John Ch21v1-25 - Follow Me

Well again, welcome everyone. Good morning. It's great to have this opportunity to speak from God's Word this morning.

We will be going through John chapter 21. We're going to read the chapter together through the sermon.

John 21 · chapter mention

So I'm not going to read it ahead, but as we go through, we're going to read it section by section.

Do you like films or books that come with an epilogue at the end of them?

Do you like when a film has that little tag at the end?

You know, we've just had our climactic scene. The film's all wrapped up. The story's done.

But there's just this other scene, a little bonus right at the end.

And maybe it's to set up the sequel, just a little teaser so that you come back next summer and buy more popcorn.

But an epilogue at the end of a book or a film can do quite a bit, can't it?

It can satisfy our curiosity because it can kind of pan out to the future and give us a view beyond the story.

Or it can simply tie up some important loose end.

It can even be a way sometimes for the author to step onto the stage and give their personal views through a character.

Well, this morning I want us to read through the Apostle John's epilogue to his story of Jesus.

And it does all of it.

It hints at the next installment.

It's going to tie up a major loose end.

It's going to zoom us into the future.

And it's going to allow the author to step in right at the end.

It's an epic epilogue by any stretch.

But more importantly in some ways,

more than any epilogue of fiction or stage or film,

this true epilogue draws us, the reader, into the story.

This true epilogue is going to draw us in as the readers into the story.

You see, there's the thinnest gap of a page of paper

between what we read in John chapter 21

John 21 · chapter mention

and our lives today as Christians.

As John epilogues, he's asking you, you, will you follow Jesus?

And will you serve others like Jesus did?

So we're going to go through, as I said, the chapter together in four parts.

Bigger parts going to smaller parts.

But first part, the final recap of the story,

the final recap story, verses 1 to 14.

John has brought the main story to the end of chapter 20.

And if you look at the whole Gospel of John,

it began in chapter 1 with a prologue, an opening.

And if we turn to chapter 1,

I think it just helps us to understand the epilogue a little bit.

So John's prologue in John chapter 1,

John 1 · chapter mention

it takes us out of our time and our space,

and it reveals to us God the Son,

the eternal Son,

the only begotten Son of the Father,

God equal with the Father.

I just want to look at three verses to help us see this.

So verse 1 of John chapter 1,

John 1 · chapter mention

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

Jesus is the Word.

Jump to verse 14.

The Word, that is Jesus,

became flesh,

and made His dwelling among us.

We have seen His glory,

the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.

And jump down to verse 18.

No one,

no one has ever seen God,

but the one and only Son,

who is Himself God,

and is in closest relationship with the Father.

He has made Him known.

So it's fitting that a story that begins with a prologue,

John chapter 1,

John 1 · chapter mention

is going to end with this epilogue.

Jesus, the God-man,

that we're introduced to in chapter 1.

What impact did He have in these 21 chapters?

And what legacy has He left?

So jump back with me, if you will,

to chapter 21.

Let's look at verses 1 to 3.

Afterwards, Jesus appeared again to His disciples

by the Sea of Galilee.

It happened this way.

Simon Peter,

Thomas, also known as Didymus,

Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,

the sons of Zebedee,

and two other disciples were together.

I'm going out to fish,

Simon Peter told them,

and they said,

We'll go with you.

So they went out,

and got into the boat,

but that night they caught nothing.

First one,

Jesus appears,

or maybe you could translate it better,

reveals Himself to His disciples.

The reveal happens back

where many of the disciples

had first met Jesus

at the Sea of Galilee.

Here we have,

if you count them up,

there's seven of the twelve

are back at this lake or this sea,

and they're back in a familiar setting,

doing familiar things.

You see,

Peter and the sons of Zebedee,

that's James and John,

Peter, James, and John,

they'd been business partners together

three years previously

in the fishing business.

And Peter is back fishing,

and the other disciples

are happy to go fishing with him.

