EARNING ANOTHER CHANCE
John 21:15-23
GOAL: To inform the listeners that God is the God of “second chance.”
INTRODUCTION
Granting another chance to an offender is not easy and yet this is the attitude that Jesus exemplified to His disciples. Some of us may not agree with the idea of giving another chance to a person who offended us or others may agree that we should.
What qualifies a person to receive a second chance in life to prove that he is worthy? Does the nature of offense matter? What criteria should we use in granting an offender a second chance? Please open your bibles to John 21:15-23.
EXPOSITION
We recall that Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him (See Matthew 26:31-35). In that conversation Peter said “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” By the way, not only Peter made that promise but the rest of the disciples (See Matthew 26:35).
Few days after, Peter denied Jesus three times and he remembered what Jesus said and wept bitterly signifying his humility and repentance (See Matthew 26:69-75). Among the disciples, only John stood by the Lord at the cross (See John 19:26-27).
After Christ’s resurrection, He appeared and stayed with the disciples for 40 days. Before He ascended to heaven, He reinstated Peter to ministry and most likely every one of them. John 21:15-23 shows how Jesus reinstated Peter to ministry.
APPLICATION Jesus revealed that God is the God of “another chance.” The disciples repented and returned to Him and gave them another chance to be His witnesses. Instead of gathering new sets of disciples, He reinstated and taught them how to be faithful ones.
God does not want his followers to end in failures but learn from their failures and proceed with their allegiance with Him. Let us not hesitate to return to the Lord when we have failed Him once and twice. We all have failed the Lord one way or another in varying degrees and different situations.
After we have suffered the consequences of our actions and learned from the experience, with all humility let us go back to the Lord for He is ready to give us another chance. With that in mind, let us also learn to give another chance to people who have failed us in the past.
How did Jesus reinstate Peter for ministry? Jesus reinstated Peter for ministry by conducting check-ups.
1. Jesus reinstated Peter for ministry by checking on his motive. (John 21:15-17)
Peter denied Jesus three times, now Jesus asked him three times if he truly loves him. Jesus would like to find out if Peter’s love for Him is greater than the love of the rest of the disciples then. Peter confirmed that he loves the Lord. Afterwards Jesus gave him his responsibilities.
The responsibilities are huge and it requires the right motive: love. Without love, the dedication to do ministry would not last. Jesus wanted Peter to have a lasting motive for following Him that is love for him.
Love assumes various qualities necessary to do the ministry – patience, kindness, unselfishness; faith, hope, and endurance (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
APPLICATION When reinstating a person to a responsibility, relationship, and privileges; it is necessary that we check the person’s motive. Aside from repentance, transformation, and humility; we would like to make sure that that person’s intention carries certain qualities necessary to give the person another chance. The best motive for giving another chance is that of love.
2. Jesus reinstated Peter for ministry by checking on his commitment. (John 21:18-19)
Jesus described the future that awaits Peter. Jesus contrasted the freedom and alertness of youth with the helplessness of old age. He said this describe the kind of death that Peter would face. He would be forced to carry the cross over his shoulders and behind his neck.
His arms and hands would be stretched out and tied to the cross beam. It was reported that Peter died by being crucified upside down. However, his death would glorify God. Jesus would like to know whether his commitment would be willing to embrace this kind of sacrifices.
Obviously, Peter responded positively. Afterwards Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.”
APPLICATION Similarly, when a person is given another chance to a relationship, responsibility, or privileges; we need to check on his commitment of sacrifice. When we failed in a relationship, responsibility, or privileges; many have changed. We lost the trust, respect, and opportunities.
It would take a while to regain those and we need to prove our worthiness again by our commitment to sacrifice and persevere. We need to work hard and persevere to regain the trust of the people we have betrayed.
3. Jesus reinstated Peter for ministry by checking on his priority. (John 21:20-23)
While Peter was establishing motive and commitment, he suddenly saw John. And he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
When we analyze Jesus’ response, we will realize that He was teaching Peter to focus on his life – that is his priority. Peter’s inquiry was not a question of concern but an attitude of comparison.
He was as if asking, “Lord, you have demanded much from me but what about him?” Jesus’ response however implied that it is not his business; He has a different plan for John. Jesus wanted Peter to focus on his individual responsibilities before God and not to meddle into the lives of other believers.
We do have responsibility of caring for one another but we should allow ourselves to be distracted by other believers’ concern. God has his plan for us; He also has plans for our Christian friends and associates. How he works in their lives is His business. Our business is to follow Him as He leads us.
APPLICATION People who have failed in their responsibilities, relationships, and privileges have the tendency to compare their lives to others. And sometimes in the process of comparison, they begin to complain and whine that they are fortunate and blessed.
Example: A student who wasted his chance and later realized that he needs to comeback. He cannot help but see his contemporaries achieved so much and have advanced while he was still out there struggling to complete his unfinished commitment.
We need to remind the “second chance/r” that their priority is to redeem themselves by doing what is expected from them. Remind them to stop comparing and whining because in due time they will get there too.
CONCLUSION
God gives another chance to those who repent and humble themselves before him. But that chance requires the right motive, commitment, and focus on one’s priority.
What about us? Who is waiting before us to receive a second chance of our trust and respect in terms of relationship, responsibility, and privileges? There is always a risk but the Lord can take care of that risk if we follow His example.
