Restored to Serve

John 21:1-19                                                                                                 April 25, 2004

   Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: [2] Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. [3] "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.

   [4] Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

   [5] He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

   "No," they answered.

   [6] 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.

   [7] Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. [8] The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. [9] When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

   [10] Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

   [11] Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. [12] Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. [13] Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. [14] This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

   [15] When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

   "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

   Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

   [16] Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

   He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

   Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

   [17] The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

   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. [18] I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." [19] Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

CCI: Accepting forgiveness is sometimes the hardest part of following Jesus.

Intro: In John 20, Jesus appeared to the disciples 2 times. They saw him, heard him, touched him and were convinced that Jesus was indeed alive. But now, within a matter of weeks, something has happened. As Chapter 21 begins, the disciples have traveled to the Northern region. They are in Galilee by the sea. This is where they had first met Jesus. In Matthew 4 starting in verse 18 we read: One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. [19] Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!" [20] And they left their nets at once and went with him.

    [21] A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets. And he called them to come, too. [22] They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

          When the disciples decided to follow Jesus, they left their careers on the Sea of Galilee and all their belongings and followed Jesus. Now, after several years of walking with Him, of learning from the Master, of seeing him touch and heal multitudes, even after they encountered him raised from the dead, they have returned to Galilee. And now, at this critical time, Peter has decided to return to fishing. When Peter said, “I’m going fishing,” he was not talking about a day of recreation. Fishing was his livelihood and now that Jesus was gone, even if he was alive, it was time to get back to the practical matters of paying the bills. And fishing was what he knew.

          He had made so many promises to Jesus, and he had failed so miserably. Even when he had seen Jesus alive, it did not feel the same. Jesus had sent them, but how could he go? His failure was clear, if it had been written in the skies it could not have been more obvious. At the time when Jesus needed him more than ever, Peter had denied even knowing him. The believers in the church when John 21 was written, understood what Peter was feeling. Christians were being persecuted and even put to death for their faith. However, some, when faced with the challenge of their life, denied Christ. Some in the church felt they should be barred from the fellowship and many, like Peter felt there was nothing left for them but to return to what they had known so well. Failure will lead to running away.

          Have you ever felt that kind of failure. I remember the day I came home from college and was playing poker with my little brother. We were not playing for money, we were probably not even playing right, but poker was not a game to be played our house. Anyway, we were playing in my room when my father came in. I don’t remember much, but I remember the look of disappointment and sorrow in his face. I had let him down. I was his firstborn and I had disappointed him. I wanted to run away and hide. My heart broke, I wondered if I would ever have his smile again. I never wanted to do that to him again. It was not, in the grand scheme, a big thing, but I felt like I had failed him.

          I imagine every one of us has been there. Perhaps you were caught in a lie. Or maybe you were picked up on a DUI. Maybe you were unfaithful to your spouse. Perhaps you chose not to share your faith when Jesus gave you the perfect opportunity. Maybe when you were asked about your faith, you denied that you were a Christian. The sorrow, the shame, the fear, and guilt can overwhelm us. At these times we may even wonder if the joy of God’s salvation will ever return, we wonder if it is possible to be restored at all, and we consider returning to our old life.

          This is where we find Peter and his companions. They have returned to where it all started, and now that it was over, they were going to pick up where they left off. They went out and started fishing. All night long they threw their nets and all night long, they came up empty. They say that a bad day fishing beats a good day at work any time, but when you are depressed and you work hard to get a new start, and you come up empty time after time, there is nothing good about that.

          Finally, as the sun was rising, they started in and then, when they were about land, just a hundred yards off shore, a man on the beach called out and asked how they had done. He then said, “Throw you net out on the right hand side.” Now that is probably not as amazing as it sounds. It was common for fisherman to use a guide who was on the shore. This person could see sign of fish more easily than those in the boat. Anyway, when they threw their nets to the right, they had a tremendous catch. Immediately, a light went off in the head of one of the disciples. He remembered what Jesus had done after preaching from their boat, he remembered the great catch that is recorded in Luke 5 and told Peter that the man on the shore was Jesus! And Peter, the man of impulse, jumped in the water and swam for shore while his companions pulled in the net.

