Raised to Restore

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0:00God is good. Praise Him. He's great and greatly to be praised. You know, the more you look around, the more you see. And pray for eyes to see His blessings, His gifts, what He's doing. And it just makes me want to praise Him all the more.

0:18We're going to continue the resurrection vibes today, the week after Easter. Easter, I'm calling an audible here. We're not going back to Proverbs just yet. We're going to have one more week to finish off the book of John.

0:37This chapter is really great. So, here's how I want to start. People tend to dwell on their failures more than their successes. They stick with us. They're seared in our memory. And the responsibility that we had that we completely dropped the ball on. The new thing we tried to do, and it did not pan out.

1:09The moment when we fell flat on our faces. I've told this story before. Some of you have heard it. Not all of you, but it's just too appropriate for me not to tell now. But years ago, I was newly ordained. And in our denomination, once you're ordained as what's called a teaching elder or a pastor, you can institute the Lord's Supper. And so, a church who only had one pastor, the pastor was away, and they had somebody that was going to preach for them, but they wanted to have a teaching elder come to institute the Lord's Supper.

1:42So, all I had to do at the Sunday service was come and worship, and then walk up and institute the Lord's Supper. Right? But I had done it maybe twice before. I was very newly ordained. And so, and I knew that this church kind of had a particular way they wanted to do communion. And so, I had all these notes, like, at my Bible. I was, like, looking. And I was, like, as the sermon was going on, I was getting more and more distracted. I started to sweat.

2:08I was really nervous. And it was a complete train wreck. I kid you not. I got things out of order. I said things I shouldn't have said. I don't even remember now. I both remember the horror of it and people staring at me with this confused look on their face. And feeling like such a phony, such an imposter, right? Like, I had one job. This is a fairly easy job. And it was, I mean, the awkwardness in the room, you could cut it with a knife. It was, it was very awkward.

2:48It was so awkward that after I finished it, I was also going to give the benediction. I got the benediction wrong. I had a text plan. I was going to read a traditional benediction text. And then suddenly, my mouth started to say a different benediction text. And then I got confused. And I started combining them in my head in a way that did not make any sense. And people were just looking at me. And I guess that's the end of the service.

3:18Pastor problems, I know. Most of you guys are thinking, what's the big deal? But it felt very, it felt very humiliating, right? And the thing is, is that our church worshiped in the afternoon. And I was preaching that day at our church. And I'm like, I had this huge failure. And I was just like, I don't like, how am I going to get up and preach the word of God? Like when I can't even say some simple things to introduce and institute the Lord's Supper.

3:47It was, I felt like, I felt like, maybe I should go back and study some more, get ordained again. Maybe the first ordination didn't take. They should lay hands on me again or something. It was, it was really embarrassing. And I still can remember it. I still get kind of sweaty when I go in that church. I think about it. Well, not to do anything, but I've, I've been back for other purposes. But I've noticed they haven't asked me to preach. So failure can be hard to bounce back from.

4:26We can get stuck in our failure and disqualify ourselves. We can feel like, well, I'm not going to do that anymore. I can't do that anymore. I tried and it was just horrible. It was a flaming dumpster pile of whatever I was trying to do. Um, it's true, whether it's a professional failure, a personal failure, but especially a spiritual failure, moral failure, choosing sin, even when we swore we wouldn't, what do we do then? What, how, how, how do we recover from this?

5:03How do we get back on the horse, so to speak, and keep going? It is, it feels so disqualifying, some things that happen to us. Well, this passage says, yes, you can recover. Yes, you can bounce back, but not in your own willpower. It takes the intervention of Jesus. We're continuing the resurrection theme with John 21. The risen Jesus takes the initiative, moves towards Peter, to restore Peter, to set him back on his feet and to point him forward.

5:40Peter, God, God had great work for Peter, significant things for him to do, but Jesus knew that Peter had to be set back up because he was feeling very low. And that's exactly what Jesus does. He accomplishes a complete restoration for Peter. And that's exactly what we need sometimes. Maybe some of you need that today. So let's go to John 21. Last chapter of John. Let's finish it off today. This is God's word for us. It's holy, without error, and it goes forth with power.

6:23The word of God is able and powerful to teach, admonish, correct, lead us into all righteousness and point us to Jesus. So let's pray. Let's come with faith that it will do all those things for us today. I'm going to read the whole chapter. It's in the bulletin in very tiny print.

