John 21:1-25: From Gone Fishing To Shepherding Sheep

(1) Bible Study Questions

Discuss: What is your response to you letting someone down? How do you live with it?

1. In chapter 20, John has narrated two appearances of Jesus that occurred in Jerusalem. Now some of the disciples at least are in Galilee, as Jesus had directed (Mark 14:28; 16:7). Jesus it seems is unrecognized until verse 7? What does Jesus do to reveal his identity? (cf. Luke 5:1-10)

2. Why did Peter put clothes on before he jumped in the water? (v. 7)

3. Why do you think Jesus made breakfast for his disciples? (vv. 9-11)

4. Why might Jesus has asked the disciples to bring some of the fish they had caught? (v. 10)

5. What might Jesus be referring to when he asks Peter whether he loves him, “more than these”? (v. 15)

6. Why do you think Jesus asks his question of Peter three times? (vv. 17)

7. What task does Jesus call Peter to? (vv. 15-17)

8. John testifies to the prediction of Jesus about the death of Peter. What is the content of that prediction? (vv. 18-19)

9. What is it like to do your ministry in the light of your oncoming death?

10. How would you describe Jesus answer to Peter’s question in verses 21-22?

11. Is the answer Jesus gives unfair in verse 23? Why or why not?

(2) Sermon Script

Introduction: After The Denial, Then What?

Imagine that you have let someone down. You’ve done wrong against that person. And you know it. At one level, you didn’t mean to do it. But you did it. You were disloyal, you walked away at the time of their greatest need. The memory of your sin makes you embarrassed. Then you unexpectedly see that person again.

How do you feel? What will you say? Sheepish? Embarrassed? Guilty? Ashamed?

There’s a reasonably recent song (for old people, anyway) called ‘Caught in the Crowd’. The third verse goes like this.

It was after school in the afternoon, The corridors were crowded as we came out of the rooms, Three guys I knew pushed him into the cement, Threw away his bag and said he had no friends. He yelled that he did and he looked around, Tried getting up but they pushed him on down, That's when he saw me, called out my name, And I turned my back, and just walked away, Yeah I turned my back, and just walked away. (Kate Miller-Heidke, 'Caught In The Crowd', Songwriter(s): Keir Nuttall, Kate Miller-Heidke : Copyright: Sony/Atv Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd http://www.elyrics.net)

The songwriter is trying to deal with her denial of a friend in the face of his being bullied, after the event is long past. In the chorus, she confesses that she was dumb and proud and that she is sorry. It is not surprising that the song is used at schools to help deal with bullying, because bullying leaves many scars, both for the victim and the perpetrator, and indeed, for those who are neither, but ‘Caught in the Crowd’.

And one imagines that it was a very similar emotional state for Peter after he denied the Lord three times. There is a loose end in the Gospel of John that our Gospel writer needs to tie up: What about Peter? What about his denial of Jesus? And Jesus is going to respond to Peter’s failure, and to restore him to feeding his sheep.

Context

We meet Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John and the two others by the Sea of Tiberius, which is lake Galilee (cf. John 6:1). The disciples are back in their old stomping ground. At one level, it looks like they’ve given up and gone home. “Oh well, Jesus isn’t around any more, let’s just go home and fish.” But Jesus actually wanted them to return to Galilee, because Jesus said that he would go ahead of them into Galilee (Mark 14:28; 16:7). So Jesus commands them to go back to where it all started: Galilee. In Galilee, Jesus would give the great commission. More than probably, in Galilee, the risen Jesus met his brother James. And James saw there was more to his brother then met the eye (1 Cor 15:7). Probably in Galilee, the risen Jesus also appeared to 500 of the brothers at one time (1 Cor 15:6).

Now all the disciples had already seen the risen Jesus. Jesus appeared to them on Sunday evening. And a week later he appeared to them again, this time with Thomas, all in Jerusalem.

