1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,320 Alditamus, Nathaniel of Cana and Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his 2 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,200 disciples were together. 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,880 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:22,280 They said to him, we are going with you also. 5 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:29,320 The message today from John chapter 21 is for those who feel confused, disillusioned, 6 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:34,840 defeated, and perhaps uncertain about the future. 7 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,880 For the other two of you, there is no message this morning. 8 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:46,360 The fact is that all of us from time to time fit into one of those categories, don't we? 9 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:52,240 And I think that those categories, those descriptive words, give us some idea of how the disciples 10 00:00:52,240 --> 00:01:00,240 might have felt as they went fishing that May spring evening in Galilee. 11 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:05,120 We might ask the question, what were they doing in Galilee in the first place? 12 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:10,020 Well, Jesus had told them to go to Galilee and so they did. 13 00:01:10,020 --> 00:01:13,560 They waited for Him to appear to them there. 14 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:18,160 Matthew chapter 28 verse 7 tells us about that command. 15 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,000 Why did they decide to go fishing? 16 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,720 Well, why not? 17 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:27,080 I don't see any reason they shouldn't, although there are some who have read into the story 18 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,520 that Peter made a mistake here. 19 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,060 I'm not sure that's so. 20 00:01:32,060 --> 00:01:40,520 It may be that he and the others were a bit baffled about what they were going to do now. 21 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,640 Perhaps there's some self-doubt, at least in Peter's heart. 22 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:52,800 It's very likely that Peter, for one, needed to support his family and wanted to go fishing 23 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,080 to bring in some income. 24 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:01,280 Whatever was going on in their minds, their attitude was about to change due to a breakfast 25 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,000 meeting with Jesus. 26 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:11,600 A whole chapter of the Gospel of John is dedicated to this one breakfast meeting with Him. 27 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:17,960 It was, of course, for the benefit of the seven, but especially for Peter, who was their 28 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:18,960 leader. 29 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,560 Peter was hurting. 30 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:28,440 He needed direction, restoration, and affirmation. 31 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:36,080 When you are overwhelmed with the stresses and situations of your life, you also need 32 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:40,040 time with Jesus. 33 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:45,920 You need to fellowship with Him, as I do, in those moments when you wonder what's coming 34 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:53,720 next or you're trying to figure out how you got into the mess that you're in. 35 00:02:53,720 --> 00:03:01,120 Jesus Christ knows our hurts and our anxieties, just like He did Peter's. 36 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:09,680 He desires to address those needs that we have, just as He did Peter's. 37 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:15,760 I want you to notice Peter's needs as we work our way through the text, and also notice 38 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:23,200 with me a lesson for each of us to learn in application to our own lives. 39 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:28,280 I've already suggested that Peter had the need for direction. 40 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:35,280 The others did as well, but especially Peter, because they looked up to him. 41 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:41,200 Peter said, let's go fishing, and so they all joined him. 42 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:46,520 They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 43 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:56,080 That's a revolting predicament for fishermen, especially some who were professional fishermen 44 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,200 like Peter. 45 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,880 When the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know 46 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,320 that it was Jesus. 47 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:13,360 And Jesus said to them, children or lads, have you any food? 48 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,760 Did you catch anything? 49 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:24,080 Do you know how hard it must have been for them to say to this person on the shore, no? 50 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:28,280 If you've ever been out on the lake and gotten skunk, you know how hard it is. 51 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:35,240 When somebody asks you, did you catch anything, you would rather answer any other question, 52 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,360 have any other response, than to say no. 53 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,200 But here were these men, and they had to respond with the truth. 54 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:49,680 And he said to them, cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. 55 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:55,120 Wait a minute, this boat is only about 15 feet long and 5 feet wide. 56 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,600 This is not a vessel. 57 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,280 This is a boat. 58 00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:04,320 And now this stranger is saying, just put the net on the other side of the boat and 59 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,960 you'll catch something. 