Well again, welcome everyone. Good morning. It's great to have this opportunity to speak from God's Word this morning.
We will be going through John chapter 21. We're going to read the chapter together through the sermon.
So I'm not going to read it ahead, but as we go through, we're going to read it section by section.
Do you like films or books that come with an epilogue at the end of them?
Do you like when a film has that little tag at the end?
You know, we've just had our climactic scene. The film's all wrapped up. The story's done.
But there's just this other scene, a little bonus right at the end.
And maybe it's to set up the sequel, just a little teaser so that you come back next summer and buy more popcorn.
But an epilogue at the end of a book or a film can do quite a bit, can't it?
It can satisfy our curiosity because it can kind of pan out to the future and give us a view beyond the story.
Or it can simply tie up some important loose end.
It can even be a way sometimes for the author to step onto the stage and give their personal views through a character.
Well, this morning I want us to read through the Apostle John's epilogue to his story of Jesus.
And it does all of it.
It hints at the next installment.
It's going to tie up a major loose end.
It's going to zoom us into the future.
And it's going to allow the author to step in right at the end.
It's an epic epilogue by any stretch.
But more importantly in some ways,
more than any epilogue of fiction or stage or film,
this true epilogue draws us, the reader, into the story.
This true epilogue is going to draw us in as the readers into the story.
You see, there's the thinnest gap of a page of paper
between what we read in John chapter 21
and our lives today as Christians.
As John epilogues, he's asking you, you, will you follow Jesus?
And will you serve others like Jesus did?
So we're going to go through, as I said, the chapter together in four parts.
Bigger parts going to smaller parts.
But first part, the final recap of the story,
the final recap story, verses 1 to 14.
John has brought the main story to the end of chapter 20.
And if you look at the whole Gospel of John,
it began in chapter 1 with a prologue, an opening.
And if we turn to chapter 1,
I think it just helps us to understand the epilogue a little bit.
So John's prologue in John chapter 1,
it takes us out of our time and our space,
and it reveals to us God the Son,
the eternal Son,
the only begotten Son of the Father,
God equal with the Father.
I just want to look at three verses to help us see this.
So verse 1 of John chapter 1,
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
Jesus is the Word.
Jump to verse 14.
The Word, that is Jesus,
became flesh,
and made His dwelling among us.
We have seen His glory,
the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
And jump down to verse 18.
No one,
no one has ever seen God,
but the one and only Son,
who is Himself God,
and is in closest relationship with the Father.
He has made Him known.
So it's fitting that a story that begins with a prologue,
John chapter 1,
is going to end with this epilogue.
Jesus, the God-man,
that we're introduced to in chapter 1.
What impact did He have in these 21 chapters?
And what legacy has He left?
So jump back with me, if you will,
to chapter 21.
Let's look at verses 1 to 3.
Afterwards, Jesus appeared again to His disciples
by the Sea of Galilee.
It happened this way.
Simon Peter,
Thomas, also known as Didymus,
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
the sons of Zebedee,
and two other disciples were together.
I'm going out to fish,
Simon Peter told them,
and they said,
We'll go with you.
So they went out,
and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
First one,
Jesus appears,
or maybe you could translate it better,
reveals Himself to His disciples.
The reveal happens back
where many of the disciples
had first met Jesus
at the Sea of Galilee.
Here we have,
if you count them up,
there's seven of the twelve
are back at this lake or this sea,
and they're back in a familiar setting,
doing familiar things.
You see,
Peter and the sons of Zebedee,
that's James and John,
Peter, James, and John,
they'd been business partners together
three years previously
in the fishing business.
And Peter is back fishing,
and the other disciples
are happy to go fishing with him.
Now we might be tempted
to read a little bit too much
into these opening verses here.
So we could speculate that,
Ah, Peter.
Ah, old Peter.
He's given up again, hasn't he?
He stopped following Jesus.
He's kind of taken the keys
to the kingdom of God
and thrown them back in
through the letterbox,
and on his way out,
he's grabbed his fishing rod,
and he's back to the lake fishing.
