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Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
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Welcome back. Day three in John, chapter 21. We're going to pick it up right where we left off, the verse seven. And the disciple whom Jesus loved, therefore said to Peter, it is the Lord. And when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work and he threw himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in the boat dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the lamb, but about 100 yards off. By the way, this is just a leadership hack. Don't get so excited about your vision, even if it's a good godly vision like go and have breakfast with Jesus, that you leave your team too far behind to leave them to do all the work. Ministry and leadership is not something you do to people. It's something you do with people. Okay, back to the text. Verse 9. And when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire in place that matters. Charcoal fire. They saw a charcoal fire in place with fish laid out on it and bread. And Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish that you have just caught. And so Simon Peter went aboard and he hauled the net ashore full of large fish, 153 of them. You know why there was 153 fish recorded in the Bible? Cause that's how many they caught. This is an actual historical event. It is not a fairy tale. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. And 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. And Jesus came and he took the bread and he gave it to them. And so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. And when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? And I think Peter's like, more than these what? More than these fish? More than these other disciples. What do you mean? And so he says to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And Jesus says to him, feed my lambs. And he said to him a second time, simon, son of John, do you love me? And he said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And he said to him, tend my sheep. And he said to him a third time, simon, son of John, do you love me? Now you know Peter's a little slow on the uptake. We'll talk about that a lot over our time together. And now, finally, Peter was grieved because he said to him a third time, do you love me? And he said to him, lord, you know everything. You know that I love you. And Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. There is so much here. The first thing I want you to see is that even though Peter had returned to his old lifestyle, that Jesus did not wait in Jerusalem for him to get his act together and come back. But Jesus relentlessly pursues his rebellious children. That Jesus meets Peter right where he is. And he will meet you right where you are. Maybe right now you're in your truck on the way to school or on the way to work. And right now is a part of the way that Jesus is chasing you down. And that Jesus recreates this entire scene. You see, the reason the charcoal fire matters is because the place that Peter denied Jesus three times, there was a charcoal fire. And so now, three times he's going to ask him again. Because Peter three times said, I don't know him, I don't know him, I don't know him. One time he cursed and said, I don't know him. And now Jesus is going to give him an opportunity to say, I love you, I love you, I love you. And here's the thing I want you to see here. There's more grace in Jesus than sin in you. There is no way you can out sin the loving grace of Jesus. And if you think that is permission to sin, then you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. That grace is not a permission to sin. It is forgiveness from sin. And also, here's what I want you to see. Like Jesus is going to continue to put Peter in charge. He says, I want you to feed my sheep. I want you to tend to my sheep. I want you to take care of my lambs. And the question that he doesn't ask, he doesn't say, peter, you know what? You really screwed up. Are you going to do better next time? Yes. Jesus, are you sure you're going to do better next time? I'll try. Jesus, are you sure? Can I really trust you? That's how we treat people. But Jesus just simply says, do you love me? Because Jesus knows if Peter loves him, not overnight, but over time, eventually then Peter's life will line up with what Jesus has called him to do. You see, if somebody let us down like this, we would put them on a personal improvement plan. Jesus puts Peter in charge because he knows that Peter's love for Christ will be the thing that drives him to be who God has called him to be. You know, it's going to be an incredible thing not to jump ahead, but by the time you get to Acts Chapter two, the very first sermon ever preached in the very first Christian service as a church, the Apostle Peter is going to step up the very thing that got him in the most trouble. His mouth is the thing that God is going to use to share the gospel with the world. And so don't ever give up, bro. Especially on a God who would never give up on you. There is more grace in Jesus than sin in you. Amen.
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Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.
Release Date: April 16, 2025
Hosts: Pastor Joby Martin (Church of Eleven22) & Kyle Thompson (Undaunted.Life)
Podcast Description: The Daily Blade is a short-form devotional show that equips Christians to apply the Word of God to their everyday lives. Join Pastor Joby & Kyle in person at the 2025 Men's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida — grab your seat.
In Episode #76 of The Daily Blade, Pastor Joby Martin delves into John 21:7, exploring the profound encounter between Jesus and the Apostle Peter following Jesus' resurrection. Titled "The Pursuit of Peter," this episode unpacks themes of grace, leadership, and restoration, providing listeners with practical insights for their spiritual journeys.
The episode opens with a reflection on the Apostle Peter's experience as documented in John 21. Pastor Joby emphasizes the significance of the "sword of the spirit," illustrating it as the primary weapon in a Christian's armor against evil. He sets the stage for a deep dive into Peter's story, aiming to equip men for spiritual battles.
Returning to the Text
Pastor Joby picks up the narrative from John 21:7, highlighting Peter's immediate recognition of Jesus and his spontaneous response. He points out that the disciples were fishing but had caught 153 large fish without tearing the net, underscoring the miraculous nature of the event.
Leadership Hack: Collaborative Ministry
At [02:15], Pastor Joby shares a "leadership hack," advising against becoming overly excited about one's vision to the detriment of the team. He states:
"Ministry and leadership is not something you do to people. It's something you do with people."
This insight underscores the importance of teamwork and shared responsibility in ministry, preventing burnout and fostering a collaborative environment.
Jesus' Intentional Pursuit
Highlighting Jesus' relentlessness, Pastor Joby explains that despite Peter's previous denials, Jesus does not wait for Peter to regain his strength in Jerusalem. Instead, Jesus seeks him out, illustrating that divine grace meets individuals where they currently are in life.
Unmerited Grace Over Sin
At [04:10], Pastor Joby makes a compelling statement about grace:
"There is more grace in Jesus than sin in you."
He clarifies that this abundant grace is not a license to sin but a profound forgiveness that restores believers, emphasizing that understanding this grace is crucial to a genuine relationship with Jesus.
Restoring Leadership Without Condemnation
Pastor Joby praises Jesus' approach to Peter's restoration. Instead of reprimanding him for his past failures, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, mirroring Peter's three denials. This method focuses on reaffirming Peter's love and commitment rather than dwelling on his shortcomings.
"Jesus just simply says, do you love me? Because Jesus knows if Peter loves him... then Peter's life will line up with what Jesus has called him to do."
Empowerment for Future Ministry
Highlighting Peter's eventual role in Acts Chapter Two, Pastor Joby illustrates how Jesus' restoration leads Peter to become a pivotal figure in early Christianity. This transformation serves as a testament to the enduring power of grace and the potential for redemption and leadership in every believer.
"It is going to be an incredible thing... the Apostle Peter is going to step up the very thing that got him in the most trouble."
In "The Pursuit of Peter," Pastor Joby Martin masterfully unpacks the narrative of Peter's reconciliation with Jesus, drawing out timeless lessons on grace, leadership, and restoration. Listeners are encouraged to embrace God's relentless pursuit of them, understanding that no matter past failings, the door to redemption and purposeful ministry remains open. The episode serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of unwavering grace and the importance of collaborative leadership in one's spiritual journey.
Pastor Joby and Kyle Thompson invite listeners to share the podcast to equip other men for spiritual battles and to leave a five-star rating and review. They also promote the opportunity to join them in person at the 2025 Men's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida.
Stay connected with The Daily Blade for more insightful and transformative devotional content. Stay sharp!