Temple Baptist Church - 2-5-2025
John 21:1-17
Introduction:
A. Here in these verses, we find the amazing love of a wonderful Saviour for one of His children. The value of ONE! Everyone here tonight is of great value to the Lord as He loves us all equally with a never ending, never changing love!
B. Last week, we saw the personal shame of Peter that kept him at a distance from the Lord. I said a personal distance because the Lord never leaves nor forsakes His children. If there is a distance between us and our Saviour, it is us that have distanced ourselves.
C. Tonight, I want to look at the restoration of Peter. I am so glad tonight that the Lord did not just leave him there! “Come unto me” is the cry of the heart of God! There is a song that says, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.” Another says, “Come and dine the Master calleth, come and dine.” Peter made a simple thing complicated! Confess, get right, and follow on is the short version of restoration.
D. The Love of the Lord is an all knowing Love. The Lord prophesied Peter’s future failure because He knew of the weakness in Peter that needed to be corrected before he could be greatly used of God.
Mark 14:29-31 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. (30) And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. (31) But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
Self-confidence was a problem that Peter had. We are not to put our confidence in man, yet Peter rebuked the Lord in front of all the disciples.
E. The Lord knew that Peter would deny Him before the very act. I am so glad tonight that the Lord knew I would continue to fail Him throughout life, but He loves me anyway!
F. Now we will break down Peter’s failure and restoration into sections.
1. Peter’s Fear. I believe that Peter was honest when he declared that he would die for the Lord but wanted to do it his way. He was rebuked by the Lord for drawing the sword as it was not the weapon or way of spiritual warfare.
a. We saw His Denial – John 18 we find Peter’s three-fold denial. Peter was not afraid to die but was afraid to suffer the reproach of Christ the night of Christ’s betrayal and trial.
b. We saw His Warming – Peter followed a far off and warmed himself at the fires of the wicked.
c. We saw His Absence – From Peter’s third denial, he is not seen again until after the resurrection.
d. We saw His Shame – Peter was there with the other disciples in the first two appearances of Christ in the closed up room where they hid for fear of the Jews.
e. We saw His Distance – Peter was there when Thomas confessed that Jesus was “My Lord and my God!”
f. We saw His Backsliding – “I go a fishing!” Peter could have gotten right with the Lord when the Lord looked at him; he could have gotten right with the Lord at the foot of the cross; he could have gotten right with the Lord when he came with John to an empty tomb; he could have gotten right with the Lord but chose to go back to his old business of fishing. Peter’s shame distanced him from the Lord that he loved!
g. We saw His Empty Net – “Children, have ye any meat?” The backslidden child of God will never prosper in this world.
2. The Lord’s Prophecy.
a. He prophesied Peter’s Fall. He told Peter that he would fall but Peter’s self-confidence spoke otherwise.
b. He prophesied Peter’s Restoration – “When thou are converted, strengthen the brethren.
3. The Lord’s Promise. The Lord was coming for Peter and Peter knew it!
Mark 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
4. The Lord’s Blessing. John 21:4-6. They obeyed His command to cast their net on the other side of the boat and they caught so many fishes that the nets began to break.
John 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
5. Restoration’s Beginning. John 21:7.
John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
a. It was Peter who asked John who it was that walked on the shores of the sea. I believe that this question was asked with fear and trembling.
b. When Peter saw the Lord, he swam to the shore to meet Him! His shame no longer kept him at bay.
6. The Lord’s Fellowship. John 21:12-14. “Come and dine” This time, the disciples and Peter warmed themselves at the right fire!
7. The Confrontation.
a. God deals with us individually and it was Peter’s time to face his Lord Jesus.
b. Three times Peter denied the Lord and three times the Lord asked him virtually the same question but with variations. I believe that the reasons for Jesus’ asking three were: 1) Three denials and 2) the Lord did not get the questions that He desired.
c. It is also noteworthy at this point to see that the Lord did not call him Peter. He called him Simon, son of Jonas, his old name as he was no longer the Peter the rock now.
8. The Questions asked. John 21:15-17.
a. The first question asked laid the groundwork for repentance and restoration.
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
1) In the first question asked, the Lord did not get the answer that He knew was vital to repentance and restoration. “lovest thou me more than these?” The question was not do you love me but do you love me more than this abundance of fish that could be sold at great price?
2) Peter, do you love me more than life? Do you love me more than the wealth of this world?
3) “Feed my lambs” was what the Lord wanted Peter to do, not fish but become a fisher of men.
Mark 1:17-18 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. (18) And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
b. The second question did not mention “more than me” as that foundation of service had been established.
John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
1) The mission had not been changed but had escalated. “Feed my sheep.” The mission of feeding lambs and sheep is progressive in nature.
2) The Lord got the right words but not the desired result. “I love you” are hollow words without the inward reality of true love.
c. The third question brought about what the Lord was looking for in order to restore Peter.
John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
1) Peter was grieved! “And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” The Bible uses the word “grieved” here. To be sad; heaviness of sorrow.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2) Peter knew that Jesus loved him, and that Jesus knew that Peter loved Him!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
9. Follow Me! Now Peter was ready to lay down his life for the Lord!
John 21:18-19 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. (19) This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
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