Jesus Restores Peter

Jesus and His Restoration of Peter - Sermon for April 30

We have been looking at some of the events surrounding the immediate aftermath of the resurrection. Of course we know that the resurrection has had a massive impact on the entire world over the last 2000 years.

It is the central event in history that divides time itself. History itself is marked by this event, so much so that we count time leading up to this event as BC, "before Christ" and we count time after this event as Anno Domini, or AD, the Year of the Lord”

So yes, the resurrection has had a massive impact on the world. But of course that impact…started…quite… locally.

It started in the lives of the people that were most directly impacted at the earliest moments of the resurrection, the earliest moments following the resurrection.

Last week, if you recall, Leah Katerberg talked about Thomas and the unfair place that he holds in history as a person who was racked with doubts.

But what’s interesting is that right after the passage on Thomas in John 20, we get the last verses, that feel very much like the end of the book.

John 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

And we might even, as we’re reading through the gospel, be tempted to stop right there, because it sounds like the end of the gospel. But the gospel of John continues into the next chapter with a lovely scene on the beach that will look at in a moment.

Right after that the disciples encounter Jesus on the beach, John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

And so, listening to this, you might wonder about this tension between Peter and Jesus.

We see that Peter was hurt because of Jesus repeatedly asking him the same question. Peter responds, after the third time Jesus asked him the same question: "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you".

Why is Jesus doing this? What is going on in his mind? Is he trying to be hurtful? Is it just a strange and unpleasant moment for Peter that we can never know the meaning of?

We need to go back to John chapter 13 to better understand. John records there that in the upper room, after Jesus has washed his disciples feet, Jesus predicts two things.

He predicts that Judas will betray him, and this actually happens quite rapidly, in the same setting, when Judas immediately goes out and betrays Jesus.

Jesus then predicts Peter's denial. We should hear this in context: Jesus says:

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

We can only imagine Peter's response to what Jesus says here. But it would've included a certain amount of shock, a certain amount of disbelief, most definitely this was a huge challenge to the way Peter saw himself and his relationship to Jesus.

After all, Peter had just said "I will lay down my life for you". That’s chapter 13.