60 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:12,900 I believe that the Lord had sent angels that night in some wetsuits, and they were down 61 00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:17,800 below that ship waving off all these fish. 62 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,120 And now Jesus says, just put the net in on the other side. 63 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:28,960 They cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 64 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:34,640 Suddenly there are some alarms going off in the mines on that boat. 65 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,640 Deja vu, have we been here? 66 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,680 This reminds me of something. 67 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:41,680 And indeed it does. 68 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,860 Turn back to Luke chapter 5. 69 00:05:45,860 --> 00:05:54,520 To another occasion, the multitude was pressing to hear Jesus. 70 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,160 There were two boats there by the lake, and the fishermen had gone from them. 71 00:05:58,160 --> 00:05:59,320 They were washing their nets. 72 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:05,240 So he got into the boats, one of them was Simon's, and he asked him to put out from 73 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:09,960 the land a bit so he could speak to the multitudes. 74 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:14,560 Verse 4, and when he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon, launch out into the deep 75 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,640 and let down your nets for a catch. 76 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:22,680 Simon answered and said to him, Master, we've toiled all night and caught nothing. 77 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:28,000 Nevertheless, at your word, I will let down the net. 78 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:33,280 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their net was breaking. 79 00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:36,180 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. 80 00:06:36,180 --> 00:06:42,080 They came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink. 81 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:47,560 But Simon Peter saw that he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a 82 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,600 sinful man, O Lord. 83 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:57,600 And he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken. 84 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:02,080 And so now they're in another similar situation. 85 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,880 They have just caught all of these fish. 86 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,800 John tells us there were 153 of them. 87 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:13,480 I don't think there's a particular symbolic meaning to that number other than, like a 88 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,360 lot of fishermen, they counted them. 89 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,960 And you will notice John says they were large fish. 90 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:25,960 You can tell he spent some time fishing in his life. 91 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:33,960 This whole episode was designed to be a reminder to them of an earlier time with Jesus. 92 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:40,120 A time when he had called them to be his full-time disciples. 93 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:46,120 At least two other times before Luke chapter 5, Jesus had met them. 94 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:51,000 And for a time they followed him, listening to his teaching, but they returned to their 95 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:52,000 nets. 96 00:07:52,000 --> 00:08:02,600 But in Luke chapter 5, Jesus comes to these fishermen and he says to them, Follow me. 97 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:08,120 And they left their nets and they followed him full-time. 98 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:09,360 Now Jesus has died. 99 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:10,720 He's been raised from the dead. 100 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,600 They're at the Sea of Galilee again. 101 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:18,200 And the familiarity of all this is not lost, especially on John. 102 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,600 Who is the one that replied to Peter? 103 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,880 Verse 7, It is the Lord. 104 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:29,800 Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he 105 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,720 had removed it, and plunged into the sea. 106 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,880 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from land, about 107 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:43,440 200 cubits, that is about 100 yards, dragging the net with fish. 108 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:48,000 Then as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on 109 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,520 it and bread. 110 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,080 And Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have just caught. 111 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,320 Isn't the Lord gracious? 112 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:00,920 Bring some of the fish you have just caught. 113 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:04,040 And what was it that caused them to catch the fish? 114 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,080 His word. 115 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:11,840 Jesus allows them to share in that bounty and in the sense of excitement and adventure 116 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,240 in catching these fish. 117 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:21,040 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land full of large fish, 153. 118 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,960 And although there were so many, the net was not broken. 119 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,640 And Jesus said to them, Come and eat breakfast. 120 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,920 Yet none of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? 