Now we might be tempted

to read a little bit too much

into these opening verses here.

So we could speculate that,

Ah, Peter.

Ah, old Peter.

He's given up again, hasn't he?

He stopped following Jesus.

He's kind of taken the keys

to the kingdom of God

and thrown them back in

through the letterbox,

and on his way out,

he's grabbed his fishing rod,

and he's back to the lake fishing.

He's given up on Jesus.

But I don't think there's any

real strong indication of that here.

Back in chapter 20,

where the main story is,

Peter is the one

that's running to the tomb

when he hears reports

that Jesus has risen.

Peter is seeing the evidence

firsthand for the resurrection.

He's seen the empty tomb.

He's seen the grave clothes

that were neatly folded

and put to the side.

On one of Jesus' previous appearances

before this third one,

Jesus had commissioned the disciples,

saying,

As the Father has sent me,

so I am sending you.

They're commissioned followers of Jesus.

So what do we have here?

Well, I think we have the disciples.

They're waiting.

They're waiting for power

to come from on high

by the Holy Spirit

to begin their mission

out from Jerusalem.

And Jesus also said to them

that he would see them in Galilee.

So while in Galilee,

what else can you do?

Why not go fishing?

Well, fishing, verse 3,

why not?

Because fishing can be frustrating.

So they went out

and got into the boat,

but that night they caught nothing.

Out fishing at night.

Why at night?

Well, probably to have fresh fish

in the morning

to be able to sell at the market.

But at night,

it can be hard,

and they waste the efforts

of seven men in one night.

What a frustration.

And do you know what?

The disciples have been here before.

In Luke's Gospel of Jesus,

there's another lack of fish episode.

When Peter, back then,

was out fishing

with his business partners,

and he says,

we've worked hard all night,

he says to Jesus,

and we haven't caught anything.

And in that miracle catch of fish,

and it's a little spoiler,

we're going to have a miracle catch here.

In that miracle catch of fish in Luke,

Jesus came up directly to them

and told them to put out the nets again.

Here, it's a little different.

Jesus appears from a distance

as a kind of friendly customer on the shore.

Let's look at verses four to six.

Early in the morning,

after this frustrating night,

Jesus stood on the shore,

but the disciples did not realize

that it was Jesus.

And he called out to them,

friends, haven't you any fish?

No, they answered.

And he said,

throw your net on the right side of the boat

and you will find some.

When they did,

they were unable to haul the net in

because of the large number of fish.

Friends, any fish?

No.

I'm sure there's a bit of frustration.

All seven of them probably in unison.

Do you know what?

Throw your net on the right side of the boat

and you'll find some.

Well, do you know what they say about customers?

They're always right.

And who knows?

Maybe there are some fish.

And this man from the shore

calling out,

maybe he might bring some luck

and if we put down the net,

we'll find, you know,

a fish or two.

Not a total ride off of a night out fishing.

So the nets go down

and then there's a tug.

And then there's a real tug.

And then there's this frantic activity

where the nets are being pulled

and the waters are churning

and there's flapping.

All seven to the nets.

Quick.

Secure them.

Make sure that they don't break.

And haul.

And haul.

And pull.

This isn't some lucky few fish.

No, this is hitting the mother load of fish.

It's another miracle catch.

And then the penny drops.

The penny drops for one of them.

I know this fish locating power.

I've seen this before.

Verse seven.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved

said to Peter,

It's the Lord.

As soon as Simon Peter heard him say,

It's the Lord.

Well, he wrapped his outer garment around him

for he'd taken it off.

And he jumped into the water.

And the other disciples followed in the boat,

towing the net full of fish.

For they weren't far from the shore,

about a hundred meters.

And when they landed,

they saw a fire of burning coals there

with fish on it and some bread.

Peter.

That's not any man.

That's the Lord.

Peter remembers what happened before.

Let down your nets.

You haven't caught anything,

but trust me.

This is Jesus.

