October 19, 2024 • 11 mins
Can you imagine the courage it took for Peter to face Jesus after his denials? Join us on this soul-stirring episode of "Living Words Podcast" as we explore John 21, where the miraculous catch of fish and Peter's restoration are front and center. We begin with a heartfelt prayer for spiritual insight, setting the tone for an in-depth discussion on forgiveness, divine provision, and the calls to discipleship that resonate through these powerful narratives. Through these stories, we uncover how Jesus' guidance and presence continue to shape the lives of His followers, even after His resurrection.
In the latter part of our episode, we turn our focus towards a profound prayer for divine guidance and the courage to live a life rooted in love and service. Emphasizing the critical role of love in true discipleship, we discuss how seeing others through God's eyes can transform our daily interactions and commitments. Through a candid reflection on the sacrifices and challenges that come with following Jesus, we aim to inspire you to deepen your relationship with Christ. Concluding with a prayer for our listeners, we hope to provide the strength and guidance needed to navigate daily struggles with faith and conviction. Tune in for an episode that promises to enrich your spiritual journey and fortify your commitment to walking in His footsteps.
Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, blessed Sabbath.
Hello, I'm Charles Vance, thehost of Living Words Podcast.
This is the next installment ofIn His Footsteps.
This is week 29,.
Restoration of Peter and theCatch.
That's the In His Footstepsdevotional 52 weeks in the
Gospel of John.
If you'd like a copy, you canget it on Amazon.
(00:23):
I'll put a link in the shownotes or you can just go to
Amazon and search for it.
So this week the text is fromJohn 21.
And before we get started, I'mgoing to open in prayer.
Father God, thank you for yourmercy, thank you for loving us,
giving us the hope of eternalsalvation through the
(00:44):
crucifixion and resurrection ofyour son Yeshua Jesus.
Thank you, father, that yougave everything so that we could
have restoration and communionand fellowship with you
throughout eternity.
We just pray, father, that youwould open up our spiritual eyes
and ears.
We just pray, father, that youwould open up our spiritual eyes
(01:04):
and ears, open our heart toperceive your words, your living
words, as they come alive, asthey speak forth, your words
that they would go forth for thepurpose for which they were
sent, that they would speak toevery person that is in hearing
of it.
We just pray all these thingsin the blessed name of Jesus,
(01:30):
amen.
So again we're coming from John21 this week, and John 21
serves as an epilogue to thegospel of John.
It offers a profound insightinto the nature of discipleship,
forgiveness and the ongoingrelationship that Jesus has with
his followers after hisresurrection.
This chapter narrates twosignificant events the
miraculous catch of fish and therestoration of Peter.
(01:52):
You know Peter, who hadbetrayed Jesus as the cock
crowed.
The miraculous catch of fish iscovered in John 21, 1 through
14.
And the chapter begins withseven of the disciples fishing
in the sea of Tiberias,unsuccessfully, until Jesus,
standing on the shore, thoughinitially unrecognized,
(02:13):
instructs them to cast theirnets on the right side of the
boat.
They obey and are unable tohaul in the net because of the
large catch of fish.
This signifies his lordshipover creation for his provision.
The event leads to therecognition of Jesus by the
disciple whom Jesus loved,followed by an intimate
(02:33):
breakfast on the shore, whereJesus serves them bread and fish
, echoing the earlier feedingmiracles and reinforcing his
care and fellowship of hisdisciples.
The restoration of Peter iscovered in John 21, 15-19.
Following the meal, jesus turnsto Peter, who has denied him
three times before thecrucifixion, and he asks him
(02:55):
three times if he loves him.
Each time, Jesus commands tofeed the lambs.
Feed my lambs, do you love me,peter?
Yes, yes, I do.
Feed my lambs.
Feed my sheep.
The dialogue serves not only asa restoration of Peter in light
of his denials, but also as acommissioning for his future
role in shepherding thefollowers of Jesus.
(03:17):
Jesus concludes by predictingthe manner of Peter's death,
which would glorify God, andreiterates the call to follow
him.
Some key themes from thisnarrative are the presence and
provision of the risen Lord.
The miraculous catch of fishunderscores his continued
presence with the disciples andhis provision for their needs,
(03:38):
both material and spiritual, andit's not only theirs but ours
as well.
