As For You, Follow Me

March 8, 2022 · John

Series · John · Week 33 of 43

Scripture referenced 7 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

John 21 the main passage read and discussed for the entire sermon

1 After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.
2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.
4 But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.
7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.
8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.
9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.
15 So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18 Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”
21 Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”
23 This saying therefore went out among the brothers, that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.
25 There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.

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John 20

referenced as the previous week's passage about the resurrection appearances to Mary, the disciples, and Thomas

1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.

2 Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”

3 Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.

4 They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first.

5 Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in.

6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,

7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.

8 So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.

9 For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

11 But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,

12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”

14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”

17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.

19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”

30 Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

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Luke 5

referenced as a callback to Jesus telling the disciples to cast their nets in deep water, and telling Peter he would be a fisher of men

1 Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.

2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.”

6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking.

7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”

9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;

10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”

11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.

12 While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”

13 He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him.

14 He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”

15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

16 But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.

17 On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them.

18 Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus.

19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus.

20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?

23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk?’

24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house.”

25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God.

26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”

27 After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, “Follow me!”

28 He left everything, and rose up and followed him.

29 Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.

30 Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.

32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

33 They said to him, “Why do John’s disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?”

34 He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days.”

36 He also told a parable to them. “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old.

37 No one puts new wine into old wine skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.

38 But new wine must be put into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.

39 No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”

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1 John 4:18

paraphrased during worship prayer as perfect love casts out fear

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

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Proverbs 16:9

paraphrased during worship prayer as we plan our course but God determines our steps

9 A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

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Mark 9:24

paraphrased as the person in scripture who said I believe but help me in my unbelief

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”

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John 20:31

quoted at the close as the stated purpose of John, that by believing in Jesus the son of God you have life by the power of his name

31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

Pastor Carl walked the congregation through John 21, the final chapter of John, on the last night of the church's study of that book. Jesus appears to the disciples a third time, performs a miracle, serves them breakfast on the shore, and then restores Peter in a conversation that sent the disciples out into the world affirmed and commissioned.

What was said

The disciples are back at the Sea of Galilee, doing what they know: fishing. They fish all night and catch nothing. A figure on the shore tells them to throw the net on the right side of the boat, and when they do, they can't haul it in for the weight of the fish. John recognizes it is the Lord, and Peter jumps in and swims to shore.

Carl pointed out that this moment echoes Luke 5, when Jesus called Peter at the very beginning of his ministry in almost exactly the same way, with an empty net, a command, and an overwhelming catch. Jesus was doing it again, on purpose, and the point was that the original call had not changed. Peter was still going to be a fisher of men, and no amount of failure in between had canceled that.

When the disciples get to shore, Jesus already has breakfast going, fish on a charcoal fire and bread waiting. Carl noted that this is a picture of who Jesus is: not waiting on the shore to shame the disciples for running when he was arrested, but waiting there to serve them a meal. Jesus is approachable. He is for his people.

Carl then drew attention to the charcoal fire specifically, noting that the only other place that detail appears in the New Testament is the fire where Peter stood when he denied Jesus three times. Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves him, once for each denial. Peter was hurt by the third time, but Jesus was not rubbing it in. He was restoring him, and each answer came with a commission: feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep.

Carl's read on the restoration is that Jesus was doing for Peter what the whole chapter does for all the disciples: affirming them before sending them out. The more a person truly understands that they have been forgiven, Carl said, the more they will want to carry that message to others. Peter would eventually carry it all the way to his death, which Jesus also foretold in this conversation.

The chapter closes with Peter looking back at John and asking what will happen to him. Jesus answers, in effect, that it is not Peter's concern. Carl stayed on that answer: "As for you, follow me." He said Jesus is telling each person in that room the same thing, to stay focused on their own walk with God, to do what God has called them specifically to do, and to trust that God has a plan for everyone else too.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

Carl pointed out that Jesus met each disciple right where they were individually, whether that was Mary's sorrow, the disciples' fear, or Thomas's doubt. When have you experienced Jesus meeting you right where you were, rather than where you thought you should be?
Carl described Jesus waiting on the shore with breakfast ready, and said that tells us something about who God is. He said Jesus was not there to shame Peter or the disciples, but was for them. How does that picture of God sitting with a fire going and a meal ready change or challenge the way you think about approaching Him after you have failed?

and 3 more questions in the guide

Open the study guide

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Find in this transcript

Give me a chance to tune up a little bit.

