The Gospel of John: Do You Love Me? Then Follow Me. 21: 1 - 25

 As we come to the last chapter of this magnificent Gospel, the beauty, the poignancy, the simplicity that has so many layers, its sheer genius, all this continues to the very last verse.

 In a way John 21 seems like an extra chapter. For John 20: 30 – 21 is a fitting end: ‘Reader, there is much more to say about Jesus, but this has been written so you may believe.’ That’s a good place to end.

 But then there’s another chapter. It’s easy to see that John 21, like an epilogue, deals with at least two questions that must have arisen in the early church. One, how did the disciple who denied Christ three times end up becoming the church’s leader? And there was a misunderstanding around the death of the author. John answers both these questions.

 However John 21 is very much more than an epilogue. It is a stunning piece of writing, painting pictures in our minds – the disciples at night catching nothing, Jesus silhouetted by the rising sun; Jesus, Peter and the charcoal fire; the breakfast on the beach; the three lead characters walking by the sea. As literary art it is fulsome.

 For content, we could say it is a bridge chapter, between the ministry of Jesus to the ministry of the church. Jesus is on one side of the bridge, and he points Peter and the disciples to cross over to the other side, to the church. Hence the camera remains on Peter, the leader of the early church. Peter decides to go fishing; Peter runs to Jesus; Peter runs to get the fish; and Peter is asked the most important question in the world by Jesus, ‘Do you love me?’ There is then a focus on the most controversial teaching of the early church: the Lordship of Jesus. Seven times in this chapter Jesus is referred to as ‘Lord’, (v. 7, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21), We don’t have such an emphasis in the other chapters. We also have the work of the church, hauling in the large catch of fish. There is the importance of unity in the church, with the detail that the net didn’t break. There is a reference to Holy Communion with breakfast fellowship in the presence of the Lord. Jesus then explains the work of the church leaders – to feed the sheep; and for such leadership there is a price to pay, even martyrdom. At the end we see that different leaders have different callings, Peter’s and that of the Beloved Disciple’s were not the same. And finally, the importance of writing. All of this is pointing to how the church is going to look.

 The chapter has three connecting sections. The miraculous catch of fish followed by breakfast 1 – 14; Jesus and Peter 15 – 19; Jesus and the Beloved Disciple 20 – 23; the last words of the author 24 – 25. For this last chapter we will go verse by verse. And if you read Luke 5: 1 – 11 the first story will become even richer.

  v. 1

 Jesus revealed himself again…Jesus revealed himself in this way. That is how this church chapter starts. It is all about Jesus revealing himself to his disciples. The writer is asking us to see this as the foundation of church life. Not lessons, not buildings, not meetings – but Jesus revealing himself.

 In this way…this is very important. How does Jesus reveal himself? The story will answer that, but we need to remember that the writer has asked us to keep this question in our minds as we read the story.

 We are told where the revelation is going to happen. It is a familiar place for both Jesus and the disciples. The lake of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberius.

 v. 2

 Here we meet seven disciples. The named ones are the Galileans, and they are some of Jesus’ very first disciples – Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, - we haven’t met him since Chapter 1 - John and James, the sons of Zebedee; and there are two others. We don’t know where they are from. You will remember that I said in my first lesson that our writer had a rule, never to mention his own name. He is always either the other disciple or the Beloved Disciple. Here we have John Zebedee mentioned which, as said, means it is unlikely he is the author. What is pretty certain is that the Beloved Disciple is one of those two others.

 V. 3

 In the last chapter Jesus had send, ‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you…’ They don’t look like they are going anywhere. They are back home, sitting. Then it gets worse. Peter says, ‘I am going fishing’. He didn’t mean fishing for men, that is what Jesus had told him in Luke 5 – and the writer knows that story, and knows his readers know that story. Peter meant fishing for fish. Peter meant he was going back to his old job. In Luke 5 Jesus said, follow me, and Peter left everything. He left his boat. Now he is going back to that boat.

 We can guess why. Yes, Jesus has been raised from the dead. But, there is no place for me. I denied him three times. I have failed. So we hear the author’s – Jesus revealed himself in this way. In what way? When we have failed.

 The others come with Peter. Just like Mary ran to Peter in the last chapter, because for her he was the leader; so now. Whatever Peter thinks about himself, for the others, he is the leader. So they go with him.