This indicates that he willprovide for you Restoration and
commissioning.
The conversation that Jesus hadwith Peter highlights themes of
forgiveness, restoration and acall to service within the
community.
It reflects the broaderChristian experience of
(04:00):
redemption and mission, and then, finally, the call to follow
Jesus.
The chapter closes with thefundamental call to discipleship
follow me, which encompasseslove, obedience and a
willingness to endure sufferingfor the sake of the gospel.
Now, some lessons that we canlearn from this passage of
Scripture is that Jesus has acontinuous presence and
(04:22):
provision.
The miraculous catch of fishnot only underscores his mastery
over creation, but alsosymbolizes his ongoing presence
and provision for his disciplesand for all of his followers.
The event teaches that heremains actively involved in our
lives, guiding and providingfor those of us in unexpected
(04:44):
ways.
It encourages believers totrust in his provision and to be
attentive to his direction,even in the mundane or
challenging circumstances.
John 21.6,.
He said throw your net on theright side of the boat and you
will find some.
And when they did, they wereunable to haul the net because
of the large number of fish.
It underscores the importanceof love and discipleship and,
(05:08):
through his dialogue with Peter,jesus highlights that love for
him is the foundationalrequirement for shepherding his
people.
By asking Peter three times ifhe loves him, jesus not only
restores Peter, but alsoestablishes love as the
essential motive for service andleadership in the community of
faith.
This teaches that genuinediscipleship and ministry are
rooted in love for Jesus andmanifest in caring for his flock
(05:30):
.
In John 21, 15-17,.
When they had finished eating,jesus said to Simon Peter Simon,
son of John, do you love memore than these?
Yes, lord.
He said.
You know that I love you.
And Jesus said feed my lambs.
And finally, following Jesus, apersonal and costly commitment,
is a lesson that can be learnedfrom this passage of scripture,
(05:52):
as jesus concludes hisinteraction with peter by
foretelling the manner of hisdeath and reiterating the call
to follow him.
This moment underscores thatdiscipleship involves a personal
commitment to jesus and thatmay lead to suffering and
sacrifice.
It invites believers toconsider the depth of their
commitment to follow Him,embracing the path he lays out,
(06:12):
which is often marked byself-denial and a willingness to
endure hardship for the sake ofthe gospel.
In John 21, 18-19, verily,truly, I say to you, when you
were younger you dressedyourself and went where you
wanted, but when you are old,you will stretch out your hands
and someone else will dress youand lead you where you do not
want to go.
And Jesus said this to indicatethe kind of death by which
(06:35):
Peter would glorify God.
And then he said to him Reflecton the significance of the
miraculous catch of fish inrelationship to the calling.
How does his provision speak tohis role in your own vocation
and ministries?
I think that there's a goodkind of a.
Maybe it's a cliche, I don'tknow, it's an acronym, or
(06:57):
whatever you want to call it.
Where God leads, he provides.
Where he guides, he provides.
There's a little rhyme to iteven, but it's Jehovah Jireh,
god provides, and that's theexpectation.
He's shown that he is aprovider and that he provides
for his people.
And he provided for them andhe'll provide for you.
(07:20):
And how does the conversationJesus had with Peter about love
and feeding his sheep informyour understanding of Christian
leadership?
I think that it should informus that Peter had failed
miserably.
He rejected, he betrayed Jesus,he lied, he did exactly what he
said he wouldn't do.
He was fearful and that when hewas confronted with the fact
(07:41):
that they knew he was one of thedisciples, he was fearful for
what might happen to him and hesaid no, I don't know that man,
that's not me, I don't haveanything to do with him.
And he didn't do it once.
He did it three times.
It was on the third time thatthe cock crowed and he knew
because Jesus had foretold that.
He told him when the cock crows, you will have betrayed me
three times.
And he knew exactly instantlythat what he had done A total
(08:06):
failure.
How many times have men in theministry or women in the
ministry have failed God,publicly been disgraced and
humiliated, brought the word ofGod in their life to open shame.
And yet there is room forrestoration, and that's what
(08:27):
this shows us is that Peter wasforgiven, restored and made
great.
After the failure, after thebetrayal.
