John 21 By the Fire with Jesus

Church Planting

A few years ago right after I started here we started a capital campaign called Multiply 2025

For three years we raised funds and there was just a ton of deferred maintenance here. And Praise God we raised the funds and got nearly all of it done…There is still more to do but I will talk about that another day.

Embedded in that plan was a plan to start a new church. Well we had thought we had the organization that we were going to go with…We had thought we had the plan, but inflation and the fact that we kept finding new broken things in our building paired with a change of focus in that organization left us to basically not plant a church

Well we had planned on giving tens of thousands of dollars through multiply to start a new church in another country but the reality is that we only gave $500 to a new church down the street

So today I want to announce that we are going to go back down that road of mothering a church.

But first why? Well as you know I ride my bike a lot and I spend a lot of time alone on a bike…and I’d say 70% of that time I am just praying about what the sermon will be or what’s next

A bike ride with God is why you all have “one matter’s” t-shirts…Becuase the Lord helped me summarize the mission of our church in one simple phrase. Jesus went after the one.

And you all get that now but I was praying Lord what is next. Then I got this huge God sized idea…It was that transformation happens from around a table…

What if there was a believer at every dinner table in the greater Sacramento area?

What if there was a person who just talked about what God did for them around their dinner table? How might that change Sacramento

And then of course we can not do that alone.

We need to partner with other churches…

Even then we can not do that alone

Well right around this time God was stirring in the hearts of two of our staff members. And I want to invite them up to tell you about this. Pastor Evan and Pastor Heather

Evan and Heather: 5 minutes

Statistics:

60–80% of their members from people who weren’t previously attending any church (i.e., new conversions or the “unchurched”). In contrast, churches that are 10–15+ years old get 80–90% of their new members through transfers from other congregations. This means a typical new church brings in 6 to 8 times more new people

church plants have a 67% better attendee-to-baptism ratio than established churches. Some analyses (including 2022 LifeWay references) indicate new plants average around 12 baptisms per 100 attendees in their early years, compared to roughly 3–4 per 100 in established churches—making plants 3 to 5 times more effective

on average 42% of people attending these new churches previously never attended church or hadn’t attended in many years.

So what would change in sacramento if there was a believer around every dinner table?

let’s Pray

Chris Gist

Pastor Chris Gist is a retired Wesleyan Pastor who has been at River’s Edge church for nearly 30 years. He and his wife linda have been on staff, run retreats and have been intrigal to the life of this community for years.

Well in the month of may they made the difficult decision to move to Colorado Springs to be closer to family. So April 26th will be their last day with us, so on April 26th we will have a celebration for them after church. If Pastor Chris or Linda has touched your life in some way I want to encourage you to bring him a card or just to be here for that day

John 21

We’ve been walking through the resurrection accounts, watching the story of Jesus move from the darkness of the tomb to the dawning light of new life.

Last week we saw Jesus appearing again and again—bringing hope, proving He is alive, turning doubt into declaration.

But today we come to one of the most tender, powerful scenes in all of Scripture:

a breakfast on the beach.

A charcoal fire. A failed disciple.

And a risen Savior who refuses to let failure have the final word.

This morning we’re going to watch Jesus restore Peter—

Think back for a second when you got in trouble as a kid…Your parents had to restore you right?

How did they do it…I was thinking,…How do I do it…Probably with a stern “don’t do it again” lecture and a hug? I dont know

But have you ever failed God? Have you ever failed Jesus?

If you’ve ever failed the Lord… Then many times when you feel like you failed God then I know that feeling…I have sat across from so many people who have felt this ….

guilt still whispers that you’re disqualified… if you wonder whether God is done with you…

If that has ever been you, this story is for you.

So let’s get into the text

John 21:1–14 NIV

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Here I want to correct something that I used to teach. I used to teach that Jesus called Peter as a fisherman and now peter has run back to his old profession as a fisherman.

But I don’t think that’s true any more. I think these were men who were probably still trying to figure out what to do in light of the resurrection but the reality is that they didn’t know what to do just yet

But as it turns out every day, just like you and I they need to eat. And since there is a lack of refrigeration in the ancient world, they need to hunt, fish, farm just like everyone else.

They need food…So they go out to do what they know how to do

and again we find themes from the chapter before

They were out there early in the morning….It was still dark

John loves these themes…It’s dark out and they are moving to light

Then we see John “The disciple whom Jesus loved” say: “It is the Lord”

John 21:7 NIV

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.