6:41This is God's word for us. After this, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas, called the twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, I'm going fishing. They said to him, we will go with you. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

7:19Jesus said to them, children, do you have any fish? They answered him, no. He said to them, cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, it is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

7:48The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, for about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it and bread. Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish that you have caught. So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, come and have breakfast.

8:25Now none of the disciples dared ask him, who are you? They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, feed my lambs.

9:01He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, tend my sheep. He said to him, he said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me?

9:22Peter was grieved. Because he had said to him the third time, do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted. But when you were old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.

9:59And after saying this, he said to him, follow me. Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and that said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray you? When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man? Jesus said to him, if it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me. So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die.

10:37Yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but if it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things and who has written these things. And we know that his testimony is true. Now, there are many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

11:07Pray with me. Lord Jesus, thank you for your word. Thank you that it contains true accounts of how you move towards ordinary people like us with your restoring mercy and grace. And so I pray, Lord, please do that for us today. Meet every one of us in the places we need your restoring power. Lord, remind us that you are with us. You are risen and powerful and working in us to sanctify all who believe in the power of the Spirit that abides in them.

11:47In Jesus' name we pray. Raised to restore. That's the chapter today. John 21. Raised to restore. When I go out of town, I can drive my family... When our family goes out of town, I can drive the rest of my family nuts because I like to button things up around the house. Things I've been meaning to do, I'll run a couple of errands. Nicky will be like, are we ready to go? I'm like, I've just got to run two errands. And then an hour later, we'll be finally getting in the car leaving.

12:27I want to set the house right for us to be away. I want to clean it up. I want to load the dishwasher, start it, throw out the food that's about to go bad. I don't want to come back to gross food after a trip. But set the thermostat, make sure the windows and doors are locked. You know the drill. There's probably at least one of you in every household like that. So this little unfinished business that you and I like to do when we're about to go away, that's what Jesus is experiencing.

12:59He's got some unfinished business. He's got some loose ends that He's going to tie up before He ascends to the Father. These appearances of Him appearing to the disciples are Him tying up loose ends. Except His loose ends aren't tasks and errands and running to the bank. His loose ends are people. His people. His disciples. Their hearts. Their minds. Their trajectory. He is attending to them. Giving them what they need before He goes back to the Father.

13:35And the particular disciple He has in mind here in John 21 is Peter. He's got mainly one person in mind. This passage tells us all about Peter's restoration that happens in three different ways. Here's the first one. Restored purpose. Restored purpose. After the resurrection happened, there was this period of ambiguity for the disciples. Jesus had appeared to them. He'd given them some insight. He'd given them some teaching. But He didn't give them a script.

14:09He didn't give them a game plan. Like, tomorrow, here's what's going to happen. The next day, this is going to happen. In X amount of days, it's going to be this, and then two months from then it's going to be this. There was... He would appear and then He would leave and then they would... Well, what do we do now? The closest they got to some firm instructions is when He said to them, Behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. Talking about the Holy Spirit.

14:38But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. That's Luke 24. Stay in the city. That's about as much as they got in terms of instruction. But now seven of them are where? At the Sea of Tiberias. That's the Sea of Galilee. Seventy miles from Jerusalem. So much for staying in the city. They got restless or fearful or maybe they were homesick. Some of these guys were from Galilee.

15:10The sons of Zebedee were. Peter was. Nathanael was. They're all from Galilee. Maybe they wanted to go home. Maybe they just felt lost and they thought, you know, we'll get our bearings back there. Either way, they're no longer in the city. They're back in Galilee. And then one day, Peter says, I'm going fishing.

15:35This statement is just as revealing as their location is. Peter hasn't been a fisherman since Jesus called him in Luke 5. This is more than just a way to pass the time until Jesus comes with more instructions.

15:54Peter is considering going back to his old calling. Throwing in the towel on this whole being an apostle thing. Being a disciple thing. He's back in his hometown. His former profession and life is calling to him pretty hard right now. He knows Jesus is alive and he's not doubting that, but he's second guessing his role in the kingdom. Why? Because he failed.

16:24He failed. He was the first disciple to declare who Jesus was. The first one. He had sworn to Jesus, I will always love you. I will never fall away. The rest of them might Jesus, but not me. I won't be like them.

