From Repentance to Empowerment | John 21:1-17
Read John 21:1-17
μετάνοια, that change of mind by which we turn from, desist from, etc. A change of one’s mind from a certain direction to another—a shaping of character.
MW definition of Empowerment: the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties
Have you ever felt that you can’t do anything for God because of your past mistakes? Or you think that God can’t do anything with you, through you or for you because you have failed miserably in your life?
This will be the third time Jesus has appeared to His disciples after His resurrection from the grave.
“This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.” --John 21:14
At the end of Luke 24, Jesus tells His disciples to wait in Jerusalem after they have seen Him resurrected—wait for the Holy Spirit empowerment from Christ.
“You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
--Luke 24:48-49
Jesus has been building His resurrection ministry showing His resurrected body to different witnesses because Jesus has a plan. Jesus is going to build the church; He is going to prepare His disciples so they may go out into the world and preach the good news of Christ all around the world.
John 21 is another scripture where Jesus is setting up disciples; He is raising up Peter to be empowered in ministry. This text is very much about Jesus and Peter; their relationship, and Peter’s character arc is inspiring and capture the heart of God’s gospel in one moment. Peter journeys from repentance to empowerment.
- Peter Repents to Jesus. Jesus Forgives Peter.
When looking at verses 15-17 we see that Peter is in full repentance to Jesus. Peter has swam through the waters after trying to catch fish and is swimming back to Christ who is sitting on the beach. There are many moments in Peter’s walk with Christ that have led to this pivotal moment.
“Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘it is the Lord.’ So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on and threw himself into the sea.”
--John 21:7
Peter has a similar reaction in Luke 24:12, “But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stopping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he wen away to his home, marveling at what had happened.”
Peter is trying to catch a glimpse of Christ, he can’t wait to go back to Christ—Peter has quite the up and down journey with Jesus. Peter is brash, emotional, fiery and has a deep love for Jesus. We see this come out in John 13 when Jesus offers to wash the disciple’s feet.
“So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, ‘Lord, do You wash my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Never shall You wash my feet!’”
--John 13:8-9
Peter walks on water then sinks (His fear of the water cause a lack of faith)
“When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’”
--Matthew 14:26-31
Peter must learn how to posture Himself before Christ—to let Christ in, to let Christ serve him and to serve Christ with his life. Peter learns to make Christ his Lord. Peter is on a journey with Christ for Jesus’ whole ministry on Earth and Jesus is preparing Peter to become the little rock which will be the builder of Christ’s Church.
The beginning of Peter’s calling:
Peter is called to ministry, called to build Jesus’ church (Chosen by God)
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom…”
--Matthew 16:18-19a
Peter cuts the guard’s ear off (Emotional just like when Christ washed His feet)
“Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?’”
--John 18:10-11
The day Peter failed Christ (Peter denies Christ publicly)
“But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about.’ Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, ‘Before a rooster crow today, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.”
--Luke 22:60-62
The Day Christ Forgave Peter:
(READ) John 21:15-17.
Jesus forgives Peter. In Jesus’ forgives He fully restores Peter from his failure of denying Christ three times because of fear. Peter’s answers to Christ are more than an apology, more than an admission, they reveal Peter’s heart.
Peter physically and spiritually took his eyes off Christ. John, however, was following Jesus (them is not in the Greek). Would Peter? Peter’s question Lord, and what about this man? revealed Peter’s struggle with Christ’s will for his life. When other believers appear more prosperous in ministry or life, the Lord’s disciple must keep a focus on Christ’s command, Follow Me!
“‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said Yes to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ And He said to him, ‘Tend my Lambs.’”
--John 21:15
Jesus asks the same question three times. He is building Peter up with these three questions. He is publicly affirming Peter and revealing Peter’s true heart for Christ to both the group and to Peter himself. Jesus COVERS the three denials of Peter with three public affirmations of Peter’s call to “Tend to Christ’s Sheep” to “Be the little rock that God will use to build His Church” (as in Matt. 16:17-18). Jesus bringing Peter from repentance to forgiveness to empowerment in God’s ministry.
- Peter fulfills ministry call because Christ equips Him. Christ’s power empowers Peter.
(READ) John 21:1-11
Peter goes fishing because he is a fisherman—this is every reminiscent of when Jesus first finds Peter in Matthew 4:18-22. Jesus takes fisherman and tells them to be “fishers of men.” This was the first time they called them to follow Him as disciples.
“And He *said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother…”
--Matthew 4:19-21
John ends His gospel by including this moment on the sea of Galilee after Jesus is killed on the cross and resurrected from the grave—why does Peter go back to fishing? Because he doesn’t know what to do next so he goes back to what he’s good at. This occurs before Jesus forgives Peter because Jesus is teaching Peter something about ministry:
- You are called to be faithful to God and God will bring the fish. God will bring the fruit. God will bring revival.
- Sometimes, you will have nights not catching any fish, work will be toil and will be unfruitful—God works in His timing.
“Simon Peter *said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They *said to him, ‘We will also come with you.’ They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus *said to them, ‘Children, you do not have any fish, do you?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.’ So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.’”
--John 21:3-6
If you continue reading to verse 7; we realize that Jesus is one that caused the net to be filled with fish. The disciples didn’t even realize it was Christ UNTIL the net was full of fish—the catching of the fish was a miracle only God could do.
Jesus is preparing Peter for ministry. Peter is being prepared to fish for men; to preach about God’s forgiveness, to show people they are mired in sin but there is a loving God who wants to clean them and empower them to share the gospel all over the world.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified…Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit… So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”
--Acts 2:37-41
If Peter can work with God so you can you…don’t let your regrets, your passed mistakes take you away from God’s glory, from God’s forgiveness and showing / telling God’s love to this lost world.