 And that night, we know the word night for this author has meaning. Nicodemus came to him – at night, Jesus told his disciples to walk in the day, because night is coming, and Judas went out and it was night, Jesus’ trial before Anna was - at night.

There is a problem here. Jesus’ closest disciples, are working – in the night. And there is no blessing. They caught nothing. Just like when Jesus called them in Luke 5.

 I am sure as the day was breaking they were all thinking about what had happened in Luke 5. How they were out all night, and caught nothing. And then….and then…that miraculous catch of fish. Could it happen again?

 v. 4 

 Just as day was breaking. Darkness and light…and in the light, there is Jesus standing on the shore. We don’t know how long he had been there for, watching. The disciples do not know it is Jesus, ‘the Lord’. The boat is a distance from the shore. They cannot see clearly. That is important.

 v. 5

 They cannot see, but they can hear Jesus’ voice when he asks, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They hear ‘Children’ Who would call them children? The last person who had called them ‘Children’ was Jesus, in Chapter 13, when he said, ‘Little children yet a little while I am with you.’ (13:33).

 It is very gentle, especially when you think how disappointed Jesus must have been. He has called these men to follow him; he taught them for three years, and now, they are fishing on the lake. It is like those three years didn’t happen. However, He is gentle, not angry, and he asks a very perceptive question.

 Do you have any fish? Okay, you are not doing what I asked you to do: how is it going? Do you have any fish? The disciples have a choice. To be honest about their failure, or to protect their reputation.

 Thankfully they are honest. Again we remember what the writer said in v. 1. Jesus revealed himself in this way. He revealed himself when the disciples were honest about their failure.

 v. 6.

 It is just like Luke 5. Jesus gives a command, they obey, and there is a miraculous catch.

 What’s important to note here is that there is nothing visual here. The miracle has not happened because the disciples have seen Jesus. No, the miracle has happened because the disciples hear Jesus, confess to Jesus, and obey Jesus. That is life for Christians in the church. We don’t see Jesus, but we can hear, and confess, and obey.

 V 7

 The Beloved Disciple helps Peter – again. He helped him at the Last Supper – finding out who the traitor was; he brings him into Annas’ courtyard; he runs with him to the empty grave. And now he understands that this is ‘The Lord’. Note, there is nothing about him seeing Jesus. It is an understanding.

 Peter is just like Mary in Chapter 11. Do you remember how she was upset and didn’t go out to greet Jesus? But when Martha came and said, ‘The Teacher is calling you’, she sprang up and ran to Him. Peter is the same. He has gone fishing; but when he hears it is Jesus, he wants to get to him as quickly as possible.

 V 8

 The other disciples, they have work. Pulling in the fish. There are miracles, there is work. We have both in the church.

 V. 9

 We don’t know exactly what happened when Peter met Jesus – because the Beloved Disciple, the writer, was not there. He was with the others dragging the net. When he arrives he tells us that Jesus has been preparing breakfast – some fish and bread, on a charcoal fire.

 A charcoal fire. The easiest fire to make on a beach is a wood fire; but Jesus has made a charcoal fire. On purpose. From the peace of this beach, we go to Annas’ courtyard and Peter, warming himself and denying Christ – by a charcoal fire (18:18).

 Jesus wants to deal with that terrible night. He wants to bring Peter’s failure into the light. Remember v. 1 – Jesus revealed himself – in this way. He reveals himself as we face our worst failures. Now we can imagine what happened when Peter came running up that beach. There is an embrace. There are warm words, but then his eyes went to the fire, and he saw it was a charcoal fire. And he looked again at Jesus. We don’t know what they said to each other. But that wound, that failure, that denial – it came into the light, it came into the open – on that beach. That’s the kindness of Jesus. He did not leave Peter with his inner pain.

 v. 10

 The kindness continues. Jesus already has fish cooking, but he says, go and get some of the fish that ‘you have caught’. They didn’t catch any fish. It was because of Jesus they had fish in their net. They had only pulled the net in. That is grace. And that is the church. It is Jesus who brings in the fish, we just pull them in. We cannot make anyone a Christian.

 V. 11

 Jesus doesn’t say who should go and get the fish – but it is Peter who goes. There is a spring in his step. He is ready to serve Christ again. And he works very hard to bring the fish in.

