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Pastor Greg - Harvest May 15, 2014
John 21
Pastor Greg talks about how much he loves breakfast. He talks about how in this story Jesus made breakfast for his disciples. He says we know that Jesus loved food, how He used food to prove He was alive and a body after the resurrection.
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 dine with him, and he with Me.
Greg talks about how eating in those times there was no fast food, that meals were a lot more of a time of gathering with others.
Greg talks about after the crucifixion how all of the disciples were let down, they didn’t seem to get the memo that Jesus was coming back. They had all been back sliding. The disciples were all together and discouraged.
Greg then talks about how Peter denied Jesus as described in the Bible.
Greg is now talking about when Jesus and Peter met together and Jesus forgave Peter.
John 21:1-17
1 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.[a] This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),[b] Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows,[c] have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards[d] from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?[e]”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. -
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This story reminds us of the first time Jesus called to Peter.
Sometimes when you have fallen, its good to go back to where it all began.
He talks about how we do that in our relationships and it helps with our spouses.
The three Rs of discipleship: Remember, repent, repeat.
Did you know God likes to ask questions? Greg is dying that is like playing hide n seek with a one year old.
God wants confession.
His questions identify the problem.
Before we get restoration, we must admit our need.
When God tells us to do something, we need to do it.
We always need to do God’s work, in God’s way, in God’s timing.
God wants us to have personal integrity.
To do God’s will is God’s way.
John 21:6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
John 21:9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
John 21: 12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
Jesus made them breakfast. He is the creator of the universe in human form, He is resurrected, yet He takes the time to make them breakfast.
Did he need their fish? No, but He takes what we have and uses it.
This is about our need, not Gods need.
If you have no place for God’s kingdom then there is a problem.
Martin Luther said we need three conversions, the conversion of our mind, the conversion of our heart and the conversion of our wallet.
A lot of us don’t use the wallet. God can do a lot with a little.
God does not need us, He wants us.
This story was the last miracle Jesus performed. His first miracle was turning water into wine, the last was when He said throw the net on the other side of the boat.
Romans 10:14-15
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
John 21: 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Notice Jesus didn’t call Peter, Peter here. He calls him Simon son of John. Peter was not being the rock, so Jesus was not calling him that.
Don’t boast of your commitment to the Lord at the expense of someone else. Just say “I love you Lord”
Sometimes we underestimate how strong our faith is. Like when we hear someone is going through cancer, or lost a child and we say, “I can’t handle that.” But God, is there with us.
God will give you what you need, when you need it.
Other times we over estimate our strength. When we say “I never would do that” and then we do it.
With that: Lets trust in God
Six test question if you love the Lord:
- A person who loves the Lord will long for personal communion with God. (If we love God we will want to be in fellowship with God.) Psalm 63:1 My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
- A person who loves the Lord will in turn love the things He loves.
- A person who really loves the Lord will love other Christians. (1 John 3: 14-15 14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.)
- A person who really loves the Lord will in turn hate the things that He hates. (Psalm 97:10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.)
- A person who really loves the Lord will long for Christ’s return. (2 Timothy 4:8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.)
- A person who loves the Lord will keep His commandments. (John 14:21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”)
If you love God, you will do what God says. If you do not do as He says, then one should wonder if you love God.
Would you like Jesus to come into your life?
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