Fruitless Fishing, the Miraculous Catch, and Breakfast on the Beach (vv. 1-14)

And some time between a week and six weeks after Jesus rose again, Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John and two other disciples went back to Galilee to do what they had been doing in the beginning: fishing. In obedience to Jesus, they have returned from Jerusalem to Galilee. But they’ve taken the opportunity to go fishing. Perhaps this is the holiday before the work begins. That’s what the HSC student’s gap year is all about. Perhaps this is the apostles’ ‘gap month’. One cannot think of the disciples after Pentecost returning to their nets. In any event, the disciples had to eat, so they might as well catch dinner.

Peter, always taking the lead, says “I’m going fishing.” And the six other disciples want to come. They had a frustrating night. Not a bite, just like in the early days.

And there stands Jesus, on the shore of the sea, and just like on the Road to Emmaus, his disciples don’t recognize him. This is the undercover Jesus again Jesus in disguise.

“Throw the net over the other side”, comes the cry. A fruitless night of fishing, but the teacher says, “Try over here” (cf. Luke 5:1-10). And John knows exactly who it is. John recognizes this calling card. “It is the Lord”, says John. And Peter looks up, leaves his fishing, puts on his over-shirt, and throws himself into the water.

That’s strange, isn’t it? Most people would take their shirt off to do a hundred meter swim. Your clothes will slow you down, and you’ll have nothing to wear afterwards. But Peter gets dressed. Why?

Because he had stripped down to work. Maybe he had his loincloth on, but that’s it. He didn’t want to appear in his speedos before his Lord, even if he had to swim a hundred metres to get there. He wanted to appear before the Lord dressed, out of respect for a great and mighty king.

But Peter wanted to get there, where Jesus was, because Jesus is more important than fish. Getting to Jesus is more important than staying dry. Getting to Jesus is more important than spending a day in a wet over-shirt.

In fact, Jesus didn’t need the disciples to bring him breakfast. He already has a fire prepared, with baked bread and fish cooking on the beach. The one who multiplied five loaves and two fish can miraculously provide food, even when experienced fishermen come up with nothing. Peter leaves his fishing to seek Jesus, and gets Jesus plus fish. And that is always the way. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matt 6:33). Seek Jesus, and get your hearts desire, what you were looking for anyway. Because Jesus is our creator, and knows our needs before we ask.

Notice that Jesus grants them a catch of 153 fish. What is this, Jesus allowing overfishing of the Sea of Galilee? You see, Jesus is no greenie. Nor is Jesus a vegetarian. Even the risen Jesus is not a vegetarian or a vegan. It is not, “Go free, little fishies. Swim away from the nasty humans before they eat you.” No, Jesus says ‘Get up Peter, kill and eat’ (Acts 10:13; 11:17). You are free to eat meat and fish and whatever you want.

Of course, you are also free to not eat meat and fish. You can eat only vegetables, if you want, for health reasons, or just because you like vegetables. Daniel exercised that freedom. Many Christians have and do. And we need to manage wisely and well our resources. That part of conservationism is correct. Dominion requires wise management. And you can like and enjoy animals, not just on the end of your fork. Pets are OK. You can appreciate them as created by God.

But remember, animal liberation, and save the whales, and trendy inner city vegetarianism, often has more to do with Buddhism and Atheism and Pantheism and a misguided view about humans being upright apes. But God has made humans in his image and given us the animals to rule and use. Yes, to rule and use. There is nothing wrong with humans using animals for food and leather and gelatine and horns and medicine, and to experiment on them so that human lives can be saved. Of course, those same people who say we shouldn’t kill animals also say we should allow people to kill unborn humans. Animal liberation is good, but not unborn human liberation. Vegetarianism and animal liberation is not morally superior. Meat is not murder. The resurrected Jesus ate killed fish.

What is the resurrected Jesus doing on the beach, at this third appearance that John records? Verse 13:

21:13Jesus came and took the bread, and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

He is serving them. Jesus served them in his life. Jesus served them in his death. Jesus served them again in his resurrected life. And Jesus is serving us now, in his resurrection life, providing for us everything that we need.

