So hey, good morning and welcome to this place that we call DCC. It is so good to have you with us this morning, that’s always true, but especially true if you are brand new. We want to give a special shout out and welcome to you if you were here for the first time last weekend on Easter and are giving us another shot today. Thanks for being willing to do that. It means a lot to us. So, last weekend was the biggest attendance ever in the history of this church. Just 8 years ago 204 people attended DCC on Easter weekend at Sand Creek High School, last week there were over 21 times that amount, over 4300 people. The best part about that is this we are cutting a check for $21,590 to Springs Rescue to help the homeless of our city. We don’t have the total yet from all of the other 37 churches that were a part of our COSIloveyou Easter initiative, but the total is quickly approaching $200k. We are still trying to track down numbers from a few pastors. It is very much like herding counts. I promise you that you will know as soon as we do.
If you are fairly new to this place before we go any further we want to make sure that you know that all of your story is safe and welcome here regardless of how it reads, you belong with us regardless of what you believe, even if it doesn’t line up with what we happen to believe, and you have walked into a place today that is full of people, not who used to be like you, tolerate or put up with people like you, or fix people like you. We can’t fix anyone. You have walked into a room today full of people exactly like you, people who have made mistakes, hurt people, been hurt by people, have parts of our lives and stories that we would like to change, erase, delete, and do over, people that all have things in our lives that we hope to, want to and need to overcome. That’s why we are doing this series.
ILLUST> About 10 years ago Adidas did an ad campaign with Gilbert Arenas who was an NBA star with a tag line that said this “when no one else believes in you, believe in yourself”. That really resonated with me at that point in my life. Just a few years before I had resigned from the church I was leading at the time after having an affair and blowing our lives up. My wife Stacy had decided to try and fight for our marriage and I was in some pretty intense counseling at the time trying to overcome the unbelievable mess that I had created. So I printed out the quote from Arenas, framed it and sat it on my desk. When no one believes in you, believe in yourself. One day I came in to my office and saw that my wife Stacy had taken it out and wrote Greg, I believe in you, love Stacy. I still have that to this day. The fact that someone who had experienced the very worst of me said I believe in you touched something deep in my heart. It began to uncover something that had been there all along that I had missed in all of my years in the church, my desire and need for more than forgiveness in my life.
I am not alone in that. There’s a lot of us sitting here today who have spent a lifetime missing this too. so, if we really want to overcome I think we have to talk about that. If you weren’t here last week we identified 3 questions facing one of Jesus closest friends Peter heading into the very first Easter that we all seem to wrestle with too. Can I overcome the promises I’ve broken, things I’ve done, and the conclusions I’ve reached? We really didn’t resolve things for Peter last week. So let’s jump back into this there today. How will Peter overcome where he finds himself in this moment of his life having just done what he promised not to do, denied Jesus three times and now ready to stand eye to eye with Jesus? Could it be that the last of those 3 questions, can I overcome the conclusions I’ve reached is every bit as important as the first two? Let’s jump into this, talk through it and see.
If you brought a Bible we are going to be in John 21. If you don’t have a Bible they are back on the back tables that you can grab right now if you would like if you close or on you can always grab one on your way out. As always you can hit our app or the You Version app too. Or you can ignore all of that and read along with me on the screens. So here we go John 21 starting with verse 1…
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 wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
Okay, let’s stop right there. So we are told in three different places Mark 16, Luke 24, and 1 Corinthians 15 that before he appeared to any of the other disciples he appeared to Peter. So the one on one moment with Jesus has already occurred for Peter at this point in the story. What happened in that moment? We can’t be sure but I don’t think it is a stretch to conclude what most scholars conclude, Jesus forgave Peter for what he had done. After all that’s who Jesus is and what he does. So, if that is true, why is Peter so desperate to get to Jesus here that he has to jump out of the boat? I think the answer to that question goes something like this…
FORGIVENESS IS THE START NOT THE DESTINATION. ILLUST> So before we get too deep into this here’s a question…if you were Jesus who would you appear to first? Herod. Pilate. The Pharisees, the guys who set you up, sold you out, and had you beaten and crucified. That would be fun wouldn’t it? Just pop into one of their meetings…I’m back…oh surely not…watch them soil themselves. Why not appear publicly? Think about it. You say you are going to build your church. If you really want this church thing to take off gangbusters just make a few public appearances. You could always draw a huge crowd. What better time than now to do that? You just performed the miracles of all miracles, returning from the dead. If you want to build your church no better way than simply making a bunch of public appearances. But he doesn’t, he appears to a limited number of people starting with Peter. WHY? It seems sort of insignificant. It’s not…it’s huge for Peter and for you and me. In the midst of all that there is to do, all that Jesus could do, despite all that Peter has done Jesus’ focus is first and foremost is on one heart, Peter’s.
