The Restoration (4 things)

• 1^st – The disciples returned to the see of Galilee… vs. 1-6
  • 1^st – Only 7 returned – Peter / Thomas / Nathanael / James and John / two others… vs. 1-3
    • Peter who had denied Jesus on three different occasions…
      • Thomas who had doubted Jesus was resurrected / Nathanael who was a skeptic…
      • James and John who were from the Galilee – fishermen by trade…
      • And the other two – perhaps Andrew and Philip – who were also from the Galilee…
    • When they arrived in the Galilee – they decided to go fishing…
      • In other words these 7 disciples – gave up and went home to go back to work…
      • They figured they were ‘washed up’ – they had failed as disciples of Jesus…
      • So they went back to their ‘old ways’ – to the life they had before Jesus!
      • When we fail spiritually – when we sin – our first reaction is to want to give up…
      • We failed at following Jesus – so we mind as well go back to our ‘old ways’!
      • II Peter 2:22 – “According to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit…’”
  • 2^nd – The disciples fished all night – but caught nothing… vs. 4-6
    • Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore…
      • The disciples did not know it was Jesus – they were too far out in the water…
      • Jesus called to them and asked – ‘Children have you caught any food’…
      • The answer was ‘No’ – they had also failed miserably as fishermen!
      • People wonder what they are doing wrong in life – why it is so hard…
      • No matter what we try to do in life – if we do not include Jesus – we will fail!
    • Jesus told the disciples to ‘Try the other side’…
      • If you are fishing and caught NOTHING all night – the ‘other side’ will not help…
      • But they obeyed – and could not draw in the net because they had so many fish!
      • Many people call Jesus their Lord – but then refuse to obey His Word…
      • Calling Jesus Lord means listening to – and obeying His Word – James 1:22
      • Being ‘successful’ in life has little to do with talent / skill / or opportunity…
      • It is all about listening to Jesus – He is the one who can ‘bring in the fish’…
      • God can bless the work of our hands / or if we are not listening – make it fruitless!
    • Jesus was not surprised by their failure – as fishermen or disciples…
      • Before they arrived for the last time in Jerusalem for the Passover…
        • Jesus said He would be betrayed / crucified / and rise again on the 3^rd day…
        • He told the disciples He would meet them in Galilee after His resurrection
        • Mark 14:28 – “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
      • Jesus knew they were going to give up – and try to go back to their old lives…
        • They may have given up on themselves – but Jesus had not given up on them!
        • God is not surprised when we make mistakes – He knows we are sinners…
        • The important thing is to repent and come back to Jesus – get back up!
        • Keeping in mind God is not done with us – in fact He is just getting started!
        • Proverbs 24:16 – “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”

• 2^nd – Remembering the calling… vs. 7-13
  • 1^st – John immediately recognized Jesus… vs. 7
    • This was not the first time Jesus had helped the disciples to go fishing…
      • Back when Jesus had just begun His ministry – Luke 5:1-16…
      • The men had just returned from a long night of fishing – and caught nothing…
      • Jesus got into Peter’s boat – pushed out a little from the Land to teach…
      • The result would have been a natural amplification of Jesus’ voice over the water…
      • It would have allowed thousands to sit on the shore and listen to His teaching
    • When Jesus had finished His teaching – He told the disciples to go back out…
      • Peter doubted – ‘Master we have worked hard all night – and caught nothing’…
      • They were exhausted – disappointed – and likely just wanted to go home and sleep…
      • But at ‘Jesus’ word’ – they obeyed and went back out to try again…
      • When they let down their nets – they caught so many fish – the net almost broke!
      • Even though Peter doubted – because he obeyed – he was blessed!
      • Jesus does not expect us to have GREAT faith – He knows we tend to doubt…
      • Even when we doubt – God is always faithful to His Word – II Timothy 2:13
    • It was then Jesus called these men to become fishers of men…
      • Jesus wanted to remind these broken men – they had forgotten their true calling…
      • God had not called these men to catch fish – He had called them to fish for men!
      • God has not called us to work – 
      • God has called us to HIS WORK – going out to tell others about Jesus…
      • Its easy to get discouraged/forget – the harvest is ready God is just looking for laborers!
  • 2^nd – Peter jumped into the sea and swam to shore… vs. 8
    • Meanwhile the other disciples came in on their little boat…
    • At that point they were only about 100 meters from the shoreline…
    • Peter had failed more than any of the others by denying Jesus…
    • So his conscience was pricked when he saw Jesus – felt he had something to prove!
    • When we sin want to somehow fell like we need to ‘pay’ for our mistakes…
    • We think we deserve to be punished – but that is not the way Grace works…
    • Our forgiveness is not earned – it is freely given because of the Love of Christ!
  • 3^rd – When they arrived Jesus had started a fire… vs. 9-13
    • Jesus had fresh bread and was cooking some fish over the coals…
      • Jesus offered for them to bring some of their catch as well…
      • Peter dragged in the net to the beach and found they had caught 153 large fish!
      • So many their nets should have broken – but miraculously stayed intact!
      • Jesus took the bread and the fish – broke it – and gave it to the disciples…
      • This was not the first time Jesus had broken bread and fish to feed them!
    • While Jesus ministering in the Galilee – He taught late into the afternoon – John 6:6-13
      • The people had nothing to eat – and they were far from any city…
      • So Jesus had told His disciples to feed the multitudes – over 5000 in all!
      • One young boy offered his 5 loaves and two small fish to help…
      • Jesus blessed the food – gave thanks – and fed EVERYONE till they were all full!
    • The disciples had forgotten it did not matter what they brought to God…
      • God is not concerned about what little we bring for Him to use…
      • What is important is what He can do with even a little if we will just give it to Him!
        
