Restoration and Grace: Jesus Meets Us Where We Are
Summary
Today’s reflection centers on the story of Jesus meeting his disciples on the shore of Galilee after his resurrection, as told in John 21. The scene is not one of triumph, but of heaviness—disciples weighed down by regret, confusion, and uncertainty about the future. Even after witnessing the resurrection, they are still wrestling with their failures and doubts. Peter, in particular, returns to fishing, the only life he knew before Jesus called him. In their exhaustion and emptiness, Jesus appears on the shore, unrecognized at first, and performs a familiar miracle: filling their empty nets with fish, just as he did when he first called them.
This encounter is a powerful reminder that Jesus meets us precisely where we are, not where we think we should be. He does not wait for us to have it all together. Instead, he comes into our discouragement, our confusion, and our sense of inadequacy. The invitation is not to a courtroom of judgment, but to a breakfast of grace. Jesus prepares a meal for his disciples, tending to their physical needs before addressing their spiritual wounds. Restoration begins not with our performance, but with his presence.
After breakfast, Jesus gently restores Peter, not by shaming him for his three denials, but by asking three times, “Do you love me?” In doing so, Jesus breaks the chains of regret and recommissions Peter for a new purpose—not as a fisherman, but as a shepherd of God’s people. The story reveals that our love for Jesus matters more than our record for him. Our failures do not disqualify us; God’s love recommissions us.
This truth is not just for Peter, but for all who feel unworthy, stuck, or spiritually numb. The gospel is not about coming to God perfect, but about letting Jesus meet us in our deepest need. Whether we are new to faith or have walked with Christ for years, the invitation remains: come as you are, rest in his grace, and follow him. Jesus’ call is not to follow a plan or a rulebook, but to follow a person—himself. He walks with us, restores us, and calls us forward into a life of trust, surrender, and purpose.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus meets us in our places of discouragement and uncertainty, not waiting for us to have it all together. He steps into our confusion and regret, offering his presence before asking anything of us. In moments when we feel lost or spiritually numb, we can trust that Christ is already on the shore, waiting to meet us where we are. [42:20]
- Restoration with God begins not with our performance, but with his presence. Jesus does not greet us with a list of our failures or a demand for perfection, but with a simple invitation to rest and receive. Grace often looks like breakfast on the shore—a tangible reminder that God’s love meets our deepest needs before addressing our shortcomings. [47:11]
- Our love for Jesus matters more than our record for him. When Jesus restores Peter, he does not focus on Peter’s denials, but on the question of love. Each affirmation of love breaks the power of regret and shame, reminding us that relationship, not record, is at the heart of discipleship. [54:27]
- God’s grace is greater than our sense of unworthiness. Many, like Jose in Belize, struggle to believe they can come to God as they are, thinking they must first clean themselves up. The gospel insists otherwise: Jesus meets us in our mess, and his invitation is always to come, not to perform. [59:32]
- Jesus’ call is to follow him, not a plan or a set of rules. After restoring Peter, Jesus recommissions him with a new purpose and a clear invitation: “Follow me.” This path may not be easy or comfortable, but it is marked by the presence of Christ, who walks with us and equips us for every good work. [01:03:48]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[10:43] - Opening Prayer and Introduction
[36:10] - Setting the Scene: The Shore of Galilee
[39:53] - Returning to What We Know in Uncertainty
[40:40] - Jesus Meets Us Where We Are
[41:30] - The Miracle of the Nets
[42:20] - Trusting Christ on the Shore
[43:21] - Jesus Fills the Empty Nets
[44:04] - Grace Looks Like Breakfast, Not a Courtroom
[45:13] - Peter’s Eagerness and Recognition
[47:11] - Restoration Begins with Presence
[50:00] - Jesus Restores Peter’s Heart
[54:27] - Love Over Record: The Threefold Question
[56:36] - Mission Trip Story: Meeting Jose
[59:32] - Grace for the Unworthy
[01:00:26] - Jesus Renews Our Calling
[01:03:48] - The Call to Follow
[01:09:45] - Communion Invitation
[01:11:35] - Communion and Prayer
[01:13:22] - Benediction and Sending
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: “Breakfast with Jesus” (John 21)
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### Bible Reading
John 21:1-19 (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.