Quick, Peter.

Quick throw on the top.

Leave the haul to the others.

They can sort that out.

Jumps out of the boat.

Wades through a hundred meters

to get to the man on the shore.

No delay.

And the others,

they fall hauling the nets.

And they catch up.

And there's the burning coals of a fire.

The friend has prepared breakfast.

Verse 10.

Jesus said to them,

Bring some of the fish you have caught.

So Simon,

Peter,

he climbs back into the boat

and dragged the net ashore.

And it was full of large fish.

153.

But even with so many,

the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them,

Come and have breakfast.

None of the disciples dared to ask him,

Who are you?

They knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread

and he gave it to them.

And he did the same with the fish.

And this was now the third time

that Jesus had appeared to his disciples

after he was raised from the dead.

Bring some fish.

I already have the bread baking here.

No need to ask.

No need to say it.

This is Jesus.

Their friend and their Lord.

So what can we learn from this

final story in the epilogue?

Well, first,

and most importantly,

Jesus is alive.

And he is still the God-man

who serves his friends.

And we see Jesus the man, don't we?

If we look at verses 4 to 5,

there's Jesus walking on a shoreline.

And he's calling out to friends on a boat.

And in verses 10 to 12,

he's there sitting

and having breakfast around the fire

and saying,

Let me serve you.

Jesus,

Jesus,

Jesus,

Jesus,

the humble servant leader,

is alive.

He strolls.

He calls out.

He lights fires.

He bakes bread.

And he shares out the fish.

These are the everyday things

from a close,

hospitable friend

at the beach.

You know it's good

to have a friend

like Jesus.

Jesus.

And verses 6 to 7,

the command,

the call to throw out the net

and the miracle hall.

Jesus is God.

He is the maker of heaven and earth.

He is the one who can walk on water.

He is the one who can multiply

loaves and fishes.

He is the one that can arrange

for 153 large fish,

no minnows,

no little sprats

that need to be thrown back in.

He can arrange for those 153 fish

to be on the right side of a boat

100 meters away.

He is the one who heals

others' sicknesses

and their diseases.

He is the one who raises himself

from the dead

after three days

never to die.

The one, remember in John chapter 1,

John 1 · chapter mention

the one and only son

who is himself God

and is in closest relationship

to the Father.

what a friend we have in Jesus.

The old hymn says,

can we find a friend

so faithful,

so true,

one who knows

our sorrows

and our cares,

who even as our risen Lord

is willing to serve us,

to call us

and to help us.

Fishing

can be frustrating

all night

with nothing to show

and so can our efforts

to provide for our family.

They can be slow,

they can be barely making ends meet,

always feeling there is more

that we should

or that we could do.

And some of us know

or have known

the struggle of

stocking a fridge,

of dealing with a broken tap,

of affording

a visit to the doctor.

Where the world

and its systems

would let us down,

where there are no fish

to show,

do we hear the voice

from the shore

call to us,

friend,

the voice that says,

do not worry.

Your heavenly Father

knows that you need

these things,

but seek His kingdom,

follow me

and all these things

will be added to you.

A voice that calls out to us,

cast out your nest

again in faith.

But He's also the one

who lights the fire,

the one who shares His bread,

the one who

supernaturally provides

with a miracle catch,

but also provides

through these very

ordinary means.

The one who gives Himself

as Lord of heaven and earth

and the one who gives Himself

through a community of friends

to help us in our need.

This is the God-man.

This is the Jesus

who we are to become like.

And so to follow Jesus

is to be like Jesus.

To also be the one

who calls out

friends from the shore

to light the fire

and share your bread.

It sounds simple,

yet here is the risen Lord

doing that,

just that,

for His friends.

John in chapter 13,

He said,

of Jesus,

Jesus said,

having loved His own

who were in the world,

He loved them

to the end.

John, of course,

is talking about Jesus

going to the cross,

Jesus laying down

His life for His friends.