He's given up on Jesus.
But I don't think there's any
real strong indication of that here.
Back in chapter 20,
where the main story is,
Peter is the one
that's running to the tomb
when he hears reports
that Jesus has risen.
Peter is seeing the evidence
firsthand for the resurrection.
He's seen the empty tomb.
He's seen the grave clothes
that were neatly folded
and put to the side.
On one of Jesus' previous appearances
before this third one,
Jesus had commissioned the disciples,
saying,
As the Father has sent me,
so I am sending you.
They're commissioned followers of Jesus.
So what do we have here?
Well, I think we have the disciples.
They're waiting.
They're waiting for power
to come from on high
by the Holy Spirit
to begin their mission
out from Jerusalem.
And Jesus also said to them
that he would see them in Galilee.
So while in Galilee,
what else can you do?
Why not go fishing?
Well, fishing, verse 3,
why not?
Because fishing can be frustrating.
So they went out
and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
Out fishing at night.
Why at night?
Well, probably to have fresh fish
in the morning
to be able to sell at the market.
But at night,
it can be hard,
and they waste the efforts
of seven men in one night.
What a frustration.
And do you know what?
The disciples have been here before.
In Luke's Gospel of Jesus,
there's another lack of fish episode.
When Peter, back then,
was out fishing
with his business partners,
and he says,
we've worked hard all night,
he says to Jesus,
and we haven't caught anything.
And in that miracle catch of fish,
and it's a little spoiler,
we're going to have a miracle catch here.
In that miracle catch of fish in Luke,
Jesus came up directly to them
and told them to put out the nets again.
Here, it's a little different.
Jesus appears from a distance
as a kind of friendly customer on the shore.
Let's look at verses four to six.
Early in the morning,
after this frustrating night,
Jesus stood on the shore,
but the disciples did not realize
that it was Jesus.
And he called out to them,
friends, haven't you any fish?
No, they answered.
And he said,
throw your net on the right side of the boat
and you will find some.
When they did,
they were unable to haul the net in
because of the large number of fish.
Friends, any fish?
No.
I'm sure there's a bit of frustration.
All seven of them probably in unison.
Do you know what?
Throw your net on the right side of the boat
and you'll find some.
Well, do you know what they say about customers?
They're always right.
And who knows?
Maybe there are some fish.
And this man from the shore
calling out,
maybe he might bring some luck
and if we put down the net,
we'll find, you know,
a fish or two.
Not a total ride off of a night out fishing.
So the nets go down
and then there's a tug.
And then there's a real tug.
And then there's this frantic activity
where the nets are being pulled
and the waters are churning
and there's flapping.
All seven to the nets.
Quick.
Secure them.
Make sure that they don't break.
And haul.
And pull.
This isn't some lucky few fish.
No, this is hitting the mother load of fish.
It's another miracle catch.
And then the penny drops.
The penny drops for one of them.
I know this fish locating power.
I've seen this before.
Verse seven.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved
said to Peter,
It's the Lord.
As soon as Simon Peter heard him say,
It's the Lord.
Well, he wrapped his outer garment around him
for he'd taken it off.
And he jumped into the water.
And the other disciples followed in the boat,
towing the net full of fish.
For they weren't far from the shore,
about a hundred meters.
And when they landed,
they saw a fire of burning coals there
with fish on it and some bread.
Peter.
That's not any man.
That's the Lord.
Peter remembers what happened before.
Let down your nets.
You haven't caught anything,
but trust me.
This is Jesus.
Quick, Peter.
Quick throw on the top.
Leave the haul to the others.
They can sort that out.
Jumps out of the boat.
Wades through a hundred meters
to get to the man on the shore.
No delay.
And the others,
they fall hauling the nets.
And they catch up.
And there's the burning coals of a fire.
The friend has prepared breakfast.
Verse 10.
Jesus said to them,
Bring some of the fish you have caught.
So Simon,
Peter,
he climbs back into the boat
and dragged the net ashore.
