WHEN PETER DIED TO SELF
Jn. 21:1-8,14-22.
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Agatha Longworth, age 78 and rather deaf, had a tendency to shout when she went to the Catholic confessional.
2. When the priest, Father Leo Dankin, asked her to speak more quietly, since everyone in the church could hear, she shouted, "What did you say?"
3. He carefully told her that she should write down what she had to say in advance. At her next confession, she knelt and handed a piece of paper to the priest.
4. He looked at it and said, "What is this? It looks like a grocery list." "Oh dear," said Mrs. Longworth. "I must have left my sins at the Kroger."
B. TEXT
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 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. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he… jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat…. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 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!” 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them […John, son of Zebedee] 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Jn. 21:1-8,14-22.
C. THESIS
1. The period following the crucifixion of Christ was probably one of the most remarkable periods in all of history.
2. There were earthshaking occurrences (Mt. 27).
3. For 40 days Jesus showed himself alive by many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3). The disciples had been devastated by his death but were elated by his resurrection.
4. They were Day is of Heaven on Earth! Walking and talking with the risen Savior. It was a time when heaven and earth overlapped.
5. For everyone that is -- except Peter!
I. PETER’S TEMPTATION TO GO BACK
A. “I’m going out to fish.”
1. There’s been a lot of Scriptural justification for fishing trips -- but I'd pick a different one.
2. NOT SIMPLY A LEISURE TRIP. In fishing all night using nets, do you think Peter just wanted something to do or was he returning to his old business?
3. Jesus had already called Peter to go fishing -- but for Men!
4. Mt. 4:20 records the call of Peter and Andrew, "At once they left their nets and followed him."
5. Jesus had told Peter (Lk. 5:10), "Fear not; from now on you will catch men."
6. Peter had at one time forsaken his boats, left his nets and his fishing career, and followed Jesus. He now went back to it.
B. WHY? DISAPPOINTMENT
1. Peter was undoubtedly disappointed with himself because of his cowardly denial of Jesus.
2. He no longer felt worthy to be an apostle. He didn't feel God was pleased with him.
3. Have you ever failed God? (We all have! But that doesn't mean we should go back.)
4. Have you ever felt like God wouldn't use you anymore?
5. When you "blow it" -- have you ever felt like running away? That’s how Peter felt!
C. HUMOR
1. There was a man trying to cross the street. As he steps off the curb a car comes screaming around the corner and it heads straight for him.
2. The man walks faster, trying to hurry across the street, but the car changes lanes and is still coming at him.
3. So the man turns around to go back, but the car changes lanes yet again and is still coming straight toward him.
4. By now, .....the car is so close ...and the man so scared .... that he just freezes and stops in the middle of the road.
5. The car swerves at the last possible moment and screeches to a halt right next him. The driver rolls down the window. The driver is .....a squirrel.
6. And the squirrel says to the man, ...."See, it’s not as easy as it looks!"
7. Church... It’s not as easy as it looks when you are trying to forgive yourself for something that you’ve done wrong.
8. We at times refuse to forgive ourselves and in a way it becomes a crazy form of penance. We feel we must suffer for what we have done. ‘Give them all to Jesus.’ [Jeffrey Smead] Instead, get up & dust off & go on.
D. WE CAN’T GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE
1. Peter was having one of those days, for in verse three Peter said, “I go fishing.” The Greek word “I go” was hupago, this is an interesting word that literally means “I retire.” We don’t retire, we refire!
2. Luke 9:62, “Jesus said, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Why you can’t go back?
3. We’ll be a BAD INFLUENCE on others. Six other apostles said, “We’ll go (“retire”) with you.”
4. YOU’LL NEVER BE HAPPY. A backslidden Christian is the unhappiest person in the world. He/she knows too much of God to enjoy the world and has too much of the world to enjoy God and His divine life.
5. NOTHING TO GO BACK TO. They fished all night and came up empty. God doesn’t bless disobedience!
II. REAL REASON FOR THE FISHING TRIP: SELF ON THRONE
A. PETER LIKE A YO-YO
1. John 13:6-10, "You'll never wash my feet"/"Wash all of me."
2. Mt. 16:16, 22, The Great Confession, Peter confessed Jesus was the Son of God/4 verses later Peter was rebuking Jesus.
