Reference

John 21

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Read Luke 5:1-11 and John 21:1-14. What are the similarities and what are the differences between these two accounts? What is the significance of Jesus recreating this miracle after the resurrection, especially for Peter?
2. "One reasons some Christians remain shallow their whole lives is they do not allow themselves, ever more deeply throughout their lives, to pass through the painful corridor of honesty about who they really are…You cannot feel the weight of your sinfulness strongly enough." - Dane Ortlund, Deeper. Is that true?
3. Jesus' reply to Peter's three answers are: Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep. What is Jesus insinuating here and why is that surprising (given the contrast with the three denials of Peter)?
4. Why did Peter initially deny Jesus? Now read John 21:18-19. Why does Jesus tell Peter about his death?
5. Do you struggle to believe that people can change? That you can change? How does this story help answer that?

What do you do when your reputation has been ruined? What do you do when you have passed the point of no return?

Peter has publicly humiliated himself. And now, he has the opportunity for redemption.

15 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.” 16 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.” 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” - John 21:15-17

Joy (John 21:1-14)

Seven of the disciples, at the direction of Peter, go back out fishing (John 21:1-3). Sometimes people read this as a sign that the disciples have failed to do what Jesus commanded and have resorted to their original occupation: fisherman. But there is nothing in this story that indicates that. Jesus did not forbid them from fishing and disciples of Jesus still need to eat. But you do notice that Peter, who will become a central leader of the church, exhibits a kind of natural leadership. He suggests fishing, the others follow.

But the fishing is terrible. They fish all night and catch nothing (John 21:3). Reminiscent of the hopeful dawn that Easter brought, John tells us that just as dawn was breaking on that frustrating night, Jesus appears on the shore (John 21:4), though the disciples are not able (perhaps because of the low light) to recognize Him.

Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 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. 7 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. - John 21:5-7

Peter’s response is childlike, in the best way possible. The way a kid runs to dad when he comes home, the way a wife runs to a husband, the way a friend runs to another whom he loves but has not seen in so long. Peter has no sense of decorum or self-seriousness. His heart is thrilled so he (rather rudely) abandons his friends to haul in the impossibly heavy net of fish and splashes towards Jesus like a laughing, rowdy kid.

How did John (the “disciple whom Jesus loved” in vs. 7) know that it was Jesus? Why did the catch of fish reveal that? Because Jesus had done this before. In Luke 5, when Jesus first met Peter (and James and John), He tells them (after a frustrating night of no fish caught) to cast their nets back out. And Peter replies: we fished all night and caught nothing, but if you say so, we’ll try again.

And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. - Luke 5:6-7

Jesus, apparently, is quite the fisherman. He knows where the fish are. He made the fish. But notice that Peter has a very different response in this first encounter:

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. - Luke 5:8-11

Something about the holiness of Christ is revealed to Peter in that moment. My children love stuffed animals. Their beds just have a mountain of them. If they dove into them and nestled down for sleep, burying their face into fur and fluff…what would happen if they felt the vibrations of a low, deep growl; if they looked up into the black, wet eyes and hot breath of a real lion with real teeth? That is what happens to Peter. The terror of the holy overcomes him, and he is reduced to his knees, asking Jesus to please depart, to leave him alone—he is just a sinful man. What worm of guilt was eating Peter’s conscience prior to this encounter? What dreadful weight was pulling him down to his knees? Perhaps something that very morning, that previous night that was shameful? And he now knows, somehow, that this man standing before him is holy.

If we could behold the infinite fountain of purity and holiness, and could see what an infinitely pure flame it is, and with what a pure brightness it shines, so that the heavens appear impure when compared with it; and then should behold some infinitely odious and detestable filthiness brought and set in its presence: would it not be natural to expect some ineffably vehement opposition made to it? - Edwards

Try use a mountain lion as a pillow and what do you expect?

But this lion is Aslan. Do not be afraid, He tells Peter, from now on you will be catching men. Not only does the Lion respond with grace and peace, but he scoops up Peter and ennobles him with a calling: You are destined for more, Peter. I have a mission for you. You shall be a fisher of men.

And so, our merciful Lord recreates this moment of the miraculous catch (I think) specifically for Peter, to help trigger this memory of his first encounter with Christ and first commission. The miraculous catch of fish, the imagery of hauling in many, activates many themes in Peter’s imagination: the holiness and the mercy of Christ as well as the calling Peter has. And (I think) He does this because, in the next section, Jesus is also going to recreate another scene that is going to be more painful for Peter. But here, Peter only experiences joy. What has happened?

Pain (John 21:15-17)

Why did Peter go from shame and literally pushing Jesus away, to literally running towards Jesus?

