Sermon Tone Analysis

Mission or Fishin’?

INTRODUCTION

Theme: While chapter 20 centered on the issue of faith, chapter 21 centers on the mission of the church.

While chapter 20 centered on the issue of faith, chapter 21 centers on the mission of the church.

BODY

Context: In John’s resurrection narrative the disciples faith was strengthened as they were commissioned (20:21), equipped (20:22), and authorized (20:23) to start building the church as “fishers of men,” but as we examine the world’s most scrutinized fishing trip, we find the disciples fishing for fish.

As we have seen, God’s mission to the world is also at the heart of John’s Gospel (cf.

“Mission” in the Introduction).

Each aspect of these appearance narratives contributes to the mobilization of the church and especially to the task of the leaders as they reach out to God’s flock and his world with the Good News.

After strengthening the faith of his disciples in ch.

20, Jesus commissioned and equipped his followers to be “fishers of men.”

The disciples were “sent” (20:21), equipped (20:22)

The disciples were previously commissioned (20:21), equipped (20:22), and authorized (20:23) to start building the church as “fishers of men,” but instead they wind up fishing for fish.

BODY

Jesus reveals himself to his disciples in order to get them focused on the mission of the church, and then he restores Peter following his failure while calling him to pastor his church when he leaves.

As we analyze the disciples’ encounter with Jesus, let’s examine ourselves and see if we are all about mission or fishin’!

I. Jesus’ Third Revelation to the Disciples (1-14)

A. Miraculous Fishing Trip (1-11)

1 After this (i.e., given the mission) Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

3 Simon Peter said to them (what should Peter the leader have said?), “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We will go with you.” (natural leader) They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus (allusion: don’t quiet yet comprehend Jesus).

5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?”

They answered him, “No.”

6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some (seems illogical).”

So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

B. Meal Fellowship (9-14)

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish (singular) laid out on it, and bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them.

And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

The missiological overtones are also obvious.

When we obey Jesus - even when it seems illogical - wonderful things can happen.

B. Meal Fellowship (12-14)

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?”

They knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish (neuter, singular).

14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples (masculine, plural) after he was raised from the dead.

Reminiscent of their last supper together, Jesus establishes table fellowship in his new status.

The significance is that through faith in Christ, we all have a resurrection fellowship with Jesus.

What have we discovered along with the disciples in Jesus’ 3rd revelation of himself to his disciples?

We have both provision and fellowship with Jesus to accomplish the mission that he has given the church, especially when the mission seems illogical.

It is easy for us to confuse mission with fishin’!

We can do all sorts of things like building facilities, VBS, small group meetings, camps or retreats, or even feeding the hungry, but if we are not making disciples, then we have missed the point.

These are all good things, but we can become easily confused about our mission of spreading the Gospel.

What do you confuse with the mission of making disciples?

TRANSITION: It is easy to become confused about our mission, which is why Jesus provides the church with guides that will help keep the mission in focus.

The miraculous catch of fish (21:1–14) reminds us of the similar miracle in , with the same message—when God’s people surrender to the leading of the Lord, great things will happen for those who are “fishing for people.”

II.

Jesus’ Timely Restoration of Peter (15-25)

Now that Jesus has reminded his church of its mission, Jesus sets his sights on restoring Peter and calling him to lead his church in its mission.

A. Pastoral Calling (15-17)

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon (dropped the ‘rock’), son of John, do you (1) love me more than (2) these ?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon (dropped the ‘rock’), son of John, do you love me more than these (“disciples” v. 14 - nearest antecedent)?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

2 issues to solve before proceeding:

16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

(1) “Love”: In the fourth Gospel, both words (agapaō and phileō) are used interchangeably for the word love.

It has been suggested that Agapao is used as a God like love, while Phileo is used for a human like love.

However, John used Phileo for love in the following situations earlier in this Gospel: (1) for the Father’s love for the Son, (2) for the Father’s love for the disciples, (3) for Jesus’ love for Lazarus and the beloved disciple, and (4) for Christians as “beloved.”

(e.g., for the Father’s love for the Son, for the Father’s love for the disciples, for Jesus’ love for Lazarus and the beloved disciple, and for Christians as “beloved.”

Conclusion: love is love.

(2) “These” [Masculine Plural / Neuter Plural]: Fishing equipment / fish vv.

3-11 VS. “disciples” v. 14 - nearest [Plural] antecedent + Peter claimed to be more loyal than others)

Conclusion: Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Jesus more than the other disciples.

16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Peter had previously proclaimed his greater love and loyalty to Jesus than that of his peers, but he had failed miserably when he denied Jesus 3 times.

Jesus is reminding him of his failure so that he can restore Peter and task him with leading the church in his absence.

BROKENNESS: Jesus helped Peter grasp his most valuable life lesson—he must learn humility before he could obtain leadership.

Peter needed to confront realistically his shortcomings before he could guide the flock.

This strong, powerful person had to be broken before he could deal compassionately with others.

Do you aspire to lead others?

It takes more than talent to gather followers.

To have Jesus’ style of leadership takes a spirit broken from pride, linked to God, and tender toward others.

BROKENNESS

Jesus helped Peter grasp his most valuable life lesson—he must learn humility before he could obtain leadership.

Peter needed to confront realistically his shortcomings before he could guide the flock.

This strong, powerful person had to be broken before he could deal compassionately with others.

Do you aspire to lead others?

It takes more than talent to gather followers.

To have Jesus’ style of leadership takes a spirit broken from pride, linked to God, and tender toward others.

The pain or grief of Peter was not due to Jesus’ framing his question with the use of Peter’s own word (φιλεῖς instead of ἀγαπᾷς), but is explained by Jesus’ act when for the third time he put the same question to him, as though to ask whether there was any substance in his avowal of love, any ground for his accepting its reality.

By this time all the old self-confidence and assertiveness manifest in Peter before the crucifixion of Jesus had drained away.

No matter how big you blow it, Jesus will restore you to kingdom work.

B. Prophecy of Crucifixion (18-19)