Breakfast on the Beach

Good morning.

This is a uh privilege to open the Word of God with you this morning.

If I've not had the opportunity to meet you yet, my name is Justin Pillsbury.

I'm the assistant pastor to youth here at the church.

We'd love to visit with you after the service.

This summer we've been going through the Old Testament, and the point of going through the Old Testament has been able to see Christ in the Old Testament, that the entire Old Testament has been pointing to the promised Messiah.

And this morning will be in the book of John.

And specifically, it'll be breakfast on the beach with the resurrected Jesus.

And as we get a feel for the book of John, it can be helpful to kind of think of the modern day concept of the Hall of Fame.

And Hall of Fames consists of individuals whose excellence stood out above others who were also in those fields, whether it be music, whether it be sports, whether it be acting or something else.

These are individuals who are incredibly gifted and talented to do what they did.

If we were to go visit one of these Hall of Fames, you would have someone like Matthew McConaughey, who even made beef commercials, interesting, or maybe Morgan Freeman narrating this individual's greatness as you looked at their display.

And Hall of Fames are great.

They remind us.

They remind us of the greatness that we got to witness at one point.

And it may even leave some of us inspired to say, hey, I could do that when we were a little bit younger.

But even more remarkable than watching what some of these humans were able to do is John is unfolding the greatness of God before our very eyes.

And he's doing something similar to Hall of Fame with his writing of this gospel.

He's saying, I want to show you Jesus again and again and again.

I want you to see that this is the Messiah.

This is the one the Old Testament has been pointing to for so long.

And John is even kind enough in his book, and in fact, two verses above the chapter we were reading this morning to tell us exactly why he wrote this book, as he clearly says in John 20, verse 30 and 31.

John 20:30

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John wants to see Jesus take us from that evil that we so easily delight in and set our gaze upon him so that it will stop our wild careers.

So before we read John 21, let's pray.

Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you for your word.

We thank you, Lord, for every jot and every tittle from Genesis 1 to the end of Revelation.

Father, that it is inspired, that it is inerrant, and Lord, that you use it to build up your body.

And pray this morning that your word, Lord God, would continue to heal our hearts and cause us to love Jesus more.

It is in your name that we pray.

Jesus' name.

Amen.

Hear the word of God.

This is John 21.

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias.

And he revealed himself in this way.

Simon Peter, Thomas, called the twin, Nathaniel of Cana and Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

Simon Peter said to them, I'm going fishing.

They said to him, We will go with you.

They went out and got into the boat.

But that night they caught nothing.

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to them, Children, do you have any fish?

They answered him, No.

He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.

So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because of the quantity of fish.

That disciple whom Jesus loved, therefore said to Peter, It is the Lord.

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

But Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.

So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them.

And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast.

Now none of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you?

They knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.

This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

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, Feed my lambs.

He said to him 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, Tend my sheep.

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 everything.

You know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, feed my sheep.

Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted.

But when you were old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.

This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.

And after saying this, he said to him, Follow me.

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him, and had said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?

When Peter saw him, he said, Jesus, Lord, what about this man?

Jesus said to him, If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?

You follow me.

So the saying spread among the brothers that this disciple was not to die.

Yet Jesus did not say to him he was not to die, but if it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.

Were every one of them to be written?

I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever.

Well, the first thing we see in the first eight verses is the day breaks and the shadows flee away.

In this passage, we have the disciples doing what comes so natural to many of them fishing.

And there are probably a few of you in this room who think, yes, fishing also comes very natural to me.

But as they make the journey back to shore with empty nets, John is kind enough to include verse 4 where it says, just as the day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore.

What a picture.

The Son of God standing on the shore as day begins to break.

The very one who makes the darkness of our souls run away is standing on the shore as light from the physical sun is making the night disappear.

There's not nearly as many of us who enjoy a sunrise as enjoy a sunset.

But every time we get to see a sunrise, whether it's on the morning commute, whether it's working out, whether it's sitting on the back porch or somewhere else, God has given us a visual picture of what he is doing on the inside of our souls as he is reminding us, he is the one who chases away the darkness that plagues our souls.

And also in this passage, as the day breaks and the shadows flee away, we see a childlike faith on display.

We're told in verse 4 that the disciples they didn't know that it was Jesus on the shore as they hear this voice from a distance.

Did you catch anything?

And they give the report that no fisherman ever wants to give.

Nope, didn't catch a thing.

And I love the humor that we see in Scripture.

And often like this, it's subtle.

In verse 6, Jesus says, cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.

And I would love to know the thoughts that were going through the disciples' mind.

At this point, they're probably muttering under the breath, who does this bystander walking on the beach in the morning think he is?

We've been fishing all night, and he's saying, cast it on the other side.

Yeah, right.

