| 'The Breakfast of Champions' (Part 7 of 'God's Call') |
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| Written by David Charlton |
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Scripture John 21:1-25 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." 6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." 20 Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" 23 The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Summary and Purpose
Summary: Most people are familiar with the ‘Last Supper’. There is also, however, a ‘First Breakfast’. This event is recorded in the last chapter of John. I like to refer to this breakfast as the ‘Breakfast of Champions’. During this breakfast, the resurrected Jesus reinstated Peter as an Apostle. The breakfast became a moment of reconciliation, restoration and healing. This is what happens when people spend time with Jesus. We all need reconciliation, restoration and healing. We all need the ‘Breakfast of Champions’.
It’s the ‘Breakfast of Champions’ because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. By rising from the dead in a glorified body, Jesus proved His divinity and demonstrated that he conquered sin, death and evil on our behalf. This ensures victory for all His followers. Death has no power over us and we can overcome evil with God’s strength.
For the past six weeks, we’ve been talking about answering God’s call on our lives. Recently, we’ve been stressing the sacrifices we must make in order to follow Jesus. Now, we talk about the guaranteed victory that comes with following Jesus. Praise God!!!!
Purpose: To help the congregation embrace the victory that is guaranteed them through faith in Jesus.
The Sermon
I. Introduction: My ‘Breakfast of Champions’
A. After running the ‘River Run’ (An annual 15K run through Jacksonville, Fl.), I like to have what I call the ‘breakfast of champions’. This breakfast consists of one of the following: · A high fat breakfast at “Famous Amos” (Local chain in Jacksonville): Biscuits & sausage gravy, fried eggs w/Sausage gravey, home fires w/sausage gravey and a side of bacon · “The world’s greatest sandwich”: Toasted bread w/mayo, 3 eggs fried in bacon grease, 3 slices of cheese, 3 slices of fried bologna and a side of bacon.
B. My ‘breakfast of champions’ is just an excuse to eat a high fat & cholesterol meal.
C. There is, however, a true ‘Breakfast of Champions’. · This breakfast is for true champions and anyone can participate. · You heard of the ‘Last Supper’. We also have the ‘First Breakfast’ as recorded in the last chapter of John. This is the true ‘Breakfast of Champions’. · We can all join Jesus in this ‘Breakfast of Champions’. Through faith in Him, our victory is guaranteed. · Let’s take a closer look at this breakfast
II. The story of true ‘Breakfast of Champions’
A. Story found in John 21:1-25 (Last chapter in John)
B. Takes place after the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus already appeared to the Apostles on two occasions
C. Seven of the remaining 11 Apostles were gathered on the Lake of Galilee. As evening approached, they decided to spend the night fishing. They caught nothing all night long.
D. In the early morning hours, just before they began to head in, they saw a figure on the shore.
E. The figure asked if they caught anything. They replied no. The figure then told them to drop their nets on the right side of the boat.
F. They obeyed and caught so much fish they couldn’t pull the net into the boat
G. They recognized the figure as Jesus. Peter jumped in the water and ran towards Jesus, leaving the rest to pull in the fish
H. When everyone reached the shore, they found the resurrected Jesus cooking fish for breakfast.
I. With what Jesus does next, it becomes a breakfast of reconciliation, restoration and Healing
III. The ‘Breakfast of Champions’ as reconciliation, restoration and healing
A. Remember, Peter had denied Jesus during the moment of crisis · During the ‘Last Supper’ Peter boasted he would never deny Jesus and would always follow Him, no matter what · Jesus replied that before the rooster crows, Peter will deny him 3 times · When Jesus was arrested, he was taken to the High Priest’s house. Peter followed and waited in the court yard. Three people asked if he was a follower of Jesus. Three times Peter denied it for fear of what might happen to him. The third time, a rooster crowed.
B. During breakfast, Jesus looked at Peter and asked him 3 times if he loved Him. · First time: Jesus used the Greek word avgapa,w which indicates God’s unconditional type of love. This type of love is a choice, not a feeling. Jesus was asking, “Peter, do you choose to love me?” · Second time: Jesus again uses avgapa,w to ask this question. · Third time: Jesus uses file,w to ask this question. This type of love is more of a feeling. When you feel love for someone. · Note the order here. First you make the choice to love someone, then the feeling follows.
C. After each answer, Jesus says, “Feed or take care of my sheep”
D. Peter is fully restored.
E. Do you need any reconciliation, restoration or healing? · You’re invited to join Jesus in his ‘Breakfast of Champions’ · Repent and trust Jesus as Savior and Lord and you too can partake of the ‘Breakfast of Champions’ and receive reconciliation with God. · In KAIROS (KAIROS is a prison ministry) I met a man who used to be a mean, body-builder, brutal cop. He was convicted of three murders and is now serving a life sentence. Prior to his arrest, he met Jesus. He’s now in the process of introducing thousands of inmates to the love of Jesus. He experienced the ‘Breakfast of Champions’
F. The powerful element in the ‘Breakfast of Champions’ is that you partake of it with the resurrected Jesus.
IV. The reason it’s the ‘Breakfast of Champions’ is the resurrection of Christ
A. We are saved by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus · Jesus lived the perfect life and gave us the example to follow · By living the perfect life, He was able to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He paid the penalty for our sins · By rising from the dead, he proved He was God in the flesh and conquered sin, death and evil on our behalf. This ensures victory for all His followers. Death has no power over us and we can overcome sin and evil with His strength.
B. The resurrection of Jesus · It was a resurrection not resuscitation. When people saw the risen Jesus, they didn’t see a ghost. They saw Jesus in the same but glorified body. · Others, such as Lazarus, have been raised from the dead. Lazarus and all the others, however, died again. Jesus will never die again. That’s resurrection. · Jesus is the first fruit of the resurrection. That means, at some point, we will also be resurrected with the same type of glorified body Jesus now has. · 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 12-22
V. Conclusion A. With the resurrection of Jesus – Victory is guaranteed: Victory over sin, evil and Death B. For this reason we can partake of the truw ‘Breakfast of Champions’ C. Won’t you join us?
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