John 21:1-25

Pastor Joe just gave a sermon on this passage last week.  Let's take a look.

The disciples have gone back to what they know - fishing.  This is pretty typical, when our world has fallen around us & things seem out of control, we fall back on what we know.  So, they fish all night & catch nothing.  Does this sound familiar?  When they met Jesus for the first time, they were also returning from an unsuccessful fishing trip. 

Jesus speaks to them from the shoreline & they don't recognize Him.  Once again scripture teaches us to open our eyes & pay attention.  We don't see what we aren't looking for.  Our minds make assumptions for us regarding what we see & what we know.  Have you ever seen the optical illusion tricks were letters are replaced with numbers or the letters in the middle of the word are mixed up.  We can still read it because our minds use our experiences and knowledge to interpret what we see.  So, the disciples are simply talking to a man on the shoreline.  He gives them some fishing advice, they take it & suddenly they have an abundance of fish.  John's (the disciple who Jesus loved) mind lights up - this has happened before when we met Jesus.  John then recognizes Jesus & Peter - oh, spontaneous all or nothing Peter - jumps out & swims to shore.

Jesus has prepared a fire & breakfast - He is still modeling servant hood, even after He conquered death.  See, it doesn't matter how awesome you become, how much you achieve, or what power you yield, you are still called to serve. 

While they are eating, Jesus speaks with Peter.  Three times He asks Peter if Peter loves Him.  Three times Peter replies "yes", each time Jesus tells him to serve the believers.  If you read this in the Greek - Jesus asks Peter about a different type of love each time:
1)  agape - self-sacrificial love - do you love me more than you love others?
2) agape - self-sacrificial love - do you love me more than you love yourself?
3) phileo - brotherly love - do you love me like a friend?

This is what our relationship with Jesus looks like - we love Him above others, above ourselves, but this love isn't the love of a servant, it's not just respect for an authority, it's the love of friendship - relationship. 

Peter then asks about John.  Jesus tells him to worry about himself.  Your focus is your relationship with Jesus.  When we focus on our own relationship & how to serve others, we are left with no time to judge others.  When we focus on everyone else's relationship with God - we begin to judge.  So, focus on Jesus, serve His people, and revel in the relationship that you cultivate.