“Jesus is Risen: Putting the Pieces Together Again” John 21

It may be that “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again,” but Jesus is an expert at taking broken, shattered lives and putting them back together again!

John closes his Gospel with powerful stories of the resurrected Jesus reassuring and restoring His followers. In chapter 20 we find Him restoring Thomas. In chapter 21 we find Him picking up the broken pieces of Peter's life and putting him back together.

There are two redeeming acts in this story-- a charcoal fire and filled fishing nets. Both are about restoring Peter, reigniting his faith, and repositioning him for his life mission.

"TWO CHARCOAL FIRES"
There were two charcoals fires that deeply marked Peter's life.

First Charcoal fire (John 18:18)
Not too many days before Peter had sat and warmed himself by another charcoal fire. It was a fire lit by Jesus’ enemies. It was a fire on a freezing cold night in the high priest’s courtyard, where men and women with no sympathy for Jesus stood warming themselves around a charcoal fire (John 18:18). It was an ambiance of anger and revenge. The opposition was finally taking control of things. Jesus was in their court.

Peter found a spot around this charcoal fire. He is there warming his hands. It is the night of betrayal, abandonment and failure. Peter denies Jesus over that charcoal fire.

Luke tells us: The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Across the glow of that fire, Jesus looked directly into Peter eyes. The piercing look breaks him.

Second Charcoal Fire (John 21:1-12)
But this charcoal fire on this beach was lit purposefully by Jesus. The ambiance, the relational atmosphere, the spiritual environment is supercharged with grace. Darrell Johnson thinks that even the smell of burning charcoals triggered his memory. Jesus doesn’t do this to crush him, but to pour His grace into the failure and shame of the night of betrayal.

Peter remembers the night as his moment of failure and disappointment. He is not completely unhooked from the shame as he nears Jesus on the beach this morning.Does that night define him?

This time Jesus looks at Peter "across a charcoal fire" (to borrow Darrell Johnson's phrase) with grace-filled eyes. Peter and his friends hear the invitation of Jesus: “Come and have breakfast.”

"TWO FILLED NETS EPISODES"
There are two filled nets episodes that deeply mark Peter's life. So there are two episodes of miraculous catches or filled nets: Luke 5 is about Peter’s initial calling and John 21 is about restoring to him to life calling. In between the first and second miraculous catches comes Peter’s shattering experience of denying Jesus.

First Filled Net Episode (Luke 5:1-11)
Jesus had called Peter to his life vocation through a miraculous catch of fish. That story is in Luke 5:1-11. In episode one Peter and friends had caught nothing the night before. After Jesus taught the people, He sends Peter and friends out to fish. They do so in obedience to Him and there is a miraculous abundant catch.

Peter not only sees the glory of Jesus but catches a deeper look into his own heart. He recognizes that he does not have it all together. He is broken and sinful. He falls on his knees and tells the Lord to depart from his presence for he is a “sinful man.” Jesus assures him that he is just the person He is looking for. It was a picture of how Jesus would be using Peter as a “fisher of men.”

Second Filled Net Episode (John 21:1-14)
The John 21 episode of the miraculous catch is about restoring him and re-commissioning in the mission task.The question deep in Peter’s soul is about whether his failure defines him and has disqualified him.
Has my failure disqualified me?

Jesus answers that it’s not all over through this miracle. He is saying to Peter: Your failure doesn’t define you. I still have great designs for you.

The life mandate is renewed. Peter is commissioned anew.

RESET TIME FOR PETER

Often computer software problems are resolved by a simple restart. When my Internet cable connection fails, usually hitting the reset button on the back of the cable modem brings everything back into line. This was like a reset button in Peter’s life.

He Is Embraced Anew
Jesus serves him a meal just like He did on the night He washed Peter’s feet. At both meals—the evening Passover and the lakeside breakfast—Jesus takes the role of the server. He is taking care of Peter and friends after a disappointing night on the lake. He is affirmed.

Peter is not met with a hard rebuke, an accusing finger, and look of disappointment, but by a warm charcoal fire with the smell of fish cooking on it. He hears the invitation of Jesus: “Come and have breakfast.” He is healed of the past shame and failure. Peter will not have to move forward crippled by his past.

He is Centered Anew
Jesus brings him back to the heart of it all. “Do you love Me more than these?” He asks him three times in order to let it go deep. With each question it goes deeper. Jesus is helping him refocus and center again on the most vital matter.

This relationship or friendship with Jesus is at the heart of it all. It doesn’t begin with: “Peter, will you be busy in serving Me?” It doesn’t start with: “Will you do My work? It isn’t: “Will you get out there and help Me save the world?” It begins with: “Do you love Me?” “Then follow Me and join Me in serving in My mission.”

Churches are filled with very busy people. Pastors and missionaries run themselves ragged. In the words of one leader, we “substitute frenetic activity for genuine spiritual vitality” (Reggie McNeal, Practicing Greatness, 2006: 149). We’re so busy that we are frazzled and awry. Some of us are on the verge of burnout.

I know about becoming frazzled and near burnout. I thank God for allowing me to meet him in a recent 3-month sabbatical by the charcoal fire.

Getting centered for Peter is coming back to enjoying friendship and engaging Jesus. His love for Jesus will sustain him in his life mission as a “fisher of men” and “shepherd of the flock.” His love for Jesus will sustain him as he grows older and as he eventually faces martyrdom.

He Is Put back on the Path for Others
Jesus brings him back onto the pathway of following Him for the sake of others. He is to follow Jesus for the sake of others (Jesus’ mission). He is to “catch men” (help others become Christ followers) and provide pastoral care for Jesus’ followers.

Jesus is risen! He still puts back the pieces of our broken lives.