We're surely going to catch some fish.

And then it would have been a priceless moment to have seen their faces as the net is so heavy, it's almost impossible to haul it in, as there are bucket loads of fish, not just small fish, but we're told large fish, 153 of them.

So up until Jesus arrived, this was a fishing expedition that no one wanted to remember.

But once Jesus arrived, it would be an experience no one would ever forget.

And when Jesus arrives in our lives, it changes everything.

And that is why John yells with conviction in verse 7, it's the Lord.

And Peter follows John's declaration by jumping into the sea and making the hundred yards or so trek to Jesus.

Some of you who have maybe seen Forrest Gump or thinking of Forrest Gump, jumping off the boat, you know, Lieutenant Dan, Lieutenant Dan.

And you know, this person going over the side of the boat because they're so excited to see who is on the shore.

And what's so funny?

These men are so overjoyed by the sight of Jesus that one is yelling, the other is jumping into the water, and that is so unlike grown men.

It's behavior you usually don't see from grown men, and it usually takes something quite spectacular for grown men to react like that.

It might be the wedding day, it might have been the kick six, it might have been two has passed, it might have been a job promotion, but there's very few things that elicit that excitement from a man.

And the point being is we're just not usually that excitable.

And to be moved and to respond like that, to show that kind of enthusiasm, or as Jim Harbaugh tells us, that enthusiasm unknown to mankind, we also get one of the most remarkable moments in scripture here because, again, did you catch who it was that was jumping into the water?

It was Peter.

The same man who denied Jesus three times in his darkest hour.

And we're thinking, how could a man who deserted his leader, his friend, in his darkest hour, even show his face again?

Let alone run towards Jesus with such enthusiasm.

Because the thing is, for most of us, we'll do everything we can to avoid the individual that we've wronged.

So why on earth would Peter act like a giddy junior high girl, almost hyperventilating, as the boy she likes texts her, follows her, and likes her picture all in the same afternoon.

Why would Peter respond like that?

He ran to Jesus because he grasped the gospel.

And he grasped the gospel deep in his bones.

Peter knew that he deserved the wrath of God with every breath he took.

But he knew Jesus removed that wrath as far as the east is from the west by loving his heart to the point of death.

Peter had seen his Lord and Savior arrested, beaten, and crucified before his very eyes.

And now he's seen his risen Lord and Savior as the day breaks and the shadows flee away.

And for us, has that truth sunk in for us?

Do we get it in our bones that we deserve the wrath of God with every breath we take?

But as believers, that wrath will never touch us.

It won't even singe the hairs on our body because Jesus loved our hearts to death.

Peter had every reason not to get out of bed.

Every reason to never show his face in public again.

Or if he did show his face in public, it would be with head down and a feeling of failure tattooed across his forehead.

And it's almost like you can hear the enemy's whispers in his ear, Peter, you're not good enough.

Jesus, the Son of God, he even told you that not once, not twice, but three times, you were going to deny him.

And you did.

There's no way he can forgive you for such a heinous act.

There's no way grace will extend to someone like you.

And the truth is for many of us, we walk through life listening to the enemy's lies.

You're not good enough.

No one's really going to love you.

You know what you're really like.

You know what you did last night.

You know what you said last week.

If they really saw you, there's no way there's a God who loves someone like that.

But you know what?

That's the beauty of the gospel.

Because the gospel is telling us, yes, we are absolutely terrible, and we do deserve the wrath of God with every breath we take.

But something has been done about our wretched condition.

And as we tell our students often, we believe you're never so bad, that you're beyond the reach of God's grace.

Peter knew that truth better than he ever had.

And that he and no one else was beyond the reach of God's grace.

When we know it and when we feel it in our bones that we aren't beyond the reach of God's grace, the heart begins to change in ways that it's never done before.

It sings a new song.

There's an abiding joy that was not there before.

Because as sure as the sun will rise to chase away the night, his mercy will never end.

And we are more loved than we could ever know.

And that is why sinners like us can dine with the Savior.

And in verses 9 through 14, we see the second thing.

Breakfast with Jesus.

Does it get any better than this?

Breakfast with Jesus by a fire overlooking the sea.

We've probably all answered those questions before.

Hey, who are the top three people you'd like to eat dinner with and where?

This one wins it all right here.

Sitting by the sea with the resurrected Jesus and taking it all in.

To think about that.

To be sitting around the warmth of the fire, the fire's crackling, the fish are cooking, people are relaxed as they visit with one another, and the host is the resurrected Jesus.

And did you notice that Jesus already is the host?

He has the meal prepared.

Verse 9 tells us that the charcoal fire was in place with the fish already cooking, the bread was already there, and the fish that the men caught weren't needed, or in actuality, the fish that Jesus helped them catch.

