Feed the world

[0:00] Well, last week we looked at John 17. If you weren't here with us, we kind of went back to look at Jesus' great prayer that he prayed for his people. And we saw a number of things.

[0:12] But amongst others, we saw how Jesus came into this world primarily to reveal God to us. To reveal the name of God. To reveal to creatures who their creator actually is.

[0:25] That's what Jesus' mission was. To reveal to us creatures who made us. What he's about. What his plans are. And that all is information that we wouldn't have if Jesus didn't come into this world.

[0:37] It's information that we can't find apart from Jesus. And of course, it's vital information for each of us as creatures to know our creator. And of course, we've seen in the Gospel of John over the last few months as we've gone through John, we've seen how Jesus reveals our creator to us.

[0:55] The various ways. The various things he did. The miracles that he did. The teaching that he gave. Revealed to us who God is. His father. But ultimately, we saw that God is revealed when Jesus died.

[1:10] That was what he called his moment of glory. When he died on the cross. Because it's there that we learned that God, the God who created us, the God we worship, the God we're accountable to, is a God of complete and perfect justice in punishing sin and complete and perfect mercy in forgiving sinners.

[1:33] And God is both of those. And we can worship God as both of those things. Which no other religion can do. Because no other religion has that revelation of God that Jesus gave us on the cross.

[1:45] And then, of course, we read that Jesus rose again. To show us that his death worked to pay for sins. And to show us that because of God's mercy, new life is available. Eternal life is available to those who truly believe.

[1:59] And that's what we've discovered so far in John. All those amazing truths. And you'd expect that to be the end. You'd expect the gospel to end there at the end of chapter 20.

[2:11] It's a great place to stop. The end of John chapter 20. The disciples have just witnessed the resurrection. Jesus has met with them and given them their mission to spread the gospel. And John ends chapter 20 by saying these words.

[2:23] He says, Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. And that by believing you may have life in his name.

[2:37] The end. And that's an appropriate ending for John's gospel, isn't it? It sounds like a perfect way to end. Except it's not. We turn over and there's another chapter. Why?

[2:49] Everything's done. We've found out everything we need to find out. Why does John chapter 21 even exist? Well, the reason we'll discover this morning is because Jesus is not quite finished revealing his father to us.

[3:05] There's something else he wants to reveal about God, which he does here in chapter 21. But he does it in the strangest of ways. He does it by having a bring and bri.

[3:17] And I'm not joking. That's exactly what he does. He holds a bring and bri. For those of you who don't know, maybe you're foreign. A bring and bri is one of the greatest South African institutions.

[3:30] It's part of what being South African is about. We even have a national bri day to celebrate it. You know, a bring and bri is what brings people together. As the host, you don't have to feel the pressure of getting all the food because people bring it.

[3:42] And it's a perfect way to just come together and chill together. And, of course, every South African knows the benefits of having a good bring and bri, don't we? Well, apparently Jesus does too.

[3:55] And I think this is indisputable evidence that we're going to have bries in the new creation, just by the way. But what does it mean? Why does Jesus do this? Why does he have this bring and bri on the beach with his disciples?

[4:09] And why does John record it for us? Why is it here? And we discover as we read it that it's not just any old bri. It's not just a farewell meal. It's also a sign.

[4:19] You know, John's book, John's Gospel, has been filled with signs where Jesus does something spectacular and then it has a meaning that he goes on to explain.

[4:30] And like with all the signs in John, there's something very important for us to learn from this sign as well. And so, let's go through it again. This is what happens. After the incredible events in Jerusalem, Peter and a number of the disciples are back in Galilee, where they originally come from, and they decide to go fishing.

[4:48] After all, that is their livelihood. That is how they pay the bills, through fishing. That's their job, their day job. And so, they're basically back in the ordinary swing of life.

[4:59] They're just making ends meet. They're just back in life, paying the bills. So, that's where we find them. Now, in the Sea of Galilee, the best fishing happened at night.

[5:11] If you're a fisherman, you might know that some fish only really come out and are active at night. And so, that's when fishermen in Galilee used to go. But they end up having a really bad night, we're told, and they catch nothing.

[5:25] And then dawn breaks, and it's almost time to pack it in. And when they hear someone shouting to them from the shore, we pick it up from verse 5. You can follow along in your Bibles. He called out to them, friends, haven't you any fish?

[5:38] No, they answered. He said, throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple of Jesus' love said to Peter, it is the Lord.