Happy Monday night, everyone. How are you? Yeah? Good. Not everybody says that on a Monday.

Did anybody have a hard Monday today? Yeah. It's okay to say so. It is. It really is.

There's some good things and some bad things happening on Monday. But you know what? I am thankful to see you all. I'm thankful to be here together. I'm I'm really, really grateful to be going through the book of John together.

We're gonna finish up the book of John tonight, which is a little bit sad, but also great too. And can we give Felix in Guadalupe a hand for all there? Thank you so much. Yeah. It really we really just so appreciate all your hard work and the way that you serve in that way.

It's just, man, you are really popular. It's the best sauce it's the best sauce in Teton County, that green sauce. What do you say we stand up? We'll Just sing together. We'll start worshiping song.

God, we're here to meet with you, to worship you, to learn from you, God, to fall more in love with you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. She alone has a place to I'm not a captive to I'm not afraid to leave my past behind. Oh, I won't be shaking. There's power that can break off every chain. There's power that can empty out and gray.

There's resurrection I stand in your love. My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand

Amen. I think of the verses we're singing that song. Perfect love casts out fear. God's perfect love casts out fear. God, if we are in this room and just feeling fearful about today, about tomorrow, about things unknown, would you comfort us and calm us?

Truly, there is power in your name. We look to you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Promise keeper. You finish what you begin. Our probation through the desert. We see it through to the end. We see it through to the end.

The mode I got is

God, it's just a verse comes to mind that if we're living by the spirit to keep in step by this with the spirit. And, God, that we would do that, not get ahead of you or behind you as that is often our tendency. We'll say, God, I've got a plan. Come on with me. But God really, in our hearts, we plan our course, but you determine our steps.

Would you, God, would we look to you, walk with you side by side? Your yoke is easy. Your burden is light. Amen. God, what a beautiful, beautiful song.

What a beautiful truth. Truly, thank you. How could we ever repay you? I I we I I think of that often. What could we possibly give you?

What you're asking for is our hearts. What you're asking for is our belief, our trust, our faith in you. God, often think of the the the person in scripture who said, I believe, but help me in my unbelief. Would you help us increase our faith? God, give us confidence, bolster our faith in you.

We can keep walking this out. And when before the throne, we stand before you complete, all because of Jesus. We'll lay our trophies. Whatever we think we have have accomplished that's so great here, we'll lay that down because what you have done is the greatest work that has ever been done. Thank you for your love and forgiveness.

Thank you for the truth that we get to dive in tonight. God, would you bless the reading of your word and the conversation we have after? Strengthen your church. Strengthen the hearts of your your people. Give us courage.

God, give the people courage all around the world right now. Give those who are are fighting in Ukraine and Russia and the bordering countries, God, that are showing support. God, be with them. Give them courage. Give them strength.

God, may you be known through it. Those who are in Christ, those who are in you, God, may they show it. May the light of Jesus bright shine so bright. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.

Can I have a seat? Alright. We are up to John 21, the last chapter in John. I'm a little bit I'm a little bit sad. I love this book so much.

I love the message of John. John is the message. It's the gospel of belief. That's what John is about. It's the gospel of belief.

This last chapter, though, it's where Jesus appears to his disciples a third time. This time they're fishing. He does a miracle. He serves them breakfast. And then he has a conversation with Peter.

Last week was the resurrection. So good how on Sunday morning, they go to the tomb. They find that Jesus wasn't there. He is alive. He's risen.

That's the message of John chapter 20. Jesus is alive. Then he appears to Mary and the disciples and then to Thomas, and he meets them just where they're at individually, right where they need to be met. And their sorrow for Mary and the fear for the disciples, they're behind locked doors. And Thomas's doubt where he's like, I'm not gonna I won't see it unless I believe it.

Jesus meets them individually. Real life application. Jesus meets you individually, where you're at. He gave them his peace and he gives them a mission. He says, as the father sent me, so I'm sending you.

Now tonight, third time Jesus appears to his disciples since that resurrection. And to me, what stood out to me is how affirming this was. As they're about to go out into the world with God's message of love and forgiveness, think, to me, I think this would have only propelled them. It would have only spurred them on. Like, yes, we can do this.

