John 21 - Do you Love Me More Than These?
Preached by Edmund Hilder 19/04/2020
This chapter puzzles scholars.
Why are the disciples fishing back in Galilee after having been commissioned by Jesus and having received the Spirit?
Why don't they recognize him after having seen him more than once?
Jesus Appears to His Disciples while They Are Fishing. After his appearances in Jerusalem that established the faith of the disciples, Jesus now appears in Galilee to a portion of the disciples. The seven disciples mentioned (v. 2). This could be because of Roman law for an account to be verified there had to be 7 witnesses.
It required seven male witnesses of competent age and legal capacity, and the act must be done in the presence of all, at the same place, and at the same time, that is, it must be continuous.
More important is the simple fact that they are together. Jesus had formed the nucleus of the new community during his ministry and had further established it at the cross and in the breathing of the Spirit. Now he reminds them of his lordship and their dependency upon him in the fulfilment of the commission he has given them.
These verses don't tell us why they are back Galilee?
But we know that in Mark 16:7
But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”
They seem to have been sitting around, unsure of what to do, until Peter decides to go fishing and the others come along (v. 3). Here we see Peter is taking the lead.
But what sort of lead is it?
Some see this act as
1.”aimless activity undertaken in desperation" (Brown 1970:1096)
2. abandoning the Lord and returning to their former life (Hoskyns 1940b:660).
3.Others think they went fishing simply because they needed to eat (Beasley-Murray 1987:399).
The latter is probably true enough, but there is also a sense that Peter and the others, while not necessarily aimless and certainly not abandoning their belief, they are doing what is right in their own eyes.
The stories in this chapter reveal Jesus' bringing his disciples, especially Peter, more completely under his lordship. The disciples do not know what to do, so they do that which is necessary, and in taking this initiative they put themselves in a place where Christ meets them.
Here is the simple truth, attested to by the saints, that when we are uncertain what to do we should simply do our duty and God will guide.
That night they catch nothing (v. 3), a graphic portrayal of barrenness. They have done what they thought was the right thing but experience utter failure. This prepares them to learn one of the central lessons of discipleship apart from Jesus they can do nothing (15:5).
Jesus has taught this lesson before, for "never in the Gospels do the disciples catch a fish without Jesus' help" (Brown 1970:1071)! But they need the lesson repeated, as we often do as well.
The turning point comes early in the morning, perhaps symbolising the dawning of spiritual light. Jesus is described again as simply standing there, without a description of his arrival on the spot. Also as earlier, they are not able to recognise him at first.
Jesus takes the initiative and calls to them: Friends, haven't you any fish? (v. 5).
The question is put in a form that expects a negative answer. This may be the common way of asking a hunter or fisherman whether they have had success (Brown 1970:1070), but in this case the one asking already knows the answer.
The disciples admit they have failed at fishing (v. 5), and Jesus tells them, Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some (v. 6). They could hear this as the idle suggestion of a bystander.
But he does not say, "Try over there and you might find some." He doesn't offer a suggestion; he gives a promise that in fact they will find fish where he directs them to cast.
When they obey they cannot even get the net into the boat because there are so many fish enclosed in it (v. 6). Such abundance echoes the enormous provision of wine at the wedding in Cana (2:1-11) and of bread and fish at the feeding of the five thousand (6:1-13).
Most commentators see these fish as symbolic of the missionary work of the disciples, similar to Jesus' original call, "Come, follow me . . . and I will make you fishers of men”.
This might be true but I believe that the premiere focus here is Jesus Lordship and the need to be obedient to him to be fruitful.
Earlier, Mary recognised Jesus when he called her name, and the disciples recognised him through his wounds. Now he is recognized through the abundance that comes through obedience to his word.
It is the Beloved Disciple who is able to discern the identity of the stranger on the shore (v. 7).
When the disciples arrive at shore Peter having swam there. They notice is a charcoal fire with bread and fish already prepared (v. 9).
The Lord has breakfast ready for them, another sign of his grace and provision, like the catch they have just taken. There is no indication of where Jesus got the bread and fish; the appearance of the food is as mysterious as his own.