The love of Jesus,

only something that God,

the Son,

could do.

Love to the end.

And by His death

on the cross,

we are invited

to confess our sins,

to put our faith in Him

and to follow Him.

And if that is news

to you this morning,

that is good news.

Jesus loves you.

Jesus died for you

and calls you

to follow Him.

Also in that very same chapter,

John talking about

Jesus loving to the end,

he also said what it was

to follow Jesus.

Jesus said,

a new command I give you,

love one another.

As I have loved you,

so you must love one another.

And by this,

everyone will know

that you are my disciples

if you love one another.

And so this

final recap story

is Jesus,

the Master,

showing the disciples

what practical

friendship

and love

looks like.

And the Master

has much

for each of us

to do.

You see,

each one of us

is called

to friendship

with Him

over a lifetime

of service.

And not all paths,

not all our paths

following Jesus

are going to look

the same.

And we are going

to listen in

on Jesus'

call on Peter

along with getting

a hint

of what is going

to happen

to the Apostle John

as well.

So first,

let's listen in

as we follow

Jesus and Peter

as they are walking

along the shore here.

Let's listen in

to what their exchange is.

Verse 15.

When they had finished

eating,

Jesus said

to Simon Peter,

Simon,

son of John,

do you love me

more than these?

Yes, Lord,

he said,

you know that I love you.

Jesus said,

feed my lambs.

Again,

Jesus said,

Simon,

son of John,

do you love me?

He answered,

yes, Lord,

you know that I love you.

Jesus said,

take care

of my sheep.

The third time

he said to him,

Simon,

son of John,

do you love me?

Well,

Peter was hurt

because Jesus asked

him the third time,

do you love me?

He said,

Lord,

you know all things.

You know

that I love you.

Jesus said,

feed my sheep.

Very truly,

I tell you,

when you were younger,

you dressed yourself

and you went

where you wanted,

but when you were old,

you will stretch

out your hands

and someone else

will dress you

and lead you

where you do not

want to go.

Jesus said this

to indicate

the kind of death

by which Peter

would glorify God.

Then he said to him,

follow me.

Peter was the first

of the seven

to reach the shore.

He didn't want to wait

to haul the fish in.

He wanted to get to Jesus.

But I wonder

as he waded

closer and closer

through the water

that he noticed

the already burning coals

of the fire

on the shoreline.

And if those coals

gave him a flashback

of that night

that he failed

to be a friend

to Jesus.

You see,

the last time

burning coals

were mentioned

by John

in his gospel,

it was the night

that Jesus

was betrayed.

the night

his friends

fled,

the night

he was arrested,

the night

he was brought

before an illegal

trial

of the Jewish

leaders.

And Peter

followed from a distance

and when that trial

was happening

at the high priest's

courtyard,

Peter was there

from a distance

warming himself

and his hands

on a fire

of coals

outside

the high priest's

courtyard

as Jesus

was being tried.

Peter said,

Lord,

they might all

abandon you,

but not I.

I will never

deny you.

But we know

from our own

weak hearts

it's only Jesus

that truly

loves to the end.

You see,

Peter's

love

failed

at a critical

point.

Peter

denied

Jesus

around the

coals

three times

in one night.

And so

here we have

this

three-fold

questioning

now

of Peter.

Do

you

love

me

from Jesus?

And each

of the three

times

is to

cut open

again

the wound

that Peter

carries

for his

three

denials.

Why?

Why would

Jesus

the friend

cut open

that wound?

Well,

so that the

self-inflicted

wound that

Peter carries

with him

can be

properly

dressed

and properly

stitched

by a

master

physician.

Jesus

cuts

the wound

three

times,

one for

each

denial.

Each

cut is

to

replace

regret

with

restoration,

to

replace

failure

with

calling.

And

healing

comes

from

each

of

those

three

times

that

Peter

responds

with,

you

know

that I

do.

