Lesson 52

Getting Back On Track

John 21

John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

During my freshman year in college, I was required to take a course in Music Appreciation. Most of our class time was spent listening to symphonies, learning to recognize certain composers and particular instruments. Now, I really like music. I do have an appreciation for music. I really do. I even like some highbrow stuff. I've taken my children to the symphony. One time, I even took Carla to an opera. It was supposedly in English. It sure seemed to hurt those performers to sing. I didn't even think that my music appreciation course was all bad. But my thoughts about most symphonies was that they sure passed up a lot of good places to quit.

There are some books of the Bible that strike me the same way. The Book of Jonah is one example. I mean - Jonah rebels (chapter 1); Jonah repents (chapter 2), Ninevah's revival (chapter 3). It seems like the perfect place to end the book. But then comes chapter 4 which actually ends with a question!

The Book of John is also like that. The logical ending to John's gospel would be with chapter 20. In verses 30-31, John states the purpose and object of his book. The purpose is "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God" and the object is that "believing ye might have life through his name." John put the key to his book by the back door. This sounds like the perfect place to end the book. But then comes John 21 which seems to be an epilogue and an appendix to the Gospel account.

Obviously, there is a purpose for John 21. The Holy Spirit inspired this chapter because He knew there were some things here which we need to learn and know. For one thing, John 21 is the only place in the book where John finally identifies himself and where he clears up a misconception and rumor about himself (verses 23-24). Wouldn't you know it? A rumor had gotten started that John was going to live until Jesus returns. But that's not what Jesus said at all. The Holy Spirit gave John an opportunity to straighten out the rumor.

More importantly, John 21 fills in the gap on Peter. Without this chapter we would read about Peter's denying of Christ in John 18, and then, his preaching on Pentecost in Acts 2. But John 21 finishes the story of Peter.

Most importantly, John 21 has some important lessons for you and me. It teaches us that failure is not final but that Christ takes the initiative in restoring a right relationship with his people even after they have denied and disobeyed Him. Sometimes we know that we need to get our lives back on track but just don't know how! (Personal illustration - Chick).

Christ himself helps us get back on track.

Getting back on track means ...

Obeying Christ, 21:1-6.

According to Matthew 28:10,16, Jesus had given his disciples specific instructions to go to an appointed mountain and wait for him to appear to them. Mat 28:10,16 Then said Jesus unto them, go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. Apparently, Jesus didn't show up soon enough to suit Peter. Perhaps Peter thought that the resurrected Christ was not going to provide for him the way he had prior to His death. Whether because of impatience or ignorance, Peter made a decision to go back to fishing, v. 3. Keep in mind that Peter was not just a fisherman by vacation; he was a fisherman by vocation. Thus, for Peter to go fishing was to return to his old way of life. Peter is not in fellowship with Christ. He has denied Him. Now he is disobeying Him, forsaking Him for the old life, and influencing six other disciples to do the same.

These seven men acquired a boat and went out onto the lake. And at the end of verse 4 we learn that "that night they caught nothing." They weren't lazy - they fished all night. They worked together. They didn't quit. In the energy of the flesh they labored. In spite of all this, they caught nothing. Their work was in vain; all their efforts were meaningless.

After a night of wasted work, Jesus appeared on the shore in the morning, v. 4. The only thing is that they failed to recognize that it was Jesus. It seems that after the resurrection, Jesus had to reveal himself in order to be recognized. He revealed himself to Mary Magdelene in the garden. He revealed himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. In order for these seven to recognize him, Jesus had to reveal himself to them. That explains why they didn't recognize him.

Just how did Jesus reveal himself? He used a question, a command and a promise to let them know that it was him. The question - "Children, have ye any meat?" In other words, "Hey fellows, caught anything? Do you suppose that Jesus asked that question in order to learn the answer? Of course not! He knows all things! That's what it says in verse 17. The purpose of the question was not to ascertain information but to cause conviction to those disobedient disciples. It was to make them think about what they were doing and whether or not it was turning out the way they had expected. "Hey guys. Is your disobedience working?" I love their answer. "No!" With one simple word they condemned themselves.