When the other disciples bring the boat in with the miraculous catch, Jesus is waiting on shore with a charcoal fire and shares a breakfast with the disciples. He then has a one on one conversation with Peter:

Peter sits with Jesus around a charcoal fire and is asked three times about the nature of his relationship with Jesus. The last time this occurred, Peter was warming himself by another charcoal fire (John 18:18, in fact this is the only other occurrence of “charcoal” in John). Why does Jesus ask Peter three times if he loves Him? Because three times Peter denied that he even knew Jesus.

Peter thought he knew his sin when he first met Jesus, but he hadn’t yet. He had not yet found out who he really was. Peter sincerely loved Jesus. He left everything to follow Him. And yet, he still abandoned Him in His greatest hour of need. But not only that, he lied about even knowing Him. Not once. Not twice. But three times. Listen to how bad it was: “But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” (Mark 14:71). Peter’s “swearing” isn’t profanity, it is making an oath to make his lie (I do not know this man) seem believable. To make it believable, he “invokes a curse”—this could be a curse on himself (as the ESV’s translation suggests), such as “If I am lying, may God send me to hell.” Or, it is also possible that Peter is cursing Jesus: I condemn this man too, just like you guys, send Him to hell. Either way, that is a horrifying thing to do.

Do you remember what Peter thought of himself beforehand? “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” - Matt 26:33
Peter alone attacks in Gethsemane, cutting off the ear of Malchus (John 18:10-11). Though Jesus rebukes him for it, it does reveal a kind of courage and loyalty, doesn’t it?

Peter fails, massively. He had no idea he was capable of what he did. Which is why, he breaks down in bitter tears after his denial. As Peter sat in the ruins of his hopes, one of the pieces of evidence seeming to disprove Jesus’ identity as the messiah, alongside His crucifixion, would have been the apparent failure of Jesus’ prayer. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” - Luke 22:31-32

Peter’s faith did fail! His faith died with Jesus.
But Jesus didn’t stay dead. In His resurrection, Peter’s faith is resurrected. Peter failed. His sin was far uglier, fouler, and stronger than he had ever dreamed of. And so is mine. And so is yours. But, like Peter, Jesus prays for us. Like Peter, Jesus dies for our sins. There was a resurrection morning on the other side of the dark that Peter couldn’t see at first.
Why did Jesus let Peter walk into such a shameful, painful endeavor? To draw into the open the sin that lay dormant in Peter’s heart, and to fully deflate any pretensions and self-righteousness that had inflated Peter’s ego.

One reasons some Christians remain shallow their whole lives is they do not allow themselves, ever more deeply throughout their lives, to pass through the painful corridor of honesty about who they really are…You cannot feel the weight of your sinfulness strongly enough. - Dane Ortlund, Deeper

He who has been forgiven much, loves much. It is the prodigal, not the older brother, who is brought to his knees in tearful joy at the Father’s love.

Calling (John 21:15-25)

Three times Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me?” and three times Peter replies with “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Peter doesn’t say, Well, I want to love you, but I’ve done something so shameful that I don’t feel worthy to even say that. Who am I? Peter has no sense of performance here. He is not calculating what it will sound like for someone who has thrice denied the Lord to be asked by the Lord if he does, indeed, love Him. Peter’s love is simple and pure. He knows the Lord loves him. And that wondrous incoming tide has lifted his own love upon its surface: Peter loves Jesus and Peter knows that Jesus knows, and that is all that matters.

It can be tempting to assume that the gospel, after exposing the ugly canker of sin within our hearts and deflating our ego, would leave us in a state of perpetual self-doubt. Who are we to even say we love God? Who am I to aspire for anything beyond being grateful that Jesus loves me?

But notice, that Jesus’ reply every time is to push Peter to see his calling as a pastor: Feed my lambs…tend my sheep…feed my sheep.

Jesus doesn’t just forgive Peter. He calls him to lead.

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (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.” - John 21:18-19

Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” - John 21:22

“Child,' said the Lion, 'I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.” - The Horse and His Boy

Consider the way the imagery of fishing coheres with Jesus’ mission for Peter and the disciples. Jesus had told Peter in the first fishing encounter that he would make Peter a “fisher of men.”

Look back at the text:

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 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. - John 21:9-12

The other disciples (who may or may not be frustrated that Peter ditched them) manage to paddle to shore with the massive net in tow. Once they arrive, there is Jesus, and He has made a fire, and He has some fish of his own (along with bread), already cooking! And then tells them to bring some of the fish they have caught to cook as well.

The disciples catch the fish. They cast the nets. But the emphasis is on Jesus.

Jesus tells the disciples what to do. Jesus ordains the fish to be where the net is thrown so that they catch the fish. Jesus makes it so that the nets do not break. Jesus even gives Peter strength the hoist the heavy net on his own.

This is a dramatic picture of what all the Christian life is like: Jesus calls us to what we cannot do on our own.