From Failure to Purpose: Jesus' Call to Restoration
Summary
After the resurrection, the disciples found themselves in a strange in-between—Jesus had appeared to them, but life was not as it was before. In this uncertain space, they returned to what was familiar: fishing. This return to old habits is something we all do when we’re unsure, when we’re hurting, or when we feel like we’ve failed. Peter, in particular, was carrying the heavy weight of his denial of Jesus. Even though he had seen the risen Lord, the memory of his failure must have haunted him, especially as he remembered the sound of the rooster crowing and the sight of Jesus on the cross.
Yet, Jesus does not leave Peter—or us—in our failure. Instead, He meets the disciples in their ordinary, familiar place. He provides for them, not just with fish and bread, but with grace and restoration. The miraculous catch of fish is a reminder that Jesus is still Lord, still providing, still calling. He invites them to breakfast, a simple act that speaks volumes about His desire for fellowship and reconciliation.
The conversation between Jesus and Peter is deeply personal. Three times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, mirroring Peter’s three denials. But Jesus doesn’t just restore Peter; He gives him a new, greater responsibility: to feed and tend His sheep. This is a call to move beyond the old ways, beyond just “fishing for men,” to the deeper, harder work of shepherding—caring for, nurturing, and growing others in faith. Jesus is clear: love for Him is shown not just in words, but in the way we care for His people.
This story is not just about Peter. It’s about all of us who have failed, who have gone back to what’s comfortable, who have doubted or denied. Jesus meets us in those places, offers forgiveness, and calls us to something greater. He reminds us that He has everything we need, even when we can’t see how. Our failures are not the end; they are opportunities for deeper grace, renewed purpose, and a recommitment to the mission He’s given us. The question is not whether we have failed, but how we will respond to His call to love, serve, and trust Him anew.
Key Takeaways
- Returning to the Familiar Is Not the Solution
When faced with uncertainty or failure, it’s tempting to retreat to what is comfortable or familiar, as the disciples did by going fishing. Yet, these old patterns often leave us empty, unable to provide the peace or fulfillment we seek. True restoration and purpose are found not in the past, but in responding to Jesus’ call in the present. He meets us where we are, but always calls us forward, not backward. [16:24]
- Jesus Provides What We Cannot
The disciples’ efforts yielded nothing until Jesus intervened, instructing them to cast their nets differently. This illustrates how our own striving, apart from Christ, often leads to emptiness. Jesus has resources and provision beyond our understanding—He prepares what we need before we even know to ask. Trusting Him means letting go of our need for control and being open to His direction, even when it doesn’t make sense. [21:06]
- Restoration Comes with a Greater Calling
Peter’s restoration was not just about forgiveness; it was an invitation to a deeper, more demanding role. Jesus moved Peter from being a fisherman to a shepherd, calling him to care for and nurture others. Our failures, when surrendered to Christ, become the soil in which greater responsibility and purpose can grow. The call to “feed my sheep” is a call to invest in others, to love sacrificially, and to lead with humility. [31:57]
- Our Response Defines Our Future
Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” is not just for Peter, but for each of us. Our answer shapes how we live, work, and witness in the world. It’s not enough to know what others say about Jesus; we must personally affirm Him as Lord and live out that confession, even when it costs us comfort, reputation, or security. Faithfulness means taking up our cross daily and following Him wherever He leads. [33:51]
- Failure Is Not Final—It’s an Invitation to Grace
If you feel you’ve failed too greatly for God to use you, remember Peter. Jesus does not discard those who fall short; He seeks them out, restores them, and entrusts them with His mission. Our brokenness is not a barrier, but a bridge to deeper dependence on His mercy and grace. The invitation is always open: cast your net on the other side, trust Him, and step into the new life He offers. [38:18]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:43] - The Disciples Return to Normal Life
[03:21] - The Weight of Peter’s Denial
[05:37] - Our Modern Moments of Denial
[07:16] - The Subtle Ways We Distance Ourselves
[09:45] - The Guilt and Shame of Failure
[11:52] - Jesus Appears Again: A New Beginning
[14:41] - Going Back to Old Habits
[16:24] - The Temptation of the Familiar
[18:12] - Remembering the Past and Facing Emptiness
[19:37] - Jesus’ Provision and the Miraculous Catch
[21:06] - The Source of True Provision
[25:46] - The Restoration of Peter
[31:57] - From Fisherman to Shepherd: A Greater Calling
[33:51] - Who Do You Say That I Am?
[38:18] - The Invitation to Grace and Renewal
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
---
### Bible Reading
- John 21:1-19 (Jesus appears to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, the miraculous catch of fish, and Peter’s restoration)
- John 18:15-27 (Peter’s denial of Jesus)
- Luke 9:18-25 (Peter’s confession of Christ and Jesus’ call to take up the cross)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In John 21, what did the disciples do after Jesus’ resurrection, and what was the result of their efforts before Jesus appeared?
[[14:41]]
2. How did Jesus provide for the disciples when they had caught nothing all night? What did He invite them to do after the miraculous catch?