121 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,240 Knowing that it was the Lord. 122 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:39,920 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them and likewise the fish. 123 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:44,680 This is the third time Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he was raised from 124 00:09:44,680 --> 00:09:47,200 the dead. 125 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:53,720 On this occasion, Jesus provides for Peter what he needed. 126 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:58,200 Peter needed a direction for his life. 127 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:06,760 And Jesus uses a past experience reminding him of his calling to be a disciple. 128 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:14,480 To tell Peter again that his direction for life is to be Jesus' disciple. 129 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:20,440 There are times when you and I get lost in our journey too. 130 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,880 And we say, What is next? 131 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:23,880 What shall I do? 132 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,720 What is the next step for me? 133 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:33,040 Whenever we encounter those times, it is good for us to go back to some of the landmark 134 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:39,800 experiences in our past when God's calling has been clear. 135 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:44,900 We will at least get some reference points by doing that. 136 00:10:44,900 --> 00:10:50,160 Our calling in the next step may not be identical to the past, but it will be good for us to 137 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:58,280 go back and to understand what God has said to us in the past and apply that to our present. 138 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,620 These disciples had not been called to catch fish. 139 00:11:02,620 --> 00:11:04,480 Nothing wrong with doing that. 140 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,740 Aren't you glad? 141 00:11:07,740 --> 00:11:14,680 Nothing wrong with catching fish, but he had called them to catch men, which was a way 142 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:18,860 of saying to win men to him. 143 00:11:18,860 --> 00:11:23,220 This whole setting reminded them of that call. 144 00:11:23,220 --> 00:11:27,800 These disciples received their direction that day. 145 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:33,660 They understood afresh there beside the Sea of Galilee what God wanted them to do. 146 00:11:33,660 --> 00:11:35,880 They obeyed. 147 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:42,380 And we see in the very incident itself that obedience to Jesus Christ brings blessing. 148 00:11:42,380 --> 00:11:43,480 They had caught nothing. 149 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,960 They had labored all night. 150 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:51,760 When Jesus said, just put your net in on the right side of the boat, they did it. 151 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:53,900 And their net was filled. 152 00:11:53,900 --> 00:12:00,220 When you and I obey Jesus Christ, we receive blessing from him. 153 00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:06,320 That will confirm that we are in his will. 154 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,480 Peter had a need for direction. 155 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:10,720 You and I do as well. 156 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:17,020 When we do, our lesson is this, recall your past leading from God. 157 00:12:17,020 --> 00:12:20,480 How has God led you in the past? 158 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:25,840 And understand very likely what he wants you to do next will be in line with where he has 159 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,720 brought you so far. 160 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:35,300 Some of you today are struggling to know the next step in your lives. 161 00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:40,080 What is the will of God for me and for my family? 162 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:44,840 Look to your past leading and get some reference points from there. 163 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:50,400 You will soon understand the leading of God for tomorrow. 164 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:54,200 There's a second need that I see that Peter in particular had and that is the need for 165 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,280 restoration. 166 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:57,680 A need for restoration. 167 00:12:57,680 --> 00:13:03,720 Now Jesus had met with Peter on that first Easter. 168 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:10,160 I believe that Peter had a sense of forgiveness from the Lord in that private meeting. 169 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:18,360 That is forgiveness because of his denial of the Lord on the night of his trial. 170 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:24,340 But there is a sense in which Peter still needs to be restored publicly. 171 00:13:24,340 --> 00:13:30,120 The other disciples needed to know that Peter was still their leader, that that was Jesus' 172 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,600 will. 173 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,240 Peter was a deeply affectionate man. 174 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,160 A man of intense emotions. 175 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:41,200 The kind of man you would love to have for a friend. 176 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:47,080 The kind of man who would be a lot of fun to be around. 177 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:51,080 And when he knew that this was the Lord you notice that he immediately put his outer clothing 178 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,580 on and jumped into the water and was willing to swim and wade and get to shore to get 179 00:13:55,580 --> 00:13:57,880 to Jesus first. 180 00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:59,760 He loved Jesus. 181 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:04,680 But his love had failed in the past. 182 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:08,120 And he felt guilty about that. 183 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:14,280 He wondered if his usefulness to Christ was finished perhaps. 184 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:19,240 The circumstances here were laden with remembrances for Peter. 185 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:25,240 We've talked about his calling to discipleship beside the Sea of Galilee. 