Jesus does another miracle a lot like he does in Luke five. I think that would have been affirming. He serves them breakfast. I think that would have been affirming. Jesus loves us enough to serve us.

I think that would have been so affirming. And then he restores Peter. I think that would have been so affirming. It's great stuff. I want to go ahead and read it.

I'll share a few thoughts on my own and then open it up for conversation too. But Nick, if you would, and can we thank Nick for all his hard work back here at this command center? Thank you, Nick, very much. So it says this, later Jesus appeared again to his disciples beside the Sea Of Galilee. This is how it happened.

Several of the disciples were there, Simon Peter, Thomas, nicknamed the twin, Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, sons of Zebedee, two other disciples. Simon Peter said, I'm going fishing. Well, we'll come too, they all said. And so they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. Verse four, at dawn, Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was.

They were about a 100 yards out. Verse five, he called out, fellows, have you caught any fish? No, they replied. Then he said, throw your net out on the right hand side of the boat and you'll catch some. And so they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

Then the disciple, Jesus loves said to Peter, it's the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic for each strip for work. He jumped into water and he headed for shore. The others stayed there sorry, stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to shore for they were only about 100 yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them, fish cooking over a charcoal fire and some bread.

Bring some of the fish you just caught, Jesus said. So Peter went aboard and dragged the net to shore. There were a 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn't torn. Now come and have some breakfast, Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, who are you?

They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, Peter replied.

You know I love you. Then feed my lambs, Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Yes, Lord, Peter said, you know I love you. Then take care of my sheep, Jesus said.

A third time he asked him, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. Jesus said, then feed my sheep.

I tell you the truth. When you were young, you were able to do as you like. You dressed yourself. You went wherever you wanted to go. But when you're old, you'll stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go.

Jesus said this to let them let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, follow me. Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved, the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, Lord, who will betray you? Peter asked Jesus, well, what about him, Lord? Jesus replied, if I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?

As for you, follow me. That's a second time. So the rumors spread among the community of believers that the disciple wouldn't die, but that isn't what Jesus said at all. He only said, if I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? Verse 24.

This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that from his account of these things or sorry. And we know that his account of these things is accurate. John was an eyewitness. Jesus also did many other things.

If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. And there ends the book of John. I'd like to pray first. I thank you so much for this eyewitness testimony. He was there.

He saw you. He witnessed all these things. Thank you that they were written down for us so that we may believe. And by believing in you, the son of God, that we would have life by the power of your name. God, I thank you for the affirmation to the disciples that we see in chapter 21 to go out, to share the message of your love and forgiveness.

That plan has not changed. And that plan is for us too. We're plan a. There's not a plan b. God, would you give us courage?

May we be compelled because of your love and kindness toward us. In Jesus' name. Amen. This is so good. This week, it just really it it just hit me, how affirming this must have been to the disciples when Jesus appeared a third time, not once, not twice, a third time.

And again, this was just it was very, very personal performing a miracle he had done before with his disciples. He serves them breakfast. Do you remember when he washed their feet? If I don't mention it now or later, he washes their feet and he says, now do as I've done for you. He's doing this again.

He serves them breakfast. He serves them a meal. Service is very, very important. It is very, very important. We're called to serve.

And then he restores Peter after Peter denied him. And this all happened behind the by the Sea Of Galilee. The disciples are fishing all night. They're carrying on. They're doing what they do to earn a living, But they didn't catch anything verses four and five.

There it is. At dawn, Jesus is standing on the beach. They didn't know it was him yet. They're about 100 yards out. He calls, fellas, have you caught anything?

And I'm thinking, I'm just putting myself in their position. You know? No. Thanks for asking, mister. We haven't caught anything.

Thanks for asking. But then Jesus says, throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you'll get some. And so they do it. And I wonder if at that moment they're going, we've heard this before. And when they did, there were so many fish, they couldn't haul the net in.

But it just it it seems to be a callback right over here to Luke five where Jesus says, guys, go out where it's deeper and let your nets down. And Peter says, well, we've been doing this all night and we haven't caught a thing. But if you say so, we'll do it. And then when they did, their nets were so full, they began to tear. John says in this account, he's sure to tell us the nets didn't tear this time.

He was probably concerned about it. I don't know. Anyway, then Jesus tells Peter from this account in Luke chapter five, way back when, early ministry, from now on, you'll be fishing for people. And I just think it's so affirming for Jesus to do that again. To do it again.

