King Jesus: John 21 | Easter Sunday 2024

King Jesus: Restore Me

March 31st, 2024/Casey Middle School

Happy Easter. My name is Parker Manuel, and I am the Lead Pastor here at Pinewood. We are here today to celebrate the greatest day in human history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This single act proved that he was God and has the power to defeat death.

There are a lot of Easter traditions…. You got Bunnies that lay eggs filled with chocolate, and pastels everywhere, dressing up way more than usual, and sharing a family meal.

One of my favorite traditions is the corporate response to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. Here's what we are going to do…. I will say: “Christ is risen!”, you say “He is risen indeed!”

Let’s Do it 3 times, 3 is a biblical number. The number of completion. Let's start by saying the first one as if you are saying it to the person sitting next to you, the next time, say it as if you are telling the person across the sanctuary, and finally, say it as if you are declaring it to the world!

Ok let’s try it….Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. Christ is risen…… Christ is risen….. Hallelujah!

Story: Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt shame and decided to run from where you know you should be. Maybe you did something wrong and instead of running to the people that love you most, you run the opposite direction towards isolation.

Shame will lead you towards bondage if you choose to follow it. Today we’re going to talk about how the greatest day in history, the resurrection of Jesus allows us to live a shame free life!

Lion King: Simba didn’t kill his dad, Scar does and yet Simba thinks he did. If you haven’t seen it, that’s a pretty big part. Then there is a scene where Simba watches his dad die (most heartbreaking moment ever- very traumatic scene for a lot of people in here's childhood, mine included) Then Scar comes up and says (Cue Video) “RUN, run away and never return.” Shame overcomes Simba because he thinks it's all his fault. Simba didn’t kill his dad, but he did have a part to play, he was in the ravine and shouldn’t have been there- he had gone against his dad’s advice. In his shame, he runs and he lives with an appearance of happiness for a short term “Hakuna matata”..... (Quiet) but shame never left him. His shame convinced him he could never go back because of what he had done. He believes he is too far gone.

Question: Have you ever felt “too far gone”?

Have you ever had a Simba moment, where something happens that you played a part in, and instead of dealing with it you run?

Have you had this feeling of shame about something you have done to God?

I know I have.

Two Types of People: “more person” or “less person”

1. More Person

   1. I should pray more, I should read the Bible more, I should go to church more, I should give more, I should love my family more

   2. Less person

   3. I should work less, I should drink less, I should look at porn less, I should worry less, I should curse less.

   4. All these bring shame into our lives….. and when we feel shame before God… the weight of shame can often cause us to run from God.
   5. Definition of Shame: a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.

Intro: The passage we’re going to look at today is of a man that I’m sure experienced a tremendous amount of shame and guilt. He was one of Jesus’ closest friends and disciples. One minute he was declaring “I will die for you”, the next minute, at the time Jesus needed him the most, he denied 3 TIMES that he even knew Jesus, the first time to a servant girl!

Easter is a day of HOPE! In the story we’re going to look at this morning, we are going to see Jesus restore a broken man filled with shame.

Passage: John 21:1-12 (Authority of Scripture)

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. 5 “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. 6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. 7 The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea. 8 Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. 11 So Simon Peter climbed up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Pray:

Background:

Jesus has died on the cross and has been resurrected; he had already appeared to the disciples after his resurrection. He told the disciples to go to Galilee, where they would see him (Matthew 28:10).

Title: Restore Me

Big Idea:

One thing that holds most of us back from following Jesus and taking our next step is shame in our life. Today I want to show you how to deal with our shame.

Main Points:

1. Jesus Meets You Where You Are

   1. 4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. 5 “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered.

   2. Peter is with the disciples in Galilee, where Jesus told them to go. John doesn’t tell us why Peter went fishing. Here’s how I read it: in his shame, he can’t wait anymore….. and tells his friends, let’s go back to what we are familiar with. Before Jesus called Peter he was a fisherman, there was familiarity as a fisherman.

      1. It’s not that fishing is wrong. It’s not that earning a living using your trade is wrong. The issue is not as much about the action of fishing, but more in drifting back from what Jesus had called him to do.

      2. Peter had been called by Jesus to fish for people and get out of fishing for fish. But in Peter's denial and failure, he ran back to the old life, old comforts, old habits and thought it would bring him peace.

         3. Question: Have you ever followed Jesus for a little while but then ran back to your old life, your life before Jesus. This is Peter.