3. Mk. 14:27ff, 67ff, "All may deny, not me"/ Denied 3X!
B. WHY? HE…
1. Never Surrendered his life to Christ.
2. Never Died out to his own will & wishes.
3. Never ceased to live for Peter & live only to please Christ!
C. PETER = SELF-MADE MAN
1. Natural leader.
2. Made his own way in the world.
3. Was his own boss.
4. Had Succeeded! (Sometimes success makes us think we don't need God.)
5. All these accomplishments made it difficult to let Christ take the reins of his life. He was probably afraid to.
D. PAUL -- BONDSLAVE OF CHRIST [CONTRAST]
1. Paul had been like Peter -- self-made, but on the road to Damascus, he was ARRESTED!
2. Rom. 1:1. Paul called himself "a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle." Elsewhere he referred to himself as "a prisoner of the Lord."
3. Paul said that because he belonged to the Lord, he lived only to do Jesus’ will.
4. So on the Damascus Rd., Saul of Tarsus died and a new man – Paul – began to live!
E. WHO ARE WE TRYING TO PLEASE?
1. Peter is evidence that a person can:
a. Love God
b. Be repentant
c. Even be filled with the Spirit...
AND STILL NOT HAVE SURRENDERED ALL TO JESUS!
2. Jacob had his Jabbok; Jacob died, Israel born.
Abraham had his Mt. Moriah; God given top priority.
Paul had his Damascus road;
And Peter had his encounter on the Sea of Galilee's shores.
III. PETER’S RESTORATION
A. BACK TO PLACE OF FIRST-CALL (Lk. 5:5-10)
1. Jesus chose this particular place for this manifestation.
2. First Call (Luke 5): PARALLELS WITH NOW
a. He had fished all night and caught nothing.
b. Jesus told Peter to put out his nets a 2nd time.
c. A miraculous amount of fish was caught.
d. The miracle occurred in Peter’s boats with Peter’s nets.
B. BACK TO PLACE OF FIRST-LOVE
1. Peter had seen the Lord resurrected before, but his denial had to be dealt with (around a small fire).
2. Three-fold Question of love, corresponding to the three-fold denial.(“Do you agapeo Me?” “I phileo you”)
3. Recommissioned, "Feed my sheep."
4. Hebrews Law for Hebrew Slaves, indentured servant
a. Their labor bought for 6 yrs, but on the 7th year they must be freed. But if they chose, they could be slaves for life. Many Xians = hirelings. Only temporary servants.
5. Ex. 21:5-6; “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.”
C. HUMOR OF PARTIAL COMMITMENT
1. A lawyer defending a man accused of burglary tried this creative defense:
2. "My client merely inserted his arm into the window and removed a few trifling articles. His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual for an offense committed by his limb."
3. "Well put," the judge replied. "Using your logic, I sentence the defendant's arm to one year's imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses."
4. The defendant smiled. With his lawyer's assistance he detached his artificial limb, laid it on the bench, and walked out.
5. That won’t work with our servanthood to God; He wants all of us and no part will do.
D. FINAL SURRENDER
1. Vs. 18. ‘You used to live for yourself Peter, but now no longer. You will die here and start living for Me.’He was crucified upside down.
2. "What about John?" "Don't worry about others. You must follow Me!"
3. Peter did. He left boats, nets, and never looked back. He put his ear to the door and became Jesus’ bondslave for life.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Story about President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln, of course, was instrumental in the first steps toward abolishing slavery.
2. One day he went down to a slave block to buy a slave girl. As she looked at the well-dressed white man bidding on her, she figured that he was just another one that was going to buy her and then abuse her.
3. Well, Lincoln won the bid, but as he was walking away with his legal property, he said, “Young lady, you’re free.” She was silent for a moment, and then she asked, “What does that mean?”
4. “It means you are free.”
“Does that mean I can say what I want to say?”
“Yes.”
“Does it mean I can do what I want to do?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Does it mean I can go where I want to go?”
“Yes, you can go wherever you want to go.”
5. Then with tears streaming down her face she said, “Then I will go with you!”
B. THE CALL
1. True forgiveness -- true joy -- is found only when we allow Jesus to forgive our past. Hit the stop button. Get of the guilt merry-go-round. Stop replaying the past, over and over again.
2. Is Jesus on the Throne of your life? Have you surrendered? Have you died out to your own will? Have you ceased to live for yourself and live only to please Christ?
3. Jesus has re-commissioned each of you to be His disciples; to show His grace -- to share His joy to those He places in your life.
