Commissioned

Main Passage

John 21:15-25.

Intro

Subject

Need

Preview

Today we will see that we as men of God are to have:

Affection for Jesus

Allegiance to Jesus

Assignment from Jesus

Please turn with me in your Bibles to John 21. In this passage, we get a narrative of one of Jesus’s last encounters with his disciples.

John 21:1–4 NIV

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “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. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

Phrase “early in the morning” is significant. Throughout the book of John night and darkness is allegory and a sig theme. However, here the light of day has become reality because Christ is risen and returns.

Also notice of the 7 disciples who are going fishing who is among them, Peter.

Why were they fishing?

When Jesus called Peter in Luke 5, he was fishing, when Jesus returns to Peter he is fishing. Perhaps because it was his profession, but perhaps because after Jesus’s crucifixion and the loss of his Lord, he returned to his old ways.

Sometimes we, in moments of disillusionment and hardship we return to that which is comfortable and familiar.

The text goes on to say,

John 21:5–7 NIV

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 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. 7 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.

Verse 4 says “they did not realize that it was Jesus”

Then, they experience this profound miracle upon their response to his command, verse 6 they had so many fish they struggled to haul in the net!

This triggered something in Peter, it triggered an awareness and a realization.

I wonder if in this moment he had a flashback to the other moments where Jesus on this same lake, the Sea of Galilee calmed the storm,

On the shore of this same sea, he preached the sermon on the mount, on this same sea, he fed 4,000 and 5,000.

On this same sea, he walked on water.

Peter is brought to awareness of who’s voice was speaking and he does something rash and undignified.

REPs1- Affection for Jesus

John 21:7 NIV

7 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.

Both Peter and John know who it is. John says, “It’s the Lord” and Peter jumps in the water.

Sometimes as men, we are far to reserved with our emotions. We care far too deeply about our reputation and how we will be perceived that we are unwilling to act out of passionate love for Christ.

Peter didn’t wait nor did he care what the other disciples thought in this moment, he had such deep affection for Jesus that he jumped out of the boat.

Would you jump out of the boat if you saw Jesus?

Do you have an affection for Jesus?

SHOW: ??

There are three key words in the Greek for love: Eros, Agape, and Phileo

Eros - is romantic erotic type of love

Phileo - is friendly, brotherly type of love. The city of Philedelphia - of brotherly love.

Agape - Christlike, sacrificial type of love

Here’s why this is significant. Peter had a phileo for Christ not an Agape for Christ.

Peter had an affection for Christ, but did he have allegiance to Christ?

Let’s continue reading…

John 21:8–9 NIV

8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

This charcoal fire is only found 2 places in Scripture:

Here at the Fish Fry in John 21

The other John 18:18.

What happened in John 18? Before we go there, we need to first go to John 13. Turn with me to John 13

John 13:36–38 NIV

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

In this section Jesus predicted Peter’s denial of him and do you know what this prediction was immediately preceded by? John 13:35

John 13:35 NIV

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

A statement about Agape- Christlike, Sacraficial love

Peter didn’t yet have it, why? Jesus hadn’t yet modeled it for him.

Now let’s turn to John18. In John 18, Jesus get’s arrested and immediately after Jesus’ arrest we read this in verse 15

John 18:15–18 NIV

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” 18 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.

Peter on the seashore would have immediately been pulled back to this moment. It’s a sensory moment. Specifically, scent is one of the strongest triggers we have for memory.

I can tell you the scent of my grandma and grandpa and I remember that vividly.

Whenever I smell _____ it pulls me back to ______. Scent is a powerful trigger and so this moment would have been seered into Peter’s heart and mind for a very siginifcant reason

It was his first time denying Christ. He then preceded to deny Christ 2 more times. 3x total, peter denies Christ.

And so as he’s standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, standing by the charcoal fire, looking into the eyes of his master and savior, Jesus then asks him 3x, do you love me?

Let’s return to the beach of Galilee, John 21.

John 21:15–17 NIV

15 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.” 16 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.” 17 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.

This exchange is fascinating. In it Christ restores Peter to ministry with a simple question: Do you love me?

Now this question, has so much more weight than do you like me? Do you have an affection for me? Jesus asks the first 2x do you Agape me?

Peter responds the first 2x Lord, I Phileo you, I love you (like a brother).

Jesus then asks a third time, Do you love me? But this time he changes the word, Peter do you Phileo me?

Peter then responds, with a change in turn, Lord I agape you. But why? why the switch?

John 21:17, “peter was asked because Jesus asked him the third time”

The third question, triggered in Peter’s mind his most shameful moment, when he denied the Lord 3x.

But Christ does not bring Peter’s sin to bring shame but to bring healing. Satan highlights our sin and our failures to bring about guilt, condemnation, and shame. Christ surfaces them so that they can be healed in full. The number 3 is significant b/c it signifies completion, Christ is bring complete restoration to Peter’s complete failure and denial of Him.

What is it for you? What is the thing that you have so much guilt and shame over? What is the moment that you feel like you failed not only your kids, or your spouse, but Christ?

Jesus want’s to bring healing to your heart for that event.

SHOW:

After this profound moment of healing, Christ then goes on not to fortell of Peter’s denial but of his commitment, his allegiance.

REPs2- Allegiance to Jesus

John 21:18 NIV

18 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.”

When Jesus says this to Peter, he is foretelling his death. He tells Peter, he’s going to grow old and after he’s lived a long life, his arms will be streched out. In the same way that Christ’s arms were stretched out on a cross.

Peter will be lead to where he did not want to go.

The way of Jesus is the way of the cross.

If you want to be allegiant to Jesus, you need to be willing to go where you don’t want to go to a cross.

You need to be willing to sacrifice your life for Christ, just as He sacrificed for us.

Allegiance isn’t evidenced with platitudes but sacrifice.

And those who are allegiant to Christ, receive assignments from Him.

REPs3 - Assignment from Jesus

Three times Jesus responds to Peter’s response with a command, an assignment.

John 21:15 “15 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.””

John 21:16 “16 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.””

John 21:17 “17 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.”

His last command to Peter was to love and serve his flock. This was Peter’s assignment.

Who is the flock that God has given you? God has given all of us a flock.

It could be your employees, your kids, your grandkids, a group of underclassmen, teammates, etc. All of us have a flock to look after, to serve and to lead in a Christlike manner.

All of us have a flock He’s entrusted to us to care for.

These final words of Jesus to Peter, sunk in. When the apostle finally wrote his letter to church leaders, he instructs them:

1 Peter 5:2 NIV

2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

The words of Jesus became a way of living for Peter. Has serving and caring for those in your life become a way of living for you? Christ’s mission for you may not be across seas, it could simply be in your home, your school, your gym, your job.

Summarize

Application

Ask the Spirit, what’s one way you can intentionally serve those in your care.