And it was full of large fish.
153.
But even with so many,
the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them,
Come and have breakfast.
None of the disciples dared to ask him,
Who are you?
They knew it was the Lord.
Jesus came and took the bread
and he gave it to them.
And he did the same with the fish.
And this was now the third time
that Jesus had appeared to his disciples
after he was raised from the dead.
Bring some fish.
I already have the bread baking here.
No need to ask.
No need to say it.
This is Jesus.
Their friend and their Lord.
So what can we learn from this
final story in the epilogue?
Well, first,
and most importantly,
Jesus is alive.
And he is still the God-man
who serves his friends.
And we see Jesus the man, don't we?
If we look at verses 4 to 5,
there's Jesus walking on a shoreline.
And he's calling out to friends on a boat.
And in verses 10 to 12,
he's there sitting
and having breakfast around the fire
and saying,
Let me serve you.
Jesus,
the humble servant leader,
is alive.
He strolls.
He calls out.
He lights fires.
He bakes bread.
And he shares out the fish.
These are the everyday things
from a close,
hospitable friend
at the beach.
You know it's good
to have a friend
like Jesus.
Jesus.
And verses 6 to 7,
the command,
the call to throw out the net
and the miracle hall.
Jesus is God.
He is the maker of heaven and earth.
He is the one who can walk on water.
He is the one who can multiply
loaves and fishes.
He is the one that can arrange
for 153 large fish,
no minnows,
no little sprats
that need to be thrown back in.
He can arrange for those 153 fish
to be on the right side of a boat
100 meters away.
He is the one who heals
others' sicknesses
and their diseases.
He is the one who raises himself
from the dead
after three days
never to die.
The one, remember in John chapter 1,
the one and only son
who is himself God
and is in closest relationship
to the Father.
what a friend we have in Jesus.
The old hymn says,
can we find a friend
so faithful,
so true,
one who knows
our sorrows
and our cares,
who even as our risen Lord
is willing to serve us,
to call us
and to help us.
Fishing
can be frustrating
all night
with nothing to show
and so can our efforts
to provide for our family.
They can be slow,
they can be barely making ends meet,
always feeling there is more
that we should
or that we could do.
And some of us know
or have known
the struggle of
stocking a fridge,
of dealing with a broken tap,
of affording
a visit to the doctor.
Where the world
and its systems
would let us down,
where there are no fish
to show,
do we hear the voice
from the shore
call to us,
friend,
the voice that says,
do not worry.
Your heavenly Father
knows that you need
these things,
but seek His kingdom,
follow me
and all these things
will be added to you.
A voice that calls out to us,
cast out your nest
again in faith.
But He's also the one
who lights the fire,
the one who shares His bread,
the one who
supernaturally provides
with a miracle catch,
but also provides
through these very
ordinary means.
The one who gives Himself
as Lord of heaven and earth
and the one who gives Himself
through a community of friends
to help us in our need.
This is the God-man.
This is the Jesus
who we are to become like.
And so to follow Jesus
is to be like Jesus.
To also be the one
who calls out
friends from the shore
to light the fire
and share your bread.
It sounds simple,
yet here is the risen Lord
doing that,
just that,
for His friends.
John in chapter 13,
He said,
of Jesus,
Jesus said,
having loved His own
who were in the world,
He loved them
to the end.
John, of course,
is talking about Jesus
going to the cross,
Jesus laying down
His life for His friends.
The love of Jesus,
only something that God,
the Son,
could do.
Love to the end.
And by His death
on the cross,
we are invited
to confess our sins,
to put our faith in Him
and to follow Him.
And if that is news
to you this morning,
that is good news.
Jesus loves you.
Jesus died for you
and calls you
to follow Him.
Also in that very same chapter,
John talking about
Jesus loving to the end,
he also said what it was
to follow Jesus.
Jesus said,
a new command I give you,
love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
And by this,
everyone will know
that you are my disciples
if you love one another.