God the Son, from his throne in heaven, sustains all things by his powerful word (Heb 1:3). In the Son, all things hold together (Col 1:17). He provides our every need.

This is our God, the servant king, he calls us now to follow him, to give our lives as a daily offering of worship to the servant king. (From Heaven You Came)

Jesus as a celebrity chef provides them breakfast by the sea.

A Businessmen’s Breakfast (vv. 15-22)

But Jesus has not just come to cook old friends fish burgers. He has come to call his disciples back to his employ. This is a businessmen’s breakfast. Now that he has risen, Jesus has a job for them to do, and particularly for their unofficial leader, Simon Peter. And once they’ve eaten, Jesus broaches the important subject of their future. John chapter 21 verse 15:

21:15So after they had 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.”

Now, I wonder what the ‘these’ are, that Jesus refers to?

The ‘these’ could refer to the other disciples. Do you love me more than Thomas and John and Nathanael and the others love me. But the problem is, how can Peter know that? How can Peter know whether he has stronger love than Thomas or John?

Is Jesus asking, “Do you love me more than you love Thomas, John, Nathanael and the others?” It could mean that. But there is no evidence that Peter has decided to love the disciples more than his Lord. After all, he has jumped out of the boat away from John to make it to Jesus (v. 7). And anyway, Jesus wants Peter to love Thomas, John, and the others. They are some of the sheep for whom Jesus has just laid down his life.

I think the third possibility is most likely: Do you love me more than fishing? Do you love me more than these 153 fish that are lying here? Do you love me more than going back to work as a Galilean fisherman? Because I haven’t called you back to Galilee to give you your old job back, fishing for fish. For remember, Jesus said to Peter, “From now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10). And that job offer still stands.

Again, this is a call to not be a Galilean fisherman, but a shepherd. Feed my lambs, feed my sheep. Do not give yourself to the life of a fisherman once again. Those days have passed for you.

Jesus asks the question three times. Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me? Why three times? It’s not accidental. Jesus means it to sting. Peter was rightly upset about Jesus’ asking him three times (vv. 15, 16, 17). The threefold questioning is meant to remind Peter of his threefold denial (John 13:37-38, cf. 18:25-27 and the synoptics). Three times Peter denied Jesus. Three times Jesus asks him the question, “Do you love me?” Three times the Lord says, “feed my sheep, feed my lambs”.

Jesus is restoring Peter to his job of being a shepherd over the sheep. Peter fell with a threefold denial, “I do not know him”. He is restored with a threefold confession, “I love you, Lord”. Jesus offers Peter his old job back. And Peter will take it, because he loves Jesus.

That’s why you should go into serving the church, because you love Jesus. Jesus’ sheep are precious. He laid down his life for them. So you should give yourself to serving them, and maybe even feeding them. All should serve them. But some should serve them by feeding them.

Peter's Passion Predicted (vv. 18-19)

But just because Peter is invited into a privileged position, it doesn’t mean he will get a good superannuation package. No Anglican Retirement Village or Chesalon for Peter. No Parliamentary Pension or Seniors gold card when he is old. No enjoyment of that hard-earned nestegg. No worldly honours during his latter years.

For what will be the golden handshake for Peter for feeding his Lord’s sheep? Jesus’ shows Peter his golden handshake and retirement party Verses 18 to 19:

21:18“Truly truly I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will gird you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 21:19Now he said this signifying with what sort of death he would glorify God. And after he said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Peter was used to making his own decisions. When he wanted to go fishing, he went fishing, and his friends followed. When he wanted to strip down to work the nets, he girded his loins, and worked. And when he wanted to jump into the sea to meet his Lord, he did it.