First I want to look at this phrase, “It is the Lord”

If you remember from last week, John had been the first one to see and believe from the empty grave

This is the crescendo of a long journey though John of identifying who Jesus is

Just before this, Thomas who was doubting said, this…John 20:28

John 20:28 NIV

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

See every since the resurrection Jesus has been called “Lord” in greek it is Kyrios

It is a word that denotes sovereignty and complete authority: One way it was used in the ancient world was the sovereign master of all creation

See the resurrection blew the lid off the category of messiah for them…They couldn’t fathom God coming in flesh, but the resurrection gave them a whole new category for what the messiah was…

See John the Baptist told us in chapter 1 who Jesus was

John 1:23 NIV

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”

In confronting the resurrected Jesus they actually see the author of the entire universe and what is amazing here is that obviously…

Through his ministry he revealed himself as God incarnate but he is still a person standing there in front of them…So it would have been hard to stand with Jesus and accept that he is Kyrios …The Lord!

Honestly…Pausing right now and just asking yourself the question who is Jesus is probably one of the most impotrant questions of your life…Because if he is just a moral helper then you are missing it! But if he is Kyros, Sovereign Lord! then that is what he wants you to know about himself

Jesus reveals the heart of God. He is providing for people who he loves and he loves humanity

to put it simply, he wants a relationship with humanity

And I love what is happening here between Peter and John that has been building for many chapters

I’ll give you the cliff notes on it…

John Perceives and Peter responds

Just like the famous footrace to the tomb where John outruns peter to the tomb. John will get into the grave he will observe and perceive what is happening and Peter will act

They are just two guys who are wired differently

But John wants to frame this scene on Peter so I think it is impotrant to show you something about what John wants us to know about Peter through the book of John

Peter is impulsive

John 13:8–9 NIV

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Peter just says what he is thinking…None of the other disciples react but Peter does

And because of his impulsiveness…The impulsive disciple makes way to become the fearful disciple…

See being impulsive could have gone either way…it could have gone to the courageous but in this case it went to the fearful

John 18:17 (NIV) “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”

See Peter’s quick reaction without thinking led him to deny Jesus

And in his fear this lead Peter to confusion because on that first resurrection Day

Mary Magdaline comes and says…his body is gone

When Peter and John get to the tomb

John sees that the grave clothes are still there which robbers should have taken had it been robbers and the text says that

John 20:8 NIV

… He saw and believed.

But we hear northing about Peter’s belief

But this impulsive, fearful and confused disciple there is something different about him…

See last week we read that John outran peter to the tomb but this week we see John recognize look it’s Jesus

And this time the impulsiveness of Jesus moves to courage rather than fear

He doesn’t wait for the slow heavy boat that is towing fish around

he dives in and swims to shore

And then we get this scene

John 21:9 NIV

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

When Peter lands on shore Jesus is having a little BBQ and there is something very specific about this fire

There are only two places in the entire new testament that describe a charcoal fire …

One that is Peter’s greatest failure and the other is the greatest restoration in the bible

It is here and in John 18

John 18:18 NIV

It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

So there are other fires in the new testament but the way john wrote this in greek is unique…When peter swims up to shore…John wants to connect you with Peter’s denial

Jesus is setting the scene just for Peter

It was around a charcoal fire that Peter denied Jesus 3 times

and now Jesus is being careful to set the exact same scene because this fire will preach something profound

Wherever you have been, whatever you have done, the past doesn’t need to keep defining you

With Jesus your past failures do not need to define your future

So Jesus tells him to bring the fish

the text tells us there were 153…And guys, there is so much written on this number…I think the most likely thing is to show two points

1. It was a lot of fish and John wanted us to know that this was just another of Jesus’ signs

2. When you went fishing with a net you would count the fish and divide them by the amount of people present

There are a trillion other theories but I think this makes the most sense

But don’t let that distract you

What Jesus will do next is one of the most beautiful pictures of restoration in the Bible

John 21:15–19 NIV

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.” 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.” 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!”

Three times Peter is asked…Do you love me more than these…

and again…Here is where I need to correct some teaching I have done in the past

I used to teach that Jesus was referring to Peter’s old profession…This fish

But after a closer look at this, I dont think that any more

I think that Jesus was referring to Peter’s own statement at the last supper

Peter has constantly made strong statements about how much he loves Jesus

He had even boasted about his reliability to Jesus

peter said

John 13:37 NIV

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Peter was ready to die for Jesus

He was the one who grabbed a sword and cut off an ear

So I think when Jesus asked him, do you love me more than these…He was probably point back to Peter’s own bold statements that he was exceptional because he would follow Jesus till death…So Peter, do you love me more than the other disciples love me?