And so this
final recap story
is Jesus,
the Master,
showing the disciples
what practical
friendship
and love
looks like.
And the Master
has much
for each of us
to do.
You see,
each one of us
is called
to friendship
with Him
over a lifetime
of service.
And not all paths,
not all our paths
following Jesus
are going to look
the same.
And we are going
to listen in
on Jesus'
call on Peter
along with getting
a hint
of what is going
to happen
to the Apostle John
as well.
So first,
let's listen in
as we follow
Jesus and Peter
as they are walking
along the shore here.
Let's listen in
to what their exchange is.
Verse 15.
When they had finished
eating,
Jesus said
to Simon Peter,
Simon,
son of John,
do you love me
more than these?
Yes, Lord,
he said,
you know that I love you.
Jesus said,
feed my lambs.
Again,
Jesus said,
Simon,
son of John,
do you love me?
He answered,
yes, Lord,
you know that I love you.
Jesus said,
take care
of my sheep.
The third time
he said to him,
Simon,
son of John,
do you love me?
Well,
Peter was hurt
because Jesus asked
him the third time,
do you love me?
He said,
Lord,
you know all things.
You know
that I love you.
Jesus said,
feed my sheep.
Very truly,
I tell you,
when you were younger,
you dressed yourself
and you went
where you wanted,
but when you were old,
you will stretch
out your hands
and someone else
will dress you
and lead you
where you do not
want to go.
Jesus said this
to indicate
the kind of death
by which Peter
would glorify God.
Then he said to him,
follow me.
Peter was the first
of the seven
to reach the shore.
He didn't want to wait
to haul the fish in.
He wanted to get to Jesus.
But I wonder
as he waded
closer and closer
through the water
that he noticed
the already burning coals
of the fire
on the shoreline.
And if those coals
gave him a flashback
of that night
that he failed
to be a friend
to Jesus.
You see,
the last time
burning coals
were mentioned
by John
in his gospel,
it was the night
that Jesus
was betrayed.
the night
his friends
fled,
the night
he was arrested,
the night
he was brought
before an illegal
trial
of the Jewish
leaders.
And Peter
followed from a distance
and when that trial
was happening
at the high priest's
courtyard,
Peter was there
from a distance
warming himself
and his hands
on a fire
of coals
outside
the high priest's
courtyard
as Jesus
was being tried.
Peter said,
Lord,
they might all
abandon you,
but not I.
I will never
deny you.
But we know
from our own
weak hearts
it's only Jesus
that truly
loves to the end.
You see,
Peter's
love
failed
at a critical
point.
Peter
denied
Jesus
around the
coals
three times
in one night.
And so
here we have
this
three-fold
questioning
now
of Peter.
Do
you
love
me
from Jesus?
And each
of the three
times
is to
cut open
again
the wound
that Peter
carries
for his
three
denials.
Why?
Why would
Jesus
the friend
cut open
that wound?
Well,
so that the
self-inflicted
wound that
Peter carries
with him
can be
properly
dressed
and properly
stitched
by a
master
physician.
Jesus
cuts
the wound
three
times,
one for
each
denial.
Each
cut is
to
replace
regret
with
restoration,
to
replace
failure
with
calling.
And
healing
comes
from
each
of
those
three
times
that
Peter
responds
with,
you
know
that I
do.
And each
reply
from
Jesus
of
feed
and
care
for
the
sheep
all
brings
healing
and
restoration
and
leads
to the
end
of
verse
19,
those
last
two
words,
follow
me.
You see,
love for
Jesus means
loving
like
Jesus.
Following
Jesus means
being a
friend
like
Jesus.
Jesus
and
so
Peter,
for
Peter,
that
means
feeding
the
sheep
like
Jesus
did.
Jesus
is
the
good
shepherd.
And
so
Peter
here
is
called
to
pastor
the
flock,
the
lambs
of
verse
15,
the
sheep
of
16
and
17.
He
is
to
feed
them
from
the
word
and
to
care
for
them.
