Following Jesus All the Way (Chantilly)

Acts 1:3 NLT – He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 

The comfortable can keep me from where God wants to grow me.

John 21:2-3 NIV – Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

John 21:4-6 NIV – Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

John 21:7 NIV – Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

John 21:7-8 NIV – As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

When the things of  Jesus are near I want to run toward them.

John 21: 9-12 NIV – When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

John 21:13-14 NIV – Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Matthew 26:32-34 NIV – Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³³ Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

³⁴ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” ³⁵ But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”  And all the other disciples said the same.

John 21:15 NIV – When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

John 21:15b NIV – “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

John 21:16 NIV – Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

John 21:17 NIV – The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

John 21:18-19 NIV – Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

John 21:20-21 NIV – Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹ When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

John 21:22 NIV – Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

It never makes sense to compare my life to other people.

John 21:23 NIV – Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

Encouraging Truths From John 21

1) Jesus is gentle and approachable.

2) Jesus reassures us at just the right times.

3) Jesus is interested in restoring me from my mistakes.