Message
John 21:15-25
When Jesus Restores the Fallen
Do you sometimes live your life with a sense of regret?
I do.
In fact it can be a real struggle and I need to keep challenging myself to stop.
Because, when you can keep on looking back, you can find yourself somewhat trapped by the past.
And we don’t want to be trapped by the past.
In fact Jesus doesn’t want us to be trapped by the past.
Jesus has come to enable us to move forward.
As we look at our last message in our series on John that truth clearly comes out.
Let’s read John 21:15-25
So how did we get to this point?
It all started because there was the denial of Peter.
It started with a great sense of conviction that it would never happen.
Let me read Matthew 26:31-35
31 Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
‘“I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’
33 Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.’
34 ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.’
35 But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same.
He is so sure. He is so wrong.
Asked by a servant girl … he denies it.
Asked by another person … he denies it.
Asked by a third person … he calls down curses upon himself and denies it.
When the denial occurs this is what happens:-
61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times.’ 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61-62)
That is Peter.
Taking hasty action that he regretted later. Like stepping out of the boat and ending up in the water.
Saying things he wished he had not. Like telling Jesus he can’t go the cross and then finding Jesus say to him, “Get behind me Satan!”.
But his denial of the Lord must have weighed heavy on his heart.
I wonder how many times he played that moment over and over in His head?
You do that, don’t you, when something happens that you regret.
Especially when that regret is related to the way that you live your Christian life.
How many times, even in the past week, have you done something that you feel a sense of regret because you want to act differently before the Lord.
Maybe it was words you used … or didn’t use.
Maybe it was a witnessing opportunity that evaporated because you didn’t take it.
A behaviour pattern.
A reoccurring sin.
A constant disappointing action.
An accusation against God.
A sense of doubt.
You see that is the reality of the Christian life isn’t it.
It isn’t always jumping around with our hands in the air.
We aren’t always on our knees in powerful communion with Jesus.
We live in a sin-stained, broken, draining world.
We have responsibilities and commitments and bills, and debt, and worry.
And isn’t there times when we know we need to be standing up for Jesus but really there is life.
And we say …
… well we don’t actually say it, but in the way we act at times …
We are basically saying Jesus can you please just leave me alone for a moment.
I don’t want to be close. I just need to not be identified as your disciple for a moment.
It probably doesn’t sound like a good idea to say that stuff out loud.
But isn’t that the reality sometimes?
Haven’t you been there are some point. Verging on that sense of denial.
For a moment Jesus I’m not really wanting to be your disciple.
It isn’t the end of your faith.
It isn’t that you are chucking it all in.
It is usually just a moment in time.
But it sits in the space where denial takes place.
And it will be a moment that has regrets.
When you are in that space it is then that you are in Peter’s shoes.
What does Jesus do with Peter.
Well that is how we end up on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
We saw a couple of weeks ago that seven disciples are out fishing, but catch nothing all night. Jesus comes at dawn on the shore and says, “Put the net on the other side.” Now they have too many fish.
Peter jumps into the water and swims to the shore because everyone realises it is Jesus.
When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. (John 21:9).
Only twice in the New Testament is this specific word for fire used.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”
It is in the context of the denial of Jesus
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
(John 18:17-18)
Around the first fire Peter made His denial. Now here is another fire … and Jesus is cooking breakfast. Nothing happens by coincidence.
The first fire was the fire of denial against Jesus.
This fire is a fire of fellowship where Jesus is taking the initiative to restore Peter.
Because that is what Jesus does … doesn’t He. He wants to restore us.
Even when we are beating ourselves up over the past.
Even when we are stuck in the guilt.
Even when we feel undeserving.
Even when we feel disqualified … or beyond forgiveness.
No matter what sort of break we have made from discipleship. Restoration is available.
So after the meal the conversation focuses on Peter.
And it is so amazing the way Jesus deals with this.
Jesus doesn’t say, "Peter, why did you deny Me?"
I told you it was going to happen.
You should have resisted harder.
I was so disappointed.
Jesus doesn’t do that because He knows all that will do is cause the guilt to wash even harder and even stronger.