He told Peter at the beginning of the mystery, you're gonna be a fisher of men. And that plan had not changed. Still the same plan. Even after Peter's denial, Jesus restores him. He affirmed his call.

If you've ever had any doubt in your mind as to whether Jesus is approachable or not, check out verse seven. Rest your eyes on this verse again. When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic, he jumps out of the boat and he swam that 100 yards to shore. And when the rest of them came in, Jesus had breakfast waiting for them. My point in sharing that though is that Jesus is approachable.

I think sometimes we can get the impression that God is kind of just ready to strike us. That's not God. He was waiting there on shore serving him breakfast. He had something for him to eat. He wasn't waiting there on the shore to shame Peter or, you know, the disciples for, you know, running away when Jesus was arrested.

He he was for them. He had a mission for them. Real life application. Jesus is for us. He has a mission for us to share his message with of love and forgiveness to the world.

And you know what? The more that we experience that message of love and forgiveness, the more and more we'll wanna share it. The more we know that we truly have been forgiven, the more we'll wanna share that too. Case in point, Jesus' conversation with Peter after breakfast, verse 15, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes.

Of course. You know I love you. Feed my lambs. Verse 16, he repeats a question. This is number two.

Simon, son of John, do you love me? Oh, yeah, Lord. You know I love you. Take care of my sheep. And then a third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me?

He was hurt. He said, Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. Jesus said, feed my sheep. We know Peter had repented.

There's no doubt about it. He experienced God's love and forgiveness. He said, go and share this. Go and share this with my sheep. And he was asking him to carry that message to the world even when it meant laying down his life, and Peter would.

He eventually would. Verse 19. Jesus told him, follow me. And when Peter says, well, what about him? What about John?

He's back there listening in. Jesus said, if I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me. Jesus is saying, Peter, you worry about you. Don't worry about him back there.

I got a plan for him too. But I think this message is for all of us. I I I really do. I believe that Jesus is saying, you you focus on your relationship with God. You worry about you.

Do what he's calling you to do. Do what God's got for you. It might be something that it might be different than what he's got for somebody else. Let them do them. You do you.

As for you, follow me. That just really, really struck me tonight. Carl, you follow me. Don't worry about him. Don't worry about them.

And then we'll end in verse 25. Jesus also did many other things, things that we don't that weren't recorded. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. So there ends the book of John. I have absolutely loved reading this book together.

It's my favorite book right now, and James is gonna be my favorite book next week. But before we close here and sing again, if there was, not just from chapter 21, but really, since we're finishing up the book of John, all of John, your favorite verse, anything, a word of encouragement, something that you want to share. I'd like to give you the opportunity to do so. We've got a microphone here just for people that are watching at home. But would anybody have a comment on the book of John or tonight's chapter specifically?

Something that grabbed ahold of you. Or if you prayed, one of the recently, you just said, I'd love to pray. If you wanna pray, I would love that too. But would anybody be willing to to share to start us off? Going first is the hardest part.

I know it. I know it. She Joni's asking about there's a a little YouTube video on this girl. She's in a car seat, and dad's driving. And and he turns around and he says, can I help you?

Can I help you with your seat belt? And she goes, no. And he's like, well, can I just I I just wanna help you? No. You worry about yourself, the girl says.

And he's like, you sure? I can I can help you out with your seat belt? No. You worry about yourself. You pride.

That that's the video that she's talking about. It's It's really cute. But that's what I think of every time when Jesus says, no, you follow me. You follow me. You worry about yourself.

I got John too. I got a plan for him. You worry about you.

I'm thankful to be here. I love Monday nights, and it seems like God brought a good group tonight, and I'm thankful. I love when I see these tables packed. This is my desire. So praise the Lord for that.

Blake Sandia told me specific, you better talk because I'm not gonna be there. So here I am. I I love the book of John. Actually, every book of the Bible, it's good for us. It does good to the souls and to the bones, especially when we when we read it and we search God's will for our lives.

I'd really love tonight how, Jesus approached Peter and said, are you willing to to die for the ships? Are you willing to serve me? Are you willing to step up and do something for the kingdom for for a greater cause? If he and, honestly, I feel like God is is speaking to me directly. Florin, are you willing to do something?

