By the Seaside

John 21:2–3 CSB

Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Now there are a lot of Commentaries out there that will make some remark that this is a sign that Peter is backsliding.

Absolutely ridiculous.

I want you to think about all that had occured up to this point:

Empty Tomb

Resurrection

Appearances - multiple

There is NO WAY that this is a backsliding.

So what is it?

Familiarity.

Peter was a fisherman.

They had to eat.

It is something familiar.

ALL valuable and plausible things.

But what if there is another option as well.

This is Simon Peter we are talking about. And when you do some reading through the Gospels, you will learn quickly that Simon has some VERY POWERFUL moments with Jesus: BY THE SEASIDE!

Jesus preached in Simon’s boat.

Miraculous catch of fish.

Called to be Fishers of Men.

Calming the Sea!

Feeding THOUSANDS with Fish and loaves.

Witnessing Jesus WALK ON WATER!

OH - and PETER walking on water!

Let me ask you a question: Where do you go to be with GOD?

Is there a place where you feel closest to God?

Because FOR Peter, PERHAPS it is By the Seaside.

So let’s spend some time today looking at this special encounter with Jesus.

John 21:3 CSB

“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

They went Fishing, but caught nothing.

Man doesn't this sound familiar?

Luke 5:4–5 CSB

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”

Fished all night and caught nothing.

Let’s Continue in the Gospel of John

John 21:4–5 CSB

When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered.

They fished all night, But caught nothing. BUT JESUS!

Notice the sense of humor that Jesus has: He calls them FRIENDS!

But more specifically: He asks a question in the form of a statement: You don’t have any fish, do you?

John 21:6 CSB

“Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.

BUT JESUS!

Cast your nets on the RIGHT side!

Basically: I know you fished all night and caught nothing, but LET DOWN YOUR NETS!

Sound familiar?

Luke 5:4–6 CSB

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear.

John 21:7 CSB

The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea.

When they realized WHO was standing on the Shore, the overwhelming emotions got them to jump into the water to be with Jesus.

I kind of wonder if they could have RAN across the water.

Now when they got to the shore, things again sound familiar:

John 21:9 CSB

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.

Jesus provided the fish and the bread. FISH and Bread. LOAVES and Fishes. Just like the Feeding of the Thousands.

John 21:10 CSB

“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them.

Again I see a sense of humor: Bring what you just caught.

Jesus provided it. Jesus is our provider. He is always all we ever need. If we have it, Jesus provided it.

Jesus could have just called them to the shore and had a meal already prepared, but instead HE reminded them of things that were, to lead them to what would be!

John 21:11 CSB

So Simon Peter climbed up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus gave 153 MORE reasons to believe!

Such a miraculous thing!

FOLLOWED by a GLORIOUS Restoration and COMMISSION!

John 21:15–19 CSB

When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”

Now there is a good chance you have heard this story, and it has been preached in many ways.

What i want to do is focus on the Words of Jesus in a specific way:

Peter denied Jesus 3 times.

Jesus asks Peter 3 times: Do you love me?

1st time -

Jesus - Agapao - great affection, care, loyalty - a selfless unconditional love - sacrificial love

Peter Respons - Phileo - Love - great affection - more brotherly love, friendship, closeness

Result - Commission: Feed my lambs - tend to my little ones

2nd time -

Jesus - Do you Agapeo

Peter -I Phileo

Result - Shepherd me sheep - Guide and help my flock.

3rd Time

Jesus - Do you Phileo me? Do you actually have brotherly love for me? Is this all that I am to you?

See the question is different because twice Peter used brotherly love speciaically in his response. ANd Jesus is asking a simple question: Is that all I am to you after all I have shown you?

Peter - GRIEVED! Distressed. Sorrowful.

LORD - You know everything

You know all things

There is nothing I can hide from you!

I PHILEO YOU!

Result - FEED my Sheep .

Nourish my flock.

It sounds crazy: why didn’t Peter just say he AGAPEO Loved Jesus?

Isn’t that what Jesus wanted? I mean HE did ask repeatedly!

But Peter’s answer is EXACTLY PERFECT!

Peter couldn’t say YES I have selfless unconditional love because HE FAILED that test!

and denied Jesus 3 times.

Peter was painfully, deeply sorrowful, greviously aware of his own shortcomings, of his own failures; and there is no way he could sit there and look at the face of GOD and then say he had sacrificial love!

But he could prove his love eventually.

Let’s go and put this whole thing into perspective.

Jesus asked 3 times?

Yes 3 fold restoration.

BUT ALSO something so much more!

Tend my little ones

Guide and HELP my followers.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every Word of the Lord. - TRUE spiritual Nourishment. And now Peter was more aware of God than he had ever been before.

And what Jesus is doing isn’t scolding Peter!

He is literally telling Peter: If you love me like you say - THEN DO WHAT I AM TELLING YOU TO DO!

Jesus doesn’t scold Peter. Why? Because Jesus took Peter into account when Jesus called Peter to be his fisher of men!

And you know what: Jesus took you into account when he called you!

So we can read stories of Peter, and other people in the Bible and they feel disconnected; but the reality is that these accounts are in the Bible so that WE can learn a powerful truth:

These personal accounts help us know how God connects with us!

We are not alone!

And there is nothing new under the sun.