[5:53] As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, it is the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him, for he had taken it off, and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from the shore, about a hundred yards.

[6:06] When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish you have just caught. So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore.

[6:17] It was full of large fish, 153. But even with so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, come and have breakfast. And let's just stop there.

[6:28] So this stranger turns out to be Jesus himself, appearing to them for the third time. So he's had these special appearances to the disciples, where he's taught them something important.

[6:39] And this is the third of his appearances to them. And he here displays his power by this miraculous catch of fish. Far more fish than the nets were even supposed to hold.

[6:50] And so this is clearly another sign. But what does it mean? Why is it here? Why does Jesus do it? Well, I think there are three distinct lessons that we're meant to get out of it. Maybe more, but three that we have time for this morning.

[7:03] That we're meant to learn both from this catch of fish, and this braai that they have afterwards, which is also important. So let's see what they are. The first thing we learn before anything else, which might come as a surprise to you, is that Jesus wants friends.

[7:17] Jesus wants friends. You see, this whole aspect of Jesus inviting his disciples to eat breakfast with him is quite important. Here, when he says, come and have breakfast.

[7:30] Because in that culture, it was significant to eat with someone else. When you invited someone for a meal, when you invited someone to come and share a meal with you, it was a significant step in your relationship with him.

[7:43] It was an invitation to familiarity in that culture. It was an invitation to friendship. So that's what Jesus is doing here. He's inviting his disciples to come and have familiarity with him, to enjoy friendship with him.

[8:01] That's what he's doing when he invites them to have breakfast. But of course, that's not surprising. We've already read in John, Jesus has had many meals with his disciples.

[8:13] He's already invited them into fellowship with himself through those meals. So what's so significant about this one? Well, this is the first meal that he has with them after his resurrection, in his new resurrection body.

[8:29] And John writes that. As he's writing the story, he makes the point, this is the Jesus that the disciples don't quite recognize, and yet they know it's him.

[8:39] This is the resurrected Jesus, the glorified Jesus. And yet they're just still standing around the bride having a chat. It seems so weird, this scene. John writes, when they were standing around the bride, none of the disciples dared ask him, who are you?

[8:54] They knew it was the Lord. So it implied that he looked different, but they still knew who he was, because he's in his divine heavenly body. But that's the point, I think, that's meant to stand out to us.

[9:08] That even then, in his divine heavenly body, he still wants to hang out with his disciples. Not just in his earthly state, but in his new glorious state as well.

[9:18] And that is profound. That should stand out for us. That the risen, glorious, vindicated Lord of heaven and earth still wants friends.

[9:30] He still just wants to stand around and have a bride. Think about that. That's amazing. I heard something the other day that really struck a chord with me.

[9:40] There's another miracle of Jesus that we never talk about, and that is the miracle of having 12 close friends in your 30s. And being in my 30s, I can totally relate to that.

[9:52] That is quite miraculous. But the thing is, Jesus, he doesn't actually need those friends. I mean, we all need friends, don't we? We yearn for friendship.

[10:02] Jesus doesn't need that. Of all the people in the world, he's got the most ultimate relationship you could ever have. He's got relationship with the Father. He doesn't need any other.

[10:14] But he still wants it. And that's what he's showing us here. He desires friendship with his people. Not just obedience and devotion and duty, but friendship.

[10:25] That's what he wants from his people. And that's what he's revealing about God himself. The heart of God here in this chapter. He's revealing to us that God is a relational God who wants fellowship with the people he saved.

[10:41] He doesn't just want service and worship and devotion, but friendship, relationship, fellowship. And Jesus, even in his heavenly glorious state, even right now, today, still wants friendship with his struggling, fallen disciples on earth like you and me.

[11:03] Think about that. You've probably heard it before. Christianity is not just a religion, but it's a relationship. And that's true. But is that what it is for you?

[11:15] That's what it is for Jesus. That's what he wants. But is that what you want? Is that what you're seeking? Do you see the purpose of Jesus coming to save us and the purpose of us coming to church this morning to remember that and sing about that and believe it and learn more of what his word says?

[11:35] Do you see the purpose of all of that so that we can be in relationship with Jesus, that we can have a fellowship, a friendship with our creator? Because that's what Jesus wants, friendship with you.

[11:49] But is that what you want? If you're a Christian, are you actually seeking that in your week? Are you seeking to develop that friendship? Are you seeking to read the Bible, not just to tick a box, but to develop a friendship with the Lord, which is what he came to give you?

