He Is Not Done | John 21:1-21
When Life Gets Hard: Finding Jesus in Your Struggle
Life has a way of bringing us to our knees. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we don't know what to do next, where we're scared, frustrated, lost, or dealing with shame and regret. In these moments, it's natural to want to go back to what we knew before - to retreat to familiar territory when everything else feels uncertain.
Going Back to What We Know
In John 21, we find Peter in exactly this situation. After witnessing Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, Peter finds himself uncertain about the future. His response? "I'm going fishing." This wasn't a recreational activity - fishing was Peter's profession before he met Jesus. When faced with uncertainty, Peter went back to what he used to do.
Why Do We Retreat?
Peter's decision to return to fishing wasn't random. Scripture tells us the disciples were scared of the culture and religious leaders, so they hid. They weren't sure what to do next. Peter was dealing with unresolved shame and fear, likely from his denial of Jesus during the crucifixion.
When we don't know what to do next - when we're faced with challenges, life changes, or situations we can't comprehend - we often go back to what we did before. It's a natural human response to seek comfort in the familiar when everything else feels chaotic.
Jesus Meets You Where You Are
Here's the beautiful truth from this passage: Jesus meets you where you are. This isn't just a catchy church phrase - it's a biblical reality. If you could meet Jesus where He was, you could do it on your own. But since we can't reach God on our own, Jesus comes down to us.
The Shoreline Encounter
"'Later, Jesus appeared again to his disciples beside the Sea of Galilee... At dawn, Jesus was standing on the beach, but his disciples couldn't see who he was.'" - John 21:1, 4
Jesus was standing there at dawn, waiting. The disciples had already seen Jesus in chapter 20 - they knew He was alive - but they couldn't recognize Him in this moment. Sometimes Jesus is waiting for us to slow down long enough to notice Him. He's there all along, waiting for us to recognize our need for Him.
The Question That Changes Everything
Jesus asked a simple question: "Fellows, have you caught any fish?" When they replied "No," He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you'll get some."
Recognizing Our Need
This is a crucial part of the Christian walk: until we recognize our depravity and need for Jesus, He can't do anything for us. Not because He's unable or limited, but because He wants us to recognize where we are and our need for Him.
Jesus was essentially asking, "How's this regression going for you? How's returning to your old life working out?" The truth is, once you've had an encounter with Jesus, nothing else feels the same. You can go back to old habits, old relationships, old ways of thinking, but it never feels as fulfilling as it used to.
Doing Things God's Way
When Jesus told them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat, He was asking, "Have you tried doing it My way?" This echoes an earlier encounter in Luke 5, where Jesus first called Peter to be a fisher of men.
Same Place, Different Capacity
In Luke 5, when Peter first met Jesus, the nets were so full of fish they began to tear and they needed help from other boats. In John 21, they caught 153 large fish, "yet the net hadn't torn." Same story, different capacity.
God is preparing us for greater things. Where we once couldn't handle the weight of what He was calling us to, He's building our capacity. Our desire might be to go back to simpler times, but Jesus is calling us to something greater.
The Love Question
After breakfast, Jesus asked Peter three times: "Do you love me?" This wasn't just repetition - it was restoration and revelation.
Different Words for Love
In the original Greek, Jesus used two different words for love. First, He asked if Peter loved Him with "agape" - unconditional, sacrificial love. Peter responded with "phileo" - brotherly love, conditional affection.
Jesus: "Do you love me unconditionally?" Peter: "I like you."
The third time, Jesus came down to Peter's level and asked, "Do you at least like me?" This exposed Peter's true feelings and his struggle with fully committing to Jesus.
Meeting Us Where We Are
The beauty of this exchange is that Jesus meets us where we are. If you're not ready to fully accept Him, He's still meeting you right where you are. Even when Peter could only offer conditional love, Jesus still commissioned him to "feed my sheep."
The Call to Follow
Despite Peter's failures and limitations, Jesus still called him forward. He reassigned Peter from being a fisherman to being a shepherd - taking what Peter knew and expanding it for God's mission.
Following Despite the Cost
Jesus warned Peter that following Him would involve sacrifice: "'When you are old, you will stretch out your hands and others will dress you and take you where you do not want to go.'" - John 21:18
The Christian life isn't always easy. Anyone who's walked with Jesus for any length of time knows we go through grief, suffering, and difficult seasons. But despite this, Jesus asks, "Are you willing to follow Me?"
Don't Compare Your Journey
When Peter saw John and asked, "What about him?" Jesus responded, "What is that to you?" We often focus on what others go through, comparing our struggles to their apparent ease. But we don't know the full story of anyone else's journey.
Jesus reminds us not to worry about what others are doing or going through. He'll take care of them in His own way. Our job is to stay the course and follow Him wherever He leads.
Life Application
This week, examine where you might be retreating to old patterns when life gets difficult. Are you trying to go back to "fishing" instead of trusting God's plan for your future? Jesus is calling you to something greater, even if it feels overwhelming right now.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Where am I trying to go backward instead of trusting God's plan forward?
- Am I willing to love Jesus unconditionally, or am I holding back parts of my heart?
- What is God calling me to that feels too big for my current capacity?
- Am I comparing my journey to others instead of focusing on following Jesus?
Remember, Jesus meets you exactly where you are - in your uncertainty, your shame, your fear, and your struggle. He's not asking you to clean yourself up first. He's asking you to recognize your need for Him and trust Him to do the rest. Even when you feel disqualified by your failures, He still says, "Follow Me."