John 21 is an epilogue, a section of a piece of writing that brings closure to the selection, book or writing. Chapter 21 was needed to bring the closure to the Book of John. Jesus had already finished the redemptive work on the cross. In John 19:30, he took his last breath and said, “It is finished.” His work of redemption was completed, but the blueprint for believers to walk out that redemption and restoration had to be part of the plan. Peter and the rest of the disciples were demoralized. Peter became the central figure of the power of redemption and restoration in chapter 21.
The gospels depicts Peter and the other disciples’ walk with Jesus. Plus. Jesus had prophesied that Peter would be instrumental in building his church. Jesus saw the flawed Peter as instrumental in shepherding the lost sheep of the world.
Jesus’ first meeting with Peter was at Lake Gennesaret as he was teaching a crowd. He noticed two fishing boats—one was Peter’s and the other belonged to James and John, sons of Zebedee. The fishermen had been toiling all night without success. Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Peter and told them to let down their nets in deep water as he continued to teach the word of God to the people. The fishermen caught such a large number of fish that their nets filled up the boats.
Peter fell to his knees, recognizing, even then that Jesus was Lord. Jesus told him not to be afraid—that from now on he would fish for people. Those men—Peter, James and John— left all and followed Jesus. (Luke 5)
Another instance in Matthew 16:15-20, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus tells Peter that his revelation was not by flesh and blood, but by Father God in heaven. He tells Simon that he “is Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus had declared Simon Peter. The Greek name for Peter is Petros. Petros means a mass of rock or stone. Petros was a small stone or rock. The rock upon which Jesus would build his church was Petra, a large rock. Jesus, himself was Petra. So, Jesus was saying to Peter that he “is Peter, Petros, a small rock and on this large rock, Petra, I will build my church. Jesus was speaking into Peter’s character a steady, rock-likeness and stability.
At the Last Supper inLuke 22:31-33, Jesus warned Peter that Satan had asked to sift him as wheat, but that he (jesus) prayed that his faith would not fail. Jesus prayed that when Peter turned back, he would strengthen his brothers. (Jesus’ warning notes that there would be a crisis in Peter’s faith.)
Peter quickly asserts, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus then tells Peter that before the rooster crows today, “you will deny three times that you know me.” Peter’s denial is found in all the gospels. Even though the impetuous Peter cut off the servant’s ear when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus he still ended up denying Jesus three times!
After the death of Jesus on the cross, Peter is distraught, demoralized and dejected. So, what did he do? He, along with six other disciples, returned to the place where he had been before his encounter with Jesus. You might say that he had reached rock bottom and returned to his old life! He and the other disciples went to the Sea of Galilee (Tiberius) to fish.
Many times when we have gone through a crisis of faith—we return to what we were doing before we met our Lord and Savior. Jesus sees our brokenness, our despair when we have fallen short. He comes to us where we are at the time.
That is what he did for Peter (and the other disciples); he met Peter at his point of his need. Jesus approached the disciples at the Sea of Galilee just as he had in their first meeting at Lake of Gennesaret. And again, they had been fishing all night. Jesus asks them if they had any fish and they answered, “No.” So, just as when he first met them, he tells them to throw out their net—this time, on the right side. They did and got a net full of fish—153 to be exact! As they came to the shore, they found Jesus preparing some fish for them to eat. He meets us where we are brings comfort in our times of need!
This is the point where Jesus brings redemption and restoration to a broken Peter and Peter becomes our example for restoration and redemption. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loved him. He tells Peter to: feed my lambs; take care of my sheep; feed my sheep—three imperatives. Peter answers each time that he loved him! The declaration of love three times for the three denials was key to Peter knowing that he had been completely forgiven.
Jesus also commissioned Peter to follow him and go forth in his name to the lost sheep. Jesus had already prophesied that Peter would lead his church in Matthew 16. From the beginning, Jesus had seen a bold church leader in the impetuous, fickle and impulsive Peter.
What a blueprint for us! So, John 21 lets us know that the Lord sees us as who we will be rather than who we are in our flawed times of despair! We are redeemed and restored to the kingdom by the Blood of Jesus. So we must follow him in bringing his light to a fallen world and Peter did!
Be First to Comment