Resurrection Encounters - Part 2
There are a lot of things we can build our faith on. The resurrection transformed early followers and the early church, and it can do the same for us. The story of Peter is similar to following a multi-season Netflix show. We ask questions like, what happened to that character? Are they going to turn it around?
John 21
1 Afterward (after the events of the resurrection, 3 other resurrection encounters- Mary, disciples, Thomas) Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “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.
So, there’s Peter’s arrest for cutting off the High Priest servant’s ear, Jesus’s death, and then the denial. Everything felt like a failure.
Most of us have faced a time like that in our lives. It feels like everything turns to ash, crumbling in our fingers. After facing failure, we pick up the pieces and start something that brings comfort or certainty. Maybe that’s what Peter was doing.
They’ve returned to Galilee from Jerusalem. It’s easy to interpret this as if they’ve given up, but maybe they haven’t.
Mark 14
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.
They are doing the simple thing they know to do.
Are you a sports fan with the type of fandom that leads to you yelling at the TV? This isn’t like when your team makes it deep into the playoffs and then falls apart. But it’s still tough.
Jesus has apparently risen, but it’s very confusing. He’s appearing and disappearing. He’s with them, then gone, then back. The whole time, the backdrop is the arrest, crucifixion, apparent resurrection, and disappearance. He’s not “with” them the way He was before.
We can all relate to this.
When we’re in the valleys of life, disoriented or confused, we can’t stop. We have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
But this doesn’t diminish the despair and embarrassment that Peter must’ve been feeling.
John 21
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 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.
Jesus’ Actions in Our Failure
Fishing was the one thing they were supposed to be good at, but they failed. Think of a time when you experienced uncertainty. Did you return to something you knew you could do and then find you couldn’t even do that right?
When you’re in the valley, has someone ever tried to give you some unsolicited advice? These guys were professional fishermen. The guy on the shore is, to them, a stranger. The empty nets may be a fitting illustration of their empty hearts, but they didn’t know that Jesus was very close by.
Jesus didn’t call out to them from the shore in their moment of great success, accomplishment, or achievement. He didn’t call to them when they were on the pinnacle. He called to them when they were tired, frustrated, or confused. He called to them in failure.
And He called to them with a full net. It didn’t answer all the questions, but He gave them something in that moment. When Jesus calls to us in our moments, He gives us something to hold onto.
There had been a similar event earlier in the gospels when Jesus first called to them. A long night, the same lake, and maybe even the same boat. An empty net, no fish. The time when Jesus first called them.
John 21
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”
The last fire we saw was at Peter’s denial. Did that access a painful memory or moment of failure?
Jesus’ Voice in Our Failure
What happens next could be justified for Jesus to confront, condemn, or rub it in. No one would be surprised if He did that. We probably would do that, but He doesn’t.
The voice we use with our children, especially as fathers, is the voice they are most likely to describe to God later in life.
Think of the voice you use with other people when they fail you. What’s the voice you use with yourself when you fail? Is that the same voice Jesus uses?
It’s easy for us to say, “Yeah, but” when it comes to the sins of others. Yeah, but they had it coming. This is the ultimate act of betrayal, and even here, Jesus doesn’t use the voice we think he might, even if He had the right to.
Jesus isn’t just putting up with you, He actually likes you and wants to spend time with you. Jesus doesn’t avoid. He confronts to restore, not to condemn.
If you hear a voice of condemnation, that’s not Jesus.
This isn’t a no-conditions affirmation. This is a “confess your sins, Jesus as Lord” moment. That’s the prerequisite for “there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ.”
The thing that happens with failure is that it immobilizes and condemns us. It attempts to disconnect us from our calling, and the devil uses this to condemn us. That’s why we need to come clean and receive the restoration that Jesus offers to us.
This isn’t a rainbows and butterflies sentiment. This is what Jesus died and rose again for - to offer this to us.
John 21
12 None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus’ Presence in Our Failure
We all know the phrase “the elephant in the room.” Someone did something, something was said, something happened, and everyone knows it, but it isn’t brought to the surface.
We often assume that our lives are closest to God when things are going well, but He’s actually closest to us in our weakness.
In the moments that feel like failure, God isn’t far away. So, Jesus isn’t rubbing it in here. He’s redeeming.
John 21
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.” 16 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.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” 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.”
In these encounters, there’s a profoundly personal moment with Jesus in each of them. Jesus called Mary by name, and now He addresses Peter in the same personal way. The three times mirror the three times Peter betrayed Him. Jesus is so intentional with this – it’s like a journey. Peter is one of those guys who speaks first and thinks later. Jesus is confronting him with an actual reality, and by the third time it’s not a gut reaction, it’s intention.
After failure, we’re often faced with some questions.
And Jesus answers those questions decisively by giving Peter something to do.
The most critical moment in our failure is not when it happens, it’s what we do next.
John 21
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Jesus meets you right where you are, but He doesn’t leave you there.
Jesus predicts the course of Peter’s life, tells him that he’s prepared for what’s ahead, and says, “Follow me.”
Failure is not final. God doesn’t reject us in our failure. He redeems our failure. Jesus calls to us in our best moments but especially in our worst. He tells us, “Let’s begin again.”
