Let’s talk about transformation. Merrian-Webster defines transformation as “a complete or major change in someone's or something's appearance, form, etc.” Transformation is at the heart of our Christian faith, isn’t it? Don’t we believe that Jesus Christ came into the world to transform the world—to change the hearts and lives of those who would believe in him? Don’t we believe that transformation is possible, not only in God’s creation, but in our individual hearts? I might even suggest that it’s impossible to see the transformation God desires in His creation until we see transformation in the hearts and lives of people. As we read the New Testament, particularly the Gospels, we find people whose lives were transformed when they encountered Jesus. Jesus just has that effect on people. Our new message series “Transformation: Possible” takes a look at six different biblical characters whose lives were changed by their encounter with Jesus.
When we talk about Jesus changing people, we’re talking especially about a change of heart. We’re not talking about physical hearts. We’re talking about spiritual hearts, which the Biblical writers understood to be the center of the will of human beings. Transformation then, from a Biblical standpoint, means to have a “change of heart” that involves our will and our total being as a person.
Heart transplants are increasingly more common. I’ve stood by the bedside and prayed with a couple of persons who’ve had heart transplants. The first heart transplant was performed successfully by Dr. Christiaan Barnard. He transplanted a human heart into Dr. Philip Blaiberg. After the surgery, Dr. Barnard carried the old heart in a plastic box and showed it to his patient. The two physicians sat in the hospital bed examining the scars and thickening of the dead useless heart. Dr. Barnard said, “Dr. Blaiberg, do you realize you are the first man in the history of humankind to sit and look at your own dead heart?”
Dr. Blaiberg received a new human heart to extend his life. Jesus came to transform the lives of people and give us a spiritual heart that lasts for eternity, and that He can use in the continuing transformation of His creation.
I wanted to start with Peter. I love the Apostle Peter. One reason I do is because Peter’s journey through life (and faith) so greatly reflects my own, and I suspect, many journeys of people sitting in this room. Peter’s is a life that experienced many transformations, and that’s the reason I wanted to start with Peter. I think Peter’s life reminds us that transformation is an on-going thing. It’s never a one-time event. That’s kind of what the whole “sanctifying” grace idea is about.
As a I mention “sanctifying” grace, I might take a moment to remind us of some basic Wesleyan theology, but let me do it in the context of the illustration of the heart transplant. Remember, grace is the means by which God engages us. Grace is how God saves us. Grace is how God changes us. In John Wesley’s understanding, God’s grace was real in three distinct ways—prevenient grace, justifying grace and sanctifying grace. You’ve heard me talk about those before. God’s prevenient grace is like going to the doctor and discovering we need a new heart, that something is wrong with the old one. We didn’t necessarily know it, and we don’t understand how it happened, but the doctor tells us we need a new heart. Prevenient grace is that grace that goes before. Justifying grace is that grace that washes away our sin, and in that moment gives us a new heart, and to use the heart transplant analogy, it is the time we’d say we received the heart transplant. Sanctifying grace is the process of learning how to live with that new heart. The diet has to change. The exercise regimen has to change. We have to stop doing the things we did before the heart transplant and begin doing new, healthier things if we’re going to utilize and honor the great gift we’ve been given.
Let’s follow that through Peter’s journey. Peter (who was Simon at the time) was called by Christ, and he responded to the call. He got that new heart, and he got a new name, too. Yet, Peter’s transformation wasn’t complete. There were numerous transforming moments for Peter. Peter walked on water! That’s was a transformative experience. Yet, even in the midst of that transformative experience his faith was so small that he couldn’t sustain it. Transformation can be a terrifying thing! Another transformative moment for Peter came when Jesus told Peter he was “the Rock,” and changed his name to Peter, yet almost immediately after, Jesus has to rebuke him, and even calls him Satan. From the Rock to Satan in a few verses…that, too, is transformative. Peter’s next transformative experience came on Mount Hermon when he witnessed Jesus transfigured, and Peter wanted to build three shrines for Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Spiritual high moments and spiritual low moments define our lives. Each one is part of God’s transforming work in our lives.
Perhaps the most transformative experience of Peter’s life was the experience we read in today’s Gospel—his denial of Jesus. It’s interesting that the most transformative event is also considered Peter’s greatest failure. Peter, who was ready to die for Christ, had a change of heart (a transformation?) when confronted by a young lady around a campfire. His world had been turned upside-down when Christ was arrested…and yes, this same Peter who would deny Jesus three times was the same Peter, who at the time of Jesus’ arrest, cut off the ear of one of the Roman guards. Brash, daring, adventuresome…yet, humbled under a colossal failure. But, God would use that colossal failure to transform this disciple into a disciple who would change the world.