Are you willing to step up and serve me to another capacity where my name will be proclaimed? And this is my desire. And I I have to go back

little bit back to my life. I'm not gonna speak too much. Please a little bit. Just a little bit. As you all know me, I grew up in a church.

I love church. I can be at church twenty four seven if it's possible. I sleep better if I come at church. This is my life. Right?

But even though I was in the church all my life, at one point, I depart from, God's will. And I seek my will, and I I sent her to do something that it's my life now. I'm gonna choose to do what I think is best. And I feel like I put God aside a little bit like Peter did. Right?

Something like that. And then when I realized that I'm away from God's will, I I literally bowed down and I cried tears. I mean, tears. I said, Lord, I know what I've done. I know who I am.

But if if in your will you have a plan with my life, show me, spank me if it's necessary. Do anything you can, anything in your almighty will, and pull me back. And then after that, I felt that little whisper from the Lord saying that I will strengthen you. I will do anything I can to put you back in order, but then you continue to serve me. And anything you do in your life, may it be for my name.

And this is where I am today. And and and I promise you that the Lord has been working in my life, so much in the last sixteen years. Sixteen years since I came to United States. Although I was serving God, as he said, been on the stage preaching, singing, sin got me. Entang how was it?

Entang how is it? Entangled in sin. And and and it's a dangerous place to be. And I'm sharing this with all my with all my life. Let's be careful with our lives, with our choices, and all that we do.

And may we bow down and say, Lord, this is not good for my life. This is this is garbage. This is not good. Help me to stay focused on you. And, I did that, and the Lord has been working in my life with all that I am.

I remember one time when I went to the embassy and, American embassy, it was kind of like a miracle for me to be able to come to to The States. And I remember I was in front of the embassy with a lot of people that's been through college speaking English way better than me. And out of 150 or something like that people, they're supposed to choose 12 or 18. I don't remember exactly. And I said, God, there's no way I'm gonna get this visa.

Only it's a miracle from you. And I said, if there is something in your plan if you have a plan, dear Lord, if if there is a plan in your mighty will that I don't see it right now for me to to go to The States, please do it. But if not, please don't give me the visa and help me to stay at home. And to these days, he opened the door for me to come here so he can teach me so many good lessons exactly how it happened in, Peter's life. And now I'm willing to go back and serve God to a different capacity, like like he's whispering to my heart.

And I wanna say thank you, Lord, and thank you to this beautiful church for having me here, nourishing me, teaching me, loving me. My pastors, I love you guys.

We love you.

You are the nicest people I know. I I cannot be like you because I'm I have a Gypsy blood, and I have a Romanian culture, and we we deal different with people. But the love but the love and guy kindness and

soft, goodness Ray.

No. It's true. It's true. The the kindness and goodness I've seen in you guys dealing with me one on one, it's it's stays with me for for as long as I live.

We love you.

I know I I went off the script. So God bless you. Blake, I did it.

Well,

he was just speaking about, when you go to United States to embassy, it's a tough deal because people can get visa or not. But I said like Florin, I said to the Lord, if you have opened the door for me to come to America, it's your will. And that happened to me. I was the first person who I got visa at eight fifteen. And I never forget this gentleman tall like Ray and like Eric.

He says, I just want to come to America. He said to me, Ferry, just to pick buy some stuff to grow my business in Romania and I hope I get visa. But when we look to John books, one of the things I really loved, John declares Jesus God is love. And John experienced and sees God's loves through walking with him, sees the miracles even he dies before Jesus. But the book of John teach us God love Jesus on this earth for thirty three years.

He loved every person equally. You will never find the Bible. In the Bible, write, he loves somebody more than that. He loves whole people the same. And that was the encourage to see in John book.

Yeah. Amen. For God so loved the world.

Hello, everyone. So first of all, just think it's really affirming that Jesus also values a good breakfast. You know, just I just like that. Just it's cool how food has brought people together. Anyway, I won't get into that.

But and I don't have anything super, you know, deep. I just I just I have know I've talked about it before on Monday nights before. It's just how much I really relate to Peter. He's like your favorite character in, like, a in a show or a movie, like, when they're you may like the whole movie, but you're like special you're paying special attention when they're, like, on the screen or when he's on the page. When I hear Peter, you know, whether you're reading it or whether hear you say it, Carl, like, we're going through a passage, I just kind like, my ears perk up.

Yeah. I don't know. It's just something about him that really I I relate to. It's probably because he's so I guess just so relatable. He's passionate and he loves the Lord, but also he's so flawed.

