BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
John 21
Intro: I've talked with many people who have shared about some failure in their life and how they wished they could erase the past start all over again. 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ gave a fisherman by the name of Peter just that opportunity. He had failed Jesus miserably, but our Lord didn't just write him off. He came to Him and restored Him and God used him to do amazing things. God wants to do the same for you today. He wants to help you to leave your old life and failures behind and embrace the victorious future He has for you.
“Wheaties” commercials. Many athletes have been paid to endorse Wheaties Cereal. Supposedly, eating this cereal has transformed normal people into great champions in every area of the the sports world.
Of course, we should all know that this really isn’t the case, but today we’re going to look at one person who was totally transformed by Jesus Christ at breakfast in one fateful morning.
A. PETER THE FAILURE
Throughout the gospels, it seems Peter was always messing up. He always said the wrong things and seemed to mess up everything.
1. Peter was Indecisive
In John 1:37, we learn that Peter was called by Christ during the preaching of John the Baptist.
Later, in Matthew 4:18, while Peter is fishing, we see Jesus calling him again. Jesus tells him to “Come, follow me”.
Then, in Matthew 10, Jesus called the 12 to become his apostles.
2. Peter lacked Faith.
In Matthew 14, we see how Peter is impetuous, but lacked the faith He needed. Jesus is walking on the water that night and Peter asks Jesus to “command me to come to you on the water”. He jumped out of the boat and walked a ways, but his faith vanished looking at the winds and the waves and started sinking.
3. Peter often said the wrong things.
* Matthew 16, Jesus is telling the disciples how He will soon be put to death. Peter rebukes Jesus and says it will never happen. Jesus then said to Peter, “Get behind Me Satan!”
* In Matthew 17, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter interrupts the moment and tells Jesus that he wants to build 3 tabernacles there for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses. From Heaven, God shuts him down by informing them that Jesus is HIS Son. Glory of Jesus can’t be shared.
* In John 13, Jesus begins to wash the feet of the disciples. Peter said to Jesus “I will never let you wash my feet.” Jesus rebukes him and explains that, if he doesn’t, he cannot have a relationship with Him.
4. Peter often did the wrong thing.
Peter was a very impetuous man of actions. Sometimes, though, this caused him to do stupid things.
* The night Jesus was arrested in the Garden, Peter goes a little bit crazy and attacks one of the 1000 people coming to take Jesus. He cuts the ear off of the man. This could have lead to all of them being killed, except Jesus puts the man’s ear back on. Jesus was supposed to die by crucifixion, not in a swordfight.
* Later that night, Peter made the greatest blunder of his life. While Jesus was inside being victimized, Peter stood around a fire outside to keep warm. Around that fire, Peter cursed and swore and denied Jesus 3 times. To make matters worse, just a few hours before this, Peter was bragging of his great love for Jesus. Jesus had responded by telling Peter that he would deny him 3 times before the rooster crowed.
Peter’s whole world came crashing down when he heard that rooster.
** I imagine he thought his life and ministry were completely destroyed and God could never or would never have anything to do with him again. But, once again he’d be wrong.
B. JESUS THE TRANSFORMER.
1. Jesus comes to Peter
John 21:1-8 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.
Notice how Peter loves Jesus. How he wants to be with Jesus. How he overcomes an obstacle to get to Jesus.
Now one might say that Jesus came to all the disciples, but notice one thing. There is only one thing recorded that Jesus spoke to the other 11 guys, “Come and have breakfast”. Everything else is about Him and Peter.
Jesus came all that way to reach one person, Peter, and do something amazing to transform him and radically change him forever.
** God wants to do the same thing in you today.
2. Jesus Feeds Them.
John 21:9-14. 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.
The disciples had worked all night and accomplished nothing. They’re tired, they’re hungry, and ready to just give up. Then Jesus appears and changes everything for them. They come to him and He feeds them.
** He wants to do the same for you today. Are you hungry? Are you tired? Lately, have you felt like you could just give up and quit.
I’ve been there. In fact, I’ve been there this week.
What Jesus wants you to know this morning is that He deeply loves you and you may feel like a failure, you may feel like there is no hope for you, and you may feel like you should give up and quit......but Jesus is here this morning to restore you. He is here to transform you. He is here to radically change you and to transform your life.
How can He do that??
3. Jesus Restores Peter
Peter is still hurting. He is embarrassed. He is ashamed. But Jesus is about to change all of that.
John 21:15-17 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.
Peter’s greatest failure and greatest regret was when he denied Jesus 3 times that night around the fire.
Here, around another fire, Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him. One time for each time Peter had failed. And, with that, Peter was forgiven and he was restored and was a changed man.
C. PETER THE CHAMPION.
John 21:18-19 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.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”
Jesus tells Peter that he will serve Him for many years, but also that Peter will indeed have to take up his cross one day and be crucified himself.
Once more, though, Jesus tells Peter to “Follow Me”.
This time, though, Peter was a completely changed man and he did just that. He followed Jesus.
What kind of changes had Jesus made in Peter?
1. Peter was no longer indecisive. He took charge of his life and obeyed Jesus. Jesus transformed Peter into the leader of the group.
2. Peter never lacked faith again. Everything God called Peter to do, he did it boldly. Everywhere Peter went, people lined up to see him. In Acts 5, the Bible tells how sick folks were brought to line the streets hoping that Peter’s shadow would fall on them and they were healed.
3. Peter said the right things! Peter boldly stood up to preach a few weeks after Jesus went back to Heaven and 3,000 people were saved. And, throughout his ministry, multitudes of people came to know Jesus Christ. Under his leadership, the church expanded to all over the world.
4. Peter did the right thing. He followed Jesus all the way!
** He followed Jesus in ministry and traveled many places to share the gospel and start churches. He eventually made it to Rome and founded the church there.
** He followed Jesus in death. One day, after 30 years of faithfully serving Jesus Christ, Peter followed Jesus to the cross. Peter had indeed picked up his cross and followed Jesus. During the reign of Nero, Peter was arrested and tried and sentenced to death in the stadium. The method of execution was chosen to be crucifixion. Peter had one more opportunity to speak of Jesus Christ and asked to be crucified upside down because he wasn’t worthy to die like Jesus.
** This morning Jesus is right here with us. You may be feeling like a failure. You may feel like you have no hope. Like you’ve messed up so bad that nothing and no one can help you.
But Jesus is here this morning to do just that.
He is here to feed you.
He is here to forgive you.
He is here to restore you.
He is here to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
He is here to transform you into a champion.
For Him to do that, though, you must do as Peter did and throw yourself in and come to Jesus. You may be scared. You may be unsure. But I promise you this, if you give yourself to Jesus, He will radically change your life.
