## Breakfast on the Beach

## John 21:15-17

Read: v1-14 Breakfast on the beach. Last summer Pat and I had the privilege of enjoying breakfast near the seashore in Hawaii. It was marvelous. The fresh air, the warmth of the sun, all of this plus the atmosphere made it a memorable time for us. But it couldn't have compared to this event. The resurrected Jesus said, 'Come and dine'. But what was the purpose for this seaside rendezvous? It wasn't just to provide a meal for the disciples, it was to deliver an important message. I am sure that the Lord was teaching a number of things to all of His disciples by this event, but His focus appears to be upon Peter.

Read: v15-17 I know that we have often read this passage, and certainly we have heard it taught time and again, but this morning I want us to consider it one more time. Consider it from Peter's perspective. He had failed his Lord miserably. Where do you go, and what do you do after you have failed the Lord? Because we have all failed Him at one time or another.

The message that we see here is a message of hope. It is a message of a new beginning for Peter, and for us when we fail Him.

1. Confrontation
2. Confession
3. Commission

I. Confrontation: Do You Love Me? v15, v16, v17

A. Potential: a reminder of who he was.

1. Jesus doesn't call him 'Peter'.

2. Peter was the name Jesus had given him at the beginning of his ministry.

3. Jesus reminds him of who he used to be…Simon, son of Jonas.

4. Simon…a fisher of fish…not Peter a fisher of men.

B. Purpose: a reminder of what he was to do.

1. Notice what is missing…there is no condemnation in Jesus' message to him.

2. He didn't need to remind Peter of his failure.

3. Peter's actions were constant reminders that he wasn't where he needed to be.

4. He had no business going back to fishing.

5. He had left his boats and nets years ago when he first met Jesus.

6. But in his discouragement and time of failure he had resigned himself that he must go back to the way it used to be.

7. We can never go back! Our lives have been changed for all eternity!

C. Priority: a reminder of what is really important.

1. 'Lovest thou me more than these?'

2. What are 'these'?

3. Many answers that could be correct.

a. 'These' could be his friends and family since Peter had returned to Galilee.

b. 'These' could be the material things of his life as a fisherman. (boats, nets, and fish)

c. But I think the 'these' were a reference to the other disciples.

d. And the question should be considered as a comparative.

4. Jesus was asking, 'Do you love me more than these other men love me?'

(Mark 14:29) "But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I." (Mark 14:31) "But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all."

a. It was Peter who had boasted that even though the others would fail Jesus…he would never do so.

b. As a matter of fact, he was ready to go to prison, or even die if need be.

c. But Jesus isn't looking for empty rhetoric and posturing.

d. He just wants to know if we really love Him.

Note: The words used are interesting. Jesus asked Peter, 'Do you 'Agape' me?' Peter responded. 'I 'Phileo' you'. 'Agape' is the strongest word the Greeks had for love. 'Phileo' was a brotherly or friendship type of love. "Do really love me? I love you like a brother."

II. Confession:

A. Pure: A confession must come from an honest and pure heart.

1. No more time for empty boasting.

2. Repentance is necessary.

a. Not regret - Pilate regretted the decision made and washed his hands of it all.

b. Not remorse - The rich young man turned away from Jesus and was filled with sorrow.

c. Not reformation - Judas wanted to undo things and give back the money, but it was too late.

3. Jesus said, 'Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.'

B. Painful: Real confession grieves our hearts when we consider our sin.

1. Peter had gone out and wept bitterly over his betrayal of Jesus.

2. Even now he is grieved over Jesus' questions. v17

3. Paul said, "Godly sorrow worketh repentance…" cf 2 Co. 7:10

C. Public: Because Peter's denial was public, his confession was to be public as well.

1. Jesus had appeared to Peter privately according to 1 Co. 15:5, but now was the time to publicly deal with it.

2. Now in front of the other disciples, Peter is called on to confess his love for Jesus Christ.

3. He had no trouble making public boasts earlier, but now…following his public failure…it was time to publicly confess Christ.

4. Listen to the pain in his voice as he replies for the third time. v17 'Thou knowest all things'

III. Commission:

A. Jesus gave Peter something to do.

1. 'Feed my lambs'

2. 'Feed my sheep'

3. That wasn't his original calling.

4. He had been called to be a fisher of men, but now he was being called to be a pastor…an under shepherd!

B. He had failed, but he was not forsaken.

1. That is the message of the passage.

2. Reconciliation…new beginnings …second chances.

3. Throughout the Scriptures we find people who failed, but God picked them up and gave them another opportunity to serve Him.

4. David, Moses, Jonah, Samson, etc.

5. The message of Easter and resurrection is the message of new beginnings!

C. Two months later, Peter would stand and give one of the most memorable of all messages.

1. On the day of Pentecost thousand would come to Christ…

2. Peter would be used of God in a mighty way.

3. He would feed the sheep and lambs.

4. He would have a new beginning.

5. The one who had denied Christ would now publicly proclaim Christ and many would be saved.

What do we need when we fail the Lord? We need a new beginning. For that, there must be:

- Confrontation: in love
- Confession: from an honest heart
- Commission: get back into service for the Lord