16:48But then he messed up worse than any of them did. He not only ran away, he denied knowing Jesus. Jesus has appeared to them several times now, but there's been no resolution for Peter. Others have had personal interactions with Jesus. The women at the tomb. The two disciples on the roadway in Luke 24. Thomas. But not Peter. Peter hasn't had his one-on-one moment with Jesus. Peter used to be in Jesus' inner circle. But now, Jesus keeps appearing, talking to groups of them, not having personal interaction with him.

17:35Don't you think Peter's wondering, I guess I'm on the outs with Jesus. I had my shot. I play a big role, and I guess things have changed. I flamed out in being a disciple. I'll just go back to fishing.

17:56Big failure can make us second-guess our purpose. Our place. Our role. If I was really saved, I wouldn't have done this. We say to ourselves. If I was really one of God's people, I wouldn't struggle with this. How could God still use someone like me?

18:21Whether you felt called to be a good friend, or a godly parent, or a sacrificial spouse, or a faithful teacher, or a humble servant. No matter what calling you've had, when you fall and you fail, you might rethink things. Maybe I'm not cut out for this.

18:46That's where Peter is, and he's trying to go back, but it's not working. That night they caught nothing. So Peter's like, I can't do anything right. I can't be a disciple. I can't even catch fish anymore. Then as day was breaking, they see a man on the shore about a hundred yards away. Children, do you have any fish? Who is that guy, and why does he care whether or not we have fish? It's Jesus, and he has something special in mind. Cast the net on the right side of the boat.

19:22Where have we heard that before? They think to themselves. Earlier in the service, we heard Luke 5 being read. A very similar story. Failure at fishing. A weird instruction from Jesus. And then this huge catch of fish. And now in John 21, Peter is going back to his old profession. The same thing happens. John is the first to realize what's happening. He turns to Peter. It's the Lord. That man's the Lord. And now it clicks for Peter. Everything just clicks into place immediately.

20:07He remembers. The last time this happened, he recognized Jesus was from God. He said, Depart from me, Lord. I'm a sinful man. But Jesus didn't leave. Instead, Jesus said to Peter, Do not be afraid, for from now on, you'll be catching men. That was the moment of Peter's call. The inflection point of his life when everything changed for him. When Jesus became the center of his world, the source of his identity, the guide for his future. And now the risen Jesus is there again on the shore with the same instruction calling out to Peter.

20:50Dejected, resigned, guilty Peter. And he is reenacting the circumstances and the events of Peter's first calling. He's making it all happen again. Do you see the message that Jesus is sending to Peter? You are not washed up. You are not useless. You still have purpose in my kingdom. Let me do it all over again for you so that you remember the call that I put on your life. He came to restore Peter's purpose. And so what does Peter do? Well, he launches himself into the water because of course he does.

21:36I bet Jesus smiled when Peter did that. That's the guy I know. That's the guy I know. I love that about him. Come on, Peter. Swim to me. This is Peter's moment in John 21, but I want you to know it means something for you too. If you're a follower of Jesus that feels disqualified in a little way or a big way because of your sin or your weakness or your cowardice or your mistakes or your lack of ability to do what you thought you were called to do, the same Jesus comes to you with the same intentional and thoughtful grace.

22:28Just like Peter, he is determined to restore your purpose in his kingdom when you've messed up. This is a call to all ordinary people. Any ordinary people in here?

22:43This is a call to all who have struggled to live up to what God has called you to. And don't we all struggle to live up to what God calls us to? He calls us to many things that are above our pay grade, right?

22:59Whether it's friendship or being married or being a parent or being a seeker's or explorer's teacher. No matter what He has called you to. Kids, I'm talking to you too. The calling to be a student to the glory of God. The calling to obey your parents. The calling to love your siblings. The calling to speak up to your classmates and tell them about your faith in Jesus.

23:34There is not a single calling that God puts on our lives where we don't have a moment or two or three or twelve where we're like, I know what you wanted me to do, Jesus, but I just feel like I'm falling way short.

23:49This passage is for you. Go to Jesus with the same vigor that Peter did. Jump out of your boat and swim to Him. Get your clothes all wet. Look ridiculous. Don't you think Peter looked ridiculous to the rest of the disciples? Peter, we're just going to be there in just a minute. You really think you're going to get there faster if you swim? Look ridiculous going after Jesus.

24:23Be willing to embarrass yourself. Come to Him and hear Him as He restores your purpose. As He reminds you, I have a calling on your life. I knew you were going to fail. All of my people do. All of my people have moments where they fall on their face. But your calling, my calling in your life, abides. So after hauling in the fish, notice that Peter went back to the boat. He ended up having to go back to the boat. Help the disciples with the fish. Peter and the others enjoy breakfast.