186 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:31,320 When he comes to eat breakfast it's not bacon and eggs or french toast. 187 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,320 It's broiled fish and toast. 188 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:39,020 I don't remember the last breakfast meeting I had where that was on the menu. 189 00:14:39,020 --> 00:14:42,400 But then we're not living in Palestine. 190 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:48,840 When Jesus saw the fish and the bread, perhaps it was a reminder to him of those special 191 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:54,600 occasions when he was with the Lord and the Lord had done the miracle of multiplication. 192 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:59,120 The feeding of the 5,000. 193 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:06,160 Then he saw that this was being cooked over coals, hot coals of fire. 194 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:11,760 There may have been a flashback in his mind of those coals that were there in the high 195 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:16,720 priest's courtyard as he warmed himself in the time of Jesus' trial. 196 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:21,480 It was there that the young maiden had said, you're one of them, aren't you? 197 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:24,800 And he said, I don't even know the man. 198 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:31,720 It seems to me that Jesus had put these circumstances together to bring all of this back to Peter's 199 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,720 mind. 200 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:40,000 Perhaps he lacked assurance that his failure had been forgiven. 201 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:43,840 And so Jesus, after breakfast, gets to the point. 202 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:44,840 You know how it is. 203 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:50,680 You gather around for lunch or for breakfast and you just talk for a while and then eventually 204 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:54,320 whoever's called the meeting gets to the point. 205 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,640 And almost always you can sense that's the transition. 206 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:58,640 You're there now. 207 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,000 You know why you're there. 208 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,240 And so Jesus gets to the point. 209 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:12,880 And he says to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me? 210 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,800 Notice he directed this to Peter in front of the other six. 211 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:21,280 Simon, do you love me? 212 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,800 Three times he asked that question. 213 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,120 How many times had he denied his Lord? 214 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:28,120 Three. 215 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,360 Simon, do you love me? 216 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:36,680 He responds, yes Lord, you know I love you. 217 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:41,640 Jesus responds, then feed my lambs. 218 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,920 Do you love me? 219 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:51,840 Peter says, yes Lord, you know I love you. 220 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:58,280 Jesus says, then pasture my sheep, tend to them. 221 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:05,920 Jesus says, Simon, do you love me? 222 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,680 Peter was grieved this third time. 223 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:09,680 He said, do you love me? 224 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:15,280 He says, Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you. 225 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:19,400 Jesus said, then feed my sheep. 226 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:25,720 Three times Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love. 227 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:32,160 Three times Peter does that and receives from the Lord a commission to be the leader, to 228 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:36,000 feed, to pasture the sheep of God. 229 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:44,680 On this occasion, when Peter needed to be restored, he received it from the Lord. 230 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:50,080 His role as the leader was restored to him. 231 00:17:50,080 --> 00:18:00,160 And as the leader, he needed to set the supreme example of loving Jesus Christ above all others. 232 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:06,560 Peter's whole sense of purpose now was being renewed because Jesus was talking with him 233 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:13,880 and publicly before the others was unafraid to give to Peter the commission to feed and 234 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:19,920 to lead the sheep of God. 235 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:27,280 I may be speaking to some Christian in this congregation this morning who needs restoration. 236 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:33,360 You have sensed failure. 237 00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:40,460 Perhaps you, like Peter, have had the opportunity to testify for Christ and instead you have 238 00:18:40,460 --> 00:18:44,560 denied him before others. 239 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:52,000 For something in your life causes you to sense failure not once or twice or even just three 240 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,400 times but over and over again. 241 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,760 You say, can I be restored? 242 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:02,120 Can God use me? 243 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:04,080 Learn this lesson. 244 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:09,040 You can renew your sense of purpose. 