Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Now What?” John 21
John makes it very clear that Jesus said and did much more than God chose to chronicle.
John affirmed that his purpose was to record those things that would both inspire and fortify belief that leads to genuine life in Him. His writing is a masterpiece, a symphony of thought arousing genuine trust in Christ. Chapter one serves as an overture that introduces the crucial themes developed throughout the writing.
Themes in John
1. Jesus existed from eternity before mankind in perfect relationship with God as God full and complete deity 1,2,15
“I am the bread of life coming down.”
“I know Him because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”
“Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. Before Abraham was born, I Am.”
John records the longing of Jesus to be restored with “the glory I had with You Father before the world was.”
He unequivocally claimed to be the Son of God.
“I am the source of living water springing up to eternal life.”
“I Am!”
“I and the Father are one.”
“If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”
2. Jesus is the agent of creation and the source of all life. vs 3
He turned water into wine.
He turned 5 loaves and 2 fish into enough food for 10,000 people.
“Just as the Father has life in himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself.”
“Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in yourselves.”
“I am the bread of life.”
“Whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
“The words that I have spoken are spirit and are life.”
“I have come that they might have life.”
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
3. Jesus is the source of truth and light that enlightens every man with grace and truth. 5, 9
“My words abide in you; then you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”
“My teaching is not mind but Him who sent me.”
“If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”
“I am the light of the world, he who follows me will Old Testament walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.”
“While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light.”
“I have come as light into the world that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness.”
“I am the way the truth and the life.”
4. Jesus entered the world of time and space by embracing humanity to live with humans. 10a,14a
The humanity of Jesus is seen throughout the book.
He identified himself not only as the Son of God but also as the Son of man.
He got hungry. He was subject to the elements. He ate, drank, walked, talked, and touched.
He full and complete deity and full and complete humanity at the same time.
5. Jesus reflected a recognizable divine glory. 14b
Nicodemus recognized it. “No one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
He was able to tell the woman at the well all about her life.
Great multitudes followed Him because they were seeing the signs that He was performing on those who were sick.
“He who seeks glory from the one who sent Him, He is true and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
“It is my father who glorifies me.”
6. Jesus intensely impacted those He touched with life and new birth 12-13,16
Nicodemus, the official whose son was healed, the disciples, the women around Him, the lame man, the woman caught in adultery, man born blind and his parents, the multitudes, Lazarus. Many of the multitudes believed in Him, saying, “When the Christ shall come, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?”
7. Not everyone recognized or received Jesus as Savior 10b-11
The religious leaders and Pharisees. Judas
“I have come in My Father’s name and you do not receive Me”
“If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words.”
“But some of you who do not believe.”
“not even his brothers were believing in Him.”
“The world hates me because I testify of it that its deeds are evil.”
“Several times He walked through attempts to seize him or kill him.”
8. Jesus came to reveal or explain the glory of the Father to men 18
“My work is to do the will of Him who sent me.”
“If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”
Samaritans said, “We have heard for ourselves and know that the One is indeed the Savior of the world.”
“My Father is working until now and I am working.”
“The Son can do nothing of Himself unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son does in like manner.”
“I am the door to the sheepfold.”
“He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me.”
“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”
9. Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world through the sacrifice of Himself. 29
God so loved the world that He sent his only Son. There is no greater love than this than a man lay down his life for another. For the last several weeks we followed the path of pain walked on our behalf. That path led to His excruciating (out of the cross) death. Praise God the path didn’t end in gloom but resumed a glorious path to victory over sin and death. Paul summarized the core of the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15.
Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures and that He was buried.
Jesus rose again on the third day according to the scriptures and appeared.
Last week we explored John’s account of the appearance of Jesus to Mary and the women, to the ten and then to the eleven. Jesus accommodated Thomas’s doubt by showing him His hands and side and also commended those who would believe without seeing. In fact, John wrote this account so that we, having not seen, through his eyewitness account of Jesus may also believe that Jesus really is the Christ the Son of the living God and in believing have life in His name. So what happens after we believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?