[12:08] Are you spending time with him? Are you talking to him on a daily basis? Are you enjoying his company? Are you seeking to hear from him and get to know him more?

[12:21] Because to be honest, just contacting someone briefly once or twice a week and mostly to ask them for stuff is not a friendship. And yet often that is the limit of the relationship that people have with Jesus.

[12:36] Think about how, if you had a close friend, but you only ever phoned them once or twice a week, you never actually got to see them. And every time you phoned them, you just said, oh, can you pick up the groceries for me?

[12:48] Can you do this for me? Can you give me that? Thank you very much. And then you hung up. That wouldn't be a friendship. So why do we treat Jesus like that? That's not what Jesus is looking for.

[12:59] It's not why he came. This is why he came. For real relationship, friendship with his people. And that's what he wants to remind his disciples of before he leaves, that he desires their friendship.

[13:11] But there's more that we learn from this encounter, more than just Jesus wants friends. The second thing we learn is that Jesus also provides for his friends. So this miracle clearly shows us that Jesus is helping his disciples to attain something that they couldn't attain by themselves.

[13:33] That's the sign. That's what the miracle is pointing to. The disciples' inability in his ability on their behalf to catch these fish. And like with all the signs in John, there's something more happening here.

[13:45] There's something, there's a deeper significance. I hope you've realized that by now. We've been going through John. Whenever you see one of these signs, it's a physical representation of something that's deeper going on.

[13:59] So there's more happening here than just Jesus providing food. And one of the reasons we know this is because fishing, especially to the disciples, Jesus' followers and to the early church, fishing was seen as something significant.

[14:16] It was seen as a significant activity, a symbolic activity, because that was the thing Jesus always used as a symbol for his mission that he's giving to his disciples of making more disciples, being fishers of men.

[14:29] So he's often used this fishing analogy to describe the mission that he's sending his disciples on. And John's original readers would have been familiar with that symbol.

[14:41] And of course, that's exactly what Jesus goes on to talk about around this bri with Peter. And so he's using essentially the physical act of fishing, the disciples' day job, to teach them something about their real job.

[14:57] Because they have two jobs. They've got their job that they need in order to pay the bills, but they've also got another job that he's called them to, and he's using one to teach about the other.

[15:08] The job to catch people for him, to bring people into a relationship with God through the gospel message. That is their real job. And what he wants to teach them this day in Galilee is that they will never again have to do that job alone by their own strength.

[15:28] Just as this day, they didn't have to fish by themselves in their own strength like they were used to. Neither will they have to fish for men, which is the mission Jesus has given them.

[15:39] They won't have to do that ever in their own strength. He will guide them. He will give them the ability that they don't have in and of themselves.

[15:51] And he will provide them with what they need to do that far more than they'll ever expect, than they can even expect. He will provide them abundantly over and above what they could expect.

[16:08] You know, it's stressed in the story, isn't it? The quantity of fish. Like a good fisherman, John actually counts them and tells us the exact number. Not that we really care, but he's the fisherman and he's proud of it.

[16:21] And it's amazing. He's just emphasizing this is far more than they could ever expect. Their nets were about to burst. And that's the point. Jesus is showing that his disciples, that as they're going to go out into this mission for the rest of their lives, they will have from him everything they need and more.

[16:41] And that's a good reminder, not just for them, but for us today. His disciples in every age need this reminder because we share that same mission. And the reminder is that if we are doing his work, we will have not our resources, but his resources at our disposal.

[17:00] So we can achieve great things for him. Things we could never do in our own strength. That is what he wants to assure us of. That's what he wants to assure all his disciples of here.

[17:11] And it is a huge encouragement when we think about it. Because we are living, chasing after resources.

[17:21] That's pretty much what we're doing. When I studied economics at university, I realized that is what the world is doing. Everybody is just chasing after resources.

[17:33] From the moment you're born, you know, when a baby cries, what's it doing? It's chasing after resources. It's chasing after its mother's milk. And we never end it. We never stop doing that. That's what our focus has taken up, chasing after resources so we can have security and happiness and blah, blah, blah.

[17:48] But Jesus is at this point bringing, bringing his disciples, raising his disciples up out of that rat race and saying, you don't have to anymore. Chase after resources because I will provide you with the resources you need as you do my work.

[18:02] Um, you know, it's been a huge encouragement for me as when I became a Christian and started getting involved in Jesus' work. And the more and more you do the work of God, the more you realize that this is true.

