Remember a couple weeks ago when we were talking about Elijah and how he tried to hear from God the same way as Moses did in the past? And that God had a new way for Elijah to hear His voice? Well I had the same thing happen to me this week when preparing this message. I had tried to research messages like I've always done and wasn't getting anything. Then I felt God lead me to the passages we're going over today. It was really cool. But just so you know that I am preaching to myself up here.
Questions: What kind of leaders are the most annoying to you? Have you ever had a leader where if they asked you, you'd run through a brick wall for them, no questions asked? What about their leadership made you want to follow them?
In John 21, We pick up with the disciples after Jesus had died and raised from the dead. Jesus had already appeared to them twice but had not had an interaction with Peter, at least according to the Gospel account. Jesus had told them to wait to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. So we find the disciples doing what they were doing before they met Jesus. Fishing. It's amazing how quickly you go back to old habits when you feel cut off from Jesus.
John 21
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as 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 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat 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.
I want to contrast Peter with Jesus for a second. At the last supper Jesus showed how leadership was supposed to be modeled.
John 13
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
It's interesting that at the Last Supper Jesus removed his outer garment to wash the disciples feet. That is a sign of humility. Peter covered himself up before facing Jesus for the first time after He denied Him. As leaders we need to let go of Pride. He couldn't make himself vulnerable to Jesus because He wasn't sure how Jesus felt about Him. Do we love God more than the service we do for him? Even though God did the work, Peter rushed to present the harvest to God by himself. We lead together, not by ourselves. We need each other in order for our leadership to be effective.
First thing Jesus did when He shows up on the scene is have a meal with the disciples. Jesus showed that fellowship with Him is still very important in serving Him. He still had meals with them. God wants to have meals with us. Masters don't eat with slaves. Brothers and co-heirs eat together.
It's also interesting that they are eating Fishes and Loaves. The same meal Jesus fed the 5,000 and the 4,000.
Fish - represents Christians and Christians to be
Bread - The Word, Christ's Body
Keep that in mind as we read the rest of the story.
Questions:
Do you see yourself as a leader? Why or why not? In what areas do you think you could lead? Don't be modest.
Now let me move ahead to verse 15-25.
John 21:
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you 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 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 Very truly I tell you, 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!”
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Peter's response at the third asking shows that He acknowledges that God knows all things and isn't just an equal. Sometimes we think we know as much as God. It's humbling to have God remind us that He knows all things. Even our hearts better than we do.
The most important question Peter ever faced was whether he possessed a devoted love for his Lord.
Two Greek words for "love" are used here. The first is Agape: one of the meanings of which is intelligent and purposeful love, primarily of mind and will.
The second is Phileo: Involves warm natural affection of the emotions, thus a more personal and feeling love. Through these words, Jesus indicates that Peter's love must be not only of the will, but also of the heart, a love springing from both purpose and personal attachment. Jesus' question to Peter is the great question for all believers. We must all have a personal heartfelt love for and devotion to Jesus.
The difference between Peter and John:
John 13:
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Interesting that Jesus never asked John these questions and that John was the disciple that Jesus loved. Jesus didn't have to ask John because John rested on Jesus. He was in such close proximity to Jesus that it was obvious that John loved Him. God revealed His secrets to John, not Peter. Even when Peter tries to do the same by inquiring about John later, God tells Him it's none of his business. Peter judged how he viewed himself by comparing himself to others. John just wanted to be close to Jesus. Interesting that God didn't have a problem with John following them. John knew He was loved by the Lord. Why? Because he was near enough to hear Jesus tell him so. How close we are to Him will let us know how He feels about us.
Jesus refers to Peter by the name He had before He followed Him. Remember this is the first time Jesus had interacted with Peter since his denial. Because Peter was uncertain about how God felt about him, he had regressed back to who he was before Jesus arrived on the scene.
God also presented to Peter what the cost of being His disciple and being a shepherd would be. Peter wasn't in control of His life anymore. God sometimes takes you places you do not want to go.
Just like Jesus fed the 5,000… we are to lead by feeding His sheep with Christ's Body and our own. When Jesus told Peter how he would die, he did it in relation to telling him to feed His sheep.
John 15:13 - No greater love has man than this, to lay down his life for his friends. Jesus called His disciples "friends". We are called to make disciples of all men. The people we disciple should be our "friends". And we lay our lives down for our friends.
If we love God, we will feed His sheep. Our love for the sheep is not our motivation. Our love for Christ is. He doesn't say, love my sheep. He just says feed them. And how do we feed them? We give them the Bread of Life, Christ. We feed them His Word. And we give our lives for them. This is how we love Jesus.
Peter did not understand yet the cost of being a disciple of Christ. Namely to lay your life down for your friends. He was closer than some disciples to Jesus but not as close as John. John was in closer proximity. He rested in God. Peter acted out of his own strength. We as leaders must not lead out of our own strength, but recline on Christ and allow Him to do the work.
Good news for Peter. Peter changes his tune when writing 1 Peter… addressing the church as fellow elders. He had given up judging His worth by how he stacked up against the other disciples. It wasn't about him.
How do we feed His sheep? With Bread and Fish. With the Word of Christ and our lives.
What's that look like? Leading a bible study. Discipling a friend. Someone who may not be as far along as you. Giving of yourself when it isn't convenient for you. When you have a friend who needs someone to talk to… giving up some time on Facebook… Netflix… going to the movies… so you can be there for them when they need someone. When they need someone to point them to Christ. Finding people you intentionally connect with in hopes of pointing them to Christ. Always be intentional in all of your relationships. God will give you opportunities. God says we must always have an answer for the hope that is within us. There's a dying world out there that needs that hope. The hope we have within us. You are the fish… you have the bread inside you. You will feed His sheep.
The question you need to ask yourself is… will I rest in Christ, letting Him do the work through me, all the while being close enough to Him to hear how much He loves me? Or will I lead with Pride… doing things in my own strength… doing things on my own terms… loving myself and my status more than I love Jesus. Will you feed His sheep? Will you lay down your lives?
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