???????????????????????????????????????????????JOHN 21 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Lesson # 42

???????????????????????????????????GIFTS PRECEDE SWIMMING

???????????????????????????????????GRIEF PRECEDE SERVICE

I.? Introduction:

???????????Note:? This is our final chapter in John’s Gospel.? He gives two more stories that He chooses to share about the resurrection.? Both take place in Galilee as opposed to chapter 20 which took place in Jerusalem.? Many scholars term it an epilogue.? A final chapter, a chapter of closure.

???????????Note:? In a way, the Gospel of John is a gospel about failures, who have been redeemed.? Grace and truth come through Jesus Christ:? “For of His fullness we have all received and grace upon grace.”? John 1:16.

???????????Note:? I have a simple summary of this chapter:? God gives gifts so we swim swiftly.? God gives grief so we serve His sheep.

???????????Remember, how it was the “doubting Thomas” who saw most accurately the Lord Jesus.? Also, it was the two cowards Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea who were given the honor of burying Jesus’ body.? God seems to use those we least expect….? The last chapter is another example of “grace upon grace”.? This is another example of less than perfect people being the “light of the world”.? This time the struggler is Peter….

II.? Breakfast With Jesus In Galilee:? John 21:1-14.

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:1-2

???????????Q? How many disciples are mentioned here?

????????????? An = Seven:? Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, two sons of Zebedee, two others.

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:3

???????????Q? Why are they fishing?? What does this say about Peter’s personality?

????????????? An = He is a leader.? He gets others to do things.

Note:? It is good to work with your hands.? If God is going to call you, have a practical job (remember the calling of Elisha in I Kings 19).

???????????Q? Are they successful in their adventure?

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:4-5

???????????Q? Do the disciples recognize Jesus?

???????????Q? What does Jesus’ question bring to the forefront?

????????????? An = They are not successful.? Though notice, He calls them “children”, a title of endearment.

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:6-8

???????????Q? What triggered recognition in John?

????????????? An = Interestingly, it is John that “sees” Jesus first and Peter trusts the insight of another.? The physical sign is the large catch (perhaps reminding them of their original calling to be fishers of men).? Jesus has done it again.? He has given gifts.

???????????Note:? As this episode is so similar to Jesus’ calling of the disciples when they were called to be fishers of men, many have seen this as symbolic of the church’s dependence on Jesus’ direction in evangelism if they wish to be successful.? Pure human effort does not bring the success we need to have.

???????????Q? How does Peter respond to John’s insight?

????????????? An = He swims swiftly to shore.? True leaders want to be near Jesus, they swim swiftly, they drop everything, they want to be near the Master.

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:9-14.

???????????Q ?What could this “meal” be a symbolical representation of?

????????????? An = Remember when He fed the 5,000?? In addition, the “breakfast” with Jesus could be fellowship, communion, etc. where the disciples bring their catch to join what Jesus has already brought to the table.? What is completely clear here is that Jesus is giving gifts and it has brought swift action and attraction.? God gives and we see and are drawn to Him and His fellowship.

???????????RQ? Has God done familiar things again in your life?

III.? The Dialogue After Breakfast:? John 21:15-23.

???????????A.? Reinstatement and Recommissioning an Imperfect Leader:? John 21:15-19.

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:15-17.

???????????Q? What is Jesus doing here?

????????????? An = He seems to be relentlessly questioning Peter’s loyalty??

???????????Q? Would you be uncomfortable if your favorite person in life questioned you in this way?

Note:? There are a variety of opinions as to whether the word for love here has special meaning (Jesus asks with the word “agape” twice and “phileo” once and Peter answers with “phileo” three times).? However, the ancient commentators and the majority of the more recent ones do not seem to see it as significant (Brown pp. 11002-3, Bultmann p. 712).? They point out that there is a variety in the words for sheep, feed, and know used as well.? Brown also points out the fact that if there was a Hebrew/Aramaic word behind this saying when Jesus originally spoke it (ahav), there is only one word used in Hebrew for love.

Note:? If one reads Temple (pp. 405-407) one is moved by his presentation of Peter not willing to tell Jesus that he loves him because of his denial.? Even if we do not use the distinction between the different words for love, Temple is correct, Peter is clearly hesitate.? He does not even touch “do you love me more than these”.? He simply tells God he loves him but his hope is no longer in his own self-confidence but in his confidence in Jesus’ knowledge.? Peter almost seems to be deferring even His answer to Jesus in his reply “You know that I love you”.? Perhaps another example of such hesitancy is in Ezekiel 37:3.? Peter is no longer self-confident.

???????????Q? What does the third question of Jesus do to Peter according to the narrator (see verse 17)?

????????????? An = It grieves Peter.? He is hurt!

???????????Q? Why does God give grief?? What is His purpose?? I thought God so loved the world?

???????????Q? What does Jesus say after each confession of love made by Peter?

???????????Q? What is the basis of inquiry for whether we can be leaders or not?

????????????? An = Do we love Jesus and if we do, care for what He loves most.

???????????Q? What is the basis for selection of leaders in the church today?

???????????Q? Has God truly dealt with you if He has not grieved you?

???????????Q? What is Jesus doing for Peter?

????????????? An = He is recommissioning him to a leadership position, but one like Himself.? Peter is to be a leader like His Master.? Jesus final command is to “follow Me”.? >>> have everyone turn to John 10:11 and let someone read it to the group.

???????????Q? How many times does Jesus make Peter confess His love?

???????????Q? What does the number three remind you of?? What could Jesus be doing here?

????????????? An = God must give grief before we can be servants of His sheep.

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:18-19.

???????????Q? What is Jesus doing here for Peter?

????????????? An = Letting Him know how He will finally be like his Lord.? He will “glorify” the father.? He is to follow Jesus.? Peter will be martyred.

???????????B.? Corrected Again:? John 21:20-23.

Note:? Jesus reinstates His fallen leader and you would think the Gospel would now present Peter as a wonderful, amazing role-model for good leadership.? But…the Gospel of John is strange, wonderfully strange….

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:20-23.

???????????Q? Is Peter being nosey?

???????????Q? Does Jesus rebuke Peter again?

???????????RQ? Isn’t this just like old times with Jesus and Peter again?

???????????RQ? Is this not how God really deals with His true servants?

IV.? Conclusion to the Gospel of John:? John 21:24-25.

>>>>? Have someone read John 21:24-25.

???????????Note:? John’s last hyperbolic statement is indeed true.? The majesty of Jesus is beyond the records of men are capable of writing….? He has been doing things in the lives of people through out all these past 20 centuries.

? May He write again though, but this time in our lives, who of His fullness have received, grace piled upon grace. ????