>
> 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. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
>
> 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. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
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### Observation Questions
1. What were the disciples feeling and doing when Jesus appeared to them on the shore of Galilee? ([36:10])
2. How did Jesus first interact with the disciples after their night of fishing? What did he ask them to do? ([40:40])
3. What was already waiting for the disciples when they came ashore, and what does this detail show about Jesus’ care for them? ([45:59])
4. How did Jesus restore Peter after breakfast, and what question did he repeat three times? ([50:51])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Peter and the other disciples went back to fishing after Jesus’ resurrection, instead of waiting for him in a different way? What does this say about how people respond to uncertainty or regret? ([39:53])
2. The sermon says, “Restoration begins with presence, not performance.” What does it mean that Jesus met the disciples’ physical needs before addressing their spiritual wounds? ([47:11])
3. When Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” how did this process help Peter move past his failures? Why do you think Jesus focused on love instead of Peter’s record? ([54:27])
4. The sermon mentions that God’s grace is greater than our sense of unworthiness. Why do some people, like Jose in the story, struggle to believe they can come to Jesus as they are? ([59:32])
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### Application Questions
1. When you feel discouraged, confused, or spiritually numb, where do you tend to “go fishing”—what old habits or comforts do you return to? How might you recognize Jesus “waiting on the shore” for you in those moments? ([39:53])
2. The disciples expected a courtroom but found a breakfast. Are there areas in your life where you expect God to judge or scold you, but he is actually inviting you to rest and receive his grace? What would it look like to accept that invitation this week? ([47:11])
3. Jesus restored Peter by asking, “Do you love me?” instead of focusing on his failures. Is there a regret or failure in your life that you feel disqualifies you from serving God? How does Jesus’ approach to Peter challenge your thinking? ([54:27])
4. The story of Jose in Belize shows how shame and a sense of unworthiness can keep people from coming to Jesus. Have you ever felt like you needed to “clean yourself up” before coming to God? What would it look like to come to him as you are, right now? ([59:32])
5. Jesus’ call is to follow him, not a plan or a set of rules. In what ways do you find yourself trying to follow a plan or checklist instead of following Jesus as a person? How can you shift your focus this week? ([01:03:48])
6. After restoring Peter, Jesus gave him a new purpose: to “feed my sheep.” Is there a way God might be calling you to care for or serve others, even if you feel unqualified? What is one step you could take? ([50:51])
7. The sermon says, “Restoration begins not with our performance, but with his presence.” What is one practical way you can make space for Jesus’ presence in your daily routine this week? ([47:11])
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Closing Thought:
Jesus meets us where we are, not where we think we should be. Whether you feel stuck, unworthy, or just tired, his invitation is the same: come as you are, rest in his grace, and follow him.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Meets Us Where We Are
No matter how lost, discouraged, or uncertain we feel, Jesus comes to us right in the midst of our struggles and confusion, meeting us on the shore of our lives before we have it all together. He does not wait for us to fix ourselves or find the answers; instead, He stands ready to meet us in our disappointment, our weariness, and our questions. Just as the disciples, after a night of fruitless fishing, found Jesus waiting for them on the shore, so too does He wait for us, inviting us to trust that He is already present and working even when we cannot see Him. When the future is unclear and we are tempted to return to old patterns or comforts, Jesus is there, calling us by name and offering His presence. [42:20]
John 21:1-6 (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. 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.
Reflection: When you feel uncertain or discouraged, where do you tend to turn for comfort or direction? How might you look for Jesus waiting for you on the “shore” of your current situation today?
Day 2: Jesus Invites Us to Rest in His Grace
Jesus’ invitation is not to a courtroom of judgment, but to a table of grace—a place where we are welcomed, nourished, and restored by His presence, not our performance. When the disciples came ashore, they found not a rebuke but a warm fire and breakfast already prepared, a tangible sign of Jesus’ care and provision. He knows our failures, our regrets, and our exhaustion, yet He offers us rest and acceptance before we have done anything to earn it. Restoration begins not with what we can do for God, but with receiving what He has already done for us. In the quiet presence of Jesus, we are reminded that His grace is greater than our record, and that He delights to meet our needs with compassion and love. [48:40]
John 21:9-13 (ESV)
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: In what area of your life are you expecting judgment or disappointment from God, when He may be inviting you to rest in His grace and presence instead?
Day 3: Jesus Restores Our Hearts
Jesus does not shy away from our failures or regrets; instead, He gently brings them into the light, not to shame us, but to heal and restore us. Just as Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, was asked three times, “Do you love me?” by the charcoal fire, Jesus recreates the scene of our deepest wounds to offer us a new beginning. Our love for Jesus matters more than our record for Him, and with every honest answer, He breaks the chains of shame and disappointment that hold us back. In the place of our greatest need, Jesus meets us with mercy, inviting us to let Him restore what is broken and renew our relationship with Him. [54:27]
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: Where do you most need Jesus to restore your heart today? What would it look like to let Him meet you in that exact place of need?
Day 4: Jesus Renews Our Calling
After restoring us, Jesus does not leave us in our past; He calls us forward with renewed purpose, reminding us that our mistakes do not disqualify us from His mission. Peter, once a fisherman and a man marked by failure, is recommissioned by Jesus to shepherd His people, even though the path ahead will be costly and require trust and surrender. Following Jesus is not about comfort or perfection, but about walking with Him in obedience and love, trusting that He is with us every step of the way. Our calling is rooted not in our performance, but in the presence and love of Christ, who invites us to follow Him into a life of purpose and meaning. [01:02:10]
John 21:18-19 (ESV)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense Jesus calling you to step forward in faith, even if it feels costly or uncertain?
Day 5: Come to Jesus as You Are
The heart of the gospel is not about getting ourselves together before coming to Jesus, but about coming to Him as we are—broken, weary, and in need of grace. Many, like Jose in the story, hold back from Jesus because they feel too unworthy or believe their past disqualifies them from His love. Yet Jesus’ invitation is always to come, to receive His grace that is greater than our sin, and to let Him do the work of restoration in us. Whether you are taking your first step of faith or have walked with Jesus for years, the invitation remains: come to Him as you are, trusting that His love and sacrifice are enough. [59:32]
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Reflection: Is there any part of your story or your heart that you have been holding back from Jesus because you feel unworthy? What would it look like to bring that to Him today, trusting in His grace?
Quotes
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