Please turn with me to John 21 - starting at verse 1.  We are in the midst of a series looking at Encountering Jesus at our times of deepest needs.  We’ve looked at Encountering Jesus in our loss - encountering Jesus in our fear - encountering Jesus in our doubt.  This morning we’re going to be looking at encountering Jesus in our failure.

This Tuesday - July 14th - Busch Stadium in Saint Louis - is the what?  All Star Game.

Two years ago - Sunday, July 15th - the Saint Louis Cardinals played the Philadelphia Phillies.  By the way Albert Pujols hit two homers in that game.  The Cardinals won - and the Phillies set a record.  Anyone know what that record was?

It was their 10,000 franchise loss - making them the losing-est professional sports team in history.

Shades of the Detroit Lions.  Remember Detroit?  Last year Detroit became the only NFL team to have a perfect 0-16 season.

Failure is falling short.

Royally messing up

The inability to do what’s expected - want we’d want to do. 

Failure is “when your best just isn’t good enough.”

Failure carries with it the idea that we’re just going to keep on failing.  “Smile - tomorrow’s going to be worse.” 

Do you ever feel like that?  Someone says, “When don’t I feel like that?”

Honestly - we fail to live up to what we know is what God desires of us - what we desire of ourselves.  We fail morally.  We fail in our relationships.  We fail at school and work and just about any place we show up - providing we don’t fail to show up.

We are a congregation of people that have messed up.  Turn to the person next to you and tell them, “You are a failure.”  NO NO NO - don’t do that.

But we could.  Couldn’t we?  And we’d accept it.  Because down deep - while we sometimes imagine ourselves differently - down deep we accept that failure is a part of who we are - maybe even that we are failures - perhaps with no hope of anything different.

John 21 - starting at verse 1 - look with me at what it means to encounter Jesus in our failure.  John 21 - verse 1:  After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way.  Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

Let’s pause there. 

“After these things” is probably John’s way of reminding us of the sequence of events we’ve been following.  What’s been happening since the resurrection.  Jesus appearing to Mary - to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus - to the disciples hiding in Jerusalem - both without and with Thomas.  What takes place here doesn’t take place too long after that.  Probably the second week after Jesus’ resurrection.

The scene has shifted - chapter 20 was in Jerusalem - now we’re up at the Sea of Tiberias - which is more commonly known as the Sea of Galilee.  The place where Jesus first called His disciples.

Point being that what we’re seeing here is all part of the same sequence of events - just a different location.  The resurrected Jesus strategically stepping into the lives of His disciples.

Jesus - after His resurrection - Jesus told His disciples to go to Galilee and that He’d meet them there.  (Matthew 28:7,10; Mark 16:7)  Gathered there - at the Sea of Galilee - are Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and probably - though they’re not named - probably Philip and Andrew.  These are the fisherman - disciples from Galilee.  Point being - in obedience to Jesus they’ve come home - what’s familiar

Going on - verse 3.  Do you like the Lego.  Better than video for helping us picture this.  Verse 3:  Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” - “I can’t stand just sitting here on the beach waiting for Jesus.  I got a need to fish.” - They said to him “We will also come with you.”  They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

Jake - a game warden - was always amazed that Sam - a fisherman - showed up at the end of the day with a two or three stringers full of fish.  This happened even when all the other fishermen came back with only two or three fish.  The lake was loaded with fish.  But they seemed to elude the average fisherman.  But not Sam.

The game warden - Jake - his curiosity finally got the better of him.  So one day he said to Sam, “I’d like to know your secret.”  Sam - a man of few words - said, “Show up tomorrow morning.”

The next morning - before dawn - Jake was there when Sam showed up.  They got into the boat.  About 40 minutes later - after motoring across the lake - they arrived in a secluded part of the lake with no one else around.  When they stopped the motor it was as still as it could be.  Jake decided to sit back - fold his arms - and watch Sam do his thing.

Sam reached into his tackle box and pulled out a slender stick of dynamite - lit it - tossed it in the air.  When it hit the level of the lake there was an enormous explosion.  In a matter of seconds, fish of all sizes began to float up on the top of the lake.  Without a word Sam just began to row his way around and with his net pick up the largest fish and string them.

