The Gospel of John - Easter Sunday

The Gospel of John

Jesus and Peter

John 20:1-17, 21:1-18

Grace upon Grace

OPENING Prayer–

Father we come to you this morning alive in Jesus because of His being raised from the dead. You have called us to Faith and it is by believing in Jesus where we find life and breath and everything.

This morning Father show us the power of your Son, distribute over your people the power of His resurrection. Open our eyes to the Grace upon Grace that Jesus gives because of the Cross and the power of His resurrection.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight today Father. I pray all of this In the mighty and holy and abundant Name of Jesus.  - and all God’s children said?

If I have not had a chance to meet you;

 My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship. 

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If you have a copy of the Bible in either electronic version or the actual book kind -

Open it to John Chapter 20 as we will hear and read the Story of the Resurrection of Jesus told by his very closest friend, The Apostle John. Often spoken of the One that Jesus Loved. John Tells us that he wrote this Gospel so that we who read it would believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that believing in Him we would have Live, and that would be eternal life. My Prayer for all of us this morning is that we would understand the power of the cross of Jesus and experience the Power of His Resurrection in our life as we know what it is to receive Grace upon Grace.

SPEAK and WELCOME UNBELIEVERS – NON FOLLOWERS And THOSE who struggle in their faith –

This Morning is Easter Morning - Maybe you are a person that is intersecting with this thing called the church for the first time. Maybe you know its Easter and it is the one day a year that you connect with the church. In either case maybe it is because you have really big questions about Jesus, about what is it that Jesus was raised from the dead and what does it mean in our life This is the Day that the church has traditionally celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus. Easter Sunday as we know it to be.

Engagement –

This morning I want to begin with a question that is so centrally important to answer. It is the central question that every person must eventually come to grips with. Whether you are a follower of Jesus or not this question must be dealt with.

Q: What was accomplished through the cross of Christ in concert with the resurrection?

So many times we have this tenancy to somehow separate the Cross of Christ from the Resurrection. We just generally I think, think of them as Two separate events. Almost like God decided to raise Jesus from the Dead, After he was murdered.

This morning, this Easter Morning, I want all of us to know that The Crursifiction, the murder of Jesus, the Cross of Christ and His Resurrection are inextricably tied together in eternity. This was God’s eternal plan from the Beginning. To send His Only begotten Son, being sovereign and ruling over Him suffering the most serious of Sins ever committed. Jesus said that He had come to die. Let me declare to you from the truth of Scripture that HE was also sent to be raised from the Dead. In the absolute sovereignty of God the Father, Jesus was always going to be raised from the dead, and in doing so, God the Father, through the work of God the Son would UNDO the effects of the Greatest Sin ever committed. God would have been Just to take out His vengeance and Anger for this, the most serious of Sin’s Committed against Him, The murder of His own Son as a completely innocent person and As God. But that is not what God did. God UNDID what was done, GOD, poured out His vengeance for EVERY SIN on His son and then HE UNDID the Effects of Sin, Including the ONE that Satisfied HIs wrath. And with His wrath being Satisfied HE could Now, Being Just and The Justify er, provide the Power of the Resurrection to undo the effects of the Greatest Sin and therefor Every sin. This is the Victory we have in Jesus.

Lets hear the Story

TRUTH

John 20:1–17 NASB95

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes. 11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”

BACKGROUND

Here we have this tremendous Story of Jesus Revealing Him self, Resurrected to Mary Magdline, A woman of terrible reputation. Some one most people would have nothing to do with. But Here Jesus is, not only removing from her the demons that were ravaging her life while He was walking amun

all people, but now revealing himself to her after He was resurrected and commissioning her to be the one to take this news of great power to the disciples. She was the messenger. A woman of bad reputation, whom Jesus healed, and hen He placed her into service.

This story of God, Raising His Son from the dead and Undoing the Greatest of Sin - Ushers in the question - How much of a difference does this make in our life? and How does this effect us? What do we find in Jesus, His cross and His resurrection?

Jesus after His resurrection Appeared several times to His followers and to over 500 people over a period of the next 50 days. Until He ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit. During His time, being resurrected He continued to meet with His followers and with others and He was teaching and doing in a whole new way. He was ushering in Eternity as He worked and moved as God had resurrected Him.

It is SO interesting that John Records for us some of the earliest meetings that Jesus had with His followers after the Resurrection.

Go with me to the Next Chapter in John, John 21

Lets read the Story:

John 21:1–18 NASB95

1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. 18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”

This is an amazing story of the power of the Resurrection that Jesus give to all who follow Him.

if you read the story of the Crucifixion across all of the Gospels what you will find is that after Jesus was crucified Every one of His followers scattered. These guys scattered like a covey of Quail. They all want back to their previous life and for Peter and most of them that was Fishing.

So here they are Fishing once again. and Jesus, the resurrected Jesus, and let me be clear, this was not some kind of ghostly thing. This was Jesus in the flesh, fully and bodily resurrected.

These guys don't recognise Him at first but they follow the suggestion to place the nets on the other side of the boat. When they do they catch a lot of Fish and the John, The one who wrote this story, the One whom Jesus loved, looks at Peter, and Says “it is the Lord” it is Jesus and Peter jumps into the water and swims fully clothed about 100 yards to get to Jesus.