And this is a subtle reminder to the disciples and to us that Jesus doesn't need our efforts for us to come to him.

Just look at what verse 12 says.

Come and have breakfast.

The invitation from the Son of God to come and eat and come and dine.

The invitation is Jesus reminding his disciples.

I will feed you, I will sustain you.

Your efforts will not do.

You cannot do this on your own.

You are fishermen by trade.

And if you had trusted in your skills, we would not be eating right now.

The only reason they are enjoying that meal in that setting and at that time is because Jesus supplied everything.

And as Christians, the only way we're able to be sustained.

And as we talk about in a minute, the only way we're able to feed the sheep is by Christ sustaining us, is by trusting in Christ's accomplished work for us.

This passage is reminding us no amount of expertise, no amount of human strength or human wisdom is enough.

We need Jesus, and we need Jesus' humility to clothe us.

And the third thing that we see from verses 15 through 23 love me and feed the sheep.

If this were a movie, this is where the camera zooms in on Peter's conversations with Jesus.

And I'm sure there were more conversations, but this is the conversation that John focuses the most attention on is he wants us to see Jesus is the Messiah.

This is the one God sent to save us.

He really is the Son of God.

And then it usually kind of post-meal where the conversations start to get really good.

Usually in our culture, it's where, hey, let's go to the living room where it's a little bit more comfortable, and the coffee and dessert is brought in.

And as they finish breakfast, Jesus turns to the man who jumped into the water to greet him.

And it's a conversation that highlights the unmerited kindness of our God.

And in this conversation, we see a little bit of repetition.

And anytime we see repetition, it's like seeing repetition in school.

It's letting us know this is important.

For those of us that are in school right now, or for some of us that may have been a while ago, whenever we heard the teacher say something or asked the same question three times, we're like, I need to know that.

That's going to show up later.

And so Jesus repeats two things three times in a span of three verses from 15 to 17 by asking, Do you love me?

And saying, Feed my sheep or tend my sheep.

First, Jesus asks Peter, Do you love me?

And as we look on with our human eyes, we're saying, uh, Jesus, this man just jumped into the water to greet you.

Don't you think he loves you?

But the thing is, Jesus knows Peter's heart.

And Peter, like us, talks a big game.

We're saying, Yes, Lord, I love you.

Yes, Lord, I love you.

But as suffering, as pain, and as possible persecution come, we run for the hills.

So is Jesus asking this because he's unsure if Peter loves him, or is he asking this for Peter's benefit?

It's entirely for Peter's benefit.

Jesus is building Peter up.

Because the last time, if you want, you flip back in your Bibles, John 18 18, the last time Peter was near a charcoal fire was when he denied Jesus three times.

And now Peter is sitting near a charcoal fire with Jesus, repeating his love for Jesus.

Do you see how gracious God is?

He is even redeeming a moment for Peter.

Before he ascends into heaven, Peter's last memory of a charcoal fire with Jesus will be him declaring his love for Jesus and receiving instructions to feed and tend the sheep.

Just imagine what that did for Peter's mind, heart, and soul as God was preparing him to build the church that not even the gates of hell would prevail against.

Jesus then proceeds to tell Peter in verses 18 and 19.

Your death, it's going to be gruesome.

You're not going to die peacefully in your sleep at a ripe old age.

Jesus is preparing him for the road ahead.

Because at times it is going to feel like God is slaying him as life gets brutal, and it is only Jesus who will sustain him.

God is saying to Peter, you need to remember that you love me.

And more importantly, you need to remember my love for you.

Because that will see you through the darkest days as I build my church through you.

And the second thing that we see repeated is that feed or tend my sheep.

And what Jesus was implying is the only way, the only way you can feed the sheep is if you love me.

You need to know how sweet my name sounds in your ear.

Because as a Christian hears the name of Jesus, it will move us to feed the sheep.

And Peter knew how sweet the name of Jesus sounds.

And he knew that Jesus would be the one who will be that manna and rest for his soul.

He knew that Jesus would be that shield and hiding place as the days got difficult.

And he knew that Jesus would allow him to enjoy boundless stores of grace.

And he knew that God would enable him to proclaim his love literally with every fleeting breath, as one day his soul was refreshed in death.

So until the day breaks and the shadows flee away for all time, let us be sustained by his loving grace as we proclaim Christ crucified to a lost and dying world.

Let's pray.

Father, just the imagery of the disciples sitting around and dining with you, and you reassuring Peter of his love for you and your love for him.

Lord, thank you that you are that tender with us.

Lord, that you love us and you loved us to the point of death.

And Father, pray that you would remind us it is you that sustains us until that one day when the shadows flee away for all time and we enjoy a world where sin no longer plagues our souls.

Lord God, get all the glory in Jesus' name.

Amen.