"God’s Visitation Program”

I want to talk with you about God’s visitation program. Now, when we think of a visitation program in church, we think of visiting someone to tell them about Jesus. But today, I want us to think about God visiting us to show Jesus to others.

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In verse 12, Peter mentions “the day God visits us.” Some say this refers to the return of Christ. Now, Paul says when Christ returns, “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). Believers will confess what we already know; and unbelievers will confess what they will have learned, because they will see Jesus in all His glory. To confess Jesus as Lord now, leads to eternal salvation; but to wait to confess Him as Lord then, will precede one’s eternal condemnation.

So there is a sense in which Peter is referring to Christ’s return in glory. But it’s also true the Lord wants to show up in the lives of His children, to make Himself known to unbelievers so they might be saved today.

I believe that this is what Peter had in mind when, later in this same book of the Bible, he tells us, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15).

Why would an unbeliever ask us to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ? It’s because they’ve come to recognize God showing up and showing off in our lives, which will happen if we set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts. Which is what Peter explains in our text today.

We read about Peter’s call to become a disciple in Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; and Luke 5:1-11. Luke says this happened after Peter, Andrew, James and John had been out fishing all night, not having caught anything. But Jesus told them to cast their net out one more time, and this time, they caught a miraculous number of fish. Peter knelt before Jesus and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, oh Lord.” Jesus responded by calling Peter and the others to follow Him, saying, “Don’t be afraid. Come, follow me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” They left their nets and followed Jesus.

Jim Putman, in his book, “Real Life Discipleship,” says that call Christ gave to Peter defines the three characteristics of a true disciple of Jesus. A disciple: 1) Knows and follows Christ; 2) Is being transformed by Christ; and 3) Is committed to the mission of Christ. Peter uses the same outline here. He says if we’re going to live in such a way so that God might show up and show off in our lives to draw unbelievers to Him, then we need to set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts. Which means . . .

1. There’s something we need to know - v. 11a

We’re “aliens and strangers in this world.” So our focus shouldn’t be on the things of this world, but the things of God. Not on pleasing this world, but pleasing our God. Peter learned this the hard way.

Like the other disciples, Peter thought Jesus’ mission was to free Israel from Roman oppression and reign as an earthly king. That’s why they were always asking Jesus for things like granting them the privilege of sitting at His right or left hand when He came into His kingdom. They thought following Jesus was all about what Jesus could do for them.

Even when Jesus was arrested, Peter was thinking about an earthly kingdom. When the guards came to arrest Jesus, who drew his sword and cut off the High Priest’s servant’s ear? Peter (John 18:10)! He was saying, “Look Jesus! I’m ready to fight to conquer Your enemies.” But Jesus said, “No!” as He reached out and healed Malchus’ ear (Luke 22:51). Disillusioned, Peter later three times denied that he even knew Jesus. Ironically, Peter really did not know Jesus in the way Jesus wanted to be known by him. Jesus had told Peter this would happen, and when Peter realized that what Jesus had said would happen, did, he was devastated by his betrayal of His Lord.

After Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to Peter and some of the other disciples (John 21:1-22). After they’d been fishing all night without catching anything (sound familiar?). Jesus appeared on shore and told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, and when they did, they caught a miraculous number of fish (sound familiar?). When John said, “It is the Lord,” Peter dove in and swam to shore to find that Jesus had prepared breakfast for them over a fire of burning coals (John 18:18 - sound familiar?). Then, after breakfast, Jesus took Peter aside and let him reaffirm his love for Him, 3 times (sound familiar?).