Yeah. And I I I really I really like that. And I don't know. I just I just real his story, his life, his relationship with Jesus, and then his his life after after Jesus ascended is just, I think, just a constant reminder that God can use flawed and flawed people to do amazing things. I mean, he built the church.

You know? Peter is the rock of the church. And, you know, because I've never had a moment where I publicly denied knowing Jesus. And I I know I'm capable of that because I'm a sinner, but, like, I've never been in that situation. But through our actions, you know, and through sin, you know, to a degree, we all I deny Jesus daily.

It'll if and through thoughts and through actions, through decisions, you know, and and and so I know. I just I just I really like the story of Peter, and it's just so cool how God worked through him and did amazing things. Yeah. That's that's that.

Thanks for sharing. I I agree. Absolutely. Hands down. So relatable.

Love the restorating. Yep.

My name is Elsa. I think that when he stresses about the sheep and take care of my sheep and love my sheep, I think that for all of us in this room, I think that is our job. I think that we we do have a message to spread. I think that God, I think he stresses it so much because he's saying these are my people. I love them.

Make sure you lead them down the right way. And I think for us that are all in here, we all know the truth, and we all know his word. And I think as a whole, it is our for those of us that knew do know the truth to spread his love and spread that love because, I think that in this world, it's very get very easy to get lost in it. You know? We do have an enemy, and any target, any little doubt, he's gonna flood us, overflow us with it.

So how sad is it to think that, you know, there are people that don't know God, that don't know his love and his forgiveness and his mercy? So I think that when he's talking about the sheep, he's really stressing it, like, let them know. Make sure that it gets out there because it is something that we all should know. And and so sad that many people will not know. They won't accept it, and they won't see that.

And we're just so blessed and to know his name, to be here. I think that that that shows us that we all know right from wrong. We all know what we should be doing. So, to me, my mess the message that I got was very, you know, I believe it's Peter that's asking, like, why is he why does he keep asking me? Why why why is he asking me?

And it's more like it's more like it's an urgent message. Like, do you love me? Go out there. Spread it because it's urgent, and they need to know, and they don't know. You know.

Go tell them. Yeah. And we know, so we should be spreading that. Yep. That is that is our mission.

I believe that for all of us that do believe and do know, it is our, it is our mission to go and let them know. Whether it's a pastor or it's just a friend or it's a neighbor in need, God is within all of us, and we should be spreading that, and we should be spreading that love. And and there's not enough of it and and we need to because it's there. We just need to awaken that. And so that's just what I got from it.

That's great. Thank you, Elsa. Any other thoughts?

Okay.

Pastor Ray.

The Jesus also did many other things if they were all written down. I like the story on Sunday where we don't know the backstory. He says before the lady ever got there, she came in weeping, you know, and emotional and crying crying over him thankful, it appears, that she had been forgiven. And Jesus says, you have been forgiven like it's already happened in the past. We don't know that story, But we know the after effect of that story, right, that she was carrying it forward with her for sure and knowing that she had been.

And she went in peace, which is awesome. This this last chapter of this one, it really does feel like, you know, the the charcoal fire on the beach. There's only two times where that charcoal fire is ever mentioned in the Bible. One of them is right there on the beach where he's preparing breakfast for them while they're fishing all night and not catching anything. And the other one was the I think I see it as kind of a burning barrel that they're they're standing around warming themselves.

And it's when Jesus' first denial happened. So only two times those that word's used in the whole Bible. And that's that's an interesting one. It's kind of a callback to it to and as a reminder, I'm sure in some way. But he still left out of the boat.

He still went running and Jesus restored him. What what you were talking about a minute ago is a restoration. When we come to him in all of our lack, he restores us. And it's it's it's great to to experience it. You know, the your walk with Jesus will fluctuate and your sanctification certainly will go up and down throughout life, but he uses every single bit of

it. Mhmm.

And Peter would have been worthless if he had stayed exactly like Peter throughout the rest of the gospels. Right? Mhmm. I relate to him too. Impetuous and ready to jump out of the boat and go go go.

I'll never do that. Certainly not. You'll never do that to me. Well, then bathe me all over. You know, he just is all over the place.