• 3^rd – Restoring what was lost… vs. 14-17
  • 1^st – This was the 3^rd time Jesus appeared to the disciples… vs. 14
    • He appeared to them the 1^st time the evening of the resurrection – so they could see…
    • Jesus appeared the 2^nd time eight days later – to remove their doubt…
    • Now a 3^rd time He appeared to these 7 disheartened disciples – to restore them!
  • 2^nd – After breakfast Jesus asked Peter 3 questions…
    • 1^st and 2^nd questions were the same – ‘Peter do you LOVE me more than these’…

• We have only one word in our language for love…
• We love God – we our family – we love pizza – same word / different meanings…
• The Bible separates these meaning by 4 different words…
• 1^st – Eros – sexual love – the only one of the loves never mentioned in the Bible…
• 2^nd – Storge – family love – Romans 12:10 – the love of a sibling / parent / relative…
• 3^rd – Phileo – brotherly love / friendship – used 25 times in the NT
• 4^th – Agape – perfect love – perfect love – used over 200 times in the NT!

• The first two times Jesus asked – He asked Peter do you ‘AGAPE’ Me…
  • Peter had failed – denied Jesus 3 times – he could not say he AGAPE the Lord…
  • There were obviously other things in this life he loved more than Jesus…
  • So Peter honestly answers both times – ‘Lord You know I ‘like’ (phileo) You…’
  • If God asked us what we loved most – how many could truthfully say Jesus…
  • If we are honest we choose this world over Jesus all the time…
  • When we go with the crowd – when we do not make time for His Word!
• The first two times Jesus answered – ‘then feed my sheep’…
  • In other words God was not done with Peter – God still had a plan for him…
  • God wanted Peter to feed / protect His sheep – believers in Jesus Christ!
  • Being used by God is not dependent on us being perfect – far from it…
  • I know people who say they want to serve God – but are ashamed because of their sin…
  • If we were to wait to serve the Lord till we had no sin – we would never serve…
  • God uses imperfect sinners – to share the hope of a perfect God!
• 3^rd – A third time Jesus asked His question – ‘Peter do you love me’…
  • The third time Jesus asked – He changed His question…
    • Rather than using the word AGAPE – Jesus used Peter’s word ‘like’ (phileo)…
    • That is why Peter was upset by the 3^rd question (that and Peter did not like the # 3)
    • He told Jesus – You know ALL things – You know I ‘like’ You!
  • Jesus did not expect Peter to come to His level (AGAPE) Jesus came to Peter’s level!
    • Jesus does not expect us to be perfect – far from it – He knows we are not…
    • He knows we tend to get caught up in ourselves – caught up in the world…
    • He meets us right where we are – no matter what we have done…
    • And wants to bring us back into that close relationship with Him!
      
• 4^th – Looking to the future… vs. 18-25
  • 1^st – Jesus prophesied over Peter… vs. 18-19
    • When Peter was young he went wherever he wanted / did whatever he liked…
      • But when He was old – Peter would stretch out his hands…
      • And others would lead him where he did not want to go!
      • Jesus said this to let Peter know what kind of death he would die to glorify God…
      • History tells us that Peter was crucified upside down for his faith in Jesus…
      • Upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same manner as His Lord!
    • When we do not follow Jesus – we are free to do what we want…
      • We can go where we like / say what we think / and do whatever we want to…
      • But with every sin we sink deeper into ‘debt’ – a debt we had no way to repay…
      • Only living to please ourselves – destined to face the wrath of God!
      • When we give our lives to Jesus – our lives are not longer ours to live as we choose…
      • But we give our lives here – so we can receive eternal life with God in heaven!
  • 2^nd – Peter looked over and saw John (the disciples Jesus’ loved)… vs. 20-23
    • Peter wanted to know what was going to happen to him…
      • Peter did not want to suffer alone – he wanted to make sure John would be with him…
      • But Jesus answered – ‘What if I want John to remain alive till I return…’
      • There was a rumor that spread about John because of this saying…
      • Some believed that John would not die – he would be there when Jesus returned…
      • John – was boiled in oil – but survived – sent to the prison island of Patmos…
      • And was the only one of the disciples to not be martyred – but he died of old age…
    • Jesus point was it did not matter what happened to John – only that Peter followed Jesus!
      • Often we are willing to follow Jesus – so long as others go with us…
      • But that is not following Jesus – that is following the crowd…
      • Jesus wants us to follow Him – even if we are the only one!
  • 3^rd – The conclusion of the book… vs. 24-25
    • John closes by saying he wrote these things knowing they are true…
    • He was a first hand witness to the life / death / and resurrection of Jesus Christ…
    • He did not write everything Jesus did – all the books in the world would not be enough
    • But John did tell stories not found in any of the other Gospels – including this one…
    • So we would see that God has a plan for our lives – not to live to work (fishermen)…
    • But we are called to bring the Good News – so like us – others may live for Jesus!