25:04They're counting the fish. Fishermen love to talk about how many fish they caught. Got it right here in the book. 153. John wanted to record it for posterity. They enjoy a breakfast that Jesus served to them, prepared and served to them by their risen Savior. We don't know what they talked about while they were sitting around that charcoal fire. But we do know what happens afterwards. And that's restored relationship. So after breakfast, Jesus takes Peter aside for a private conversation.

25:41We know that it's a private conversation because of verse 20. Verse 20 says that at the end of Jesus and Peter's conversation, Peter looks back and sees John following them. Which means that I take it to mean that Jesus takes Peter for a walk along the sea.

26:05As they're walking, Peter's like, finally, finally I'm getting some one-on-one time with Jesus. But what will he say? Wait a minute. Do I want one-on-one time with Jesus? What is he going to say to me? Is he going to bring up that thing that I did?

26:27This is a moment Peter wanted probably, but probably also dreaded. Jesus doesn't keep Peter waiting or beat around the bush. He just goes right in and asks him directly. Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?

26:46He gets right to the heart of the matter. Remember, when Jesus was arrested, Peter was first brave. He was the guy swinging the sword around. But soon he turned cowardly. When he was pressed, he acted like he didn't know him. A servant girl was making Peter quake in his boots.

27:12He called down curses on himself, church, swearing that he didn't know Jesus. Do you love me, Peter? Because you didn't act like it. Jesus doesn't gloss over our sins. He doesn't ignore it or just look the other way. That's not how it works. We might prefer that, but it wouldn't be healthy for us. That's like leaving in a splinter. Have you ever had a splinter and you're like, ah, I'll just leave it alone. And you like, start rubbing at it later in the day.

27:49It's bothering you and you look down and it's gotten red. It might be a small little thing, but if it's in there, it's going to keep on bothering you.

28:02Until we talk it out with him, the sin that we have, the failure that we have, we won't feel at ease even with him. So though this is awkward, Peter says, you know that I love you.

28:19Feed my lambs, he says. And Peter thinks, okay, we got past the hard part. Now we're talking about work again. We're talking about ministry again. Okay. But then Jesus asks again, Simon, son of John, do you love me? And now we need to pay attention to the order. Jesus is not asking here, Simon, son of John, will you feed my lambs? Then love me.

28:54No, it's love first and then assignment. It's love first and then ministry. It's love first and then work. In this passage, Peter is being reinstated to leadership. Jesus intends for him to do shepherding work in the church. This is so important, but the prerequisite is love for him. Love for Jesus. Nothing we do in the kingdom of God matters if we don't have love for him. Judas did a lot of ministry in the kingdom of God, but he didn't love Jesus.

29:37So this is why Jesus asks about Peter's love even twice. you know that I love you. Tend my sheep. Okay, Jesus, you made your point. Thanks for reminding me. Love first, then the work. I'm glad that we got that settled.

30:02But then comes the third time and this one cuts a little deeper. Simon, son of John, do you love me? And Peter is grieved. Why does he keep asking me? Doesn't he believe me? Surely he's not trying to rub it in. That's not like him.

30:31Peter doesn't realize yet that it had to be three times. It had to be. In Hebrew culture, three was symbolic of totality. That's why God is described as holy, holy, holy. Totally and completely holy. Peter had vehemently denied knowing Jesus. Swearing to it three times. It was a total repudiation of the relationship. He and I have nothing to do with each other. Is that clear? All you people watching me? He and I have nothing to do with each other.

31:14And that's all I'm going to say about this. Just like there had been a total repudiation of his relationship with Jesus, Jesus is bringing a total restoration to the relationship. His denial was three times and so Jesus gives him three opportunities, three chances to declare his love and allegiance so that it would be a total restoration of the relationship he had with Jesus.

31:47Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. Why do you ask? You know everything. Yes, Peter, Jesus says, I know. This is for your sake, not mine. This is for your sake. It's so Peter knows he's forgiven, so he knows there's no bad blood between them. Only the blood of Christ. The reconciling and cleansing blood of Christ.

32:23Whatever Jesus has asked you to do. Your work, your family, your neighbors, this church, whatever he's asked you to do, you can't do it without being on good terms with Jesus. Don't let unconfessed sin be a splinter in your soul. Go to him. Talk it out with him. Confess. Declare your love. He is going to restore you. He's going to take out that splinter. Doesn't it feel good when a splinter comes out? That's the feeling of confession and forgiveness.

