- Sermon Notes
- Scripture
There’s a Way Forward After Failure
John 21:1-22
Illus. Oh No!
This morning we are going to turn to John 21 as we study one of the post resurrection accounts when Jesus met His disciples after a failed night of fishing on the Sea of Galilee. That failed night of fishing was an opportunity for Jesus to come and meet with his disciples, specifically Peter, to show Him that there was a way forward for him after failure.
Peter had followed Jesus and was one of His very closest disciples. During the last Passover meal with Jesus and His disciples, He had told them that they would all fall away that very night.
Matthew 26:31-35, Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!” Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
That night would go on and Jesus would take Peter and two other disciples into to the Garden of Gethsemane. It is there that Jesus would be betrayed and arrested. When the officials came to seize Him, Peter was the one who John 18 tells us, drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus would tell Peter to put his sword away, that what was taking place would fulfill the Scriptures. Upon Jesus being arrested, we read that the disciples fled.
From there, we see Peter watching what was happening to Jesus from a distance. Then, we know from what is recorded of that night, Peter would in fact deny Jesus three times.
John 18:15-18, Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
John 18:25-27, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
From Matthew 26, we read that at that moment Peter remembered the words of Jesus, that he would deny Him three times before the rooster would crow, and Peter went outside and wept bitterly. Peter had failed, He had done what he said we would never go, he had denied Jesus three times and in his failure, he left there and wept bitterly. And as we turn to John 21, we are going to see Jesus restore Peter, and point Him to the truth that there is a better way forward than bitter weeping after realizing the result of our own failings.
Romans 3:23-24, For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. (NLT)
Illus. Restored.
Read: John 21:1-3
- Remember the Call
- Verse one begins by telling us that Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples on the Sea of Tiberius. He revealed Himself to the disciples after the events in John 20 where Jesus had manifested Himself to the disciples twice.
- From Matthew 28:16, we know that Jesus had told His disciples to meet Him in Galilee on a particular mountain (Mt. 28:10, 16; Mk. 16:7).
- They went to the place He told them to go, and then began to wait for Jesus. While they were waiting, Peter decided to go back fishing and the other disciples followed.
- Though there are seven total disciples on the boat, the focus of the chapter will center on Peter’s story.
- The circumstances are interesting because the disciples hadn’t yet seen Jesus in Galilee. Peter had failed on a previous night, and here we see him head back to an activity we have not seen him doing since the time he first met Jesus.
- When Jesus first met Peter, he was out fishing. And it was after a night of failed fishing that Jesus said these words to Peter:
Matthew 4:19-20, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
- Jesus had clearly called Peter away from fishing. He had left his nets about 3 years earlier to begin following Jesus.
- Fishing was Peter’s first occupation. It is what he knew, it is what his expertise was in prior to meeting Jesus and being called to follow Him.
- Much had taken place over those 3 years…
- Peter had walked with Jesus, He was one of His first disciples, one of His closest disciples, Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter, which meant “rock.” Peter had seen His ministry, He was the first to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah, “the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16-17), Peter had walked on water, He had seen many miracles, and had heard many of His teachings.
- We know that Peter had seen the resurrected Jesus prior to this, yet, here we see Him go back to what Jesus had once told him to leave.
Illus. Hungry.
- Peter’s situation is an important one for you and me personally. Because we make mistakes, go the wrong way, and rather than wait for Jesus, it is tempting to go back to the very things He once told us to leave.
- As we continue our study, we will see Jesus come to Him personally, and remind him of the call on His life.
- And when we fail, it is the call of Christ we need to be reminded of and directed to.
1 Corinthians 7:17, Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. (ESV)
2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
- They had spent time with Jesus…He had shown them the way and the nets they picked back up, weren’t the way Jesus would have them go forward.
Illus. Forgetting the plays!
John 21:3(b), They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
Quote: “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter”
– D.L. Moody
- Peter’s unsuccessful night of fishing was going to direct Peter’s attention not only to what, but Who really mattered in his life. There was a better way forward for him after failure.
- Reconnect with The Redeemer
John 21:3(b)-5, They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.”
- After the failed night of fishing, Jesus, standing on the shore, asks the disciples how their fishing trip went in this way, “Children, you don’t have any fish, do you?”
- Jesus asks them a normal question in an unusual way.
- As for the normal: Most of the time when you see a person or group fishing, there is a question that follows, “Did you catch anything?” Regarding the unusual, Jesus led with the term “children.”
- The word “children” is paidion it is as if to say, “little ones”, or “little boys,” but it is also an endearing term that indicates love toward them.
John 21:6, And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish.” So they cast it, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish.
- The boats in those days are estimated to be 26 feet long by 7 and a half feet wide.
- They have their nets on the left side of the boat, and Jesus tells them to move their nets to the right side of the boat and they will find the fish.
- To move their net seven and a half feet in a different direction under normal circumstances would not have made much of a difference.
- But here it does. Jesus asks the question about their condition, and then instructs them in the right direction.
- Jesus asking the question reminds me of the times in Scripture where the Lord asks questions.
Illus. Questions.
- The situation reminds us of the time Jesus first called the disciples away from fishing. It took place after a failed night of fishing.
Luke 5:4-9, When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
Luke 5:10-11, … “Do not fear; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
- Those Scriptures are records of when Peter first met Jesus. This situation, strikingly similar.
John 21:7-8, 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 on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work) and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net full of fish.