You know and Jesus made it veryclear here that he was not
going to hold anything elseagainst him.
There was no condemnation, nogrudges.
You're forgiven.
(08:51):
So in what ways does thispassage reassure us of his
continued presence and guidance?
I think that you know.
The fact that he did it for thedisciples proves that he's
going to do it for you.
And if you have any questionabout that, go to John 17, where
he prays his prayer, his highpriestly prayer.
He prays and he says, not onlyfor these that you gave me,
(09:11):
father, but also for those whowould come by the hearing of
their word.
That's everybody in existencethat ever has been or ever will
be.
That's you, that's me, and that, again, is consistent with his
provision.
He provided for them, he fedthem, he showed them the way,
(09:32):
and he's alive and he's able todo that today for us.
I'm going to end this devotionalwith some prayers.
Lord Jesus, you who commandedthe disciples to cast their nets
and provided them with anabundance of fish.
Help me to trust in yourprovision and guidance in every
aspect of my life.
In times of scarcity oruncertainty, remind me of your
(09:53):
faithfulness and your ability toprovide beyond my expectations.
Grant me the patience to waitfor your direction and the
courage to act upon it, knowingthat you are always working for
my good.
Amen, heavenly Father, you haveshown us the greatest love in
sending your Son to redeem us.
Instill in me a heart thatloves you above all else.
(10:17):
That my service and care forothers may flow from this deep
well of love.
Help me to see your people asyou see them and to feed your
lambs with the tenderness anddedication exemplified by Jesus.
May my actions reflect agenuine love for you and a
selfless concern for your flock.
Amen, holy Spirit, giver ofstrength and comfort, embolden
me to follow Jesus wherever heleads, even when the path is
(10:40):
marked by sacrifice or suffering.
And just as Peter was called toa future he could not fully
understand, I too commit towalking in obedience and faith.
Help me to embrace the cost ofdiscipleship, finding my
ultimate joy and reward in thepromise of eternal life with you
and guide my steps and keep myeyes fixed on Jesus, the perfect
example of obedience and love.
(11:01):
Amen, friend, I hope this hasbeen a blessing to you.
I hope you found something inthese words to help you with
your day and with the rest ofthe week.
My prayer is that thisdevotional can help you to have
a closer relationship andfellowship with Christ, to learn
more about yourself and what ittakes to be guided by obedience
(11:26):
and love to the Master.
And I'm going to end this witha prayer Father, god, just go
forward with all that are herein the hearing of this message,
this devotional, that it wouldspeak to their heart, that they
would find some nugget of truththat would help them with their
daily struggles.
In Yeshua's name, amen, andI'll see you guys next time.
Good morning, blessed Sabbath.
Hello, I'm Charles Vance, thehost of Living Words Podcast.
This is the next installment ofIn His Footsteps.
This is week 29,.
Restoration of Peter and theCatch.
That's the In His Footstepsdevotional 52 weeks in the
Gospel of John.
If you'd like a copy, you canget it on Amazon.
(00:23):
I'll put a link in the shownotes or you can just go to
Amazon and search for it.
So this week the text is fromJohn 21.
And before we get started, I'mgoing to open in prayer.
Father God, thank you for yourmercy, thank you for loving us,
giving us the hope of eternalsalvation through the
(00:44):
crucifixion and resurrection ofyour son Yeshua Jesus.
Thank you, father, that yougave everything so that we could
have restoration and communionand fellowship with you
throughout eternity.
We just pray, father, that youwould open up our spiritual eyes
and ears.
We just pray, father, that youwould open up our spiritual eyes
(01:04):
and ears, open our heart toperceive your words, your living
words, as they come alive, asthey speak forth, your words
that they would go forth for thepurpose for which they were
sent, that they would speak toevery person that is in hearing
of it.
We just pray all these thingsin the blessed name of Jesus,
(01:30):
amen.
So again we're coming from John21 this week, and John 21
serves as an epilogue to thegospel of John.
It offers a profound insightinto the nature of discipleship,
forgiveness and the ongoingrelationship that Jesus has with
his followers after hisresurrection.
This chapter narrates twosignificant events the
miraculous catch of fish and therestoration of Peter.