[18:18] This is absolutely true. You have everything you need more than you think. I often think of it like being a government agent in a foreign country. And I'll explain what I mean. I used to read a lot of spy stories, uh, you know, Robert Ludlam, Tom Clancy, those books.

[18:33] Uh, I really got, got hooked onto those for a stage of my life. And I was really interested in, in, in these spy stories. And, and typically, uh, spies will go live in a foreign country. They'll learn the language.

[18:44] They'll get an ordinary job. They'll keep a low profile. No James Bond stuff. Real spy workers, not like James Bond, you know, going to casinos and actually telling people his name. Who does that?

[18:55] If you're a spy, you've got an alias. You don't drive around in fancy cars. No, typically spies, um, live in places that no one notices. They'll, they'll, you know, drive around in rusty Ford Escort.

[19:06] They'll do normal, boring jobs. And yet, this is my point. They have all the resources of their government at their disposal to do their job. And if they run out of money, their government will just wire them some more so they can carry on their mission.

[19:22] They're, they're using their government's resources, not their own resources because they're on their government's mission. If they need a new passport or a weapon or a special gadget to do a job, their government will get it to them.

[19:34] They have access to satellite surveillance, special ops teams to help them when they need. Basically, they have unlimited resources because they're working for the government. Even if they're never technically rich, even if they live in a small flat and drive around a rubbish old car, it doesn't matter.

[19:51] They don't need to be rich because they've actually got more resources than everyone else. Because they're on a job, they're on a mission, and they've got unlimited resources for that mission. Because they're working for their government.

[20:03] Well, it's the same, even more so, if you're working for a heavenly government, which, if you are a disciple of Christ, is what, exactly what you're called to do.

[20:14] Work for a heavenly government. And if you, think about that. If you're working for the heavenly government, that has unlimited resources, even if you're living in a tiny flat, and driving around an old rust bucket, and holding down a rubbish job to make ends meet.

[20:30] And even if you're never rich or own property in this world, it doesn't matter because you're working for a better world. And you actually have a much higher calling than to get rich. Because a mission is what you have.

[20:43] A mission working for God's kingdom, and that kingdom will provide you with all the resources you need. And when you're involved in that, you won't run out of resources.

[20:55] Because you're called to a higher mission. And that's what Jesus wants his disciples to realize here. That he, you know, he's giving them a picture of what he's promised elsewhere.

[21:06] Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you as well. He means that. He's not just saying it as a platitude, something to stick on a fridge magnet.

[21:18] You know, he means it, and he wants us to believe it. That when you are seeking first his kingdom, when you are involved in his mission, you will get those 153 fish.

[21:29] You will get nets that are bursting. It's not saying, oh, you will become prosperous and rich. But what it's saying is that you will have everything you need to do your job. Because Jesus is there helping you, giving you those things.

[21:45] So that's the next thing he wants to help his disciples to see. That he provides for those who he calls to be his friends. But then there's something else.

[21:55] He goes on to describe just what that mission that he's providing for entails. And that's the last lesson we learn here. Not just that Jesus wants friends, not just that he provides for his friends, but then he calls his friends to feed others.

[22:11] Jesus calls his friends to feed others. Now, he has a very frank conversation with Peter around the braai. You'll remember that Peter was the disciple who denied him three times before the rooster crowed.

[22:26] He's a failure of a disciple. He's probably feeling the weight of that now. It's probably why he was so eager to get to Jesus before any of the other disciples. He jumped in the water and swam to him. He just, he's desperate for reconciliation with the Lord that he's disappointed.

[22:40] And it turns out as Jesus is talking to him, that even this failure, Peter still has a role to play in God's kingdom and a far more important role than he could ever have hoped for.

[22:53] Because here Jesus gives him a vital job. But it's important to notice how Jesus does this. Before giving him his job, he asks him how many times?

[23:03] Three times. The same number of times Peter denied him. Jesus asks Peter whether he truly loves him. Whether Peter loves Jesus.

[23:15] Before he gives him this commission. And it's an important question to ask him. Notice he doesn't ask whether he has the skills for the task. He doesn't ask, Peter, are you really up for this?

[23:26] He doesn't ask whether Peter's got the strength for the task. He doesn't say, Peter, are you sure you're not going to fail like you did before? He doesn't ask him any of those. He asks one question. He asks Peter, do you love me?