Now
we
can
feel
the
hurt
of
Peter
in
verse
17.
Peter
was
hurt
because
Jesus
asked
him
the
third
time.
But
I think
it's
important
to
think
through
what
this
hurt
is.
I
don't
think
it's
hurt
because
of
Jesus
but
because
of
his
recollection
of
his
own
sin.
The
hurt
comes
from
sin.
The
healing
comes
from
Jesus.
We
might
fall
and
cut
ourselves
badly
but
to
plaster
it
up
ourselves
or
to
go
to
an
amateur
physician
will
leave
a
scar.
The
deep
cuts
need
the
master
surgeon
to
apply
his
skill
in
making
them
right.
And
so
the
cutting
from
the
hands
of
our
friend
Jesus
makes
neat
our
mess
and
leaves
a
glorious
mark
not
an
ugly
scar.
So
do
you
take
the
questions
of
Jesus
by
the
conviction
of
his
spirit
seriously?
The
questions
that
you
hear
from
him
do
you
love
me?
And
when
the
hurt
of
your
sin
is
there
do
you
mourn?
And
are
you
hurt
over
your
own
sin?
As
you
delve
deeper
into
anger
in
your
soul
towards
the
brother
in
Christ
who
you
can't
face
do
you
hear
the
spirit
of
Christ
this
morning
asking
do
you
love
me?
what's
in
your
heart
what's
on
your
lips
yes
Lord
well
the
Lord
says
show
me
feed
my
sheep
care
for
my
flock
light
my
fires
welcome
my
servants
share
your
bread
if you
love
me
serve
if you
love
me
care
love
one
another
with what
I
have
given
you
and
have
called
you
to
you
see
Jesus
is
not
cruel
the
wounds
of
sin
we
carry
they're
not
delivered
by
his
hand
but
in
his
control
they
can
be
restitched
in
his
kindness
ultimately
our
life
of
service
leads
to
some
kind
of
destiny
and
that
destiny
will
be
on
Jesus
terms
not
on
yours
first
18
feeding
the
sheep
would
lead
Peter
to
being
led
away
by
others
to
his
death
church
tradition
has
it
that
is
his
hands
were
stretched
out
because
like
his
savior
he
died
on
a
Roman
cross
John's
gospel
John
writes
here
probably
after
Peter's
death
so
John
can
look
back
in
this
epilogue
and
show
that
it
was
all
part
of
the
master's
plan
to
glorify
God
Peter's
death
but
Lord
you
might
ask
with
Peter
in
verse
21
what
about
someone
else's
destiny
or
what
about
me
what
do
you
have
in
store
for
me
Lord
in
this
life
of
service
let's
read
verse
20
to
24
Peter
turned
and saw
that the
disciple
whom
Jesus
loved
was
following
them
this
was
the
one
who
had
leaned
back
against
Jesus
at
the
supper
and
said
Lord
who
is
going
to
betray
you
when
Peter
saw
him
he
asked
Lord
what
about
him
Jesus
answered
if
I
want
him
to
remain
alive
until
I
return
what
is
that
to
you
must
follow
me
because
of
this
the
rumor
spread
among
the
believers
that
this
disciple
would
not
die
but
Jesus
did
not
say
that
he
would
not
die
he
only
said
if
I
want
him
to
remain
alive
until
I
return
what
is
that
to
you
so
they're
walking
along
and
Peter's
pointing
back
at
the
disciple
whom
Jesus
loved
and
this
is
an
enigmatic
character
who's
never
named
in the
gospel
but
pops
up
at
key
points
the
disciple
whom
Jesus
loved
and
the
consensus
is
that
this
is
a
reference
to
the
apostle
John
the
author
of
this
gospel
one
of
the
sons
of
Zebedee
one
of
Peter's
fishing
partners
now
John
is
writing
towards
the
end
of the
first
century
and
he
outlived
Peter
by many
years
so
rumors
begin
to
circulate
that
this
disciple
is
never
going
to
die
he's
going
to
stay
alive
until
Jesus
returns
so
John
in
verse
23
is
setting
the
record
straight
that's
not
actually
what
Jesus
said
but
the
key
for us
is
actually