(01:52):
You know Peter, who hadbetrayed Jesus as the cock
crowed.
The miraculous catch of fish iscovered in John 21, 1 through
14.
And the chapter begins withseven of the disciples fishing
in the sea of Tiberias,unsuccessfully, until Jesus,
standing on the shore, thoughinitially unrecognized,
(02:13):
instructs them to cast theirnets on the right side of the
boat.
They obey and are unable tohaul in the net because of the
large catch of fish.
This signifies his lordshipover creation for his provision.
The event leads to therecognition of Jesus by the
disciple whom Jesus loved,followed by an intimate
(02:33):
breakfast on the shore, whereJesus serves them bread and fish
, echoing the earlier feedingmiracles and reinforcing his
care and fellowship of hisdisciples.
The restoration of Peter iscovered in John 21, 15-19.
Following the meal, jesus turnsto Peter, who has denied him
three times before thecrucifixion, and he asks him
(02:55):
three times if he loves him.
Each time, Jesus commands tofeed the lambs.
Feed my lambs, do you love me,peter?
Yes, yes, I do.
Feed my lambs.
Feed my sheep.
The dialogue serves not only asa restoration of Peter in light
of his denials, but also as acommissioning for his future
role in shepherding thefollowers of Jesus.
(03:17):
Jesus concludes by predictingthe manner of Peter's death,
which would glorify God, andreiterates the call to follow
him.
Some key themes from thisnarrative are the presence and
provision of the risen Lord.
The miraculous catch of fishunderscores his continued
presence with the disciples andhis provision for their needs,
(03:38):
both material and spiritual, andit's not only theirs but ours
as well.
This indicates that he willprovide for you Restoration and
commissioning.
The conversation that Jesus hadwith Peter highlights themes of
forgiveness, restoration and acall to service within the
community.
It reflects the broaderChristian experience of
(04:00):
redemption and mission, and then, finally, the call to follow
Jesus.
The chapter closes with thefundamental call to discipleship
follow me, which encompasseslove, obedience and a
willingness to endure sufferingfor the sake of the gospel.
Now, some lessons that we canlearn from this passage of
Scripture is that Jesus has acontinuous presence and
(04:22):
provision.
The miraculous catch of fishnot only underscores his mastery
over creation, but alsosymbolizes his ongoing presence
and provision for his disciplesand for all of his followers.
The event teaches that heremains actively involved in our
lives, guiding and providingfor those of us in unexpected
(04:44):
ways.
It encourages believers totrust in his provision and to be
attentive to his direction,even in the mundane or
challenging circumstances.
John 21.6,.
He said throw your net on theright side of the boat and you
will find some.
And when they did, they wereunable to haul the net because
of the large number of fish.
It underscores the importanceof love and discipleship and,
(05:08):
through his dialogue with Peter,jesus highlights that love for
him is the foundationalrequirement for shepherding his
people.
By asking Peter three times ifhe loves him, jesus not only
restores Peter, but alsoestablishes love as the
essential motive for service andleadership in the community of
faith.
This teaches that genuinediscipleship and ministry are
rooted in love for Jesus andmanifest in caring for his flock
(05:30):
.
In John 21, 15-17,.
When they had finished eating,jesus said to Simon Peter Simon,
son of John, do you love memore than these?
Yes, lord.
He said.
You know that I love you.
And Jesus said feed my lambs.
And finally, following Jesus, apersonal and costly commitment,
is a lesson that can be learnedfrom this passage of scripture,
(05:52):
as jesus concludes hisinteraction with peter by
foretelling the manner of hisdeath and reiterating the call
to follow him.
This moment underscores thatdiscipleship involves a personal
commitment to jesus and thatmay lead to suffering and
sacrifice.
It invites believers toconsider the depth of their
commitment to follow Him,embracing the path he lays out,
(06:12):
which is often marked byself-denial and a willingness to
endure hardship for the sake ofthe gospel.
In John 21, 18-19, verily,truly, I say to you, when you
were younger you dressedyourself and went where you
wanted, but when you are old,you will stretch out your hands
and someone else will dress youand lead you where you do not
want to go.
And Jesus said this to indicatethe kind of death by which
(06:35):
Peter would glorify God.
