John Chapter 21

John chapter 21

SCRIPTURE

Today I will summarize John Chapter 21 where Jesus had breakfast with his disciples and asked Peter if He loved him.  A few weeks had passed since the last time the disciples saw the resurrected Jesus. Since many were fishermen by trade they decided to go fishing and get their business back up and running.  But they caught nothing.  As they came to the shore, they heard a man asking if they had caught anything.  They said no.  Then the man told them to throw their nets over the right side of the boat and they would catch some.  They did the humor of the man but they caught 153 large fish and were not able to bring them in because of the weight.  They all exclaimed, “It is Jesus.”  So, they raced to the shore.  Peter decided to jump in the lake and swim for it because he wanted to beat the others.  Jesus told them to bring some of the fish they just caught to have breakfast and he cooked some for the group. 

This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.  When they were done eating, Jesus called Peter over to talk with him privately.   He asked Peter if he loved Jesus and kept repeatedly asking him 3 times.  This was probably heart-wrenching for Peter knowing that he denied knowing Jesus three times.  Peter cried and said,” Yes, you know that I love you.”  Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs.  After Jesus told Peter this, he told him that he would indeed suffer the fate that he so desperately tried to avoid by disowning Jesus.  Jesus told Peter that he would be crucified just as He was.   Peter was uncomfortable and tried to divert attention away from himself and he pointed to John.    He asked Jesus,” What about him?”  Jesus said if he wants John to live until he comes back that’s none of his concern.  He told Peter to follow him. 

Observation

The thing I think the lord wants us to understand after reading this chapter is the fact that Jesus was resurrected in a physical body that could eat food and he showed us what is in our future after we leave this plane of existence.  Come to Jesus for salvation.    Put your faith and trust in Him and repent for your sin.  Believe the Father raise Him from the dead after being crucified.  Choose to do this today.

“I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”    John 11:25-6

The physical resurrection of Jesus is a very important doctrine.  1 Corinthian 15:14 says, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain.”  The reason it is so important is that Jesus’s physical resurrection is proof that death has been conquered and that we too will be physically resurrected.  To say that Jesus did not rise from the dead is to say that death had victory over Him.  If that were so, we would have been without hope; and sin would still have its power.    Jesus rose again in the same body.  In the same way, he will raise us.  The life that we live in this world is full of trials, sickness, pain, sorrow, and death.  But the life God promises, there is no sickness, no pain, No Satan’s power at all, no problems, no getting old, etc. 

               JESUS ROSE TO FORGIVE US.

               Acts 13: 37,38; 1 Corinthians 15:17.

 We all sin.  In our guilt, we need forgiveness.  Through the cross, God forgives us from the penalty of sin.  On the Cross, Jesus paid our debt in full and satisfied the demands of a Holy and just God.  God’s offer of forgiveness is humanity’s best news. 

Forgiveness only comes through repentance and confession of sin.  1 John 1:9

“No forgiveness without confession.”

JESUS ROSE TO HEAL

ACTS 4:10

Christians will receive complete healing when God “restores all things.”   Healing has already begun and we will realize it fully in Heaven.  Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.

JESUS ROSE TO GIVE ETERNAL LIFE

John 11:25- 27

Jesus demonstrated He is the resurrection and life by raising Lazarus from the dead.  He spoke, and Lazarus came forth from the grave, and his grave clothes were removed.   Jesus can bring life and raise our every dead, hopeless situation.   He does the impossible.

JESUS ROSE TO INTERCEDE FOR US.

Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:23-25

Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. Jesus has the authority to judge all mankind.  Jesus prayed for Peter who vainly boasted that he would not deny, betray or leave Jesus.  Luke 22: 31-32.  Jesus said,” I have prayed for you that your faith fails not.”  We all need to pray to avoid greed, lust, and temptation and to gain strength to live a holy Christian life.  Jesus our judge becomes our defence attorney.

JESUS ROSE TO GIVE US IMPERISHABLE AND IMMORTAL BODIES

Corinthians 15: 42-48,53

A seed is planted and it dies, but it comes to life in a different form.  Resurrected bodies are created for the realm of the spirit.  They do not decay or have a weakness.  They are not limited by physical barriers.  They live forever.

Prayer

I come to you from the depths of my heart, realizing that I have sinned.  I repent of my sins and confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died on the cross for me and my sins, I believe that you raised Him from the dead.  Lord Jesus, come into my heart and live in me now.  I receive by faith you as my personal Lord and Savior.  I receive your Holy Spirit as my comforter to help me obey you and do your will.  It’s in Jesus’s name that I believe and receive the things prayed for this day.     Amen