Reminds me of another colossal failure. Remember the X-2 Skycycle? The Skycycle X-2 was ridden by Evel Knievel in his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls, Idaho on September 8, 1974. There was a tremendous amount of fanfare and publicity leading up to the event, and folks were gathered around to watch the event on closed-circuit television that Sunday afternoon. The parachute prematurely deployed as the Skycycle left the launching rail and induced significant drag. Even though the craft made it all the way across the canyon to the north rim, the prevailing northwest winds caused it to drift back into the canyon. By the time it hit the bottom of the canyon, it landed only a few feet from the water on the same side of the canyon from which it had been launched. Knievel survived his colossal failure and took home a boatload of money in the process. He performed few jumps after that, but it is a reminder that failure doesn’t have to be final.
Granted, there’s not much world-changing about Evel Knievel’s motorcycle jump across a canyon, but there are a couple of lessons I learn from Peter’s failure that might be transformative for us. First, I learn that the tears of our failure open the door for God’s transformation. Luke tells us that Peter went out and wept bitterly. So much had happened to Peter in the previous few hours. His life came crashing down around him. All the hopes and expectations of the past three years suddenly meant nothing with the arrest of Jesus. This was, for Peter, a crisis of faith. The question Peter had to answer was this—“Is Jesus still Lord even when my world is crashing around me?”
In Peter’s defense, at least he was close to Jesus. He followed into the courtyard after Jesus’ arrest. The rest of the disciples were nowhere to be found. Peter needed to know what was going to happen to Jesus. Something compelled Peter to stay there in the courtyard. I would have left after the first denial, but Peter stayed. Seriously, was Peter a glutton for punishment? No, I think he was hoping beyond hope that Jesus would do something to change the circumstances. But, he didn’t. Even so, God was not done with Peter yet.
Peter failed. He failed to acknowledge Christ at the most critical time in his ministry, yet Jesus Christ sees the desires of the heart in spite of whatever outward failure a person may show. He said: “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap” (Luke 21:34). Do you see the significance of what Jesus is saying? Jesus knows the human heart, its deceitfulness and frailty. He knows the consequences of being entrapped by the pleasures and possessions of this life. He knows that despite our best intentions we can fail Him and others. All of us can experience failure in our relationships, our work, our study, our commitments, and yes, our faith. Above all, spiritually, each of us has failed. The Oxford Dictionary describes failure as “to become deficient, to be wanting, to fall short of performance and attainment...” That is exactly how Paul described what happens in our relationship with God. He wrote in Romans 3:23: “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
When Peter failed, he saw Jesus looking at him. In that look was the encouragement to start again. Jesus accepts our intentions. He understood Peter did not mean to fail in his commitment and courage. He understands us and accepts what we had intend in our hearts. Jesus understands our weakness. He was personally tried and tested in all points as we are and so he is able both to understand and to strengthen. Jesus challenges our commitment, and it is there I learn my second lesson—no one fails beyond the reach of God’s grace.
Transformation is a life-long process. In the midst of our confusion, doubt and fear, Jesus comes to us, sends encouragement to us and calls to us. It was after the resurrection, and the women had gone to the tomb. Mark’s Gospel tells the story best. The words the angel speaks to the women at the tomb were these: “Go tell his disciples AND Peter… (Mark 16: 7). God had not forgotten Peter, and it was God’s desire to transform what Peter perceived as failure into a great triumph of faith. We find, too, in John’s Gospel after the resurrection Jesus was having breakfast with the disciples and he asked Peter three times, "Do your love me?" With Peter's reply each time one of the failures was wiped out. Then, Jesus challenged him afresh, "Well feed my sheep." The failure was forgotten and the fresh challenge was given.
What comes after "failure" in the dictionary? Faith! Faith is the key to transformation in our lives—faith to be forgiven, faith to start again, faith to find new ways. The future lies in faith. Grace pursues us. God pursues us to constantly change us. That’s the heart of sanctifying grace. The Apostle Paul says it this way: “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven” (Philippians 3:12-14, NLT).
The story is told of a young girl who accepted Jesus as her Savior and applied for membership in a local church. “Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your Life?” inquired an old deacon.
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“Well, are you still a sinner?” the old deacon asked.
“To tell you the truth,” replied the young girl, “I feel I'm a greater sinner than ever.”
“Then what real change have you experienced?” asked the deacon.
“I don't quite know how to explain it,” she said, “except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved, I'm a sinner running from sin!”
Peter’s transformation changed the world because the tears of his failure led him to God’s grace that we can never outrun. How will God work to transform you?
