Follow Jesus Anyway • John 21

20:13 Teaching begins

Notes

Peter felt like he’d totally failed Jesus. He probably asked himself a question over and over again: now that Jesus is alive from the dead, why would He put up with a total failure like me?

So Peter wants to do Jesus a favour and quit.

I bet every Christian alive has wanted to do Jesus a favour and quit. You start out thinking, I bet Jesus is glad that I’m on His side. And then you find out, I’m not very good at following Jesus. At all. And then you think, well, this stinks. Maybe I ought to quit. This is where Peter is at.

Here’s what Peter learned, and we also learn this in our experience: Jesus wants us to not look at ourselves, not look at other’s callings, how they are doing. He wants us to follow Him with all our life.

Let’s read in John 21.

1. Peter is so discouraged that he goes back to fishing.

A. Now I know it isn’t clearly labeled: Peter is quitting. It doesn’t say he is discouraged. But let’s examine what’s going on.

B. Here are seven disciples in Galilee, at the Sea of Galilee, here called by its other name, the Sea of Tiberius. They are waiting for Jesus, because He told them, “I’ll meet you in Galilee.”

C. Peter says, “I’m going fishing.”

1. He doesn’t mean, “I’m bored, if we’re just going to kick around like this, let’s do it in style. I’ll get my rod and reel and favourite lure and sit in a boat and just feel the zen.”

2. He means, go to work, take up commercial fishing again.

D. Before Jesus called Peter he was a fisherman for a living. That was his job.

E. You remember that Jesus told Peter to go out to deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Peter said, “Well, we fished all night and caught nothing, but at Your word I will go out there and let down my nets.” When he does, the nets immediately fill up with fish. Peter says to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” And Jesus says, “Do not fear, follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” And they leave their boats and their nets and follow Jesus. They never went back until right now. Peter is going back to something he left three years ago.

F. Now, why would you go back to what you used to do? Because you thought you were pretty good at that. That’s your old job, and at least you can still do that. Maybe you can make something of yourself there doing something you are halfway competent at.

G. That’s why I think Peter is really discouraged and he is basically giving up following Jesus.

H. Now, they fish all night and catch nothing. If you were already feeling pretty discouraged, how do you think Peter feels now? “Man! I’m failing at following Jesus. I’m failing at what I used to do professionally! What is my big problem, here?”

2. That’s when Jesus shows up, gives them a catch, and makes them all breakfast.

A. It’s daybreak, Jesus is on the beach but they don’t know it’s Him.

B. So this stranger on the shore asks strange question.

1. He calls out, “Hey kids, you don’t have any fish, do you?” In the original language it’s a question that requires the answer, “no”. “Naw, we don’t.”

2. “Well, throw out your nets on the right side of the boat and you’ll get a catch.” Really? How would anyone on shore know where any fish were in the water?

C. What’s also strange is that they do what this guy on the shore says to them! Now you and I have read these accounts over and over so we say, woah, déjá vu! But they don’t get it yet.

D. The nets immediately fill up with large fish! John finally gets it and says to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”

E. So Peter grabs his clothes and jumps in the water and swims to shore. The other disciples bring in the catch.

F. There’s a charcoal fire, with fish frying and bread toasting. Jesus is serving them breakfast! He says go get some of your fish, too. 153 large fish, the net isn’t torn up with all the weight. It’s miraculous.

G. You notice that they don’t have the nerve to say, “You’re Jesus, right?” They know it’s Him, who else could it be, but they don’t recognise Him either! This happened with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were prevented from recognising Jesus until He broke the bread at supper and vanished! In these post-resurrection appearances the disciples didn’t always recognise Him. They just ate breakfast and were amazed. It’s happening again! It’s Jesus! Now what?

H. There’s a little detail that John tells us, that this is the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples. The first time was on the day of His resurrection. The second time He appeared it was for Thomas’ sake, to deal with that unbelief. They haven’t seen Jesus since then.

3. Jesus dealt with Thomas the last time. Now He deals with Peter’s issue.

A. They finish breakfast, everyone full and feeling better. Good fish, good bread. Wow.

B. Then Jesus asks Peter in a very formal way, “Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He uses Simon’s given name, not Peter, the name Jesus gave him. Do you love Me more than all these guys?

1. There was a time, not long ago, when Peter would have said immediately, “Oh yeah! You bet!” And he would have believed it himself.

2. But here he uses a humbler word for love than Jesus uses. “Do you love Me is disregard of your life?” “Yes, Lord, you know the reality, I am Your friend, and I really like You.”

3. Jesus comes back with a command: “Feed My lambs.” I want you to work for Me.

C. And then Jesus asks Peter again, very formal, “Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me in disregard of your life?”

1. This time, no comparison with the love of others. Now it’s “Do you love Me at all?”

2. “Yes Lord, You know that I am using a humbler word for love than You are using. You know I am Your devoted friend.”

3. Jesus commands again, “Shepherd My sheep.” I want you to serve Me.

D. For the third time Jesus asks, “Simon son of Jonah, do you really like Me as a devoted friend?” Jesus is using the humbler word for love that Peter is using.

1. Peter is really embarrassed. He knows that he still loves Jesus. Just like Thomas got an opportunity to confess, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus is giving Peter three opportunities to say, I love you.