And each

reply

from

Jesus

of

feed

and

care

for

the

sheep

all

brings

healing

and

restoration

and

leads

to the

end

of

verse

19,

those

last

two

words,

follow

me.

You see,

love for

Jesus means

loving

like

Jesus.

Following

Jesus means

being a

friend

like

Jesus.

Jesus

and

so

Peter,

for

Peter,

that

means

feeding

the

sheep

like

Jesus

did.

Jesus

is

the

good

shepherd.

And

so

Peter

here

is

called

to

pastor

the

flock,

the

lambs

of

verse

15,

the

sheep

of

16

and

17.

He

is

to

feed

them

from

the

word

and

to

care

for

them.

Now

we

can

feel

the

hurt

of

Peter

in

verse

17.

Peter

was

hurt

because

Jesus

asked

him

the

third

time.

But

I think

it's

important

to

think

through

what

this

hurt

is.

I

don't

think

it's

hurt

because

of

Jesus

but

because

of

his

recollection

of

his

own

sin.

The

hurt

comes

from

sin.

The

healing

comes

from

Jesus.

We

might

fall

and

cut

ourselves

badly

but

to

plaster

it

up

ourselves

or

to

go

to

an

amateur

physician

will

leave

a

scar.

The

deep

cuts

need

the

master

surgeon

to

apply

his

skill

in

making

them

right.

And

so

the

cutting

from

the

hands

of

our

friend

Jesus

makes

neat

our

mess

and

leaves

a

glorious

mark

not

an

ugly

scar.

So

do

you

take

the

questions

of

Jesus

by

the

conviction

of

his

spirit

seriously?

The

questions

that

you

hear

from

him

do

you

love

me?

And

when

the

hurt

of

your

sin

is

there

do

you

mourn?

And

are

you

hurt

over

your

own

sin?

As

you

delve

deeper

into

anger

in

your

soul

towards

the

brother

in

Christ

who

you

can't

face

do

you

hear

the

spirit

of

Christ

this

morning

asking

do

you

love

me?

