John 21 — Breakfast by the Sea: Restoration & Commissioning
“Jesus said to him… ‘You follow Me.’” — John 21:22 (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION — When Obedience Comes Before Recognition
After the resurrection, the disciples returned to what was familiar — fishing.
Jesus stood on the shoreline, but they did not recognize Him until after they obeyed His instruction to cast on the right side.
They recognized Him after obedience, not before.
So often we want signs first — then obedience.
But in John 21, obedience revealed Christ.
RESTORATION BEFORE ASSIGNMENT
Peter had publicly denied Jesus three times.
Jesus did not whisper his restoration in private. He restored him publicly:
“Do you love Me?” … “Feed My sheep.”
Christ does not restore us to sit us down.
He restores us to send us back out.
Grace does not pretend the failure never happened —
Grace says failure does not end your calling.
THE COMPARISON TRAP — PETER LOOKS AT JOHN
Right after being restored and recommissioned, Peter immediately looks at someone else’s story:
“Lord, what about this man?” (v. 21)
Jesus answers sharply:
“What is that to you? You follow Me.” (v. 22)
In other words:
Their path is not your path
Their ending is not your ending
Their role is not your role
Comparison is a quiet rebellion against your assignment.
Jesus was not concerned with Peter’s curiosity about John —
He was concerned with Peter’s obedience.
IMPERFECT PEOPLE — STILL CALLED
These were the disciples who walked with Jesus:
They failed
They doubted
They compared
They got distracted
And still — Jesus used them to launch the church.
If Jesus only used flawless people, the gospel would have stopped in the upper room.
Your weakness is not your disqualification.
Disengagement is.
FINAL TAKEAWAY
Before God sends, He restores.
Before He commissions, He confronts.
Before He entrusts, He redirects our focus:
“You — follow Me.”
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for restoring what I have broken and for calling me again in spite of my flaws. Help me to obey even when I do not yet recognize what You are doing. Guard my heart from comparison and distraction. Fix my eyes on my assignment and give me the courage to follow You without looking at someone else’s path. Amen.
JOURNAL REFLECTION PROMPTS
Where have I been waiting to recognize God before obeying Him?
What area of my past have I assumed disqualified me from being used by God?
Who or what do I compare myself to when Jesus is calling me to focus on Him?
What specific assignment has God placed in front of me right now that requires obedience?