Here is what has happened, The guys in this boat had followed Jesus for three years and after all that time, every single one of them wavered in their faith. Some to just the extent that they went back to their old life and not to the new life that Jesus had called them to. They all at some level had rejected the teachings of Jesus and scattering like a covey of quail at some level rejected Jesus. Reality they probably dint really know what to do next so they went back to what they knew.

But here is what Jesus does -

Jesus provides for these guys practical needs. Jesus provided them with a huge catch of fish. This would have not only provided food for them and their families but also financial provision as they would have most certainly sold some in the market place.

Jesus goes further - Jesus gathers these guys to gether and he feeds them breakfast. and by this time they all knew was Jesus.

I wonder how that must have felt? Seeing Jesus with holes in his hands and feet standing on the shore and inviting me to eat breakfast with Him.

I often wonder How i would have felt had it been me invited to breakfast. Would it have been awkward? Would I have felt inadequate? would I have been convicted by my abandoning Him and going back to my old life?

Jesus feeds them, taking bread and fish and giving it to them. Restoring fellowship with all of them over a meal.

After they finished breakfast - Jesus turns to Peter -

Many times I wonder to my self what I would be thinking IF I were peter? After all I was the Main man - I was supposed to be THE one to lead this spiritual revolution and yet I never really understood. And then THE Big offence. The big offence. I had denied Him three times!

He said I would do it! My Pride denied it as even Possible! The One thing I swore I never thought I would do I did! I denied Him. I promised I would Die for Him and I denied Him. I denied Him in His time of Greatest need I denied Even knowing Him! I cursed at the people who said I knew Him to prove I didn’t belong to Him. I betrayed Him in my heart. In my mind. In with words, and in running away with my actions. I am so ashamed. I am so sorry and I need Him, at one time I even Said he had the words of Life - I need Him so much, I need Him so much to forgive me? WIll HE?

Here we are having breakfast together. When I knew it was Him i Jumped, Is that enough? Will he bring it up? What will he say about the words I used? What will he say about my cursing? What will he say about me running away? What will he say about me abandoning Him? Will he make mention of it at all? Will he condemn me? Will He embarrass me in front of all my friends?

Jesus Knew all of the insecurities that Peter was feeling. This is Jesus - Jesus looks at the one who denied Him, who cursed others to deny Him, The one who never got it and who ran away when Jesus needed Him the most, the one who was so self assured and prideful and Jesus simply asks One Question:

DO you Love me?

IT is so interesting that Jesus didn’t respond to Peters sin in any other way, a more confrontational or conventional way as you or I might have!

Jesus didn’t address the Sin in what seems like a conventional way. Jesus simply addresses the sin that Peter had committed by asking the question: DO you Love me?

Here is what Jesus does with Peter - Jesus places Actually Puts Peter into Service - Never requiring anything additional from Peter - Jesus puts peter into service based on the suffeciency of Love for Jesus that peter truly had.

IT is so interestingt o acnowledge in this story that for Every Sin of denial that Peter committed Jesus undoes it with THree AFFIRMATIONS of Jesus’s willing ness to place Peter into Service of the Kingdom.

You See the Cross of Christ and the Power of the Resurrection work together in the Life of Peter that wonderful morning on the See of Galilee - The price for Peters rebellion and denial of Jesus was paid for by the death of Jesus which was the result of the greatest Sin ever committed and The Effect of that Sin is completely undone in the resurrection. This allowed the disqualifying effects of Peters Rebellion and denial to be undone as well. Peter was placed into service by Jesus because Jesus had been raised from the dead and the power of Sin was broken and death had been overcome for all who Believe and Peter Believed and Trusted Jesus and placed His whole life into the service of Jesus.

APPLICATION

This Easter Sunday you may be struggling to come to Jesus because of some thing you have done or because of a lifestyle that you have been living for years and you wonder HOW can Jesus Accept me or even use me? This life that you have been living may actually cause you to think that you are Past the point of no return - That there is nothing that can be done to help you get to a right relationship with God and that He rejects you because of the choices you have made or things you have done or even worse things done to you.

This Easter Sunday - My hope and Prayer for you is that you know That the Cross of Jesus paid for all of your sins, All of your rebellion and All of the life style choices you can ever make, And the Resurrection of Jesus undoes the effect of those sins in Every way - the Bible says for all who believe.

This Easter Sunday Jesus says COME - Come to Jesus - Come to the Cross of Christ and see your sin and rebellion and life style being paid for there - Come to Jesus. Come to the Resurrected Jesus, The one who is alive today, Seated at the right hand of the father - Hear Him ask you the question: Do you love me? Come to Jesus - Turn your whole life to Him in a living active faith, a decision the Bible called Repentance. - Experience the New Resurrected Live that Jesus came to give you. Be set Free to love and Serve Jesus and know that your relationship with God is real and everlasting through your faith and complete trust in Gods Son Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

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You guys have a beautiful Easter Sunday as the cross of Christ and the Power of His Resurrection are realized in your heart and life - May God continue to bless you in every way - Happy Easter.

IMAGINE and INSPIRATION

The GOSPEL