But then by the time he's writing first Peter, he says, I exhort you as a fellow elder, just one of y'all, one one of the people among us that you take care of the flock. So Jesus is feeding them when he says feed the flock. Peter is taking care of the church being an elder among them, just one of the one of the group of leaders. Right? Then do that.

That. And to that. That. To And

that.

Yeah. Anything anybody else? Anything else? Seems like there was one more little like pastoral blurb.

But oh, good.

The thing I've been chewing on, I heard a couple different pastors talk on this, and it just keeps coming to me, you know, and this reminded me of it as well. A little tiny bit of of Peter came out again when he's like, what about him? You

know? Yeah.

Yeah. It gets hard to it's hard to it's hard to shake it and and hard to shake your old life, you know? And and so I just think about that, and it reminds me of the disciples always wondering about who was gonna get what and what kind of and and and and they're all scheming, right, every time. And this couple different people I've heard from recently is they were saying, like, people are always worried about how to get themselves in line with the blessings of God when really God is looking with favor on you, ready to bless you, and he's just asking you to do what he's asked you to do. And that that's how that stuff comes.

Right? It's not you have to do this, do that, do that, stand on one leg. It's like feed my sheep.

Yeah. Follow me.

And then do what I've asked you and then we'll see. And you'll see. That was the one thing that just has been haunting me lately.

Mhmm. Perfect. Yeah. Yeah.

I have a small question. When Jesus had the fire going and the charcoal on the shore, did he have anything to cook yet at that time?

That's a great question. I don't know the answer to that.

Well, but did Peter take the fish out of the net and then they cooked it for breakfast? Or am I reading something into it wrong?

He said

that he already had

it there.

He already had it there. Okay. Well, I was thinking of Then there

was 153 more if they wanted. That's kind of the

way God works sometimes as he has something going that we have no idea how it happened. And if we would only spend the time to listen to what he has to say, then we might find breakfast. That would be kind of a start. But I look at Peter as a guy that thinks outside of the box. That's why he kind of went and said what he did about, what about this other guy?

And I'm reminded of maybe one of my favorite aunts at a reunion that kind of acted like that. And she kind of took care of the whole brood and she kind of would and we'd make fun of it and that kind of thing. But I'm a little bit that way to be honest. And that's one of the probably the hardest things I had to learn one time is that you don't go five miles down the road before you take the next step that's right in front of you. And that's been all these other things that people have talked about here tonight are really great.

But I'm kind of stuck on that little thing. Take it just one step at a time, Fred. And don't try and go five miles down the road and get your and you know what, that's when frustration sets in. And if I find myself starting to get anxious or getting overwhelmed by what's all going on, I kind of have to back up and say, wait a minute, just do it one step at a time.

Thank you for sharing that. As for you, follow me. Good. I've loved it. Loved it.

The whole book of John, the conversations. Appreciate your insight too.

I was seeing right there the other little pastoral blurb was, we tend to fall back on what we know. Right? Before the interaction that he had with Jesus, before he knew, before they went out on the thing. I mean, he was just kinda in a he's standing by the Sea Of Galilee. He says, well, I'm going fishing.

So he was a fisherman. Yeah. You know, before he met Jesus, Jesus said he was gonna turn him into fishers of men. And they've been doing that side by side three years. Even after he had appeared to him, he's like, yeah, what's still what's happening next?

Well, I'm going fishing. It's just your fallback. And our fallback position, Jesus made us in that too. But, you know,

able that.

To And And

then do

we'll to We don't believe it'll work, but we'll do it because you say so. And then then it's a callback right there. Could that be him? You know, there's so many callbacks in this. And Peter jumping out of the boat and then sinking and having to be lifted up by Jesus.

And then when he recognizes it's Jesus and he jumps out of the boat again, that's another callback. There's so many great little ways that if we'll pay attention, God will take something that we remember way back when and he'll bring it back up for us again and say, I've got you. I've got you.

Should we stand and sing one more song? It's a affirmation of faith, this one. We believe.

We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Spirit. And he's given us new life. We believe in the crucifixion. We believe that he conquered death.

We believe in the resurrection. And he's coming back again. Believe. Sing that again. We believe in Jesus Christ.

We believe in the Holy Spirit. He's given us new life.

From John twenty thirty one, I'll leave you with this. But these things are written, what we just read, so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and that by believing in him, you have life by the power of his name. Amen. Right. That's right.

Right. We've gotta my friends, can I ask

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