2. Peter says, “You know all things.” He knows Jesus knows how much his confession means, how much that is worth. “I meant what I said before Your crucifixion, that I was ready to die for You, but I found out my best intentions didn’t mean much. You know everything because You are God. You know that I am made of dust, and I am not ‘Rock’, like You named me.”

3. And for the third time Jesus gives him a command: “Tend My sheep. I know everything about you. I still want you. I want you to obey Me.”

E. After David sinned with Bathsheba he wrote in Psalm 51, “You desire truth in the inward man.” Jesus really knows what He’s getting in Peter. Peter now has a better idea of what he’s really like. And Jesus is emphasising, “I want you.”

F. That is because our relationship with Jesus is not based on what we do for Him. It’s based on what He did for us when He died for ALL our sins, past, present, and future. Our relationship with Jesus is based on the fact that He is good.

4. Jesus goes on in the same breath to say that Peter is going to make it all the way.

A. He solemnly testifies to Peter, when you were younger you got yourself ready and you went where you wanted to go. But when you are older someone else is going to make you ready and you are going to go where you do not want to go. This signifies what death he would die to glorify God.

B. This means Peter is going to make it all the way.

1. He is going to die witnessing to the truth, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and there is forgiveness of sins in His name, and eternal life.

2. That means success, because he is going out just the same as Jesus Himself went out, witnessing to the truth. This isn’t morbid. Jesus is telling Peter he is going to become just like Jesus. And Peter will end up glorified, just like Jesus.

C. And after that Jesus commands him, “Follow Me!”

1. Don’t remember the past. I don’t want you going back to fishing ever again. You left it then, you are going to leave it now. You are working for Me.

2. Don’t worry about the future. You are going to make it all the way.

3. Don’t look at yourself. Look at Me! Follow Me!

5. Peter here makes an honest mistake: what about this man?

A. They’re friends, John is listening in. Jesus is talking about the future. What about him? What’s the matter with that?

B. Jesus shuts Peter down very sharply. If I want him to remain until I come, what is it to you? You follow Me!

C. He’s sharply telling Peter, don’t look at anyone else. Don’t compare yourself with somebody else to see how you’re doing. That’s not a comparison. God has something completely different going on in everybody else.

D. Big huge lesson here. Don’t ever compare yourself to anybody else.

1. Jesus already doesn’t want Peter to look at himself. There’s nothing there to glory in. Peter can’t find anything.

2. But if you look at someone else two things can happen.

a. One is you look better than that other person, so you start feeling good about yourself. “Wow, I’m doing lots better than him!” You get proud!

b. The other thing that can happen is discouragement. “Wow, he’s so much better than me, I’m worthless! I can’t do what he does.”

3. Neither of those judgments are true. God is doing something through you that He has never done before and will never do again. God only makes one- of-a-kinds. So when you start comparing yourself to someone else you are already wrong. And you will hurt yourself either way with your comparison. You don’t need to be more discouraged, and you don’t need to be more proud.

E. So Jesus is very sharp to Peter. If I want him to remain until I come what is that to you? Knock it off.

F. John goes on to say that some people thought Jesus was saying that John wouldn’t die! But that’s not what Jesus said. They are missing that one little particle, “if”. “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” Jesus wasn’t saying John wouldn’t die, He was saying, “What happens to John is none of your business! Quit looking at other people!” That’s why you have to read your Bible very, very carefully. If you don’t read carefully you’re going to believe things that the Bible doesn’t say. People get one word wrong and go off the rails. Be careful.

6. Now we have the last part of John’s gospel.

A. This is that disciple who bears witness of these things. John was an eyewitness of what he wrote about.

B. There’s lots more things that Jesus did that John didn’t write down. Wouldn’t you love to read more? But as John said in chapter 20 these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

7. So what?

A. At some point you will become discouraged because you don’t think you follow Jesus so well. You thought maybe you were doing better earlier, but you are not doing so well. You might even look back and say, I’ve never followed Jesus very well. You will become so discouraged about yourself that you will think, maybe I’ll just quit. Why would Jesus want me? This happens especially to pastors, missionaries, people who work for Jesus. You think, He ought to fire me. I would fire me.

B. You must learn this: you do not look to yourself. Your relationship with Jesus is not based on what you do for Him, but on what He has done for you. The Holy Spirit will always take you to the cross and show you again that Jesus died for sinners. You are a sinner. Therefore, He died for you. When you put your trust in Jesus, you find that He is the basis of your relationship. He never changes. Therefore you are really saved for all time, to the uttermost. The foundation of your relationship with Jesus is Jesus, not you.

C. Don’t look at other people and try to measure yourself and see how are you doing. It’s a waste of time. Don’t get proud, don’t get discouraged.

D. You look at Jesus. You follow and serve Jesus with all you have. Why? Because He wants you. Because He is good. You might as well get used to the fact and let Him love you even though you don’t deserve it. Receive His love.

E. At the same time, because He loves you and wants you, He will humble you, just like He did with Peter. It’s not because He wants you to feel bad. It’s because He wants your worth to be in Him. That never changes. 


F. Follow Him and don’t look back. Look ahead! Your future is much more important than your past. Have a great future in Jesus’ name.


Let’s pray.