But Jesus is saying to Peter, those days are numbered. For Peter, a day will come when he will be martyred, and someone will stretch out his hands. ‘Stretching out the hands’ was a euphemism for crucifixion. And someone else will gird his loins and strip his clothes from him. And someone else will carry him to a place he doesn’t want to go (cf. John 12:33).

Christian sources outside the Bible tells us that Peter was martyred under emperor Nero, that he was crucified, and that he may have been crucified upside down.

So now, the rest of Peter’s life will be lived under the shadow of the cross, just as Jesus’ earthly life and ministry was. The Lord has made it clear that in a special way Peter must take up his cross and follow him. No wonder Jesus says, “Follow me”. Not just come for a walk with me, but be prepared to die a shameful death of crucifixion for the glory of God, as I did.

Mind Your Own Business, Peter (vv. 20-24)

None of us know for sure how we are going to die, or even whether we will die. It may be that Jesus will come back while we still live. But each of us are apportioned our destiny by God. Jesus, who knows all things, has an exit strategy for each of us.

And none of us need worry about others. The length of our lives is in the hands of God, and in his hands alone. So when Peter asks what is going to happen to the apostle John, he is told, in effect, “Mind your own business”. How each of us will glorify God will differ from person to person. Some will glorify God by the martyrdom. That is Peter, who died in AD 65 on a Roman cross. Others will glorify God by their written legacy and long ministry. That is John, the disciple Jesus loved, who outlived all the other disciples, and shepherded the churches till his death around AD 100.

Either way, Jesus, the great shepherd of his sheep, knows what is best for each one of his sheep. And Jesus knows what is best for you and me, too. Your future, and mine, is in his hands. But whether your years or mine from now on are many or few, what Jesus says to us is “Follow me”. Don’t worry about my plans for others, but make sure you follow me, copy me, and walk the path I have placed before you.

There's More to Say, But John's Gospel Is Enough (vv. 24-25)

Well, Jesus did many other things not recorded in by John (v. 25). We’ve got records of some of them, in the other Gospels. Others have been forgotten to history.

But that is not a disaster for us. We don’t know everything, but we know enough. John the Apostle and eyewitness has recorded what we need to know to follow Jesus and have eternal life (cf. John 20:30-31). Some people get upset about big gaps in our historical record. Why don’t we know what Jesus did between the ages of 12 and 30? And then, some people have tried to pad it out, and they have made up what Jesus did.

But notice how John’s Gospel concentrates on the final three years, and then on his final week, and then on words to his disciples, and his death, and resurrection. Chapters 12 to 21, almost half the Gospel, cover the week before his death. Chapters 13 to 21 cover from the night before he died.

John left out a lot. But what John recorded, according to John himself, was enough for us. And about the stuff he didn’t record, John’s words to us, pretty much, are ‘mind your own business’. John 21 verse 25:

21:25Now there were many other things which Jesus also did, which if each one were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books which would be written.

In the last chapter, John chapter 20 verses 30 to 31, likewise John said:

20:30So Jesus also did many other signs in the sight of his disciples which are not written in this book. 20:31But these are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you have life in his name.

John is quite clear. You don’t have all the information about Jesus. But you have enough information. So follow Jesus.

Conclusion

Peter’s story on the Thursday night before Jesus died was “I turned my back, and just walked away Yeah I turned my back, and just walked away.”

That was on the night before Jesus died. Peter was young and caught in the crowd He didn't know then what he knows now. He was dumb, and he was proud and he’s sorry. Neither Peter, nor we, can go back do it again. But Jesus gives Peter the word of forgiveness and restoration.

And of course, that forgiveness and restoration is there for you and me, too. “Do you love me?”, says Jesus Christ. And if the answer is ‘yes’, know that you, like Peter, are restored to Jesus’ friendship and Jesus’ service. Now, like Peter, you are older and wiser. And now, like Peter and John, the rest of your life is given to glorifying God, whether by long fruitful life or noble death. So follow Jesus, and play your part in feeding his sheep.

Let’s pray.

(3) English Translation