          See where his heart was? The moment he thought Jesus might be near, he dropped everything to go and be with him. Yes, there had been shame, yes, there had been fear and sorrow and guilt, but in his heart, he longed for Jesus. And Jesus received him. It must have felt like old times again. When the disciples got to shore they ate a hearty breakfast. Oh, the joy of being in Jesus presence again. And then Jesus got down to business.

          Three times Peter had denied knowing Jesus, now three times Jesus asks Peter if he loved him. This had to be a very painful experience for Peter. And in fact, if relationships that have been damaged by sin and betrayal are to be restored, it is a painful process. I remember as a child getting into a patch of thorns. That hurt. I had thorns in the sleeves of my shirt, and in my hands. Most of them came out easily, but there were several that were very deeply embedded in my thumb and forefinger. I let my mother get the ones that were in my clothes with no objection, but when she got out the tweezers and started for my fingers, I wanted nothing to do with it. I pulled my hand away, I screamed, I tried to run, it hurt, I did not want her touching those thorns! But she loved me and she knew what was best for me and she would not give up. And one by one she removed them all. Then she put ointment on my fingers and sent me back out to play. I had dreaded her touching those thorns that hurt, but once they were gone, it was such a relief.

          And for Peter, the three questions about his love were just like the thorns my mother removed. When he denied knowing Jesus on the night of Jesus’ trial, he had driven thorns of guilt and shame and fear deep into his flesh. When Jesus determined to restore him, it was necessary to remove those thorns. And so, one by one Jesus asked about his love. Using his full formal name, Jesus asked, “Do you love me more than these?” And Jesus looked at the boat, and the fish, and the other disciples, and waited. Then, maybe after a long pause, Peter answered, “Lord, you know I love you.”

          A second time Jesus probed Simon Peter’s heart and said, “Do you truly love me?” Peter is now shaking, he’s on the spot and he replies, “Yes, you know I love you.” And then, with an intensity that reminded Peter of the intensity of his the last time he denied Jesus with curses, Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” And Peter broke down, and in his sorrow he realized the Jesus knew all about his denial and weeping said, “You know all things, you know I love you.” And one by one the wounds began to heal. But the healing could only begin after the betrayal had been dealt with. Had Jesus not challenged Peter on his love, in a matter of weeks he would have been back in the boat fishing. However, as the wounds were uncovered and the balm of forgiveness applied, Peter’s new direction was established.

          There on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, where he was first called to become a fisher of men, Jesus completed his call by commissioning him to be a shepherd to God’s flock. Feed my lambs, care for my sheep, feed my sheep. Peter’s commission was direct and complete. He was restored to serve.

          When we have failed to live up to the call of Jesus in our lives, we wonder if there is any chance that we can be restored. When relationships in our lives have been shattered by betrayal, apathy and denial, it seems there is no hope for restoration. We prefer to hide from the guilt, or to get busy with something else and ignore the shame. We think that if we let enough time pass, it will all go away.

          But just like a thorn in your thumb, the sin in our lives will not just disappear. It must be dealt with. How do we do that? We open our lives to the probing work of the Holy Spirit. Listen to the questions the Spirit of God asks you. Confess the sin that is revealed. Let the Spirit of God do the surgery necessary to bring healing. Be honest with God, as Peter did, don’t try to justify yourself, don’t try to compare yourself with others, just be honest with God.

          And then, accept the mission God has for you. When Peter was restored, he was restored to serve. And when God restores you, when he probes your deepest sins and failures, when God forgives you and gives you a new beginning, he calls you to serve. It may be service like the opportunities the Membership Care Team spoke of this morning. It may be a call to open your home and heart to someone who is alone. It may be to teach children or adults what you have learned about God’s grace. It will be to share the good news that God can restore people who are broken.

          As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are being restored to serve. Embrace that, and let the Spirit of God make you new.