 We are told there are 153 fish. That has caused a lot of discussion. There are many ideas. One is that in ancient times people though there were 153 types of fish, so this symbolizes how all the different people groups will come into the net of the church. This cannot properly be proved. There are all sorts of mathematical ideas. And one of course is that there were many. As with the wine in chapter 2, the water in chapter 4, the bread in chapter 6, the perfume in chapter 12 – the emphasis is plenty.

 Just as important as the 153 is the other detail. The net was not torn. We remember Jesus’ prayer in John 17 for unity. That is crucial for catching fish.

 v. 12

 Peter has given some of those 153 fish to Jesus, and so he invites them for breakfast. What grace. They have gone fishing, they have caught nothing, He does not rebuke them, he only asks them a question. They are honest, a miracle happens, Peter is restored, and now an invitation to breakfast. In this Gospel Jesus is often a host. He invited Andrew and the other disciple to his home; he gives the wine at the wedding, he gives the bread to the five thousand, he organises the last supper. Meals with Jesus. Remember – it is he who invites the disciples, he is the cook and the host.

 The ‘Who are you?’ question has been sharp all through the Gospel. It was the first question to John the Baptist: who are you? But now the disciples know the answer. It is the Lord. The church does not ask who Jesus is; real Christians know who he is.

 V 13

 Jesus gives the bread and the fish. They have seen this before, in John 6, with the feeding of the five thousand. And after that there was the sermon in Capernaum where Jesus said he was ‘the bread of life’ which we had to eat. The writer is surely wanting us to think of Holy Communion – something which has been a part of the church for two thousand years.

 v. 14.

 The author ends this section where he began. He is stressing the importance of revelation. And how it happens. When we are failures, when we confess, when we listen and obey, then we are ready to go to Holy Communion.

 The next section is about Jesus and Peter. 21: 15 – 19

 We will look at 15 – 17 together.

 Breakfast has finished. Jesus turns to Peter, and says Simon, son of John. We have to stop here. Simon, son of John. The last time we heard this name was in chapter one when Jesus met Peter for the first time. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon, son of John. You shall be called Cephas (Peter)’(1:42). And now Jesus uses this name, not the new name he gave him. Why? It is perhaps because this new name, which means rock, is now difficult, given what had happened in Annas’ courtyard. But also because by using this name, Jesus is reminding Peter, that he gave him a new start. Jesus is saying – you can have another new start. I can call you Peter again.

 But first Jesus wants to know something. And he asks him the same question three times ‘Do you love me more than these?’ There is no need to think there is any difference in the two words used for love here, agapas and philo -as they can be used interchangeably.

 As is typical with our writer we are not told what the these are – most likely the fish, perhaps the other disciples. It does not matter. Peter knows, we know, that we are to love Jesus more than any other ‘these’ whatever they are.

 With the charcoal fire probably still burning, we know why Jesus asks this question three times. Three times Peter had denied Jesus near a charcoal fire; now three times he can say he loves him, again, near a charcoal fire. This conversation will deal with those denials. But there is more. Jesus asks three times because he really wants Peter to examine himself. To think carefully. Jesus is not interested in a cliché answer. He wants Peter to really work out where his heart it.

 This is the penultimate question Jesus asks in this Gospel. This is a Gospel full of questions, some say there are nearly 170. Many are asked by Jesus. His first question to Andrew and the other disciple was ‘What do you seek?’, in chapter one, and He asks questions in nearly every other chapter – will you give me a drink? Do you want to get well? Do you want to leave me? Do you believe this? Who do you want? Why are you crying. And just before this conversation, have you any fish?

 And now three times, right at the end – do you love me?

 It’s a question for Peter, it’s a question for all of us. This is what matters. Loving the Jesus we have met in this Gospel. He is not an easy or a predictable man. He is certainly not soppy or sentimental, but he is patient and kind. He is determined to do his Father’s will. He is willing to serve others and suffer. And he is ready to confront his enemies He is not frightened of religious or political rulers. He has time for the unlikely people. He is man you cannot put into a box, not least because he claims to be God. ‘Before Abraham was, I am’. This is the Jesus who asks  – do you love me?

 Peter says, ‘Yes’, he says, ‘You know’, and in the last, ‘You know all things’. Peter is right. Jesus knows our own hearts better than we do. But Jesus wants to hear that we love him – which means we will follow him and do what he wants.