A Lesson in success
John 21:1-3
Even with the electrifying news of Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples still seemed a bit confused about what they were to do next. Anytime we encounter the cloud we tend to revert to the familiar. Peter announced he was going fishing and the others said, “We’re coming with you.” Even after a season of being fishers of men, now without the presence of Jesus, they revisit the familiar. I times of confusion and difficulty and uncomfortably we generally return to where we feel competent and comfortable. “I can do this!” “I know this!” The problem is that, in the familiar, we find ourselves dependent on our strength and our proven abilities rather than crying out for His strength and wisdom to face the challenge of a difficult mission.
“I can’t speak in front of people.” “I couldn’t teach a class.” “I don’t work well in that area.” “I have never faced that challenge before.” “I am not trained to do that.”
Good! All the more need to fully trust in God. That is what praying for “expanded borders” is all about. As God expands our borders our need and desire for his empowering presence increases. It is just like God to refocus our thinking by allowing our personal efforts to become ineffective. What we have succeeded to do before doesn’t work so well any more. What worked last year doesn’t work this year.
So with the disciples! “That night they caught NOTHING.” Even the familiar was not working for them anymore. Until! John 21:4-6
What made the difference? The presence and direction of Jesus. Jesus didn’t create the fish. Jesus simply directed the fish to where they could be drawn in and caught by the disciples. When we come to the end of our fleshly resources…when nothing seems to work anymore…when we feel dried up and useless…we desperately need the presence and direction of Jesus. What does HE want us to do? Same boat. Same nets. Same sea. Same disciples. The difference is that Jesus is now in charge. Jesus repeats here an object lesson that should have been learned at the beginning. It is the same lesson taught the first time.
Successful ministry is dependent on the presence and direction of Jesus.
As long as they followed Jesus, there would be harvest. Just as in fishing for fish, Jesus will gather in the people in relation to our obedience to His instruction. The difference was in His presence. The difference was his direction.
What about Chico?
At a time when some things that we have been doing for some time no longer seem to work…at a time when we come up empty more often then full…we need to consider four steps.
1. Cry out for and look for the presence of Jesus.
2. Listen for the direction of Jesus.
3. Obey the instruction of Jesus.
4. Reap the harvest.
Jesus will not create “fish”, He will only direct them to where they can be drawn into the kingdom and be properly feed. Are we ready? Are we willing to do what it takes to care for those God directs our way? Are we willing to expend the necessary personal resources and energy? Jesus didn’t throw the fish up on shore. Jesus didn’t mysteriously drag the nets. The disciples had to expend the necessary energy to pull in the nets and clean and process the fish.
John 21:7-14
Jesus is not only there to give direction but rest and refreshment as well. When we function according to his direction there will be harvest. He will provide rest and refreshment in the course of ministry. John thought it important to draw our attention also to the fact that even though the net was full and should have torn it did not tear. Perhaps a lesson could be drawn here that when Jesus is present and we follow his instructions our normal resources can endure a stretching beyond their normal limits. Physical plant?
Financial resources? Limited time and energy? Limited pool of available workers?
John concludes this marvelous symphony with a simple intimate duet between Jesus and Peter.
A Personal Interaction with Peter
An opportunity to affirm his love
John 21:15-17
In order to best understand the interaction between Jesus and Peter here we must pause for a passing lesson in Greek vocabulary. Although there are four specific Greek words translated into our English Word “love”, only two appear in the New Testament.
The two are sometimes interchangeable and difficult to distinguish between each other. However, when both appear in a passage in such close proximity, it seems most likely John mean for us to focus on the differences in meaning rather than the similarities.
“Phileo” is the love of intimate friendship. This love is based on mutual likes, common goals, warmth of companionship, and camaraderie. In one sense, it is an involuntary kind of love. It happens by reason of close connection or proximity or mutual likableness. It was used to describe the relationship between husband and wife, friends, parents and children. It was a term often used to describe “brotherly love” or intimate friendship.
Philadelphia is called the “City of brotherly love.” It was a word to describe the warmth of relationship between two likable people. If one became, for some reason, unlikable, a great strain would descend on the relationship.
“Agape” is the love of sacrifice. This love is not based on mutual anything. This love is based on a decision of the one loving to commit to the one being loved in such as way as to pursue relationship and selflessly meet need. It was a voluntary love, a choice of the will rather than a pull of the heart. It was a choice to ascribe value to a person demonstrated by action. It was rarely used in common Greek and thus employed by God in the New Testament to communicate His relationship with his erring creatures. Because it was a choice to pursue another based on inner character and strength, it was the stronger of the two.