Jesus doesn’t want to cause more guilt.
Jesus wants to take the guilt away.
So Jesus asks the question in a different way.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
Something really significant is happening here.
The last time in the Gospel of John when Jesus used “Simon son of John” was back in John 1:42.
Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter).
Ever since then it was Simon Peter, or just Peter.
Now it is back to the original name … the name Peter had before he was called a disciple of Jesus. Simon son of John.
By calling him “Simon, son of John” Jesus was bringing Peter back to the beginning.
Back to where it all starts … with all the adventures still ahead.
Now there is a new adventure. The adventure which will be the beginnings of the church.
Peter will be an important part of that adventure. But he needs to be in the right relationship with Jesus.
"Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
Remember what Peter had said
“Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matt 26:33)
So Jesus asks … three times … do you love me.
After each of Peter’s responses, Jesus gave him an assignment.
After the first he said, “Feed my lambs” … look after the young in the faith.
After the second question he said, “Take care of my sheep” … my followers are to be your focus.
The third time Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” … make sure you keep going for all as they mature.
Jesus is in essence telling him "I have work for you to do. If you really love me feed my lambs and tend to my sheep. You are going to be the Rock.”
Which sounds so encouraging.
But it takes a bit to get there.
You see a lot of people say that Jesus asked the question three times because Peter denied Jesus three times.
That is indeed the case.
But something else is going on here.
When Jesus asked Simon Peter if he loved Him, He was using a specific word denoting a specific type of love.
The word Christ uses in the Greek text is "agapao" also known as agape.
Agape represents a sacrificial love a love of total commitment. A love with no strings attached.
Jesus is basically saying to Peter, “Are you willing to give me your all? To make the complete sacrifice is necessary?”.
When Peter says, “Yes Lord you know that I love you.” Peter uses a different word.
In the Greek the word for love which Peter uses is "phileo."
This word for love means fondness; to have affection for; a personal attachment; a friendship.
It is still a strong word.
But it isn’t as powerful as agape.
So if we paraphrase what is happening here we would say something like this.
“Peter, do you love Me 100%, more than anything else?”
“Lord, you know I like you.”
Now we would look at that and say, “Peter that is bad”.
But it isn’t. Because this is Peter actually starting to learn to be honest about the level of his relationship with you.
Lord I want to love you – agape love – but I know myself. I know that I don’t have that character and strength. I know my weaknesses and my failings. I can’t say that I will give 100% commitment, because I know I am not 100% committed.
That is the honest situation isn’t it.
Not just for Peter, but for all of us.
How many of us are just so aware that the desire for 100% commitment is just that … a desire.
But the reality is so different isn’t it.
I don’t need to give you a list … you know exactly what I mean.
Now as you have this less-than-100%-commitment in mind let me show you what Jesus does.
Twice Jesus uses “agape” for love.
On the third time Jesus changes his question.
Peter do you phileo, me?
And Peter responds "Lord you know everything, you know that I phileo you."
Do you see how gracious Jesus is.
All Peter can give at the moment is phileo. So, instead of berating Peter for his lack of ability, Jesus lowers the bar.
Even though you can’t give me your all … I’ll take it.
Peter is not reinstated because he is a disciple of excellence.
Peter is reinstated because Jesus is gracious.
I don’t know about you but there are days when I am very conscious of my short-comings.
I wanted to be so much more for NEC, but know I let her down.
I think about people who have come and gone again. Could I have done more?
There are days where I see and hear what is going on and it brings me to a place where I never feel like I am enough.
But that is the point isn’t it.
I’m not enough.
Only Jesus is … enough.
Which means that all of us … all of us have a ministry.
We don’t have to have the right past.
We don’t have to have it all together.
We don’t even need 100% commitment.
We just need honesty.
Lord here I am, with all my weaknesses, short-comings and failings.
I’m not sure how good I will do, but I’m willing to help as best I can.
I love you Lord … but sometimes it is more phileo than agape.
When we are in that space Jesus in His grace says, “I’ll take that!”.
I’ll walk with you as we take the next step together.
Prayer