And then he said to him Reflecton the significance of the
miraculous catch of fish inrelationship to the calling.
How does his provision speak tohis role in your own vocation
and ministries?
I think that there's a goodkind of a.
Maybe it's a cliche, I don'tknow, it's an acronym, or
(06:57):
whatever you want to call it.
Where God leads, he provides.
Where he guides, he provides.
There's a little rhyme to iteven, but it's Jehovah Jireh,
god provides, and that's theexpectation.
He's shown that he is aprovider and that he provides
for his people.
And he provided for them andhe'll provide for you.
(07:20):
And how does the conversationJesus had with Peter about love
and feeding his sheep informyour understanding of Christian
leadership?
I think that it should informus that Peter had failed
miserably.
He rejected, he betrayed Jesus,he lied, he did exactly what he
said he wouldn't do.
He was fearful and that when hewas confronted with the fact
(07:41):
that they knew he was one of thedisciples, he was fearful for
what might happen to him and hesaid no, I don't know that man,
that's not me, I don't haveanything to do with him.
And he didn't do it once.
He did it three times.
It was on the third time thatthe cock crowed and he knew
because Jesus had foretold that.
He told him when the cock crows, you will have betrayed me
three times.
And he knew exactly instantlythat what he had done A total
(08:06):
failure.
How many times have men in theministry or women in the
ministry have failed God,publicly been disgraced and
humiliated, brought the word ofGod in their life to open shame.
And yet there is room forrestoration, and that's what
(08:27):
this shows us is that Peter wasforgiven, restored and made
great.
After the failure, after thebetrayal.
You know and Jesus made it veryclear here that he was not
going to hold anything elseagainst him.
There was no condemnation, nogrudges.
You're forgiven.
(08:51):
So in what ways does thispassage reassure us of his
continued presence and guidance?
I think that you know.
The fact that he did it for thedisciples proves that he's
going to do it for you.
And if you have any questionabout that, go to John 17, where
he prays his prayer, his highpriestly prayer.
He prays and he says, not onlyfor these that you gave me,
(09:11):
father, but also for those whowould come by the hearing of
their word.
That's everybody in existencethat ever has been or ever will
be.
That's you, that's me, and that, again, is consistent with his
provision.
He provided for them, he fedthem, he showed them the way,
(09:32):
and he's alive and he's able todo that today for us.
I'm going to end this devotionalwith some prayers.
Lord Jesus, you who commandedthe disciples to cast their nets
and provided them with anabundance of fish.
Help me to trust in yourprovision and guidance in every
aspect of my life.
In times of scarcity oruncertainty, remind me of your
(09:53):
faithfulness and your ability toprovide beyond my expectations.
Grant me the patience to waitfor your direction and the
courage to act upon it, knowingthat you are always working for
my good.
Amen, heavenly Father, you haveshown us the greatest love in
sending your Son to redeem us.
Instill in me a heart thatloves you above all else.
(10:17):
That my service and care forothers may flow from this deep
well of love.
Help me to see your people asyou see them and to feed your
lambs with the tenderness anddedication exemplified by Jesus.
May my actions reflect agenuine love for you and a
selfless concern for your flock.
Amen, holy Spirit, giver ofstrength and comfort, embolden
me to follow Jesus wherever heleads, even when the path is
(10:40):
marked by sacrifice or suffering.
And just as Peter was called toa future he could not fully
understand, I too commit towalking in obedience and faith.
Help me to embrace the cost ofdiscipleship, finding my
ultimate joy and reward in thepromise of eternal life with you
and guide my steps and keep myeyes fixed on Jesus, the perfect
example of obedience and love.
(11:01):
Amen, friend, I hope this hasbeen a blessing to you.
I hope you found something inthese words to help you with
your day and with the rest ofthe week.
My prayer is that thisdevotional can help you to have
a closer relationship andfellowship with Christ, to learn
more about yourself and what ittakes to be guided by obedience
(11:26):
and love to the Master.
And I'm going to end this witha prayer Father, god, just go
forward with all that are herein the hearing of this message,
this devotional, that it wouldspeak to their heart, that they
would find some nugget of truththat would help them with their
daily struggles.
In Yeshua's name, amen, andI'll see you guys next time.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.