[23:38] And it's a vital question. It's one that all disciples should be asked. It's one that we should ask ourselves, each of us, in our heart of hearts. When we're alone, we should ask ourselves, do I love Jesus actually?

[23:53] Because one thing you need, above everything else, to do Jesus' work on earth. One thing we need to do his work here in Plumstead, as a local church, is a love for him.

[24:07] A real love for Jesus. That needs to be the motivation of our heart in everything we do. Otherwise it's not going to last. Otherwise it's going to fail. You know, if you volunteer in a church for a service, to do something, which we encourage all our members to do, by the way.

[24:26] If you're, and if you've been doing it for years and years, you're going to get tired, and you're going to want to quit. What's the one thing that will keep you going? I'll tell you. It's love for Jesus.

[24:37] When you love someone, you never get too tired. You never want to quit. You keep on going. And when a person's love for Jesus starts to fade, that's when their service for him starts to fade.

[24:52] That's when they're not interested in doing what he's called you to do. And so that needs to be the motivation for the mission. Love for Jesus. And that's, therefore, the first thing that Jesus asks Peter, do you love me?

[25:06] And then after Peter confirms his love for Jesus, it's then that Jesus tells him his task, which is, feed my sheep. And in saying that, I mean, think of how Peter must have felt in that moment, when it's a restoration.

[25:19] Jesus is restoring Peter from this failed disciple, back to what Jesus said he was going to be, the rock on which he will build his church, the leader of the apostles.

[25:33] And it must have been such a moment for Peter. And it's a beautiful reminder, isn't it? That there is no disciple below being called to do great things for God, no matter how much of a failure they are.

[25:45] And that should encourage all of us, because we are all failures. But that doesn't stop Jesus from giving us really important things to do for him. Just because you think you don't have what it takes, doesn't mean Jesus isn't going to call you to do really important things for him.

[26:02] That's what he's in the business of doing. He's in the business of empowering and restoring failures to important roles in his kingdom, because after all, it's not their resources that he's relying on.

[26:14] It's his resources that they're relying on. And that's what he does for Peter here. He restores him. He gives him an important place, an important role to play in his kingdom.

[26:26] And the job that he gives him, he describes as a shepherd feeding sheep, which is important, because it tells us that really this whole chapter is about feeding, in the end of the day.

[26:39] If you needed to understand what's going on in this chapter, as a whole, just think about feeding, because that's what's happening here. Jesus feeding his original disciples, and then he's sending them out to feed others.

[26:53] But what exactly does he mean? Does he want Peter and the other apostles to start soup kitchens, and catch fish, and then bribe them, and take them out to others?

[27:04] Is he talking about physical feeding? Well, no. And we see that as we read on. But what does he mean? How are Peter and the other apostles who Peter leads, how are they going to feed the sheep?

[27:16] Well, that's obvious if we consider the rest of John, if we consider everything that Jesus has already told them about their job. In John 15 and 16, for example, he told them how their job will be to testify to the truth that they've witnessed, that they've learned from Jesus.

[27:32] And he's told them how the Spirit will guide them to remember, and pass on everything they've learned. Do you remember that? In other words, that is how, that is their task. That is how they're going to feed the church, through their words.

[27:46] That's what feeds the church. That is the food of the church. God's words recorded and transmitted by the original apostles. And all of the apostles ended up doing that.

[27:58] They ended up spreading that word that Jesus gave them. But they didn't last forever. They died. But that doesn't mean that the task died with them.

[28:09] You see, because that task that Jesus gave his apostles here, through Peter, their leader, their task of feeding the church didn't stop when they died. It continues today. And it's continued ever since then.

[28:23] If it didn't, then you would never have heard these words. You would have never come to know the gospel. That task continues today of feeding the church. And the disciples of Jesus today are meant to carry on the feeding job.

[28:40] To feed God's flock. With the words that the apostles handed down to us. You know, they fed the flock through their original eyewitness testimony.

[28:52] We feed the flock through repeating that, through taking that preserved testimony, and sharing those words that the apostles gave us. Which reminds us, if that is our job, to feed God's flock, our job is not, therefore, just to bring people into God's flock.

[29:09] And I rightly emphasize the importance of evangelism as a church. We are meant to go out and bring people to know the gospel, to hear the gospel, to put their faith in the gospel.

[29:20] But that's not the end of our job. And that's what we need to realize here. Not just to bring people into God's flock, but then to feed the people who are part of God's flock.

[29:31] With these words, the words the apostles gave us. And of course, the prophets of the Old Testament. This is how we feed each other. This is how we feed the people of God.