Jake screamed.  “Wait!  You can’t do that.  You’ve broken every rule in the book.  I’m gonna have to stick you in jail!”

About that time Sam reached in his box - pulled out another stick of dynamite - lit it - tossed it in Jake’s lap and said, “Are you gonna sit there watchin’ all day or are you gonna fish?” (1)

The disciples are experienced fisherman - from Galilee - familiar waters - they knew what technique was needed to catch fish on the Sea of Galilee.  Even today - fisherman fish the Sea of Galilee at night.  They use torches to attract the fish to the boat and then net them.

What we need to grab on to here is that these experienced local Galilean fisherman have done everything they knew how to do to catch fish - and they’ve failed - miserably.  They just didn’t catch some fish - or a few fish.  They caught nothing - nada - zip.  Major failure.

Verse 4:  But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” - ouch - They answered Him, “No.”  And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.”  So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 

Verse 7:  Therefore - because of this huge haul of fish - therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved - namely John - said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”  So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.  But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

Let’s stop there.

There are three invitations in the verses we’re looking at this morning.    Each one is significant to encountering Jesus in our failure.  The first invitation is here in verse 6:  “Cast the net on the right hand-side of the boat.”  Invitation number one is To Cast.  Let’s say that together, “To cast.”

All night long these experienced local fisherman have been casting their net on the left side of the boat - and failing.  What difference does a few feet make?  This is left.  That’s right.  What difference does it make?  A huge difference when it comes to obediently following Jesus.

Three years earlier - here along the shore of the Sea of Galilee - Peter and Andrew and their partners James and John - three years earlier they’d brought their boats to shore and were cleaning their nets.  When Jesus got into Peter’s boat and asked to be taken a short distance off shore - where Jesus sat on the boat and began to teach the crowd that was gathered there.

When Jesus finished teaching He told Peter, “Take the boat to deeper water and cast out your nets for a catch.”

Peter said - does this sound familiar?  Peter said, “We worked hard all night and caught nothing.  But I’ll do what you say anyway and let down the nets.”  And what happened?  A catch so large that their nets began to break.  It takes two boats to haul in the catch.

Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11)  Follow me and I will lead you in God’s purpose for your life.

This whole - invitation to cast your net scene - is a set-up - a flashback - déjà vu.

Jesus doesn’t initially reveal Himself to the disciples - so that John has the opportunity - while trying to haul in all these fish - the opportunity to connect the dots of the flashback - so that John can recognize Jesus by the invitation - the obedience - the familiar result.  “It’s the Lord.”

The supernatural exercise of divine power - Jesus summoning the fish into the net.  The real time demonstration of what God is able to accomplish - God stepping into the circumstances of our lives.  Its a set-up prompting Peter’s response.  The response of Peter - abandoning everything to go where Jesus is - to follow Jesus.

Remember verse 3?  Peter, “I’m going fishing.”  Peter - impatiently - wanting to do something familiar - something that made use of his natural talent - that emphasized his past success - setting off to go fishing with his friends - trusting himself - and failing miserably.

Then - verse 4 - Jesus - on the beach - stepping into that failure - stepping into what has become a self-reliant pattern of failure.  Self reliance verses following God.

The point of the set-up - what we need to see in Jesus’ invitation “to cast” is the connection with Jesus’ invitation “to follow.”  To follow means pursuit - trust - obedience.  Following leads to success - a whole lot of fish.  Not following in means failure - a serious lack of fish.

Three years earlier Jesus invited the disciples to follow.  Whatever the failure of the disciples - of Peter - Jesus’ invitation to follow remains.  He calls them - calls us - back to it - to follow God’s purpose for our lives.  That invitation to God’s purpose for our lives doesn’t change because we mess up.

We may look at the failures of our lives and wonder, “How can God ever make something good out of all this?  How could God ever use someone like me?  I am just too far gone.  You have no idea how badly I’ve messed up.”

Jesus steps into all that with an invitation.  You have a choice given to you by the Lord of the fish.  By the Lord of life.  He gives you the choice to follow.  Follow - and He will do the miraculous in your life.