So, Peter has already heard the words “Peter, I forgive you”, but he still jumps out the boat and rushes toward Jesus. Why, because his heart still needs something more from Jesus. Guess what? Ours does too. Look, the last thing in the world that I want to do is minimize the significance of Jesus forgiving us. Our sin is a big deal, so big that Jesus had to die on a cross so that we could be forgiven and free of all of it. We understand the significance of our sin, the mistakes, the things we have done. Overcoming the promises we’ve broken and things we have done tends to be our central focus in the church. This last question, conclusions we have reached is the one we don’t often ask or even think about. Peter has been forgiven, but Peter returns to fishing. It sounds like he is doing what I often do.
He is allowing his past to lower his expectations for his future. You ever find yourself doing that? Me too. I’m telling you, we may not talk about it much in the church but conclusions thing is a big big deal. Let’s keep reading and we will see…
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 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.
So Jesus finally asks Peter the same question three times do you love me which hurts Peter’s feelings. Is that Jesus objective here? No. It’s important that we see this. Think about this moment. If all Peter needed was forgiveness, none of this would be necessary, and doing this would be mean. What we are seeing in this moment is more of the heart of Jesus, what we are seeing is the significance of the conclusions that we have reached about ourselves as a result of what we have done and what’s been done to us. How many times did Peter deny Jesus? 3 Times. Do you know him? No, no, no. It is so easy to miss this in the story. Asking Peter this same question three times is really the most loving thing that Jesus can do. Here’s what I am getting to…
GOING BACK MOVES US FORWARD. ILLUST> The context of this moment between Peter and Jesus could really be no more perfect. We are told that it is early morning…what happens in the early morning…the rooster crows…where does Peter’s mind go when he hears that? Peter is fishing. When Peter was chosen by Jesus he was fishing…similar circumstances…fishing all night…and catching no fish. Jesus told them where to find fish and the nets were overflowing. That just happened again. This experience is a painful reminder that takes Peter back to that moment in time when Jesus changed in life. There is a campfire…the last time Peter stood around a fire was the night that he denied Jesus. There are fish…right after Jesus fed the 5000 by multiplying a few fish…he had to tell Peter…get behind me Satan…you are a stumbling block. They are standing on the bank of the sea…the water…just after you walked on water Peter…Jesus said…you of little faith. Everywhere that he turns there are all of these built in reminders of all the times that Peter tried before and failed. Is that what this is about? Is this Jesus attempt to have Peter relive the pain of his past? No. Then why do it? Maybe this will help. Watch this…
************ROLL LION KING RAFIKI SCENE**********
“Yes, the past can hurt, but the way that I see it you can either run from it, or learn from it”. See the good news is that the life that every single one of us came in here chasing after today is right in front of us. The bad news is that it requires a journey back into and through our past. That sounds scary to a lot of us. The idea is not to relive the moment. In fact, there are some things that are so traumatic and painful that have happened in our lives and stories that we can’t even imagine going there. I get that. It would probably be best not to dive deep into it without a trained professional to help navigate some that the stuff in our lives and stories. I’m not talking about reliving it. I am talking about revisiting it, identifying it to reinterpret it, redefine it, and redeem it. Jesus is not setting Peter up to have him experience the hurt, pain, guilt, shame, embarrassment whatever it is all over again. Jesus is walking Peter back into this moment to help him redefine, reinterpret, and redeem it. It’s what he wants and needs to do for us too.
Here is what I want and need you to know about you. There is a glory to your life that is amazing and unique to you and a place in the larger story that God is telling that only you can fill. You are up against an enemy who sees that, who sees who it is that you could become and hates and despises that. In fact, he fears it. He cannot stand the thought of you living out of a heart that is full and alive. He is good at what he does. How do I know that? Most Jesus followers don’t live out of a heart that is alive and free. His strategy is to keep you isolated and alone, but do everything in his power to never allow any of the things you have done or that have been done to you to stand in isolation or be left alone. He is the master of connecting the dots between these things in our lives to lead us to conclusions about ourselves and build the case against us.