[29:43] And that is not just my job. That is not just my job. It's yours. If you're a Christian, you also need to be involved somehow, in feeding God's people with God's word.

[29:56] Every disciple is called to a role in that. And yet, of course, we are involved in different ways. Not every one of us stands up and preaches. And that's what Jesus goes on to tell his disciples.

[30:07] We don't have time for it. We're going to look at it in growth groups this week. But essentially, Jesus goes on to tell Peter that his fate is going to be different from John's fate. While they'll both be involved in the work of feeding the church, it'll be in different ways, different capacities, with different ends.

[30:23] That's what he's telling Peter. Peter wants to compare himself to John. And Jesus says, that's none of your business. I've called you to a particular task. Don't worry about what John's called. I've called him to a different task.

[30:35] And it's the same with every Christian. Don't so much look at the Christian next to you and say, well, I want to be like them. Or, you know, they're doing that, so I don't need to. Or look at the pastor and expect the pastor to do all the work.

[30:48] Jesus has called each of his disciples to a particular role, a particular way in the job of feeding his flock. And it's the same for each of us.

[31:00] We're all called to the job of growing the church and feeding the church. But what that'll look like for us is different. You know, for someone like me, it'll look like working full time and studying scripture and teaching it week by week.

[31:14] For you, it might mean pursuing a secular job with the skills and the opportunities God has given you to make money to pay for me to teach and to plant more churches and to support missionaries overseas.

[31:25] But the point is, we are all called to the same task just in different ways. Question is, how are you involved in the task of feeding the sheep of God? That's what you've got to ask.

[31:37] If you call yourself a disciple of Jesus, how are you working to make sure that God's church is well fed? Ask yourself. What sacrifices are you making for the task?

[31:49] That's another thing Jesus emphasizes to Peter, that this task will be sacrificial. It will need sacrifice for him. So what sacrifices are you making for the task of feeding God's church?

[31:59] Whether that be meeting with a new believer to read the Bible, taking that time out of your week to read the Bible with someone, or opening your home to host a Bible study, or supporting a missionary overseas.

[32:14] How are you involved in feeding God's people? It's a question we all need to ask. Because that's the mission that God left his people with on earth.

[32:26] And that's the tone that rings out as we finish John. That the task is now set. The disciples are ready. Knowing that Jesus is with them.

[32:37] And providing for them to now feed God's people. To bring people into God's flock and to feed those sheep. And so we're left with this wonderful reminder here this morning. Of Jesus' priorities for us.

[32:49] For you. If you belong to him. And that is, first he wants your friendship. He wants real relationship with you.

[33:00] He calls you to active daily fellowship with him. But not only that. He also promises to provide for his friends. To bring you out of the rat race. To take you out of the chase for resources.

[33:14] And rather change that to chase after his glory. To glorify Jesus. And he will provide for you as you do that. Over and above what you need. So that you can do the most important work.

[33:28] And carry out his mission to the world. What an opportunity. What a privilege. That as a disciple. He doesn't just call you to have a hope. But he calls you to have a job.

[33:38] Here on earth. The most important job. That you could ever have. One that you in eternity will look back on. And go, I am so glad. That my life counted for something. I am so glad that I didn't just chase after resources.

[33:51] And live to get a comfortable retirement. What a waste. I am so glad Jesus called me. To a higher task. To feed his sheep. Will you be able to say that one day?

[34:03] Well that is what Jesus wants to leave us with. At the end of John. And I want to pray now. That God will help us. To answer that call. Let's pray. Yes, Lord Jesus. We thank you for this chapter.

[34:15] This last chapter in John. We thank you that it didn't end on chapter 20. But that you came to your disciples once more. To assure them of your friendship. For them. And to assure them of your provision.

[34:27] For them. As they carried out your work. Lord, thank you that you give us the same assurance. Thank you that you've called us to a much higher calling than. To get rich.

[34:38] Or to be safe. Or to be comfortable. But the calling to glorify our creator. Through the proclamation of the gospel. And through feeding your people with your words.

[34:50] Thank you, Lord. For that calling. And we pray. That you would help us each to know where we fit into that. So that this church. Here in Plumstead. St. Mark's. That we would be a powerful vehicle for you.

[35:02] Growing your flock. And feeding your flock. And that we would one day look back on this life. And know that it counted for something. I pray this all for all of us.

[35:12] In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[35:27] Salut. Amen. Amen.ame