Jesus restores us
John Chapter 21
Last week we celebrated Easter and how Jesus rose from the dead and how He presented himself to the men and women who followed him.
Today we look at what is regarded as Jesus third appearance to the Disciples. It is a week later so it is another Sunday morning. We find there are 7 waiting where they were told to be by Jesus.
While they waited they did what any real fishermen would do they went fishing. We do not know how many days they were there or if they spent an entire week fishing while they waited but they were faithful to following Jesus instructions.
Jesus had told them to go to Galilee and to wait for him there and to bring the others. Matthew 28:7 and Matthew 28:10 and Mark 16:7 This time Thomas made sure he didn’t miss anything.
Have you ever received news that was so good you had a hard time believing it? Maybe one of those telemarketers telling you that you won a free trip or a cruise? Maybe one of those phony lottery tickets or some door to door salesman?
Well for many of the Apostles Jesus resurrection was a lot to take in; it seemed too good to be true.
Could they have all been victims of a mass hallucination or maybe suffering from a delusion of some kind? But that wouldn’t explain the individual sightings like Mary and the two on the road to Emmaus.
I’m sure Dr. Luke was taking his time evaluating the entire experience from a medical stand point. Jesus invited them to touch him to see that he had flesh and bones.
This was no parlor trick Jesus was alive but he looked different apart from the scars and his voice which Mary had recognized at the tomb. Here he was alive but different able to appear and disappear at will, able to eat and talk and walk.
Jesus appeared to them over the course of several days so that they could get comfortable with the idea of a living Jesus.
He explained from the scriptures how all of these things had to happen.
There was one person in the group – Peter - who could not be reassured. He had denied Jesus and lost the respect of the other followers as well as his position as a leader.
Sometimes we think we are so far gone from God that there is no going back. But with Jesus even the weakest among us has a chance to have our relationship with Jesus restored.
How about you friend? Have you failed to be everything you promised God you’d be that first day you came to faith in Christ?
This is why Jesus met the 7 there. They were all part of the leadership team that knew Peter best. They were fellow fishermen and Galileans.
Jesus met Peter in an environment where Peter was comfortable and with the men he was most comfortable with. Not in the Temple courts or the city streets but out on the lake where he had spent most of his life working – fishing.
It is as if Jesus was letting Peter take one last look back so that he could see how far he had come in 3 years as a Disciple. This was kind of an opportunity to weigh his next steps with Jesus.
Peter went back to what he thought he knew. Like so many of us we slip back when we realize we have failed Jesus. We seem to lack the humility to come to Jesus on our knees. We tend to try to pick up our old life but find that we somehow don’t belong there anymore either.
Peter discovered that for himself when after a long night of fishing he had caught nothing. It wasn’t for a lack of trying.
You see Peter had been changed over the course of those 3 years just as you and I have been changed over the course of our time with Jesus.
Once you take Jesus into your heart and mind and soul as Peter did you will never be the same person. No matter how much you deny it or how many times you try to deny the Lord.
Jesus knew how to reach Peter. From the shoreline Jesus shouted out to throw the nets on the other side. Could it be that easy? Is Jesus just on the other side of us just an arms length away?
They followed the instructions and the net got incredibly heavy full of fish. Jesus got the fisherman’s attention. But it was John who recognized the voice from shore as that of Jesus.
Peter did not connect the dots about the great catch. How such a thing was God’s doing.
Sometimes we too can miss the obvious intervention of Jesus in our lives and we need others to point it out to us.
Young John tells Peter – it is the Lord. An amazing communication has taken place between Peter and Jesus and all done by a great catch of fish.
I’m sure Peter recalled the first day he met Jesus and was told how he would become a fisher of men.
Peter understood the value of fish and the value of a person’s soul. He decided then and there that he would rather be a fisher of men if Jesus would have him.
Peter was all in literally – he dove in and swam for the shore out pacing the boat with men on the oars.
What a reunion that must have been. Peter’s eyes locked on Jesus conveying hope and full of questions.
The others arrive and Jesus sits them all down – no one asks if it is Jesus for who else could it be? After breakfast Jesus addresses Peter in front of his friends.
There was to be no doubt as to Peter’s allegiance or leadership. Everyone could hear the conversation.
Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? What was Peter to take from that?
Peter – do you really want to spend the rest of your days on this lake with your buddies fishing for the rest of your life?
Peter replies – Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
I love you above all of my good friends here I love you more than this lake and this fisherman’s life. Jesus replies – Feed my lambs.
Three times Peter is admonished by Jesus just as three times Peter abandoned his faith in the Lord.
How it must have broken Peter and relieved him at the same time to have Jesus put the question to him.
Peter was now restored as a follower, as a Apostle and as a leader. Jesus let him know his decision would cost his life.
Jesus wants that kind of commitment and service from each of us. You see if we are honest we can all admit to having moments like Peter when we want to turn back to the old life. But friend: that can never be for you or me.
We must heed the call and obey the commission to feed the lambs and care for the sheep. Each of us has a flock we are to tend and lead.
The question is – do you love Jesus more than your old life? - Amen