245 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:15,000 The Lord Jesus Christ does not give up on you. 246 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:20,760 He comes to you afresh this morning and he asks you that tender question in your heart, 247 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:27,120 my child, do you love me? 248 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:29,480 Responding yes, Lord. 249 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:34,960 Jesus says, then my child serve me. 250 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:41,640 He has a purpose for you and he restores you today to a place of usefulness for him. 251 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:46,580 Oh, how Satan wants you to think you can never be used again. 252 00:19:46,580 --> 00:19:49,880 He wants you to think in your mind that you've blown it. 253 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,560 You've gone too far. 254 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,040 Jesus says, my child, do you love me? 255 00:19:56,040 --> 00:20:00,640 If you love me, then serve me. 256 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:06,040 He would restore you to that place of service. 257 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:11,320 There's a third need that Peter has and is the need for affirmation. 258 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:16,320 Peter hears the words of Jesus, feed my sheep. 259 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,160 Take care of them, Peter. 260 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:26,560 But it may well be that somewhere in Peter's heart there was a nagging question. 261 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:34,520 I failed him once before when I was put to the test. 262 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:40,000 Will I fail him again when the test comes? 263 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:45,980 How do I know that I won't blow it the next time? 264 00:20:45,980 --> 00:20:51,160 He has to have affirmation that he can do it. 265 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:56,240 Jesus knows the future and here he affirms Peter's devotion. 266 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,160 He affirms that it would not fail. 267 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,040 Notice what he says in verse 18. 268 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:06,700 Most assuredly I say to you, when you were younger you girded yourself and walked where 269 00:21:06,700 --> 00:21:08,000 you wished. 270 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:14,240 But when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry 271 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,160 you where you do not wish. 272 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:26,280 This he spoke signifying by what death he would glorify God. 273 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:30,160 Jesus gives to Peter the affirmation that he needs in this moment. 274 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:34,200 First of all, Jesus suggests to him that he will serve him. 275 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,880 Peter will serve him until he's an old man. 276 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,920 I don't know how old he is here. 277 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:40,920 He's younger than me. 278 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,060 He's young. 279 00:21:43,060 --> 00:21:48,840 He's probably 35, maybe 40 years of age at this point. 280 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:58,540 He has before him, if tradition is correct, some 35 or so years of service. 281 00:21:58,540 --> 00:22:09,660 In his heart filled with self-doubt come these words from Jesus, when you are old. 282 00:22:09,660 --> 00:22:16,440 And when he is old there is going to come another occasion not unlike the one a few 283 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,360 weeks in the past now. 284 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:25,840 The time when he would be given the opportunity to deny Jesus Christ and to escape with his 285 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:27,640 life. 286 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:36,120 And Jesus affirms to Peter, I love this, Jesus affirms to Peter on this day, Peter when that 287 00:22:36,120 --> 00:22:41,920 moment comes, you will not deny me. 288 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:47,920 You will pay the price of your life. 289 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:53,240 Tradition tells us that Peter was crucified in the city of Rome. 290 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:59,560 And not feeling worthy to be crucified as his Lord was, he asked that he be crucified 291 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:03,640 upside down. 292 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:13,320 And when that day came, some three decades later, he glorified God, John writes, by the 293 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:18,000 death that he died. 294 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:22,360 Peter needed affirmation that he was going to make it. 295 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:29,020 And from this day onward he could rest in Christ's power to keep him and to keep him 296 00:23:29,020 --> 00:23:36,400 on course and to fulfill his plan in his life. 297 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:41,760 You may have similar feelings in your own heart. 298 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:45,760 The Lord says I can still serve him. 299 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:51,000 But how can I know that I will not fail him again? 300 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:58,400 How do I know that I won't blow it when I have the opportunity to stand up for him? 301 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:07,840 Today you, like Peter, can rest in the power and the plan of Jesus Christ for your life. 302 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:12,880 If you blow it again in the future, he is able to restore you again. 303 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:18,880 He is also able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence 304 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,720 of his glory with exceeding joy. 305 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,360 He can do that. 306 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:29,840 And his plan is for you to be useful to him until the very moment that you are called 307 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:35,300 home and to glorify him even in your death. 308 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:43,280 And it is his power, not your ability that will enable you to do that. 309 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:48,560 If you need affirmation today, I don't know of a stronger affirmation than the power and 310 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:54,680 the plan of Jesus Christ active in your life. 311 00:24:54,680 --> 00:25:01,640 The bottom line of the whole breakfast meeting comes down to two words. 