Once you've been saved, the Lord has ruined you forever. Oh, sure. You can try going back to the old way of life. But you will never be successful. You're ruined. You might have a few fleeting moments of fun but you will never have joy and peace. And it won't work. You will not succeed. Your work and your spent energy will be wasted.

The question was followed by a command. They are going to be given a second chance at obedience. "Cast the net on the right side of the ship" followed by a promise - "and ye shall find." This time they obeyed and they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. I suspect that they remembered another occasion when something similar happened. Luke 5:4-6 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

Suddenly, John realizes that it is Jesus. Christ came to them and revealed himself to them even though they were backslidden and disobedient. He gave them a second chance. And he taught them a very valuable lesson. The difference between success and failure was not the width of the boat. It was really a matter of obedience versus disobedience. Getting back on track means having a second chance to obey Christ and doing it.

Fellowshipping With Christ, 21:7-14.

The disciples realize that "it is the Lord" standing on the shore and make haste to get to him. Peter, in typical fashion, cannot even wait to get the boat and the fish to the bank. He just jumped in the water and headed for Christ, vs. 7-8. The others came along the normal way.

Jesus had built a fire and was preparing a meal when they arrived, v. 9. There was fish and bread. Where did they come from? These are not the same fish that they caught because according to vs. 10-11 Christ told them to bring their catch. Here is one of those hidden miracles in the Bible. Jesus apparently miraculously provided a meal for them. The point to all this is that they had doubted if Christ would provide for them after the resurrection as he had before his death. That's one explanation for why they had returned to fishing. Jesus' message is clear. "Men, you don't have to go back to fishing in order to have something to eat. I will continue to supply all your need. Trust me!"

In verse 12, there is an invitation from Christ for fellowship. This is actually the third invitation recorded in John's gospel account. "Come and see" (1:39); "Come and drink" (7:37) and now "Come and dine."

Getting back on track means spending time in fellowship with Christ, being with him, enjoying his company, feasting on the banquet that he provides and prepares for our spiritual nourishment. Are you doing that?

Loving Christ, 21:15-17.

John writes nothing about any conversation during the course of the meal. I suspect that it was a rather quiet time. These men had disobeyed and disappointed their Lord and, no doubt, their thoughts were on their failure. It would seem that this meal would be especially difficult for Peter. The little phrase "a coal of fires" in verse 9 is found in only one other place in the New Testament - John 18:17-18. This is the place where Peter warmed himself and denied Christ three times. Perhaps this fire prepared by Jesus was an intentional reminder to Peter that his sin of denying the Lord had to be face. First, there was a time of remembering.

Jesus gave them an opportunity to dry off, get warm and satisfy their hunger before confronting their sin. Christ waited until they had dined to deal with Peter.

Notice how Christ addressed Peter. "Simon, son of Jonas". Jesus had given Simon a new name. But here, he did not address him by his Christian name but by his old name. This man had not been living according to his new nature, why should he be addressed by his new name? Simon denies the Lord. Simon curses. Simon has temper tantrums. Simon disobeys. Simon vacillates. He had gone back to the old way of life, perhaps he would have preferred the old name.

Notice what Christ asked Peter. "Lovest thou me more than these?" This question got to the real issue of Peter's life, his love for Christ. After all, Peter had supposedly "forsaken all" to follow Christ (Mt. 19:27). He had declared his loyalty to Christ. "Though all men shall be offended because of the Thee, yet will I never be offended" (Mt. 26:33). He had said that he was willing to "lay down his life for Jesus' sake" (John 13:37). He had even grabbed the sword and tried to defend Jesus (John 18:10-11). And then, after making such boasts, Peter had denied Jesus three times. How many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved him? Three times! Once for each denial.

