Reminded & Restored | John 21

Read John 21

RAMP: READ / ANALYZE / MEDITATE / PRAY

R: Read the Passage

You’re going to want to read this one a few times! 

AND in order to get the full beauty of this moment between Jesus and Peter, you also need to read Luke 5:1-11. The same story is also recorded in Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:14-20.

A: Analyze

Journal your response to these questions:

1. What does this say about God?

Goodness, there is so much to see about the heart of God in this passage. What characteristics do you see? What is God showing you about His love through this passage?

2. What does this say about you?

We haven’t spent a lot of time with Peter throughout this study except for in the last few weeks. Do you see yourself in Peter’s reaction to Jesus? What else does God reveal about your heart, perspective or doubts through this passage?

3. Is there a command to follow?

As many commands as we have experienced through the book of John, there is ONE that we absolutely cannot miss. We cannot walk away from this study without hearing God call to us follow Him.

4. Is there a sin to repent of?

I believe it is impossible to read John 21 and not experience the beauty of conviction from the Holy Spirit. Ask God to examine your heart, your motives and your acceptance of His grace.

5. Is there a promise to claim?

When you follow Jesus, you WILL experience life to the full — complete with a net full of fish. What is your ’net full of fish’? As in, how has God shown up in a way that screams how much He loves you? How has He shown up in ways that if you tried to even put it into words people wouldn’t get it? Because it was so intimate, so intentional, so personal. I love this about God. When I need to really know that He loves me, He sends me what feels like secret messages of love. Messages that no one else may ever understand or even notice, but I KNOW God is speaking to me.

And what does He say?

He reminds us of His love. He reminds us of His calling on our lives. He reminds us of the prize — HIM.

Nicole’s Notes:

Is there anything more beautiful than a restored relationship? I honestly am not sure. The beauty which comes right out of the pain of betrayal is breathtaking. I think it’s because it feels so unlikely. It can feel so impossible. It is hard to imagine that it could even exist. So when it does — its brings us to our knees.

This is exactly what Jesus does for Peter. Let me set the stage…

The last we read about Peter, he had done the unthinkable. He couldn’t even understand what he was doing — proclaiming his loyalty to Jesus moments before denying Him three times. 

Have you been there? Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘who even am I right now?!’ 

The setting is dramatic here — Peter was doing exactly what he did BEFORE Jesus came to him. He was fishing. Except there were no fish. He was back on the boat, back in his natural environment, back where he felt the most normal. His default position. His default way of life. 

And Jesus shows up. 

Won’t he do it? Won’t He just show up in your normal, in your solution to your own problems, in your default way of life.

What is your default?

• A life of just getting by?

• A life of the status quo?

• A life that tries to look like everyone else’s life?

• A life above or outside your means?

• A life of hurry?

• A life of meaningless interactions?

• A life of striving?

• A life of settling in because you think this is all you’ve got?

Jesus shows up and does EXACTLY what He did in Luke 5 when He first called Peter. And what does Peter do? He jumps in the water to get to His Savior.

How many times has God shown up in the same ways over and over and over in your life?

Think back. If you have never noticed a pattern before, think back and ask Him to show you. Because here is what we know is true — the very place you go when you think you’ll just disappear back into your own little hole is EXACTLY the place God will show up to remind you of what He’s call you to. 

Peter had followed Jesus, questioned Jesus, served Jesus, served with Jesus, believed Jesus and then betrayed Jesus. Sound familiar to your own life?

Peter felt shame, he felt judged by others, he doubted his worth, he doubted his role in the kingdom and he wondered if he had disqualified himself from the work.

AND JESUS SHOWS UP with a reminder of love. He performs the same miracle He had when He originally called Peter — fishing. And then He invited Peter to a campfire — exactly the place Peter went after the betrayal. Imagine the emotions. Imagine the weight of the moment. 

Do you even have to imagine? Or have you been right there?

You’ve gone back into your sin, back into your self-sufficient lifestyles, back to your defaults — carrying the weight of sin, shame, guilt, doubt. 

And Jesus sets up a campfire and invites you to a meal. You feel inadequate, embarrassed and completely unworthy. Jesus probably smiles and then asks if you love Him.

Here is what I hope you know after 14 weeks — Jesus loves you. His entire life’s mission and assignment was built on the immeasurable love of God to pursue you and restore you.

Jesus will call you to walk with Him. Along that walk, He will teach you, perform miracles right before your eyes. He will discipline you. He will lift your eyes to higher and bigger truths. He will warn you. He will die for you. He will give you new life. And when you walk back to your old ways, He will show up, call you by name and setup a campfire to reminder you that He loves you. 

Do you love Jesus? Of course you do. 

Then listen to Him as He tells you what He told Peter — Follow me. Do the work I’ve called you to do. Don’t worry about the others, they have their own stories and journeys. Follow me. Trust me. Love me.

M: Meditate

Meditate on the immeasurable love of God toward you. Think about the lengths He has gone to out of love. 

Now, out of your love for Him, how closely are you following Him? How deeply are you trusting Him? 

P: Pray

Thank God for His word. Thank Him for the book of John. Thank Him for the last 14 weeks of learning about Him — the Great I Am.

Ask Him to bring verse 25 to life in your life — so many stories of His goodness in your life that they can’t fit in journals or memories or stories. 

Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for His master plan of redemption.

Thank God for loving you.

Thanks God for saving you.