ILLUST> As you can probably imagine when you do something like what I have done as the pastor of a church and been unfaithful to your wife the whole forgiveness thing is going to take some time. It took me a few years to really believe that God had totally and completely forgiven me. A part of the problem with that was that there were still people who hadn’t. There still are people who haven’t. Last year I was a part of leading and mentoring about 75 young pastors with my friend Jud Wilhite in Vegas. Here we are 12 years later and someone still called the organization who asked me to try to talk them out of using me as a mentor. They are still struggling to forgive. Despite that, I didn’t move to Colorado 9 years ago doubting God’s forgiveness. I was convinced that the terrible thing that I had done was totally and completely covered by the blood of Jesus on the cross. I didn’t carry that across country with me. I did carry this. This thought and conclusion that I should probably never be in ministry again because of what I had done, and that if I was ever in ministry God would never bless it. Are you seeing this? My conclusions were now a bigger problem than my conduct. My biggest challenge was not the conduct in my past it was the agreements I had made and conclusions I had come to about myself because of my past. It is going on in your life and story too. What does this look like for you? Jesus is all about going after that with me and you just as he is doing with Peter in this moment in his life and story.
Peter has been forgiven by Jesus. His conduct has been taken care of, the conclusions he has reached about himself as a result of that conduct haven’t. Jesus sets the perfect stage to take him back into his story, not to have him relive it, but to help him dismantle the takeaways, the messages, the agreements, the conclusions he has reached about himself as a result of those moments. Going back moves us forward. Let’s finish this…
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!”
It is so easy for us to miss the significance of this moment, this chapter in Peter’s life and story, the significance of how it ends, two simple words “follow me”. Not only two simple words, two simple words that happen to be the exact same words that Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 4:19 when he first invited him to walk life with Him, follow me. Do you see what this is? This is more than forgiveness, this is healing, redemption, and restoration. It is a total and complete reset not only of all that Peter has done but of the conclusions he has reached as a result of all that he has done. It is exactly what Jesus wants and needs to do for me and for you too. We are all hopeless without the forgiveness of Jesus, but the life that we all came in here looking for today involves so much more than just that. We need to get this…
JESUS CAME TO HEAL, REDEEM, AND RESTORE US. Jesus doesn’t give up on Peter and he never gives up on you and me. There is always more available with Jesus, so much more than most of us have ever experienced. Forgiveness is the start, it’s not the destination, an amazing abundant life to the fullest is the destination and it’s available to all of us.
ILLUST> So I preached this same passage in September of 2009 in my fifth Sunday as the new pastor of this church. It was also the first time that I told my jacked up story of crashing and burning as a pastor 3 or 4 years before. About half of the 100 or so people in the church left the church over the next 3 months. That was really painful for me. The issue wasn’t forgiveness. Some of those people that left may have left because they couldn’t forgive me, most left because they felt like they couldn’t follow me. I have had a few apologize to me for that in the years since. But their departure did not cause me to question whether or not God had forgiven me for the terrible horrific things that I have done. It did take me to a dark place, a place where I questioned whether I should ever be in ministry again and whether if I was God would bless it. That question stayed with me the next several years as numerous challenges continued to hit our church. A few years later when things got really hard and I found myself up in Denver telling a friend that I just didn’t think I could continue to do this anymore. I told him my conclusion that I probably should have never gone back into ministry and that God would never bless it. He asked where I got that idea. I told him that I read it in a book. He said where’s that book. I said on my shelf. He said it sound’s like to me you need to burn that ________ book. So I did. In front of about 25 men in our church, I told the story and threw it into the fire as the guys around me cheered.
See, even though God had forgiven me long before that moment my heart wasn’t free. There is a difference in being forgiven and free and a lot of us have missed that. God used that book burning moment and several others on this DCC journey to erase the messages, agreements, and conclusions of my past and begin to heal, redeem, and restore me so that my heart could be alive and free. It is what he does for Peter in this moment. It is what he wants to do for you too. Why don’t you begin to let him do that for you.
This is not a perfect place. It’s not a perfect place, but it’s safe one. There are lots of me too people in this place who would love to take that journey with you, beside you, or at least give you some guidance along the way. There is so much more to this. We have just scratched the surface. If you want to know more hang around, keep coming back, better yet go out those doors today turn left and talk to someone out in the garage before you leave here today. Forgiveness is the start not the destination, going back moves us forward, Jesus came to heal, redeem, and restore us, to set our captive hearts free, to help us overcome not only what we’ve done and what’s been done but the conclusions we’ve reached as a result of all that’s been done. When no one else believes in you believe in yourself. That’s good. This is better. When no one else believes in you, Jesus still believes in you. There was a time in my own life when I doubted that, I promise you it’s true. Let me pray for us.