The first one to speak is Jesus, and he tells them to bring some of the fish they have caught (v. 10). For the second time in this story Jesus gives them a command.
At the feeding of the five thousand they had brought the bread and fish to Jesus, and he multiplied them (6:9-11). In this scene he already has food and invites them to add to it from their catch. Peter hauls up the fish, but there is no description of what is done with them. Rather, Jesus speaks yet another command an invitation to have breakfast (v. 12).
Throughout this encounter with Jesus the disciples have not said anything. The scene is one of great awe, with none of them daring to ask him, Who are you? (v. 12). There was something different about him, yet they were able to recognise him. The Lord Jesus is the focus of this story.
After inviting them to come and eat, he himself comes to the fire. He took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish (v. 13). This description echoes his action at the feeding of the five thousand (6:11) and provides the climax of this story. It answers their unasked questions he is recognised in this breaking of the bread. The master who commands them also serves them, continuing a theme found during the ministry.
During this appearance Jesus reveals some key characteristics of his ministry namely:
His lordship,
His servanthood
His generosity and love.
He has met his disciples at a point of failure and revealed himself as the awesome Lord of creation who cares for them.The fact that he provides a meal indicates that "lordship includes fellowship".
Such fellowship with Jesus at a meal reminds us of the many times he shared such fellowship during his ministry, especially at the Last Supper and also the theme of the new community he has now established.
John's note in verse 14 indicates that the focus of the story to this point is on Jesus and his appearance. It also signals a transition.
This story has focused on Jesus' love and lordship, but Peter and the Beloved Disciple have also been featured.
Now we will see Jesus' love and lordship in action in their lives specifically. Jesus Forms Peter as a Leader and as a Disciple (21:15-23) Jesus' inviting his disciples to share a meal signals his love and fellowship with them.
But he has unfinished business with Peter, the one who denied him in a special way. After breakfast Jesus speaks to Peter. Throughout this story Peter has been referred to as Simon Peter or simply as Peter (v. 7a), the name Jesus had given him. But now Jesus calls him by his former name, Simon son of John (v. 15), "as if he were no longer (or not yet!) a disciple".
In the first part of this chapter Jesus began with a question that revealed the disciples' poverty (v. 5), and then he gave a series of commands (vv. 6, 10, 12). So also now he questions Peter and then gives a command, and he does so three times. I want to focus one the first one for today!
His question is extremely searching, indeed, it is the ultimate question in life: do you truly love me more than these? (v. 15).
What does these refer to? If it is the net and boat, then this question gets at the central point of discipleship and reveals a person's heart. What do we love the most?
Have we abandoned all to follow Jesus?
Every time we are faced with a temptation this question is raised. Every time we become preoccupied with even the good things God gives us this question is raised.
They chapter continues but this is where I want to focus, “do you truly love me more than these” is a question I have faced many times in my life, and again during the last couple of weeks especially during Easter weekend.
During this time of lockdown, the word reboot has crossed my path and I truly believe that God is using this time to reboot not only his church but all believers.
If you have ever used a windows PC you would have come across the following…
Many times with a computer if it does not work we are asked “have you tried turning it on and off again, and that usually works but after a while the problems creep back in.
What usually works is that screen after restart that says please wait Windows is installing some updates.
I believe these last couple of weeks our screens are saying, please wait Jesus is installing some updates. I believe that Jesus is asking us the Question he is asking Peter, and is calling us to move as a new and update church in the times to come… But first we need to answer this question!
My question to us this morning is this…
What have we become so busy with that we have forgotten what Jesus has called us to?
Do we need to let go of pride, and self love to pursue the call of God, to step into his abundance and Love?
Maybe we are waiting on the Mountainside like the disciples for Jesus to come, we believe that he is coming, we are ready but we have become busy with other things in the mean time.
This question is one that can shake us deep to our core and our answer will force us into a new perspective and rebooted lifestyle.
So what is your answer to his question?
Do you truly love me more than these?