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✝️ Title: “From Failure to Fellowship — Restored by the Risen Christ”
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church
📖 Text: John 21:1–25 (KJV)
🎯 Theme: Jesus lovingly restores His disciples, provides for them, and commissions them to follow Him faithfully.
🔑 Focus Verse: John 21:17 — “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”
🕊️ INTRODUCTION
After His resurrection, Jesus appears again to His disciples — this time by the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee).
They are confused after the death of Jesus on the cross, uncertain about their future, ministry, and so return to fishing.
After Jesus was resurrected, Jesus meets them for a third time where they are, turning their fruitless night of fishing into a morning of miracle and renewal.
This chapter reveals:
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The mercy of Christ toward the discouraged.
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The power of obedience under His direction.
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The restoration of Peter after failure.
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The personal call to follow Him faithfully.
🪶 I. The Night of Failure — Without Christ We Can Do Nothing (John 21:1–5)
🔹 A. Peter’s Decision (v.3)
“I go a fishing…”
Peter confused not knowing what he should continue doing after Jesus died on the cross says. I go fishing. Not once did Peter remember the words that Jesus spoke to him concerning himself, it’s was as though Peter was struck with amnesia and forgot everything Jesus taught them even after the resurrection of Jesus. The following scripture verses are the words of Jesus after He was resurrected from the dead and appeared to his disciples.
“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” — (Luke 24:25-27)
Peter returning to his fishing profession was not what God intended for Peter and the disciples to do. In fact, the Lord had instructed them to go out into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations yet Peter said I go fishing. This led to many struggles and labors that reaped nothing.
The Lord wanted Peter and all of his disciples to continue on with the work and labor he instructed them to do before Jesus ascended into heaven. This work of the kingdom of God was what the Lord instructed them to do, not fishing for fish, but fishing for lost souls who needed the Lord in their lives.
“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:14-18)
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So Peter returns to his old trade “fishing”— discouraged, uncertain, and restless after fishing all night and catching nothing.
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The other disciples follow — leadership always influences others.
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Spiritually, this shows the temptation to fall back into old habits when faith wavers.
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When God has a bigger plan for believers and leadership roles in the church many times discouragement and uncertainty may occur because we may think that it is by our own power, strength, or talents that we need to continue doing what we’ve always done in life.
🔹 B. The Fruitless Labor
“That night they caught nothing.”
One can only imagine how hard it was for the disciples to to continue with their lives fishing all night and catching nothing. These men were professional fishermen, and their livelihood depended on their fishing labors.
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Despite their professional fishing skill, talents, and effort, they caught nothing — this is a picture of labor without divine direction.
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Human wisdom cannot replace obedience to Christ
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” — (John 15:5).
To often as Christians we may think we have great plans for our life, only to find out that without including Jesus and his will we really can’t do anything that will last.
“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” — (Psalms 31:3)
🔹 C. The Silent Presence (v.4–5)
“Jesus stood on the shore… but they knew not that it was Jesus.”
Oftentimes when we feel the pressures of life we continue doing the same hard things we are comfortable with in life. When one experiences loss and discouragement, one tends to focus on their own abilities and strength to continue.
The disciples had just witnessed the Lord being crucified and all hope seemed lost to them, they did what they only knew to do, they continued on with their struggles in life.
What they did not realize is that although Jesus had died, He was not dead anymore, but risen and alive forevermore! Jesus was near to them standing on the shores of Galilee watching his children in their most discouraging moment in life. The disciples did not realize that Jesus was near to them as many do today when they are struggling in life.
“But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.” — (John 21:4)
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Jesus was there all along, watching over them in their discouragement and failure.
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He calls, “Children, have ye any meat?” — not in rebuke, but in tender love.
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He makes them aware of their emptiness before He fills them with joy.
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One may fail at the dawning of the night, but in the “morning” we get a blessing if we faint not.
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Trust in the Lord always, again I say trust in the Lord and he will direct your paths!
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” — (Lamentations 3:21-24)
🕯️ Lesson: Jesus often allows failure to humble us, so we learn to depend and trust on Him.
🌅 II. The Morning of Miracle — Obedience Brings Blessing (John 21:6–8)
🔹 A. The Command of Christ
“Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.”
When Jesus instructs us to do something, if we obey we are rewarded by God. If Peter would not have obeyed the Lord and cast his nets on the “right” side of the ship as Jesus instructed him to do, they would not have caught the multitude of fishes.
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Simple instructions, yet divine authority.
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When they obeyed, their nets overflowed — instant success under Christ’s divine direction.
Jesus instructs the disciples what to do and they did it!
“And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.” — (John 21:6-8)
“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.” — (John 21:9-11)
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The word of God teaches us obedience is better then burnt offerings and sacrifice.
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” — (1 Samuel 15:22)
🔹 B. Recognition and Response
“It is the Lord!”
When a believer looses sight of the Lord and his Word, their spiritual vision can be distorted with uncertainty in life. Recognizing and knowing the Lord is with you always will keep your vision in tact.
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” — (Matthew 28:20)
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John, the disciple of love, recognizes Jesus first — love gives spiritual discernment.
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Peter, impulsive and passionate, dives into the water to reach Him — zeal born of love.
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” — (James 4:8)
🕯️ Lesson: When we follow His Word, success follows naturally; love for Christ produces eagerness to draw near to God, and when we draw near to God, He draws near to us and has mercy upon us.
