession. I don’t, they needed to eat, and they ere back “home” and they knew how to fish, so they went to work).
As was their practice, the fished at night (their nets were tick), but they came up empty handed.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 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.
Jesus was waiting for them on the shore, but he was not recognised. Maybe it was the early morning mist, maybe Jesus was hidden from them. The resurrected Christ had a habit of hiding his identity until a key moment.
Weary fishermen with nothing to show for their work are usually willing to try anything to get a fish!
In a throwback to an some of Jesus earliest interactions with the disciples, he gets them to throw the nets on the other side, and they get heaps of fish!
But this tips off John, this has happened before, with Jesus! That’s him on the shore!
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.
Kids, draw a picture of nets being so full to burst! And Peter jumping out of the boat!
Realizing that it was Jesus, peter forgets about the fish and get’s to Jesus as fast as he can (with modesty).
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.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
As the disciples come to shore, they see that Jesus has already been fishing himself, and he has prepared breakfast for them.
They haul in the massive catch and count it up.
Significance of 153? Alot! and large too!
Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
What a wonderful breakfast - sharing hot breakfast with the Lord at the lakeside.
They were served by Jesus. Whereas they should be serving Him, yet Jesus graciously provided for them and served them.
Picture of Christian life & ministry.
Jesus had told them he would make them fishers of men. Straight after the commission we find them fishing, yet they are struggling. They come up empty handed when they’re doing it their own way.
Yet when they listen to the voice of God, telling them to do something that seems too simple, then they are full to overflowing! The mission is accomplished!
Then they are welcomed into the presence of God with joy!
This is the pattern of our life, we are out in the world working and serving, and our greatest desire is to catch “people” for the Lord, to see them enter into eternal life and joy with God.
If we go about it our own way, we come up empty handed, if we listen to the world’s ways we make fake disciples, or none at all. Yet when we listen to the voice of God, and do things his way, we are fruitful. Seek first the kingdom, and God will supply all your needs!
Yet, when our work is done, when we have run the race, we will enter into the rest prepared for us with God. We will feast with him!
Listen to the Lord, and act accordingly. Look forward to entering into God’s rest!
Yet there is a cloud hanging over breakfast, because not long ago, Peter had denied the Lord. He had denied knowing Jesus or being connected to him. Not once but three times! How could they sit there knowing what he had done?
Jesus Brings Restoration
Jesus Brings Restoration
A Picture of repentance and reconciliation
Around a charcoal campfire Peter had denied Jesus 3 times.
What was the importance of this? Predicted, and an act of disloyalty.
Jesus addresses the elephant at the campfire.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
These? The disciples (maybe fish?)
Peter confesses his love.
Jesus comission - feed the sheep.
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
Professed love again.
The different words for love.
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Very truly I tell you, 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!”
Christians have struggled with how to receive back Christians who have disowned the LORD. They contemplated rebaptism and practiced a lengthy repentance measures.
Yet here we see Jesus model of repentance and resoration
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
John
three fold profession of love
Jesus Work Is Immeasurable
Jesus Work Is Immeasurable
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
So What?
So What?
References:
Carson’s Pillar Commentary on John.
Sermons by Richard D. Philips,
Sermons by John Macaurthur