      3. Your old life of gossip. Your old life of lying. Your old life of manipulation. Your old life of fear. Your old life of insecurity…

      4. Listen to what happens when Peter tries to live his old life and the results of going back to fishing….. In verse 3 it says ”but that night they caught nothing.“
      5. They went fishing. They were skilled fishermen, this was their old profession, and they caught nothing. Can you imagine going back to your old career expecting to be successful and it providing nothing?
      6. His old life brought NOTHING… They ran back to their old life, it didn’t take away the pain, it didn’t take away the shame.

      7. Running back never gives us the relief we are looking for, does it? …….It doesn’t heal Shame.

         4. Jesus sees them in the boat, knowing full well that they are having no success, and He blesses them.

      8. In our shame, we often think “I can’t let God see me like this… He wouldn’t want anything to do with me” So we keep running, keep hiding, and keep burying ourselves in what is comfortable. BUT Jesus meets us where we are…

      9. Aren’t you glad that Jesus meets us where we are… and doesn’t leave us there. He loves you too much to simply meet you where you are, He wants to bless you, change you, and give you a better life!

         5. Next we see more of the impulsive nature of Peter. He throws on his outer garment and jumps into the water swimming towards Jesus.

      10. This type of behavior is not new to Peter. We’ve seen this before…

          1. Walking on the water (Matthew 14:28-31)
          2. Cutting off the High Priest’s Servant’s Ear (John 18:10-11)
          3. Washing of the feet (John 13:6-9) 2. This impulsive act feels a bit different though. There seems to be a desperation for Peter in getting to Jesus as quickly as possible. 3. Question: Has there ever been a moment when someone you have wronged, comes to you and blesses you? 4. Example: “I’m in trouble, I can’t let my dad find out…” vs. “I’m in trouble, I have to call my dad!”

2. Jesus Frees You From Your Shame

   1. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. --- 12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them.

   2. The word for a charcoal fire appears only 2 times in the New Testament: here in John 21:9, and in John 18:18, the night Peter denied Jesus around a fire.

      1. And this moment of breakfast with Jesus cooking breakfast. What was crazy is that the burning of charcoal was all throughout the Israel nation, so I imagine every time Peter smelled Charcoal, he was reminded of what was causing his shame.
      2. Look at how relational Jesus is, He creates a moment with Peter, makes him breakfast, warms him by the fire, then He addresses the brokenness.
      3. Now Jesus will use this same scene to free him of the shame. He is at a charcoal fire, eating with him. The text doesn’t give us these words, but I picture Jesus telling Peter you are my friend, and whenever you smell charcoal remember you are free of your shame.
      4. Peter has been carrying the shame of what he did when he denied Jesus 3 times, but he has come to the end of himself, he can no longer carry it alone.
      5. Jesus wants to meet you at your deepest point of pain, your deepest point of shame, and restore that which is broken in your life!

      6. Question: What's your charcoal smell? (Pause)

         1. What's the place in your life you always go back to and there's regret, he will meet you there and he will free you from your shame.
            3. It’s time to break the cycle:

      7. In psychology, the "shame cycle" refers to a repetitive pattern of behavior and emotions that can perpetuate feelings of shame and lead to further negative consequences.

      8. Here is what shame in our sin looks like. It's a cycle - (draw in cycle) First you have the “Trigger”, we’re going to call this Sin. Then that leads to “Shame”. Shame then leads to “Withdrawing”, pulling away from people and potentially your God given assignment. And finally it concludes with “Acting out or Numbing”. Which ultimately leads back to the original trigger. Sin -> Shame -> Isolation and concealment -> Numbing Actions or Living in Comfort -> Sin (Trigger).

      9. Shame left on its own is a vicious cycle, something… or someone, needs to step in to help BREAK THE CYCLE!

         4. This cycle looks like this…

      10. Have you ever had those anxiety attacks at 1 am…. This is what comes from a feeling of flaw. This feeling pushes you into isolation where walls are built, not just between you and others, but also between you and the healing you desperately need, leaving you trapped in a cycle of Isolation and concealment.

      11. Story: I’ve been here many times. I could feel myself fall into this trap, but because I had so many Godly people around me, they stayed leaned in… and it caused me to be honest with myself and with them.

      12. This isolation becomes a breeding ground for self-criticism, as negative thoughts spiral out of control, convincing you, you are unworthy and this deepens the shame

          5. Question: How do you break the cycle?

      13. Breaking this cycle, requires reaching out for help, giving it to another, you can’t carry shame by yourself. You must give your shame to another.

