04/20/2024 – [John 21:9-14] – Breakfast by the Shore – To set the stage recall [Chap. 13]; Peter insists he will remain loyal to Jesus; claiming, I will not let You down. I will follow wherever, even unto death. [13:36-37] In [Chap.18] we watch Peter fail three times. Now we stand by a charcoal fire on the beach, imagine Peter – his shame, anger with himself, knowing Jesus knew, knowing John knew, and knowing God knew; and the next day hearing all that happened. Not even the resurrection could cleanse Peter’s mind. Back to the beach, Jesus watches as they pull toward shore tired and empty. Jesus says throw the nets over the right side. Mumbling; it is now daylight, the nets are for night fishing and are not used for day fishing, they do as Jesus commands. They cast the net and it fills to the point they are unable to haul the fish into the boat. When they get on shore, they discover it filled with 153 large fish. Jesus says, “Come and have breakfast.” This catch could feed the entire village. John with an economy of words tells us Jesus did not need them. What is it like to work under Jesus, and what is the relation of our work to His?
It is easy for Christian workers to get the idea that we must do it all. We imagine God waiting for us to act, to get it organized, telling others the [good news] and if not, they will not hear it. If we do not change the world, it will not change. God has no hands but our hands – or so we are often told. Balderdash! Did we make the sun rise? Neither the institutional church nor the individual members can upstage God. Jesus welcomes the disciples' catch and He asks for some, but he does not need it. We are to work hard, be organized, not to be lazy, or half-hearted in the kingdom of God. If we do God’s work, we must do it happily, with all our strength and shed the notion that we are indispensable.
But back to the upper room for a moment. Jesus emerged among them through a solid locked door. They wanted to, but were afraid, to ask: Who are you? They knew it was the master [v. 12] This was part of the strangeness of the resurrection. The truth is, that during the preceding years, they were together night and day, they wanted to ask the same question. We have Jesus the same, yet different. No one mentions what he was wearing, what His face was like, how He passed through death, and He promises we will also. His body is no longer subject to decay or death. Who are you? It is like a pilgrim looking at a computer – not a clue. God promises it is the same, but different. Be ready to be surprised!
Now returning to the number 153 (highly symbolic), they were surprised by the large catch. The surprise is the size of the number, and the totally unique character of that number in relation to all possible numbers. (Think infinity) The disciples were surprised by Jesus Himself and they were surprised by themselves. What were they doing? What was next? Who were they? When will God cease to surprise us?
[John 21:15-19] – Jesus and Peter – The conversation between Jesus and Peter, may be one of the greatest interchanges in all of literature. There is not a single concern, spoken or implied, by Jesus concerning Peter’s denial(s). By using the phrase, “Well then, …” and the act of giving Peter a job is Jesus’ way of forgiving Peter. [v. 15d] The three questions equated to the three denials. The bonfire brings back memories – Peter, of his agonies; Jesus, of His agonies - the latter deals with the former. Jesus, the Passover lamb who takes away the sins of the world; includes Peter’s, yours and my sin. Sin is personal, varied and a challenge to put behind us – but worth the effort.
Jesus heads for the pain and maybe why we avoid Jesus. He takes Peter alone (John is behind, at a distance). [v. 20] They walk slowly on the shoreline; Jesus fires an arrow at Peter’s heart, “Do you Love me?” [v. 16] Jesus repeats this three times, [v. 17] all preceded by, “Well then …” a command. Jesus giving new commissions. Jesus offers new challenges – learn to be a shepherd – feeding and caring for lambs and sheep. This is more than a new commission, it is a command to get on with fruitful work. Jesus is the ‘good shepherd’ [Chap. 10] But the commission [20:21] is very specific – ‘As the Father sent me, I am sending you.’ Peter is to share Jesus’ task - shepherding. And so are we!
Here is the basic secret of all Christian ministry – regardless of status – if you are to be a follower of Jesus, somewhere inside is a deep love for Jesus - all is built on that. We have let Him down, but He wants you to express your love to heal your past hurts and failures. And give you new work to do. We are unable to earn forgiveness, never, it is all grace. We should do things out of joy and relief for having been forgiven. We are given these things precisely as a sign that we are forgiven. These things will mean we will follow Jesus into suffering, even unto death. Remember, ‘someone else will dress you and take you where you do not want to go’ [v. 18]. This is the very essence of a good shepherd. Jesus knows He can ask everything from those He has rescued and He will get it. Peter (the fisherman) was asked to become a shepherd. No one could ask for more. Jesus never asks for less.
[John 21:21-25] – The Beloved Disciple – Peter and John have been united through all of the trials of Jesus’ public ministry. They are now to diverge. Read: supper [Chap. 13]; ar-rest and trial [Chap. 18] and resurrection scenes [Chap. 20-21] and neither one will look back at the dissimilarities. Jesus is commanding Peter – “Follow me!” Peter be a shepherd and glorify God by death as a martyr. [v. 18-19] It is natural for Peter to ask if John will share this fate. But remember God makes no mistakes. We may puzzle at our assignments or envy others or wish to trade places. However, that is part of Christian obedience andpart of accepting our commission as part of the language of forgiveness. [v. 15-17] We are called to follow wherever He leads us, not the person next to us.
The fate of John, may be the reason for, [Chap. 21] so we might get to [v. 23]. We must hear the fishing trip, seaside breakfast, and conversation between Jesus and Peter. Other-wise [v. 22] makes no sense. Implied is that John would remain until Jesus returned. There is no reason John should not die. It implied that Jesus would return soon. However, that is never mentioned! (Here lies the challenge of man-made predictions and timing. Simply be ready, our own death is coming and we know not when.) [v. 24] Appears not to be of John. Jesus is not forecasting John’s life, but telling Peter it is not his concern. John knows there is a solid conclusion at [20:30-31] John’s challenge was including the important. Imagine the library if we had noted all that Jesus said and did. Here is the point: Once the Word became flesh no one has been fully able to do justice to all impacts of Jesus on world events. The ‘world’ remains the object of God’s serving love and the reason Jesus died. [3:16] Whatever our part, we go with [16:33] in our ears: You will have trouble in the world, But “Cheer up! I have defeated the world!” May God bless our having studied John’s message.
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