[[19:37]]
3. In the conversation between Jesus and Peter, how many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him, and what did Jesus command Peter to do each time?
[[25:46]]
4. According to John 18, what were the circumstances and setting of Peter’s denial of Jesus?
[[04:51]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the disciples, especially Peter, chose to return to fishing after Jesus’ resurrection? What does this reveal about their state of mind?
[[16:24]]
2. What is the significance of Jesus providing breakfast for the disciples and inviting them to eat with Him? How does this act relate to grace and restoration?
[[21:06]]
3. Why does Jesus move Peter from the role of “fisherman” to “shepherd” in their conversation? What does this shift in calling mean for Peter and for us?
[[31:57]]
4. When Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” and then commands Peter to “feed my sheep,” what connection is He making between love for Him and caring for others?
[[25:46]]
---
### Application Questions
1. When you face uncertainty, failure, or disappointment, do you tend to retreat to old habits or familiar routines? What are some examples in your own life, and how do those choices usually turn out?
[[16:24]]
2. The disciples’ efforts produced nothing until Jesus directed them. Are there areas in your life where you are striving on your own and coming up empty? What would it look like to “cast your net on the other side” and trust Jesus’ direction?
[[21:06]]
3. Peter’s restoration came with a new, greater responsibility. Have you ever experienced God using your failures as a foundation for a new calling or deeper purpose? How did that feel, and what did you learn?
[[31:57]]
4. Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” is personal. If someone asked you that today, how would you answer—not just with words, but with your life? Are there areas where your actions don’t match your confession?
[[33:51]]
5. Is there a place in your life where you feel like you’ve failed too greatly for God to use you? How does Peter’s story challenge or encourage you in that area?
[[38:18]]
6. Jesus provided what the disciples needed before they even asked. Can you recall a time when God provided for you in an unexpected way? How did that impact your trust in Him?
[[21:06]]
7. The call to “feed my sheep” is a call to invest in others. Who in your life might God be calling you to care for, encourage, or help grow in faith? What is one step you can take this week to do that?
[[31:57]]
---
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Restores Us After Failure
No matter how deeply we have failed or denied Jesus, He meets us in our brokenness with forgiveness and restoration. Peter’s denial of Jesus was a moment of deep shame and regret, yet Jesus sought him out, not to condemn, but to restore and recommission him. In our own lives, we may carry the weight of past failures, feeling unworthy or disqualified from God’s love and purpose. But Jesus’ heart is always to bring us back, to heal our wounds, and to invite us into a renewed relationship with Him. His forgiveness is not just a second chance—it is a new beginning, filled with hope and purpose. [03:21]
John 21:15-17 (ESV)
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.” He said to him a second time, “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.” 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.”
Reflection: Is there a failure or regret in your life that you need to bring to Jesus today, trusting Him to restore and recommission you for His purpose?
Day 2: Returning to Old Ways Doesn’t Satisfy
When faced with uncertainty or disappointment, it’s tempting to return to what is familiar or comfortable, but true fulfillment is only found in following Jesus’ direction. The disciples, after Jesus’ resurrection, went back to fishing—returning to their old routines and ways of coping. Yet, their efforts came up empty until Jesus intervened. In our own lives, we may seek comfort in old habits or routines when life feels overwhelming, but these things cannot fill the void in our hearts. Jesus calls us to trust Him, to step out in faith, and to obey His voice, even when it challenges our comfort zones. [16:24]
John 21:1-3 (ESV)
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 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.
Reflection: What “old ways” or habits do you tend to return to when life gets hard, and how might Jesus be inviting you to trust Him for something new today?
Day 3: Jesus Provides What We Cannot
Jesus knows our needs before we do and provides in ways we cannot imagine, even when our own efforts come up empty. The disciples fished all night and caught nothing, but at Jesus’ word, their nets overflowed. He had already prepared breakfast for them on the shore, showing that He is both aware of and able to meet every need. When we try to control outcomes or rely solely on our own strength, we often find ourselves exhausted and empty. Jesus invites us to surrender our efforts and trust His provision, knowing that He has already prepared what we need. [21:06]
John 21:4-13 (ESV)
Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 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, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 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. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 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. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel empty or exhausted from your own efforts, and how can you invite Jesus to provide in that area today?
Day 4: Loving Jesus Means Caring for Others
True love for Jesus is demonstrated by caring for and nurturing others, taking on the responsibility to help them grow in faith. Jesus’ repeated question to Peter, “Do you love me?” was followed each time by a command to care for His sheep. This shows that our love for Christ is not just a feeling or a private devotion, but is lived out in our willingness to serve, guide, and nurture others in their walk with God. It requires dedication, sacrifice, and a heart that reflects Jesus’ own compassion for His people. [31:57]
John 21:15-17 (ESV)
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.” He said to him a second time, “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.” 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.”
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that God is calling you to care for, encourage, or help grow in faith this week?