- After realizing that it was Jesus on the shore, Peter jumped out of the boat to swim towards the shore as the others pulled in the catch behind their boat.
- Peter previously made great promises to Jesus and failed significantly, rejecting Jesus three times. On that night, he wept bitterly and was full of remorse.
- Here Jesus comes, and Peter, realizing it is Jesus, runs to Him. That is posture that not only Peter can take after failure, but a posture that we all can pursue in our lives.
- Peter had failed, we all have failed…While the world might say “those who have failed are to be forgotten…In failure, Jesus would not want you to be forgotten, but forgiven…
- What had taken place between Peter and Jesus had to be addressed, it could not go unspoken.
- Jesus sought Peter, to restore him, to show his heart to him and direct his steps, give him a future, a hope, and show him what is next.
- And as Jesus does just that, Peter will reconnect with His redeemer, and realize the way forward. In Scripture, that is a role uniquely assigned to Jesus Christ.
- A redeemer is someone who secures a person’s release from oppression, harm, evil, or enslavement.
- In the Old Testament there were words that express the concept of redemption to us, the first is (ga’al), which is to give ransom, to redeem by payment, or to buy back.
Psalm 103:2-4, Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits; who pardons all your guilt, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with favor and compassion.
- The other word is padah which is to be released, delivered, or rescued.
Psalm 26:11, But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.
- In the New Testament, we see words for redeem, or redemption with those same meanings. Only, the words are applied to Jesus Christ.
- Last week we saw the men walking on the road to Emmaus, speaking of Jesus saying, we had hoped he would redeem us…
- Peter later used the same word and applied it to Jesus, not to describe who he hoped Jesus would be, but that Jesus was in fact, The Redeemer.
1 Peter 1:18-19, Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
John 21:9-14
- Upon their arrival to the shore, Jesus had a fire ready for them and was cooking breakfast.
Revelation 3:20, Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Illus. Reconnect.
- Respond to Him with Real Love
John 21:15-17
- Jesus, begins speaking to Peter by calling him “Simon.” That may have been hard for Peter to hear. That was the name he went by until Jesus changed it. It seems he had gone back to fishing, Jesus called him by his former name.
- He continues, “do you love me more than these?”
- We do not know what exactly Jesus is referring to when he said to Peter “more than these…”
- He could have been referring to the fish and the nets… “Simon, do you love me more than your old occupation and the tools of your trade?”
- He could have been asking if Peter loved him more than he loved the other disciples he was out fishing with. “Do you love me more than your friends?”
- Or, he could have meant it in a comparative way. “Simon, you love me more than these other disciples love me?”
- Remember on the night Jesus said all would fall away, Peter was the one who said, “even if all fall away, I will never fall away…even if I have to die with you, I will never fall away.” (Matthew 26:35)
- Jesus asks him three different times, “Simon, do you love me?” “Simon, do you love me?” “Simon, do you love me?”
- Why Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times seems to be because Peter had denied Jesus three times. Jesus was getting to Peter’s heart.
- He was going to start with Peter’s heart, and it was the place Peter was really in, where Jesus was going to begin.
Illus. Strike Three.
- “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” and Peter responded, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
- And it is a powerful moment, but an understanding of the word placement and the words for “love” in that language bring greater light to what took place.
Illus. There are a few words for our English word Love, and three that are most common in the Greek language. Eros love is love on the physical level. Phileo is the love of friendship, being fond of or brotherly love. Agape love is a love of total commitment of self, or to love supremely.
- Jesus starts with asking Peter “Do you agape me more than these?” “Do you love me with your whole heart more than these?”
- Peter responded, “Yes Lord, you know that I am fond of you with a brotherly love.”
- Jesus asks him again, “Do you agape me more than these?” “Do you love me with your whole heart more than these?”
- Peter responded, “Yes Lord, you know that I am fond of you with a brotherly love.”
- Finally, Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you phileo me” do you have affection for me, are you fond of me? do you love me like a friend or brother?”
- Peter was hurt and grieved because Jesus asked him the question using phileo, and Peter replied, “You know all things, you know that I phileo you.”
- Jesus came down to the level of love Peter had in his heart. Not only this, but Peter also realizes that Jesus knows his heart, knows him, and loves him still.
- On the night Peter denied Jesus, it was as if Peter was saying to Jesus, “you don’t know me! I would never deny you!” Now he is saying, “You know all things, I do love you, I phileo you, I can’t say I agape you, but in so doing, he is responding to Jesus with real love.
- Peter would get to agape love in his life, we read in the book of 1 Peter 1 that at the revelation of Jesus Christ, believers have agape love for Him, joy and salvation in Him!
- At this point, Peter was hurt when the Lord came down to his level, but he was not ready to rise to the level Jesus was speaking of.
- Each time Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love, Jesus then told Peter, “Tend my lambs,” “Shepherd My sheep” and “tend my sheep.”
Illus. Real love.
John 21:18-19, Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you and bring you where you do not want to go.” Now He said this, indicating by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”
- Jesus gives Peter some insight into what was to come in his life. And that even in his death, he would glorify God.
- Perhaps Peter didn’t give his life for Jesus on the night Jesus was arrested, but he would.
- Jesus then gave Peter the words He gave when He first called Him, “Follow Me!”
- Remain Focused on Following Jesus
John 21:20-22, 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!”
- Peter’s response is so familiar to you, me, and so many. But Jesus would keep him focused on the call, to follow Him alone, and to follow Him fully.
Illus. Follow.
1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Philippians 3:13-14, Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
John 21:1-21