This is the final chapter in our journey through the Gospel of John …
We have covered a massive amount of truth in the past 8 months…
We have learned a lot about …
The Trinity …
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Jesus …
The Son of God …
God in flesh
Creator of all things
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
His death , resurrection and coming again.
We have looked at the 7 sign miracles that prove his claims to be true
The I am statements…
The bread of life … 6;35
The light of the world … 8;12
The Door… 10;7
The resurrection and life … 11;25
The way the truth the life … 14;6
The true vine … 15;1
We know why John wrote the book, and why we have studied it.
We have quoted the key verse over and over again… John 20;31
That you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and believing have life in his name.
In the past months we have been exposed to some very clear biblical truth .
But with all of this teaching and knowledge goes responsibility …
So I ask myself the question …
What difference has it made in me…
Has it had any impact on my thinking and way of life…
We are all answerable to God about Jesus the Son of God …
And having attended these teachings, ignorance is no longer an option …
Jesus said …Math. 10;33
Whoever denies me before men, I will deny before my Father.
So we come to the final chapter …Is it just another miracle or is it much bigger than that…
To answer that question we need to go back to the time when Jesus called the disciples….
What did Jesus promise Peter and Andrew …Mth 4;18
Follow me and I will make you fishers of men …
The unsuccessful fishermen… vs 2
So we start this final chapter with anticipation …where are the fishers of men …
And what do we find …
Peter,Thomas, Nathanael, James and John plus 2 others …
Back at the water's edge … doing nothing …
Peter the leader says “I’m going fishing”... for fish…
And they all jump in the boat.
Three years earlier Jesus had commissioned them to be fishers of men …
And here they are and they can't even catch fish … vs 5
There is a massive problem here …
It seems, the plan is not working
But an apparent stranger on the beach asks if they were successful in their fishing
The answer is no … all night and nothing …
He tells them to cast the nets out on the right side of the boat …
And suddenly there are 153 large fish in their nets …vs 11
And amazingly the nets do not break.
Who is this person ?…
At his invitation they sit down to enjoy his breakfast …
And none dared ask who he was …they knew it was the Lord… vs 12
Peter the leader of the pack…
Up until now it would seem that Peter was the leader of the pack …
Certainly in his own eyes …
At his calling Jesus changed his name from Simon (A pebble) to Peter (A piece of Rock) John 1;42
Jesus asks “who do you say I am”
Peter … You are the Christ, the Son of the living God … Math 16;16
Blessed are you…God has given you this understanding …
When people are deserting Jesus he challenges his disciples
Do you want to leave to “
Again it is Peter … Lord to whom shall we go “ … Jh 6;68
At the transfiguration it is Peter offering to build a memorial … Luke 9;33
When Jesus predicts his coming crucifiction Peter declares … Though all fall away I never will fall … Even if I have to die for you …I will never disown you. Mth 26;33-35 & John 13;37
As Jesus washes the disciples feet, it is Peter who objects … Jh 13;8
When they come to arrest Jesus it is Peter who takes out his sword to defend Jesus …John 18;10
It is almost always Peter the leader of the pack …who speaks out on behalf of the others …
But …when it really counts he goes AWOL … missing…
As the pressure mounts Peter is mingling with the crowd and a young girl says Math 26;69-75
You were with Jesus” … no way … I don't know him
But Peter you said you would never disown him
Another says…This fellow was with Jesus …
Peter denies it with an oath …
God is my witness …I don't know him.
Yet another …You must be ,,, your accent betrays you….
God is my witness and if I am lying he can take my life
And so Peter the rock falls …
From the heights of …
You are the Christ the Son of God …
And I will never deny you… I will die for you.
He falls into the pit of denial with oaths and calling curses on himself.
But in his heart he still loved Jesus, but fear of man gripped his heart and he saw no way out. He is in panic mode.
Peter had given everything up for Jesus and was about to die…Math19;27
And as he turns to leave he takes a final look at Jesus and they make eye contact…
And a sense of inexpressible guilt overwhelms him…
He knows he has betrayed the one he loves dearly.
And leaves that place with a broken heart
From here on until chapter 21;15 we see no contact between Jesus and Peter.
Except to say he was not forgotten … Mark 16;7
Here the women are standing at the empty tomb and the Angel tells them …
Go and tell the disciples and Peter …to go to Galilee
Why single Peter out …
It would suggest that Peter, who is consumed by guilt, is no longer assuming that leadership role.
That Peter, because of his feelings of guilt, can't bring himself to speak to Jesus …
Instead of pushing his way to the front , he is hiding in the background.
But whilst he has denied Jesus, Jesus was not about to exclude him …
So there was a special instruction to include Peter despite his denials. (And Lawrence)
And Jesus wants him to know there is forgiveness.
And that is why this chapter is so important …
Because it has implications for you and me.
Peter's reinstatement…
Why are we so fond of Peter …and David …
Because we are just like them …
We see their glaring mistakes being repeated in our lives .
Both failed in the most terrible way …
Peter denies Jesus completely … with oaths and curses …
David goes from bad to worse … from sexual sin to murder in order to cover it all up.
Both are supposed to be leaders in the house …bringing glory to his name.
Both bring massive dishonour to the Lord's name.
Both are consumed by their guilt.
So here they are all sitting around the fire …and Jesus addresses Peter …
Peter, do you truly love me … more than these …
The word for love used here, in the Greek, is Agapao…