Day 5: Responding to Jesus’ Call with Renewed Commitment
Jesus calls us not to return to our former ways, but to step forward in faith, trusting Him with our future and embracing the mission He gives us. After restoring Peter, Jesus challenged him to a greater responsibility, reminding him—and us—that our failures do not disqualify us from God’s purpose. Instead, they can deepen our dependence on His grace and renew our commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly. Jesus has everything we need for the journey ahead; our part is to respond with trust, obedience, and a willingness to say, “Here I am, Lord, send me.” [38:18]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: What is one step of faith or obedience you sense Jesus is calling you to take today, leaving behind what is comfortable or familiar?
Quotes
``If you've ever felt that you messed up so badly that God could never use you then you are exactly the person that God could use don't allow flesh don't allow Satan's lies to make you feel any different he's calling out from the shore don't you have any fish no I've got nothing cast it on the other side and see what you get. [00:39:07] (35 seconds)
Jesus doesn't give up on us even when we fall short he sees our failure as an opportunity to actually learn more about his love than we did prior to but to also realize how truly dependent we are on that mercy and grace and then recommit ourselves to a greater mission than the one that we thought that we were on because you've been given grace you've been given mercy you've been given forgiveness now go and feed his lambs with it. [00:38:18] (49 seconds)
The good news. Is that Jesus doesn't. Leave us in our failure.He doesn't. Allow. Us. That moment. We might sink. Into that pit. We might feel. As if we are sinking. In that quicksand. But that. Is. Our flesh. That is. Our mind. That is. Our soul. Trying to grip. With the idea. Or the fact. That I have denied. Jesus. Once again. Jesus. In his appearing. Not just before. Thomas. But also. His appearance. His appearance. Now. Before Peter. Allows us. To understand. An aspect. Of the gospel. That goes beyond. Love. And good works. [00:11:44] (60 seconds)
It's one thing for us to recognize and to know that we live in a community that we live in a society we live in an environment where there are all these different ways to get to God all of these ways to personal enlightenment all these different ways hopefully to some sort of heaven like experience or existence but that's not what Jesus said Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me so who do you say that Jesus is as we're in our community and we get to understand what different people families people groups have to say or about religion about faith about God about eternity there comes a point where we we have to stand up with a response that we know that is true and eternal and a hundred percent right thou art the Christ the son of the living God. [00:34:45] (67 seconds)
See the thing is is that Jesus has exactly what we need Jesus has it even when it doesn't make sense to us how he could possibly have it how is it that he is able to impart peace how is it that he's able to impart grace how is it that he's able to calm souls how is it that he's able to because he's Jesus because he is the Lord because he is ablebecause in him the fullness of God dwellswhat we have to get past is our own insecurities our own doubt our own feeling that I know exactly what it is that I need to do and start doing exactly as Jesus told us we need to be doing. [00:25:04] (59 seconds)
How many times has our denial. Has our rejection. Has our refusal. Led us to consider. Or hear. The sounds of. Nails. Being pounded once again.We are more like Peter. Than perhaps we've considered.Then you turn the page. To chapter 21. You turn the page. To chapter 21. And John is. Is now adding to that story. Of Peter's for us.And in this chapter. It's a moment where. Peter's accuser. Where Jesus had. Every right.To lay blame on Peter. For his denial. For his rejection. And his rejection. And what Peter does. Is extend his forgiveness. [00:10:34] (69 seconds)
But before in Matthew chapter 4 whenever Jesus said follow me and I will make you fishers of men that was the ground level of what Jesus was calling Peter to do being a shepherd however there is a lot more involved there is a lot more responsibility for a shepherd than there is for a fisherman I want us to understand here that what Jesus was trying to get Peter to recognize and to sell here is that he was going to go beyond just being a fisherman and he was going to be asked now to do something that was a lot more involved than what he was originally called to do feed tend take care of raise my sheep that required a little bit more dedication a lot more dedication that required a little bit more resolve on Peter's part a lot more resolve. [00:28:57] (66 seconds)
There are times when we're given opportunity to speak the name of Jesus to speak on and to share what God would have us do what is right what is holy what is honorable what is trustworthy what is goodand we reserve ourselves because we are afraidhere he gives Peter opportunity not just to be forgiven not just to be restored but he gives Peter an opportunity to take on a greater responsibility than what he had beforeJesus gave him an opportunity not to prove his lovebut to begin to show what was Peter claimed was deep down inside of himself a love for Jesus by his responsibility to the church by his responsibility to the church at the ending of these 50 days that is exactly what is about to be established the falling of the Holy Spirit on the disciples and the establishment of the church. [00:31:38] (83 seconds)
Jesus was making it clear that if Peter was to truly claim love for Jesus that he needed to be dedicated to to love and to take care of Jesus' sheep in fact it's part of the way that Jesus summarized all the law of the prophets love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your mind with all your soul the last time that I looked the word all meant all not a tenth not a portion not some of the time not whenever you feel like it all and then to love your neighbor as yourself. [00:30:02] (42 seconds)
