Picture the scene painted by the gospel writer John. It’s Friday. A whirlwind of cruel events has torn Jesus’ followers apart. Once the shepherd was struck, the sheep abandoned hope and scattered. The shouts of people, celebrating Jesus’ arrival just days earlier have grown silent. Judas, crushed by guilt, went and hung himself. The “Rock” Peter became “playdough”, denied Jesus three times, and hasn’t been seen since. Yet as Jesus dies, there is a “tiny” glimmer of light.
In John 19:25 we read, “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” At one of the darkest, most depraved hours ever recorded in human history… this loyal band of women stood together in solidarity to dignify the life of their son, their friend, their Lord. They refused to abandon Jesus at his death. Joseph of Arimathea and once skeptical Pharisee Nicodemus would soon emerge to make preparations for Jesus’ proper burial. I just find myself struck by the tenderness of it all.
Also standing at the cross, was the Apostle John. Unto death, John remained Jesus’ most loyal, intimate, and trustworthy companion. You know, not all men are wired up the same. Some have bravado, and physical toughness. Some men are Alpha males, like Peter. Well, most of the time. Sometimes Alpha males get their comeuppance and have to spend a few days in the dog house being Alpo males, eating Alpo dogfood. Peter is momentarily in the doghouse.
But some men have deep empathy and tenderness. They’re unafraid to get close to other men, to know and be known, to love and be loved. John would recline his head on Jesus’ shoulder at meals. He’d sit up in Jesus’ bosom—his personal space. John would be the last guy to whip out a sword and fight, yet take a close look… he’s the last guy who’d ever run. You decide which prototype of a “man” is truly a “man.”
John 19:26-27 says, “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
You wouldn’t ask a Peter to take care of your mother. You’d ask someone with the loving sensitivities and sensibility of John. The Apostle John is the prototypical “pastor of pastors.” But you wouldn’t want to misjudge his loving tenderness for weakness. He is ferociously loyal, as were these others, staying closer than a brother to Jesus.
Now after his death, the Risen Lord Jesus appears. First, he appears to Mary Magdalene. She tries to cling to him, but he tells her he must now return to the Father. He appears behind closed doors in the upper room and shows himself to the disciples. Then he showed up at the next week’s small group meeting, where he shows himself to doubting Thomas. The gospel of John appears to come to a close in John 20:29. Jesus pronounces a blessing. He says, “Because you have seen me you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
This is where all of us come into the gospel story. We have not “seen” Jesus—yet we “believe.” How so? John 20:30-31, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
We have the testimony of Scripture. The Scriptures are “sufficient” to bring us to faith. They may not be comprehensive. The Bible may not give us every answer and insight into every curiosity we could ever have. By Jesus’ own admission, there are many things God’s Spirit has to teach us directly, in our hearts. But the Bible offers sufficient truth to warrant your sincere faith, for you to find salvation in Jesus’ name, and for you to remain faithful to Jesus unto death.
But Jesus still has some serious unfinished business to finish. Now his substitutionary work on the cross is finished. But some men Jesus loves very much, and one man in particular by the name of Peter, are drifting aimlessly at sea. John paints the scene this way: John 21:1-3. “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.”
This is exactly what men do when they get sick of eating Alpo. They pick themselves up, exit the doghouse, and they regress backwards to what is most familiar and comfortable to them: “I’m going fishing.” Yeah! Well, if Peter’s going were all going. This man is a natural influencer. Men just snap to whatever he says. He’s had also been a poor fishermen. John 21:4-6, “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.
Now just to show you what kind of man the Apostle John was, check this out. John 21:7-8, “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.”
Q. Who recognized Jesus first? John. Q. Who did Jesus love most? John.
Q. Who was skinnier, and the faster runner, who outraced huffing puffing Peter to the empty tomb? John. Q. Who do you think would have also been the faster swimmer? Huffy Puffy Peter or Skinny Jeans John? Q. Who do think would have been the stronger man, to drag the nets? Peter or John? *Yet like Jesus, John knows Peter has unfinished business with the Lord, and he holds himself back.
John 21:9-14, “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.”
When God has business to finish with a man, he’ll often give him a task. The task is ego space, for the alpha male to work out his attachment issues. Don’t sit down and talk first. Get the fish out of the boat. Gut those fish. Light the grill. EAT. The Alpo man knows what he is. He knows what’s coming. If you start by rubbing his nose in his failure you’ll lose him forever. But there does come a time when the Alpha Male must face the thing he dreads more than anything else—I wonder, do you know what it is?
HE MUST “FACE THE GRACE.” John 21:15-19, “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.”
What’s so evident to me about these verses is that Peter had already “faced the truth” of Jesus resurrection. What he needs help with is facing the grace. You know how you tell an Alpo Man he’s forgiven? You know you how tell an Alpo man that you love him and that he gets another chance? You put real trust and responsibility in his hands.
I kept thinking this whole week. Here at the close of John’s gospel, Jesus put his “mother” in the Apostle John’s hand… which makes sense. But Jesus puts his “mission” in the Apostle Peter’s hands. Peter feed my lambs. Peter shepherd my Sheep. Peter feed my sheep. Peter, come follow me. Peter, die for me. Peter… you are going to die for me, just not when, where, and how you thought. Peter your life will truly glorify God, and it will matter.
John 21:20-25, “20 So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 “If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23 So this rumor spread to the brothers and sisters that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.
Hey listen. You may not be Peter. You may not be John. What is it to you how God works his grace and truth into one person’s life, versus another. What matters is that you don’t leave this earth before taking care of your own business. Do you believe the truth of Jesus’ resurrection? Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Do you love him as Lord, Savior, Friend?
This testimony of John is true. Believe on Jesus for life. Be born of water and Spirit. And don’t you dare run from his grace. Like Peter, man “up and face the grace.” Let God change you from an ALPO male… not into an ALPHA male… but an ALPHA-OMEGA man. God is the Alpha and Omega. Let God make you into a person who loves God through and through. How follows. Who serves. Who even dies… his eyes always toward glory.