what's

in

your

heart

what's

on

your

lips

yes

Lord

well

the

Lord

says

show

me

feed

my

sheep

care

for

my

flock

light

my

fires

welcome

my

servants

share

your

bread

if you

love

me

serve

if you

love

me

care

love

one

another

with what

I

have

given

you

and

have

called

you

to

you

see

Jesus

is

not

cruel

the

wounds

of

sin

we

carry

they're

not

delivered

by

his

hand

but

in

his

control

they

can

be

restitched

in

his

kindness

ultimately

our

life

of

service

leads

to

some

kind

of

destiny

and

that

destiny

will

be

on

Jesus

terms

not

on

yours

first

18

feeding

the

sheep

would

lead

Peter

to

being

led

away

by

others

to

his

death

church

tradition

has

it

that

is

his

hands

were

stretched

out

because

like

his

savior

he

died

on

a

Roman

cross

John's

gospel

John

writes

here

probably

after

Peter's

death

so

John

can

look

back

in

this

epilogue

and

show

that

it

was

all

part

of

the

master's

plan

to

glorify

God

Peter's

death

but

Lord

you

might

ask

with

Peter

in

verse

21

what

about

someone

else's

destiny

or

what

about

me

what

do

you

have

in

store

for

me

Lord

in

this

life

of

service

let's

read

verse

20

to

24

Peter

turned

and saw

that the

disciple

whom

Jesus

loved

was

following

them

this

was

the

one

who

had

leaned

back

against

Jesus

at

the

supper

and

said

Lord

who

is

going

to

betray

you

when

Peter

saw

him

he

asked

Lord

what

about

him

Jesus

answered

if

I

want

him

to

remain

alive

until

I

return

what

is

that

to

you

you

must

follow

me

because

of

this

the

rumor

spread

among

the

believers

that

this

disciple

would

not

die

but

Jesus

did

not

say

that

he

would

not

die

he

only

said

if

I

want

him

to

remain

alive

until

I

return

what

is

that

to

you

so

they're

walking

along

and

Peter's

pointing

back

at

the

disciple

whom

Jesus

loved

and

this

is

an

enigmatic

character

who's

never

named

in the

gospel

but

pops

up

at

key

points

the

disciple

whom

Jesus

loved

and

the

consensus

is

that

this

is

a

reference

to

the

apostle

John

the

author

of

this

gospel

one

of

the

sons

of

Zebedee

one

of

Peter's

fishing

partners

now

John

is

writing

towards

the

end

of the

first

century

and

he

outlived

Peter

by many

years

so

rumors

begin

to

circulate

that

this

disciple

is

never

going

to

die

he's

going

to

stay

alive

until

Jesus

returns

so

John

in

verse

23

is

setting

the

record

straight

that's

not

actually

what

Jesus

said

but

the

key

for us

is

actually

verse

22

why

is

it

that

one

path

following

Jesus

leads

to

a

shortened

life

and

martyrdom

and

another

path

seemingly

to

a

long

life

what

does

Jesus

say

in

verse

22

what

is

that

to

you

you

must

follow

me

listen

to

Jesus

with

both

ears

not

with

one

ear

directed

towards

what

others

are

being

called

to

he

is

the

master

and

friend

who

has

called

you

your

call

is

individual

how

he

blesses

gifts

and

extends

or

shortens

the life

of another

in their

service

to him

that's

all

in his

masterful

hands

thankfully

in the

end

both

Peter

and

John

are

loved

by

the

Lord

both

are

believers

both

live

out

faithful

lives

of

service

Peter

worries

about

the

future

for

his

friends

and

his

business

partner

John

but

he

need

not

know

the

details

he

needs

not

to

know

how

it

will

pan

out

that

of

the

three

fishermen

Peter

James

and

John

it

was

James

that

would

die

first

in

just

a few

years

in

Acts

Acts 15 · chapter mention

chapter

15

recorded

in

the

book

of

Acts

by

the

sword

Peter

at

that

point

would

miraculously

escape

taken

out of

prison

by an

angel

and

John

himself

would

live

a long

life

until

the

end

of

the

century

you

see

to be

a

follower

of

Jesus

is

to

walk

a very

uncertain

path

but with

a very

certain

friend

we do

not know

when he

will call

us home

we do

not know

how we

will extend

or shorten

our ministry

or our

service of

him

or our

service of

others

or what

may come

tomorrow

but we

know that

we follow

him

the servant

king

the god

man

our lord

and our

brother

do

do

you

love

him

then

you

must

follow

me

is

what

he

says

and

this

is

really

the

final

bit

the

invitation

of

verse

25

Jesus

did

many

other

things

as

well

if

every

one

of

them

were

written

down

I

suppose

that

even

the

whole

world

would

not

have

room

for

the

books

that

would

be

written

this

is

the

best

ending

to

the

best

epilogue

ever

the

epilogue

has given

us

one

more

story

it

shown

us

Jesus

to

be

the

risen

friend

and

God

man

forever

Jesus

on

the

shore

still

making

a meal

for his

friends

from a

miraculous

catch of

fish

and

calling

them

to

follow

him

and

each

one

is

called

each

one

to a

different

path

with

all

paths

leading

to

glory

in

his

masterful

hands

you can

see

John

could

never

capture

in pen

all that

Jesus

did

or said

or impacted

during

his time

they're

short

the 21

chapters

but the

books

of

Jesus

are still

being

written

each

born

again

believer

continues

the

story

of what

Jesus

is

doing

and

what

he

has

done

the

life

of

Christ

through

his

church

through

his

people

is

being

worked

out

in

his

followers

in

you

and

in

I

you

are

the

continuation

of

this

story

carrying

out

his

work

in

the

world

the

epilogue

does

not

end

so

follow

him

today

be

a

friend

tend

to

the

sheep