🔥 III. The Breakfast of Fellowship — Christ Provides and Invites (John 21:9–14)
🔹 A. Divine Provision
“They saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.”
When the Lord provides for our needs, we should always give back a portion to God for what he has provided for us. Doing this demonstrates our desire to fellowship with the Lord. We must never take for granted any provisions the Lord provides in our life.
“Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.” — (John 21:12-14)
Jesus used what he did for the disciples as a way to fellowship with them. God provided the fish, and they gave it back to the Lord and did eat.
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Jesus already had what they needed — He is the Provider, not dependent on their catch.
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The “fire of coals” reminds Peter of his denial of Jesus when Jesus was to be crucified so he will never forget to deny the Lord again, Peter is now transformed into a place of restoration.
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Christians must never warm up to the coals of fire that the world offers, they should sit at the table fellowship with Jesus where the “coals of fire” are never quenched and the spiritual food the Lord provides fills us. Peter must have recalled the day he denied the Lord and warmed himself up with the world when he saw the fire of coals Jesus prepared.
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The coals of fire that Peter initially warmed himself up with went out, but the fire that God provides can never be extinguished because our God is a “consuming fire”. “For our God is a consuming fire.” — (Hebrews 12:29)
“And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.” — (John 18:18)
🔹 B. Shared Partnership
“Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.”
Jesus tells the disciples to “bring the fish” which they caught. Jesus expects everything he gives blessed us with to be available for his work and his kingdom. The disciples did as Jesus commanded them and they ate in fellowship with the Lord.
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Jesus includes them in His work — divine grace always invites human participation.
Many today will spend the blessings the Lord has given them on fruitless perishable things and never give back to the Lord, His Kingdom, or where they are being fed the word of God. Their focus is only on this life, It’s no wonder why the Lord said: — “The harvest is truly great, but the laborers are few”, the Lord knows where our heart is and where our treasures are.
“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” — (John 10:2)
🔹 C. The Unbroken Net
“An hundred and fifty and three fish were caught… and yet was not the net broken.”
“Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.” — (John 21:11)
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153 symbolizes the complete and united Church, gathered from all nations.
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No matter how great the catch, Christ’s net never breaks.
The Lord knits his church together in fellowship with cords that can not be quickly broken. Although it is possible for one to be out of fellowship with the Lord and believers but the Lord in his mercy and love will restore them back into fellowship if they will heed his call.
“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” — (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
🔹 D. The Fellowship Meal
“Come and dine.”
The Lord calling the disciples to come and dine was a divinely appointed time for fellowship with the Lord!
🕯️ Lesson: Christ meets our needs, restores our fellowship, and invites us to His table of grace.
❤️ IV. The Restoration of Peter — Love That Restores (John 21:15–17)
🔹 A. The Threefold Question
“Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?”
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Jesus asks Peter three times — one for each denial.
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He doesn’t call him “Peter” (“the Rock”), but “Simon” — reminding him of his weakness.
🔹 B. The Threefold Commission
“Feed my lambs… Feed my sheep…”
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Jesus restores Peter to leadership — love is the qualification for ministry.
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To love Christ means to care for His people, his flock.
🔹 C. The Deep Healing
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Peter’s grief shows repentance, not resentment.
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His final response: “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”
— Complete surrender, resting in Christ’s knowledge.
🕯️ Lesson: Christ can restore even those who failed greatly, if they truly love Him.
✝️ V. The Call to Follow — Even Unto Death (John 21:18–19)
🔹 A. The Prophecy of Peter’s Death
“When thou shalt be old… thou shalt stretch forth thy hands…”
🔹 B. The Renewed Command
“Follow me.”
Peter’s life was about to change forever. His focus was now to labor in the Kingdom of God.
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“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” — (Matthew 4:19)
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The same words Jesus first spoke when calling Peter years earlier in the gospel of Matthew.
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Restoration leads back to discipleship.
🕯️ Lesson: True discipleship means following Jesus wherever He leads — even when the path includes pain.
👣 VI. The Personal Path — Avoid Comparisons (John 21:20–23)
🔹 A. Peter’s Question
“Lord, and what shall this man do?”
🔹 B. Jesus’ Response
“If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”
🕯️ Lesson: Focus on your own walk with Christ — not on what He calls others to do.
🌍 VII. The Testimony and the Glory — Christ’s Works Are Beyond Measure (John 21:24–25)
🔹 A. The True Witness
“This is the disciple which testifieth of these things…”
🔹 B. The Infinite Greatness of Christ
“The world itself could not contain the books…”
🕯️ Lesson: Jesus Christ is inexhaustible — no book, sermon, or lifetime can fully describe His glory.
🌾 CONCLUSION: “Do You Love Me?”
The risen Savior still asks this personal question:
“Lovest thou Me?”
Our answer determines everything:
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If we love Him, we will serve the Lord and His people.
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If we love Him, we will follow wherever He leads.
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If we love Him, we will trust Him through failure, restoration, and beyond.
Like Peter, we may fail — but Jesus still calls us and says:
“Follow Me.”
🙏 CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for Your Word that restores the fallen, strengthens the weary, and calls me to deeper love for you, your word, and your people. Help us, like Peter, to confess, “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.” Teach us to feed Your sheep, follow Your voice, and trust Your plan. May our lives glorify You in all things, until we dine with You forever at Your heavenly table. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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