Christ the Restorer

There are some passages of scripture that no matter how many times you read them or study them, you can never fully plumb them. The depth can be experienced but never fully fathomed. There is always newness there, ready to be discovered.

I believe this is true of John chapter 21, the account of Jesus appearing on the seashore to his disciples and directing them to catch a miracle drop of fish. But the real miracle of this little pericope is the restoration of a dejected disciple for it is Christ the Restorer which we will focus on here in this last chapter of John. Yes, Christ is the Messiah.

Yes, Christ is the Savior. But it is Christ the Restorer here in our text today that's brought out most keenly. To say that the Apostle Peter was down in the dumps is an understatement.

Once again, he'd stuck his foot in his mouth and blundered publicly by denying his Lord. He is as low as a worm and feeling just as insignificant as he convinces his fellow disciples to go fishing. Some scholars hold that Peter here was taking the first step to go back to his old trade as a fisherman since he failed so miserably as a follower of Jesus.

So that is the tone and mood for a setting this particular day as the little band of disciples enter a boat and fish all night. But we read at the end of verse 3 of their results, they caught nothing. Oh dear friend, the painful place that is to be in such a state as you catch nothing.

All your good efforts result in failure and disappointment and you have nothing to show for your efforts. Have you ever been there, friend? Have you? I know I sure have. I know the empty feeling of having nothing to show for my efforts.

Nothing. Working out. Just plain old nothing.

Oh how discouraged these seasoned veterans of the sea had to be that night to work and labor so hard and catch nothing. Not one little fish. Perhaps you, friend, are in a trial like that now where you don't even have one little fish to show for your efforts.

You may be a worn out pastor who sees no fruit of conversions among your people. Oh you care about them. Oh you pray for them.

And you preach to them. And at times it seems just to no avail. Not one little fish.

And you're discouraged. Even thinking about throwing in the towel for something more productive you can apply yourself to. Oh this striking passage of scripture is for you, friend.

It's about Christ the Restorer. Oh he is mighty to restore. Notice in our text here in John that every instance Jesus addresses his disciples he does so as a group.

Notice verse 5. Then Jesus saith unto them. Notice verse 6. And he said unto them. Verse 10.

Jesus saith unto them. Verse 12. Jesus saith unto them.

Here Christ is inclusive in his dealings with them. He's speaking to them as a group to do this and to do that. To drop the net in a certain place.

To come and dine. But now in verse 15 the emphasis shifts dramatically from the group setting to one man in particular. Peter.

So when they had dined Jesus saith to Simon Peter. Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? The primary reason the risen Christ appeared on the seashore that particular morning was he had some unfinished business to do in regard to one of his men. Peter.

Peter the boastful. Peter the blunderer. Peter the big hearted.

Peter the big fisherman who had a big mouth that usually got him into trouble. Oh the biggest miracle here, friends, in this remarkable passage isn't necessarily the miracle draught of 153 great fishes. Those it's a great miracle indeed.

No but the biggest miracle here is Christ the restorer who can take a man like Peter who is out of fellowship with him and then subsequently restore him into vital relationship again. But the mind-boggling thing of it all is the transformation of Peter in the gospels to Peter of Pentecost. That's the miracle worth noting.

How God can transform a bumbling man into a sharp threshing instrument in his hand. Oh Christ the restorer. Christ restores fellowship here in our passage.

He restores faith. He restores fruitfulness. If you were in a place, friend, where you've been catching nothing for your efforts, don't focus on the results.

Focus on the one who can give results. Christ the restorer. He can restore you to a vital love relationship to him.

He can restore your ministry for him. He can restore a broken home. He can restore a broken heart.

He can restore a backslider when he is made Lord. Christ the restorer. I get choked up talking about it.

Christ the restorer is mighty to restore. Give it all to him, friend. He can be trusted.

Let us pray.