Jesus’ second invitation comes in verses 9 to 11.  Look with me at verse 9:  So when they - the six disciples Peter left in the boat to haul in the fish - so when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”  Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three - the number 153 showing us that this really did happen - this isn’t some kind of fish story that John made up - and also to emphasize the large number of fish - and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Invitation number two is To Bring.  Let’s say that together, “To bring.”

The night Jesus was arrested Jesus had told Peter, “Before a rooster crows three times you will deny that you know me.”  We know that Peter did.  Right?  In the courtyard of the high priest Peter was asked three times - by different people - in different ways - the same question:  “Do you know Jesus?”  Three times Peter emphatically denied that he knew Jesus.

All four Gospel writers record that failure.  Talk about your sins will find you out.  Its one of the most known failures in history.

Did you know that when Peter initially came to the courtyard he couldn’t get in?  He was standing waiting to get in - when John - writer of the Gospel of John - when John spoke to the doorkeeper - vouched for Peter - and Peter was able to get in.

Apparently John had some connection with the High Priest - possibly because John’s mother was Mary’s sister - Mary who was related to Elizabeth - who was married to Zechariah - who was a priest.  John had connections and John got Peter in.

Visualize that - John and Peter - Peter and John - in the courtyard - and Jesus above on trial.  The only three who knew the intimate details of Peter’s failure - Peter - John - and Jesus.  Of all the Gospel writers - only John mentions that - that night - in the courtyard - only John goes out of his way to mention that Peter warmed himself by a “charcoal fire.”  (John 18:15-18) 

In verse 9 - John goes out of his way to mention that - that morning on the beach - Jesus had prepared a “charcoal fire.”  That connection is purposeful.  Helps us to connect the dots between Peter’s failure - and Jesus’ invitation on the beach.  What Jesus is about doing in Peter’s life.

In the garden when Jesus was arrested - Peter rushed around with a sword - in a kind of self-focused “Look how I’m serving Jesus” bravado - cutting off Malchus’ ear.  Peter courageously taking charge.

Then - Peter in the courtyard - by the charcoal fire - realizing that underneath it all - he really didn’t have the courage to stand with Jesus.  Faced with his own inability to protect himself - given the opportunity to totally trust God with his life and to confess his affinity and allegiance.  Peter failed.  He could have come to that fire - trusted Jesus - confessed knowing Jesus.  But he didn’t.  He failed.

Jesus tells the disciples, “Bring the fish you’ve caught.”  Notice its Peter who draws the net up.  The net filled with 153 fish that they’ve caught.  But that Jesus divinely supplied with fish.  The net that Jesus had shown them where it should be lowered.  At Jesus’ invitation Peter brings the net to land and brings the fish to Jesus - to the charcoal fire that Jesus has ready.  Peter working with Jesus to provide breakfast for the disciples.

Grab that:  Jesus - at points where we’re reminded of our failure - Jesus doesn’t castigate us - or tear us down - but seeks to move us forward - to remind us of growth - to present us with new opportunity - to trust Him - to serve with Him.

Jesus stepping into Peter’s failure with the invitation “Bring the fish” is a renewal of opportunity to participate with Jesus in His ministry.

We all have charcoal fires in our lives.  Yes?

So many times we find ourselves serving God.  We’re doing things for God.  Being good fathers and mothers - Godly employees - doing stuff at church - at school - wherever.  Living by the rules - obeying God - trying to do what’s right - serving for God.  And we fail.

Like Peter we find that our strength cannot sustain us through the long haul - our effort cannot keep us from falling short - our wisdom cannot guide us while we seek to life rightly.  When we fail we find that our power cannot lift us up.

Jesus’ invites us to grow beyond the charcoal fire and to learn what it means to serve with Jesus - not for Jesus - but with Jesus.  To learn what it means to trust Him - to lean on His strength and wisdom - to follow after His purposes for our lives.

Even when we fail - that invitation still remains.  The invitation isn’t about failure.  Its about opportunity.  Bring what you’ve got - which I’ve provided for you in the first place - bring your life - all that you are to Me - trust Me - and see what I will do in you and through you.

