Epilogue

Intro:

READ JOHN 21:1-14

1. Jesus interacts with his disciples one last time. (at least in the book of John)

-Some of speculated that the disciples are back to aimless living. The text does not indicate that. They could just be hungry.

-John likes to use the the motif of darkness and light in is gospel. Here he indicates that it is morning.

-This interaction Jesus has with the disciples from shore, to me, is quite humorous.

-Finally John recognizes that it’s Jesus.

-Peter cannot restrain his excitement.

-*In chapter 6 John recounts Jesus walking on the water. He does not include Peter’s interaction with Jesus as the other gospels do. But just for a moment lets look at these two accounts

Is it Jesus vs. It is Jesus

Fear vs. Joy

Failure vs. Success

In both cases Peter wanted to be where Jesus was. What made the difference. I think the best answer is the resurrection.

-No detail here should be overlooked. John tells us that Jesus has prepared a fire (hold on to that). Then he invites the disciples to join him for breakfast.

-They eat a meal and John points out that this is the 3rd time that Jesus has appeared to them.

READ JOHN 21:15-19

2. Jesus reinstates the apostle Peter

-Now remember I told you no detail should be overlooked and to hold onto the the image of this fire that Jesus has built and the fact that it is morning.

-The last time Peter was questioned about his loyalty it was next to a fire and it was dark out. Peter failed miserably.

-Jesus does reinstate Peter but there is a process.

- Jesus starts out, “Do you love me more than these?” Peter had always made claims that he was Jesus #1 guy. Do you love me more than these disciples love me?

-It seems that Peter’s reinstatement was dependent not only on forgiveness but also to be done in the midst of the other disciples.

-3 times Peter denied Jesus and and 3 times Jesus will ask Peter about his love for him.

-At the first inquiry about his love, Peter is like “of course I do” (a little casual)

-By the 3rd time there is a sense of grief.

John 12–21 (2) The Three-Part Conversation between Jesus and Peter (21:15–23)

But Jesus would not let him go with offering an easy response. Instead, Jesus probed him until he opened the wounded heart of this would-be follower. Off-the-cuff replies and well-meaning superficial responses to the risen Lord will not work in the call of Jesus to the life of discipleship. Jesus forced Peter to learn the hard lesson of a changed life. Everyone who follows Jesus must learn what real believing and loving Jesus means.

-When Jesus asks a 3rd time do you love me, Peter is wounded because he recalls that it was 3 times he had denied him.

-In regards to Jesus calling on Peter to feed and care for his sheep...

It should likewise not be from a goal of achieving personal gain but from a sense of calling to serve others. And it should not be because one wishes to dominate others but because one is willing to model the way of Christ in serving God’s flock (cf. 1 Pet 5:3). Seeking power and personal aggrandizement should not be any part of the goals among Jesus’ disciples.

-Jesus came to do the will of the Father…he was always about he mission of seeking and saving the lost. Now he is calling Peter and us to carry out God’s divine purpose in the world.

-Jesus words then take a turn. He knows that Peter will become a martyr. He is and would die on a cross much like Jesus did. Tradition tells us upside down.

-By the time this was written, Peter was most assuredly dead. And there was most likely some concern amongst the believers. Why were Jesus followers, leaders of church dying before he returned? One commentator said,

Therefore, do not worry! The church and history are in the hands of God

Peter himself said

1 Peter 4:12–14 NIV

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

-After all of this Jesus simply says, “follow me”

READ JOHN 21:20-25

3. One last interaction with Peter

-So Peter turns and sees that John is tow

-Jesus answer contains the Greek word “nunyo” which in English translates to “non-yo business”

-There are a couple of things here:

This led to the expectation of Jesus immediate return

The Lord works as the Lord works

The Gospel according to John B. Jesus and Peter and John (21:15–24)

One of them may be called to strategic pastoral ministry (vv. 15–17) and a martyr’s crown (vv. 18–19), and the other to a long life (v. 22) and to strategic historical-theological witness, in written form (v. 24).

Let’s not forget John has said much about what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

John 12–21 (2) The Three-Part Conversation between Jesus and Peter (21:15–23)

It is clear in John that pain and persecution will touch believers (cf. John 16:2), but Jesus did not give the calendar date for the end. Nor did he plan to remove Christians from this world (cf. 17:15). Instead, he promised to keep his people in his own care (cf. 10:28) and provide the Paraclete to keep them from becoming scandalized or falling away (cf. 16:1). Tribulation and turmoil would certainly come in the world, but Jesus told his disciples not to give up or abandon hope. Rather, they were/are to live with a positive perspective because he had indeed overcome all that the world could muster against him (cf. 16:33).

-The final verse stand as a marker once again the eyewitness account of the author.

-However what are we to make of the word “we”

Elders of Ephesus where John had close connection

-Finally there is much more that Jesus has done.

APPLICATION

Restoration & Forgiveness

This still how God works.

Following Christ Call

“Follow me.”

This is a costly decision

Luke 9:23–24 NIV

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

3. Trust & Obedience

Peter had to grown into this

We know that both Peter and John became leaders in the early church. But getting to that point came through trust & obey