Phileo describes a relationship based on adoring companionship.
Agape describes a relationship based on absolute commitment.
With that in mind, let’s examine the text inserting the proper terms where they appear in the original Greek text.
Round One
“Simon, son of John, do you agape me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord; you know that I phileo you.”
Meaning
Jesus: Simon, are you committed to me more than these other disciples?
Peter: Yes, Lord; you know (intuitively) that I feel good about our relationship.
Jesus: “Constantly tend (feed) My lambs.”
Peter insisted that even though he didn’t demonstrate his love, Jesus knew he loved him. He ignored the “more than these” part and chose a humbler, less forceful word for love. “The words “more than these” perhaps stung a bit as he remembered his previous declaration, “Even if all (these) fall away I will never desert you!” “Tend” word most often associated with feeding young lambs. A new direction enters the picture here. Previous foundation: If you love me…keep my commandments. Present addition: If you love me…feed my lambs.
Round Two
“Simon, son of John, do you agape Me?”
“Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo You.”
Meaning
Jesus: Simon do you pursue relationship with me with absolute sacrificial commitment?
Peter: Yes, Lord you know that I consider us to be close friends and adoring companions.
Jesus: Continually shepherd my Sheep.
Same interchange - enhanced commission. Jesus switched to a broader word than “feed”.
He calls on Peter to demonstrate His love for him by doing all that a shepherd does for sheep (adults). Feed, lead, and protect the sheep.
Round Three
“Simon, son of John do you Phileo me?
“Lord, You know all things; You know that I phileo You.
Meaning
Jesus: Simon do you really consider me an adoring companion?
Peter: (grieved that Jesus question his relationship with Jesus three times) Lord You know (intuitively) all things; you know (by experience) that I feel very close to you.
Jesus: Continually feed my dear little lambs.
Peter had to be feeling intimidated and remorseful. Perhaps a surge of grief surfaced from his devastating denials. He continued to assure Jesus of his desire to befriend Him. Jesus accepts this level of relationship humbly expressed by Peter knowing that it would lead to a sacrificial absolute committed love in time. Jesus reiterated his charge to care for His little lambs. Feeding and shepherding the Good Shepherd’s sheep demonstrates our devotion to Him.
A glimpse into the future
"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." 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!"
Peter would have a chance to demonstrate the sacrificial nature of his love in the future.
Jesus indicated how he would actually die for Him and urged him to continually follow Him.
Peter couldn’t help but feel singled out and naturally inquired about John.
Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"
Jesus clearly called Peter to focus on his personal relationship. Only the loosely committed worry about what others are required. A full sacrificial commitment doesn’t care what others are doing. The committed concern themselves about best showing their love to God in every way possible no matter what others are doing.
“Don’t worry about John!” “You keep on following me!”
John concludes his account of the teaching and ministry of Jesus by affirming its accuracy.
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written. Jo 21:24-25
Application
• Successful ministry is dependent on the presence and direction of Jesus.
• Successful ministry focuses on fishing and shepherding.
What is that ministry?
Fishing for men
Feeding and shepherding sheep
Jesus charged the disciples to fish.
Jesus called Peter to feed and shepherd the Good Shepherd’s sheep.
This was a personal commission.
The same commission was given to disciples of Christ for to the end of the age recorded in Matt 28.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
One commission - two parts
Disciple all nations
Baptizing (lead them to embrace Christ)
Teaching (teach them to obey Christ)
The goal: Disciple all nations
The influence: All authority
The direction: I am with you always.
Jesus promised his continual presence to carry out the mission.
Luke takes up the next 40 days of events after the appearances of Jesus.
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:1-8
The process: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and remotest part of the earth
The power: You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised His presence.
Jesus promised us His power and direction.
What Now?
Every Christian has a responsibility, no, an obligation, to become involved in the worldwide disciple-making process at some level.
We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20
Cry out for his presence and direction!
Keep Fishing
Get in the boat and throw out the nets.
Follow His direction concerning where to fish.
Believe Him to bring the fish to the nets
Keep Shepherding
Continually trust and obey so you can teach others to do the same
What about you?
Are you catching fish?
Are you shepherding?