      14. Peter's answer is Jesus, our answer to shame is giving it to JESUS! He can and will carry your shame.

          6. Question: How do you do this?

      15. You run to social media and bury yourself for hours…

      16. You run to your friends that will affirm your sin…
      17. You run to watch a full season of Friends…
      18. NO!!!! YOU DO what Peter does …. Radically and Boldly jump off the boat and GET TO Jesus. Showing I can’t handle the shame anymore, I need a savior for my shame. I need to escape this cycle. Instead of running from his shame, he humbly Jumps out of the boat to Jesus.
          7. Jesus has all the power to carry your shame. This is a hope of the resurrection!
      19. Heb 12:2 NIV ”fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.“
      20. Jesus looks with joy to the result of the cross, he endures pain, he scorns the shame, meaning he counted the shame as nothing compared with the joy ahead…. Why…. For you. The cross is the means in which our sin is forgiven, his blood for ours, our sin for his perfection. Our shame, and we receive His glory.
      21. 1 Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
      22. Jesus bore the shame of the cross, taking on every sin we have ever committed. Through His death and resurrection, Easter reminds us that in Him, we find healing and the opportunity for new life. As we reflect on the implications of the resurrection, we are called to repentance, to turn away from our old ways and allow Jesus to take them, and embrace the abundant life Jesus offers. His victory over sin and death assures us of hope beyond all our failures.

3. Jesus Restores You Completely

   1. 15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. 16 A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. 17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. 18 “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”
   2. How many times did Peter deny Jesus? 3 times. 3 is the number of completion, By asking Peter three times if he loves Him, mirroring Peter's three denials, Jesus completes the process of restoration. This act of asking is not to shame but to reaffirm Peter's commitment and love, thus restoring him fully.

   3. Question: What does it mean to restore?

      1. He brings us back to life
      2. He does not bring us back to who we were but to who we were meant to be.
      3. He doesn’t give up on us.

      4. He loves us… He loves you…

         4. When you are in Shame - you need to be restored. All the things you have done are in the past, you are new. It is complete, it is finished. With Peter he tells him move on and be restored and do what I’ve called you to do- feed my sheep.
         5. What is fascinating is that being restored doesn't start in heaven, it starts on earth. It’s now. Peter doesn’t have to wait till heaven to get the healing he needs, he doesn’t have to wait to be restored. You don’t have to wait. It’s now it’s today.
         6. Question: How can I be restored today?

      5. ”If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” - Romans 10:9-10

      6. So we declare with our mouths Jesus is Lord, and we believe in our hearts….. All you have to do is take this simple but profound action. All of us that are here today can claim the promise of the next verse, for those who are followers of Jesus. I want you to leave out of here with this hope for Easter.
      7. “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” - Romans 10:11
         7. So What is the shame you walked in here with, Jesus says “give it to me”. ‭‭Jesus is asking you that same question today that he did to Peter. Do you love me? Do you love me, DO you love me…… Let me take your shame…You don’t need to run anymore… I can restore you.
         8. Prayer Of Salvation:
      8. With a heart like Peter, boldly and radically jump out of the boat and run to him.
      9. If you want to make a decision to follow Jesus. Then join me and everyone else in the building as we pray out loud together. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith, making Jesus Lord of your life. We don’t let anyone go on the journey alone. If you have faith in Jesus, then let’s join together as we pray…
      10. Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you
      11. I confess that I have sinned against you
      12. I believe that God raised you from the dead
      13. And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”
      14. Thank you for forgiving me
      15. By your grace I am saved

      16. And by your power I am set free

          9. If you prayed that prayer for the first time then Scripture says “anyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge them before my Father”. I’m going to ask that if you prayed that prayer for the first time would you lift your hand and let me know so that I can celebrate with you.

      17. God is so proud of you.

      18. The angels are rejoicing.
      19. And we believe God has a purpose for your life.
          10. Would you let us know that you made a decision so that we can follow up with you and help you on your next steps?

Closing:

Let's end how we began……. when I say Christ is risen, just softly say “He is risen indeed.”

Christ is risen, Response: He is risen indeed (Whisper) and he meets you where you are

Christ is risen….. “He is risen indeed”………frees you from your shame

Christ is risen, “He is risen indeed”…… and he restores you completely

Jesus thank you for taking our shame this Easter, and we honor you as our risen king. We love you. Amen