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons or listen to our podcast, LHC Unplugged.
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram.
John 21
1 Afterward (after the events of the resurrection, 3 other resurrection encounters- Mary, disciples, Thomas) Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “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.
So, there’s Peter’s arrest for cutting off the High Priest servant’s ear, Jesus’s death, and then the denial. Everything felt like a failure.
Most of us have faced a time like that in our lives. It feels like everything turns to ash, crumbling in our fingers. After facing failure, we pick up the pieces and start something that brings comfort or certainty. Maybe that’s what Peter was doing.
They’ve returned to Galilee from Jerusalem. It’s easy to interpret this as if they’ve given up, but maybe they haven’t.
Mark 14
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.
They are doing the simple thing they know to do.
Are you a sports fan with the type of fandom that leads to you yelling at the TV? This isn’t like when your team makes it deep into the playoffs and then falls apart. But it’s still tough.
Jesus has apparently risen, but it’s very confusing. He’s appearing and disappearing. He’s with them, then gone, then back. The whole time, the backdrop is the arrest, crucifixion, apparent resurrection, and disappearance. He’s not “with” them the way He was before.
We can all relate to this.
When we’re in the valleys of life, disoriented or confused, we can’t stop. We have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
But this doesn’t diminish the despair and embarrassment that Peter must’ve been feeling.
John 21
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 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.
Jesus’ Actions in Our Failure
Fishing was the one thing they were supposed to be good at, but they failed. Think of a time when you experienced uncertainty. Did you return to something you knew you could do and then find you couldn’t even do that right?
When you’re in the valley, has someone ever tried to give you some unsolicited advice? These guys were professional fishermen. The guy on the shore is, to them, a stranger. The empty nets may be a fitting illustration of their empty hearts, but they didn’t know that Jesus was very close by.
Jesus didn’t call out to them from the shore in their moment of great success, accomplishment, or achievement. He didn’t call to them when they were on the pinnacle. He called to them when they were tired, frustrated, or confused. He called to them in failure.
And He called to them with a full net. It didn’t answer all the questions, but He gave them something in that moment. When Jesus calls to us in our moments, He gives us something to hold onto.
There had been a similar event earlier in the gospels when Jesus first called to them. A long night, the same lake, and maybe even the same boat. An empty net, no fish. The time when Jesus first called them.
John 21
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”
The last fire we saw was at Peter’s denial. Did that access a painful memory or moment of failure?
Jesus’ Voice in Our Failure
What happens next could be justified for Jesus to confront, condemn, or rub it in. No one would be surprised if He did that. We probably would do that, but He doesn’t.
The voice we use with our children, especially as fathers, is the voice they are most likely to describe to God later in life.
Think of the voice you use with other people when they fail you. What’s the voice you use with yourself when you fail? Is that the same voice Jesus uses?
It’s easy for us to say, “Yeah, but” when it comes to the sins of others. Yeah, but they had it coming. This is the ultimate act of betrayal, and even here, Jesus doesn’t use the voice we think he might, even if He had the right to.
Jesus isn’t just putting up with you, He actually likes you and wants to spend time with you. Jesus doesn’t avoid. He confronts to restore, not to condemn.
If you hear a voice of condemnation, that’s not Jesus.
This isn’t a no-conditions affirmation. This is a “confess your sins, Jesus as Lord” moment. That’s the prerequisite for “there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ.”
The thing that happens with failure is that it immobilizes and condemns us. It attempts to disconnect us from our calling, and the devil uses this to condemn us. That’s why we need to come clean and receive the restoration that Jesus offers to us.
This isn’t a rainbows and butterflies sentiment. This is what Jesus died and rose again for - to offer this to us.
John 21
12 None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus’ Presence in Our Failure
We all know the phrase “the elephant in the room.” Someone did something, something was said, something happened, and everyone knows it, but it isn’t brought to the surface.
We often assume that our lives are closest to God when things are going well, but He’s actually closest to us in our weakness.
In the moments that feel like failure, God isn’t far away. So, Jesus isn’t rubbing it in here. He’s redeeming.
John 21
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.” 16 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.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” 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.”
In these encounters, there’s a profoundly personal moment with Jesus in each of them. Jesus called Mary by name, and now He addresses Peter in the same personal way. The three times mirror the three times Peter betrayed Him. Jesus is so intentional with this – it’s like a journey. Peter is one of those guys who speaks first and thinks later. Jesus is confronting him with an actual reality, and by the third time it’s not a gut reaction, it’s intention.
After failure, we’re often faced with some questions.
- Is what I’m doing right now what I should be doing?
- Can I still do it?
- Am I still qualified?
- Has the bridge been burned?
And Jesus answers those questions decisively by giving Peter something to do.
The most critical moment in our failure is not when it happens, it’s what we do next.
John 21
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Jesus meets you right where you are, but He doesn’t leave you there.
Jesus predicts the course of Peter’s life, tells him that he’s prepared for what’s ahead, and says, “Follow me.”
Failure is not final. God doesn’t reject us in our failure. He redeems our failure. Jesus calls to us in our best moments but especially in our worst. He tells us, “Let’s begin again.”
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons or listen to our podcast, LHC Unplugged.
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram.
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