Going on - verse 12 - Jesus’ third invitation - verse 12:  Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”  None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?”  Knowing that it was the Lord.  Jesus came and took the break and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.  This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

Jesus’ third invitation is To Come.  Let’s say that together, “To come.”

A few years back I was in Washington DC with a relative of mine.  By his connections - not mine - we ended being invited to have breakfast in the Senate Dining Room - in the capital building - with the senators.  That was pretty unusual - having breakfast in this really ornate room - US Senators from all over the country - just hanging and talking - hob knobbing with senators.

Ever have moments like that?  When things are so out of the ordinary that they seem surreal?

When the disciples get to shore the fire is going - the fish are cooking - the bread is ready - a very simple - basic - unpretentious meal - in very humble surroundings.

Jesus says, “Come and have breakfast.”  The whole scene seems almost surreal.  The disciples sitting on the shore of the Sea of Galilee - a beautiful peaceful morning - having breakfast with God - who just a few days earlier had be crucified - for their sins - and now is resurrected from death.

There’s no question that the disciples understood.  John writes, that they didn’t ask questions.  They knew - this is the Lord - our Master - the Almighty God of creation.  Jesus resurrected.  Who’s a whole lot more important than rooms full of senators.

And yet, “Peter would you like some more fish?  Some more bread?”  “Pardon me Jesus.  But, could you pass the Grey Poupon?  A person doesn’t get an invitation like this every day.  What would that have been like?

On one hand is the astounding surrealness of the situation.  On the other hand is the kind of intimacy that we crave to have with Jesus.

John writes that this breakfast on the beach was the third time Jesus had manifested Himself to the disciples. 

If we add up the number of times that Jesus manifests Himself to people after His resurrection this is actually manifestation number 7.  John is specific - this is the third time when Jesus uniquely reveals Himself specifically to the disciples.  There’s significance here.

To “manifest” has the idea of taking something that’s hidden and making it known.

We get a glimpse of that when we have our potlucks after worship.  Spend time with someone around food and walls come down.  In the familiarity of a meal and we get to know each other more closely - more deeply.    Meals take relationships to a much more intimate level. 

A lot of teaching in the Gospels - a lot of that teaching takes place around meals.  For three years - Jesus’ pre-crucifixion ministry - traveling around Palestine - Jesus shared meals with the disciples.  Around those meals Jesus helped His disciples to know Him more deeply.  Even the last supper - the night Jesus was arrested - Jesus breaking bread - sharing wine - applying the meal to Himself - helping the disciples to understand more of Who He is - what He is about doing.

In some ways this meal - breakfast on the beach - is a reminder - a flashback - to those times together.

And yet - this meal goes beyond that - the invitation to come is an invitation to the presence of the resurrected Jesus.  To know more deeply the resurrected Lord.  To know God more intimately - His presence and power in their lives.  That invitation comes - even to Peter - even after failure.

Grab this for yourself - when we come to a place of failure in our lives Jesus offers us Himself.  He is the bread of life.  His body is broken for each one of us.  To come and dine is an invitation to know more deeply the forgiveness and healing of His presence in our lives.

That invitation doesn’t change just because we mess up.  Its an ongoing open invitation because we mess up.

On his own Peter catches nothing.  As fisherman he comes face to face with his own inadequacy and failure.  Maybe you have a charcoal fire in your life?  A failure that’s troubling you?  Things that you’ve done or should have done?  A habit you can’t seem to let go of?

Jesus builds a charcoal fire.  Not to humiliate Peter.  Not to force Peter to wallow in depression.  Jesus isn’t saying, “I told you so.”  That fire - that breakfast - its a place of invitation.  To bring our failures to Jesus.  He just wants to share a meal with you - to break bread in your life.

This morning - whatever your failure - Jesus is calling you to follow Him - to trust Him with your life.  He’s saying to you bring who you are - and let Me do the miraculous in your life.  I will supply what you need.  Come - know my presence in your life - know my forgiveness and healing - and let’s move forward together.

____________________
1. Max Lucado, No Wonder They Call Him Savior

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.