He was reminding Peter of all he had said

And the fire reminded Peter of what he did

See Peter had shown great physical courage in the garden with his sword…But in the courtyard with a little girl present…He denied Jesus three times

Peter may have had physical courage but what was living on the inside of him was fear and that fear took over

So three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him

and three times Jesus says

Feed my lambs…take care of my sheep…then feed my sheep

There is a simple truth that jesus is showing us

Jesus shows us the key for being made right with God: I must confront my guilt of my past rebellion and the reality of my sin.

Maybe this is just for you today

You are here but you feel guilty

God has called you to something but you have sat on your hands…

God wants to use you but you keep on denying him?

Or

There is sin in your life and you have no freedom

There is guilt in your life you need to bring before the Lord.

If you don’t ever confess the reality of that sin it will always have power over you

Even if it is just guilt

Guilt has the power to control and totally own you

And there is only one way to release the power of guilt in your life…It is to surrender it to Jesus

So there is this obvious restoration motif

Peter denied jesus three times and three times Jesus tells Peter “Follow Me”

Three times Jesus invites Peter back into the fold

This week I read something on this that I didn’t even think of…One author said, Denying Jesus in the first century was common, so John recalling this story to the early church gave them all a framework for restoration…

Let’s keep moving

John 21:20–25 NIV

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.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 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.

One: I love that John is reminding us of chapter 13 that dinner scene…He is reminding us compare John and Peter and that is the subject of the podcast that I just recorded so check that out

But Jesus had just told Peter about the death he would die… that his arms would be stretched out…That he would die like his messiah

That what peter said in

John 13:37 NIV

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

And this would come true

Peter would die a martyrs death, traditionally he was crucified upside down on Vatican hill by the Emperor Nero

But there is this play again between Peter and John…jesus said, If I want him to remain alive until I return what is that to you…You must follow me

This indicates that There are two different plans for Peter and for John

Lets go back to the progression of peter

Remember Peter

Impulsive: This lead peter to be

Fearful: In his fear he denied jesus

At the tomb peter was Confused about what had happened when John believed

But then by the fire peter was Restored

And now Peter is not going though John to ask Jesus a question…He is asking himself face to face peter is Courageous…And he will die a courageous death for Jesus

There are a few points in the middle of all of this:

Peter and John have two different callings

If you re-read the gospel of John you will always see John in the background witnessing all that is going on…He is at the cross he is even walking behind Peter and Jesus on the shore…Just silently witnessing

John’s calling will be to give witness to Jesus: And he will write the gospel of John…The book of Revelation and three letters to the early church…John will live out his life telling the story of Jesus as a witness

Peter is called to courageously shepherd jesus’ people…

Peter is restored not just to right relationship but to his calling

Peter’s calling was to lead the church! Remember…He looks at Peter and calls him the rock and says on this rock I will build my church!

And even though Peter denied Jesus…Even though he screwed up big time…Jesus looks at Peter and still chooses him!

But Peter only gets to live out this calling because he was restored

Because Jesus confronted his worst moment

because Jesus made him relive his worst moment

and what is remarkable about Jesus is that even after peter’s worst moment, Jesus still wanted him!

Conclusion

If you get nothing else from today’s sermon hear this

Failure is not final with Jesus.

Peter—the impulsive one, the fearful one, the one who denied his Lord three times around a charcoal fire—later that year preached boldly on Pentecost. and three thousand people came to know Jesus…

He led the early church. He died a martyr’s death for the One he once denied.

Why? Because Jesus met him at his lowest point, confronted his sin with love, forgave him completely, and recommissioned him with purpose: “Feed My sheep… Follow Me.”

Maybe today you feel like Peter. Maybe you’ve had an epic failure. Maybe shame has been your constant companion. Maybe you’re still carrying guilt that controls you.

Hear the good news: Jesus is still in the restoration business.

He still wants to make a fire and sit down with you

He still asks, “Do you love Me?” not to condemn, but to restore. He still says, “Follow Me” — even after we’ve wandered.

Bring your shame to the fire. Confess the reality of your sin. Surrender it to the only One who can turn your worst moment into a testimony of grace.

No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’ve been—Jesus still wants you. He is not through with you. He is calling you back to relationship… back to purpose… back to Him.

Let’s pray."