The first time that Jesus asked the question, he added the phrase "more than these." It's not real clear from the text what that refers to. It could mean, "Do you love me more than you love these things - boats, nets, fishing?" Or it could be saying, "Simon, you claimed to love me more than the rest of the disciples. Do you indeed love me more than these love me?" Not only was this a time of remembering, it was also a time of recommitting.

Notice how Peter answered. To really grasp the significance of Peter's answer, you need to understand that in Greek there is more than one word for love. It is unfortunate that in English we use the same word to describe how we feel about pork chops and how we feel about our partners. I love pork chops and I love Carla. But I don't feel at all about pork chops that I do about my wife! In Greek there are different words for different kinds of love. These verses contain two of them. In Jesus' first two question he used the word "agape" which describes the highest form of love, the deepest kind of love, sacrificing love, divine love. In all three of Peter's answers and in Jesus' final question a form of the word "phileo" is used. This word describes the love of a friend, brotherly love, fondness for another. "Do you agape me?" "I phileo you." Do you love me like I love you. Lord, I like you a lot. Peter was indeed affirming his love for the Lord but at the same time was confessing that he did not love Jesus as he should. In fact, the third time Peter was asked, the Bible says "he was grieved." This was not out of frustration from being asked the same question over and over but from repentance for his sins. He is saying, "Lord, you know all things. You know that may love for you is not what I claimed it was."

Notice, Christ acknowledged Peter's repentance. There was a time of recommissioning. Earlier Peter had been called to be a fisher of men (Mt. 4:19). Now he is being commissioned by Christ as a shepherd of sheep. When Peter turns his attention toward Christ, Christ turns his attention toward the sheep.

Getting back on track means loving Christ - remembering our failures, repenting of our sins, recommitting our loyalty to him and being reclaimed for the work of the Lord.

Following Christ, 21:18-22.

We wouldn't know what in the world Jesus was talking about in verse 18if John didn't explain it in verse 19. Jesus spoke about Peter's death. One's death can glorify God especially if one's life glorifies Christ. (No wonder in Acts 12, Peter could go sound asleep the night before he was scheduled to be executed. Jesus had told him that he would live to be old.)

Jesus ends this by saying to Peter, "Follow me." But these verses not only speak of the prophecy of Peter's death they also speak of the problem of Peter's distractions. Peter struggled continually with being distracted. When walking on water, Peter had gotten distracted by his circumstances (Mt. 14:30). That happens sometimes doesn't it? We can easily be distracted by our situation and take our eyes off of Christ. Here, Peter became distracted by John. He took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the disciple whom Jesus loved and said, "Lord. what's going to happen to him?" Poor Peter! He just got back on track and he's already messing up again.

But we are also frequently guilty of taking our eyes off of Christ and looking at other Christians and other churches. Perhaps we envy their blessings and think that maybe we are getting a "raw deal." I have been guilty of asking the Lord how he can bless some people who disagree with me! At times like that the Lord says rather loudly, "What is that to thee? Follow thou me!" Beware of watching other workers. Beware of distractions.

This is where the rumor about John's future comes in, v. 23.

Getting back on track means obeying Christ. It is coming to the realization that there will be no success in going back to the old way of life. Getting back on track means spending time fellowshipping with Christ - dining at His table. Getting back on track means loving Christ. Perhaps it starts with admitting that your love for Him is not what you claim. It means repenting and recommitting you love to Him. A getting back on track means following Christ - getting your eyes off of others and fixing your focus on Jesus.

I believe that Revival is about getting back on track. Are you obeying him or are you trying to go back to the old way of life? Do you spend time with Jesus? Do you dine at his table? Do you really love Christ as much as you claim? Do you love Him more than everything else? Are there some sins that you need to repent of? Do you need to get back to work for Jesus? Have you gotten distracted? Do you need to get your eyes back on following Jesus?