 Jesus wants Peter to look after the sheep, to feed them. That is why this is a bridge chapter. Jesus is going to ascend to his father, so it is Peter who has to look after the church. Twice Jesus says, ‘Feed my sheep’. What does that mean? What is the food for the sheep? We know two things from this Gospel. In John 4 Jesus said that his food was to do the will of the Father. And in John 6 He told us that his body was the bread of life. Peter must feed the sheep by encouraging them to do the will of the Father, and by always pointing them to the broken body and shed blood of Christ – in worship, preaching and of course in Holy Communion.

 Simon the son of John has been called Peter – again. Right there, by another charcoal fire, Jesus is appointing Peter to be the leader of the first church. It is very poignant.

 And there is more.

 v.18.

 Yes, Peter, as we know in Acts, will certainly be the leader of the first church. And he will grow old. Jesus tells him this. But his death will not be pleasant. Peter is going to suffer. He is going to be taken to a place of execution. It is thought this happened in Rome around 64 A.D. during Nero’s persecution. This was before this Gospel was published. Peter’s martyrdom was something the writer knew about.

  v. 19

 We are told that this promise of suffering will bring glory to God. Later in his first letter Peter will constantly make the connection between suffering and glory. (I Peter 1: 3/11; 19/21; 2: 4,7; 21/23; 3. 18; 4:13; 5:1). With that certainty ringing in his ears, Jesus says to Peter, ‘Follow me’.

 Now the camera turns to the Beloved Disciple in 20 – 23

 20

 It seems that Jesus and Peter are walking together along the beach. And – for some reason, we don’t know why – the Beloved Disciple is following them. Whoever he was, the Beloved Disciple was the friend of Peter’s brother (1:40), and had clearly became Peter’s friend. Now, right at the end of the story, they are together on the beach.

v. 21

 Peter turns and sees the Beloved Disciple. He has understood what he has to do. Look after the church, and then bring glory to God through being executed. But, is it going to be the same for his friend, the Beloved Disciple? ‘Lord, what about this man?’

 v. 22

 Jesus refuses to answer the question directly. Instead we have one of the rare references in this Gospel to Jesus’ second coming: the Beloved Disciple might still be alive when Jesus returns. And then, ‘What is that to you? What is it to you Peter about what happens to the Beloved Disciple? He has his journey, you have yours. Don’t interfere.’ And, in case Peter hasn’t understood, we have Jesus’ last words to Peter, to the church, it’s the same command again: ‘Follow me’.

 Let’s put some of these final words of Jesus together.

 Do you love me?

Follow me

What is that to you?

Follow me

 Jesus is asking us not to let anything or anyone distract us from loving him and following him.

 v.23

 We then find out that there was a rumour in the church that the Beloved Disciple was not going to die until Jesus returned. To deal with this we are told again exactly what Jesus had said which was, ‘If it is my will…’ There is no assurance that the Beloved Disciple was not going to die.

 Now our author signs off this magnificent Gospel.

 v. 24 

This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things. The author is the Beloved Disciple. Like John the Baptist, like Jesus, and like Peter will die for Christ – he too is bearing witness. How? By writing this Gospel. What a witness.

 ‘We know his testimony is true’. There is discussion over the ‘we’. Some suggest that while the Beloved Disciple was the witness, a secretary did the writing, and so the book, and perhaps others, perhaps even the church is saying, ‘We know his testimony is true.’ Perhaps. Or perhaps the Beloved Disciple just used ‘we’ for himself. What’s important is that this Gospel is true. It is reliable. Trust-worthy. Everything we have been reading about happened.

 v. 25

 This is the last verse and it is very beautiful. Again we are told – as we were in 20:30 that the author has made a selection of what Jesus has done. The Gospel is not a tape-recording of all that has happened. No, the events are carefully chosen, and crafted.

 There is so much more the author could have told us. As with the wine in chapter two, as with the water in chapter 4, as with the bread in chapter, as with the fish here in chapter 21, there is abundance. So much so that there is not space enough in the whole world to contain all the books that would have to be written.

 The genius of our author remains right to the end – and beyond. He is saying, ‘Yes, this is a book, but we cannot put Jesus into a book. He is God. Fill the world with books and He will break out of them and call you and me to follow Him.’ But, at the same time, he is saying, the church needs written accounts like this. That too is very true.

 We have been on a journey together through the pages of this wonderful Gospel. The wonderful hero of the Gospel does not stay in Chapter 21. No, he stands at the end of Chapter 21 and ask us whether we love Him ‘more than these’ and then calls us all to follow him.