33:04The balm for our soul so that it heals. Now Peter is ready to do what Jesus has asked him to do. And now Jesus fast forwards to the end. He tells him where his life of service in the kingdom of God is going to end. When you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. In case there's any doubt, John breaks in here and says in verse 19 that yes, Jesus is talking about Peter's eventual martyrdom.

33:47Now this is hard to hear. But I want you to consider this. This means that Peter will never fall away. That Peter will persevere to the end. That at the end of his life, it will be declaring his love for Jesus. All through his life, he will be faithful to the call and he will end his life faithful to Jesus. That's good news. I ask you, what would you rather the end of your life be? Comfortable? Rich? Surrounded by family and toys? On a beach somewhere?

34:32But alienated from Jesus? Or stricken with grief? Or a disease? Or wounded? Abandoned by everyone you love? But close to Jesus? Loving him to the end? If those were your two choices, which one would you pick?

35:02This is good news for Peter. Jesus is saying, Peter, I've seen the end. You're going to end with me. Close to me. Allied with me. Stretching out your hands and being led for me. Because you love me just like you're saying to me right now on this beach. That is a good ending to a life. That's the best ending to a life.

35:37Peter's purpose in his relationship is restored. But this word about his end is hard. It rattles Peter a little bit. He needs one more thing. One more loose end that Jesus has with Peter. He's got to restore Peter's focus. As soon as Peter hears about the end of his road, he feels a common temptation to compare. He turns around and sees John following them. Lord, what about this man? What are you going to ask him to do? Will he suffer like me? Am I being treated unfairly?

36:20Tell me more about him so I can know that I'm at least getting a fairly even deal here. This is how we all tend to be. I mean, you can't cut up cake at a kid's birthday party without hearing, I didn't get as much as her, as him, right?

36:43Adults are more subtle than kids, but we still feel it. And it happens before we know it. Something hard happens in our life and we start looking around. Are other people asked to sacrifice like me? Are they being treated differently than me by God? Better?

37:07Comparison is the thief of joy, they say. That's not in the Bible, but it is biblical. It steals our joy to compare and it completely drags down our discipleship. It's a drag on our discipleship to compare. It doesn't do anything good. If we compare and feel like we're better off, we start getting smug and self-righteous. If we compare and feel like we're worse off, we start pitying ourselves, we get entitled. It's no good. We need to hear what Jesus says to Peter here.

37:44What is that to you, Peter? You follow me. Gently yet firmly, Jesus restores Peter's focus. Peter, mind your own business. Or maybe better yet, mind your own discipleship. Mind your own path. Don't worry about what I've asked other people to do. The disciples, Jesus is like, haven't you had one too many arguments already about who's the greatest? Stop it. For the sake of his own obedience, Peter needs to keep his eyes on himself. Everyone's path of discipleship is unique.

38:25He's given each person different resources, abilities, settings, callings, difficulties, sufferings. Faithfulness for one Christian is not identical to the next. Each of us must be faithful to what God has asked us to do. It doesn't help you to follow Jesus to compare, either negatively or positively. And let's be honest, there is so much that we don't know about the path that other people are on. The very person we might think has it easy might be dealing with hardships that we can't even see.

39:05Jesus wants to restore Peter's focus just like his relationship and just like his purpose because otherwise his discipleship will get dragged down. Now, John ends his Gospel with this odd little comment. One of my favorite little quirks of the Bible. Verse 25. Evidently, there are tons of things that Jesus said and did that we know nothing about. So much so that the world wouldn't have enough books to hold everything that could be written.

39:46Doesn't it make you curious about what John saw and heard that he could tell us? Here's the takeaway. Here's why I think John gave us that verse. The takeaway is that I could have written more, but God told me to tell these things to you. He's given me these stories for you. These accounts for your sake. You have what you need. Whatever was left out about Jesus' life, what he said and did, it's not necessary for your faith, for your discipleship, for your love for him.

40:23for what we do have. for the stories, the true stories that we have like these about ordinary people like Peter who messed up big time and who were restored in every way possible.

40:40Friends, let John 21 remind you that no matter what you've done, how far you've fallen, Jesus can and will restore you. Jump out of that boat and swim to him. Declare your love for him and accept the path of discipleship that he's put you on, knowing that he will keep you to the end. Because he will. He will keep you to the end. Keep walking in faith.