312 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:07,600 He turns to Peter and he says, follow me. 313 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:12,040 Keep on following me, Peter. 314 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:17,240 Apparently Jesus turned and started walking and Peter walked with him and over his shoulder 315 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,760 he noticed John was kind of tagging along. 316 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:26,360 And he says, well Lord, what about him? 317 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:32,920 Do you ever find yourself comparing yourself to others in your journey? 318 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:37,760 Lord, why don't they go through the hard times that I have? 319 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:43,080 Why do they have it so easy? 320 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:49,320 Or Lord, she gets those privileges, why can't I have them? 321 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:59,960 Jesus says to Peter, what is it to you about him? 322 00:25:59,960 --> 00:26:04,280 Peter, you follow me. 323 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,440 You and I need to be reminded of that. 324 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:14,720 Because sometimes we tend to compare our journey with others and we get proud or disappointed 325 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:19,760 or jealous. 326 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:26,640 And we need to be reminded that God's plan for our lives is personalized. 327 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,640 And he says to you and me, follow me. 328 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,080 That's all we have to do. 329 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:39,060 We don't have to worry about the other person, whether he's doing it right. 330 00:26:39,060 --> 00:26:45,000 We don't have to compare ourselves to someone else that we think is more gifted, who has 331 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:49,200 greater ability or greater opportunities. 332 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:50,840 Be jealous. 333 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:56,440 All we have to do is follow Jesus. 334 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,720 This morning that's what I want to call you to. 335 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:00,960 To a renewed commitment. 336 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,880 You say, I'm scared of renewing commitments. 337 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:05,720 These new beginnings bother me. 338 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:12,440 I think Peter was bothered too, but Jesus came and said to him, you're going to serve 339 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:17,880 me Peter, and one day you're not going to deny me, you're going to stand with me and 340 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:19,680 pay for it with your life. 341 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:23,360 And you're going to glorify God in doing that. 342 00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:27,020 We don't have to be afraid of new beginnings. 343 00:27:27,020 --> 00:27:31,120 We may have failed a hundred times in the past. 344 00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:35,200 Oh how our enemy comes then and says, there's no use. 345 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,240 You're never going to amount to anything. 346 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:39,960 You can't have a new beginning. 347 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:43,680 If you do, you'll just blow it again. 348 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:47,600 Jesus says to you, follow me. 349 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:48,600 Follow me. 350 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:49,600 Don't listen to the enemy. 351 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:50,600 Come after me. 352 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:53,040 Just follow me. 353 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:55,120 I'll take care of you. 354 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:57,300 My power will preserve you. 355 00:27:57,300 --> 00:28:05,480 It will work in your life and your life will glorify God. 356 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:08,920 You need to be restored? 357 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,720 You need His affirmation? 358 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:13,760 You need a new beginning? 359 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:17,400 There's no better time than this morning than right now. 360 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,920 Let's pray. 361 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:26,960 Father, wherever this message finds us in our journey, I pray that the Holy Spirit will 362 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:32,000 use it to direct our steps. 363 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:37,000 There are some who are looking for direction this morning as Peter and the others were. 364 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:45,480 There are some who are longing for restoration and others who are afraid need affirmation 365 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:49,240 that by your grace working in them they can do it. 366 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:52,020 They can do it. 367 00:28:52,020 --> 00:29:00,920 Take away the fear, the anxiety, the disappointment, the guilt. 368 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:04,840 And as you ask that question of Peter and as you ask it of us this morning, may we be 369 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:12,400 able to answer it from the depths of our hearts, Lord, you know all things. 370 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:19,820 You know that I love you. 371 00:29:19,820 --> 00:29:23,120 Jesus asks you that question. 372 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:26,120 He says, do you love me? 373 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:30,960 What do you say to Him? 374 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:40,000 Will you then listen to His voice assigning you, giving you purpose, direction, affirmation, 375 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,240 restoration? 376 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:50,200 Let Him have His way today and tell Him that you love Him. 377 00:29:50,200 --> 00:30:12,840 Amen.