verse
22
why
is
it
that
one
path
following
Jesus
leads
to
a
shortened
life
and
martyrdom
and
another
path
seemingly
to
a
long
life
what
does
Jesus
say
in
verse
22
what
is
that
to
you
must
follow
me
listen
to
Jesus
with
both
ears
not
with
one
ear
directed
towards
what
others
are
being
called
to
he
is
the
master
and
friend
who
has
called
you
your
call
is
individual
how
he
blesses
gifts
and
extends
or
shortens
the life
of another
in their
service
to him
that's
all
in his
masterful
hands
thankfully
in the
end
both
Peter
and
John
are
loved
by
the
Lord
both
are
believers
both
live
out
faithful
lives
of
service
Peter
worries
about
the
future
for
his
friends
and
his
business
partner
John
but
he
need
not
know
the
details
he
needs
not
to
know
how
it
will
pan
out
that
of
the
three
fishermen
Peter
James
and
John
it
was
James
that
would
die
first
in
just
a few
years
in
Acts
chapter
15
recorded
in
the
book
of
Acts
by
the
sword
Peter
at
that
point
would
miraculously
escape
taken
out of
prison
by an
angel
and
John
himself
would
live
a long
life
until
the
end
of
the
century
you
see
to be
a
follower
of
Jesus
is
to
walk
a very
uncertain
path
but with
a very
certain
friend
we do
not know
when he
will call
us home
we do
not know
how we
will extend
or shorten
our ministry
or our
service of
him
or our
service of
others
or what
may come
tomorrow
but we
know that
we follow
him
the servant
king
the god
man
our lord
and our
brother
do
you
love
him
then
you
must
follow
me
is
what
he
says
and
this
is
really
the
final
bit
the
invitation
of
verse
25
Jesus
did
many
other
things
as
well
if
every
one
of
them
were
written
down
I
suppose
that
even
the
whole
world
would
not
have
room
for
the
books
that
would
be
written
this
is
the
best
ending
to
the
best
epilogue
ever
the
epilogue
has given
us
one
more
story
it
shown
us
Jesus
to
be
the
risen
friend
and
God
man
forever
Jesus
on
the
shore
still
making
a meal
for his
friends
from a
miraculous
catch of
fish
and
calling
them
to
follow
him
and
each
one
is
called
each
one
to a
different
path
with
all
paths
leading
to
glory
in
his
masterful
hands
you can
see
John
could
never
capture
in pen
all that
Jesus
did
or said
or impacted
during
his time
they're
short
the 21
chapters
but the
books
of
Jesus
are still
being
written
each
born
again
believer
continues
the
story
of what
Jesus
is
doing
and
what
he
has
done
the
life
of
Christ
through
his
church
through
his
people
is
being
worked
out
in
his
followers
in
you
and
in
I
you
are
the
continuation
of
this
story
carrying
out
his
work
in
the
world
the
epilogue
does
not
end
so
follow
him
today
be
a
friend
tend
to
the
sheep
help
to
write
the
books
of
Jesus
that
are
going
to
fill
the
earth
this
is
his
open
epilogue
that
will
continue
into
eternity
who
knows
some
of
those
beside
you
might
even
remain
alive
until
his
return
but
what
is
that
to
you
must
follow
him
let's
pray
our
father
we
thank
you
that
you
sent
Jesus
to
be
our
friend
to
be
our
savior
to
be
our
master
and
lord
forgive
us
father
for when
we are
not a
friend
to
Jesus
not a
friend
to
one
another
help
us
to
follow
afresh
to
rest
in
the
hands
of
the
master
to
learn
from
him
to
be
a
blessing
help
us
to
follow
closely
all
the
days
that
you
have
given
us
for
your
glory
and
for
our
good
amen
thank you
Ralph
just
as
we
honoring
ancestor
vos
my
believe
me