A. WHY DID PETER BACKSLIDE?
1. Cause boasting. “I will lay down my life for Your sake” (John 13:37).
2. Jesus’ response warning. “Jesus answered him, ‘Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’” (John 13:38).
3. Effort of the flesh. “And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear” (Luke 22:50).
4. Motivation. “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways” (Prov. 14:14).
B. JESUS ENCOUNTERS PETER: JOHN 21:15-17
An encounter occurs when (1) God intentionally meets with you, (2) in a time of great personal need, (3) through unexpected circumstances, (4) telling you something about Himself, (5) you learn something about yourself, (6) preparing you for a specific task, (7) even though you don’t fully understand all the mysterious elements of the encounter.
C. WATCH YOUR WORDS
1. Who? “Do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15).
a. Disciples – friends.
b. Fish – provision.
c. Nets – job.
d. Others love me – compassion.
2. Jesus and Simon Peter:
Jesus Simon Jesus
1. Do you love Me (agape)? I am fond of You (phileo). Feed My lambs.
2. Do you love Me (agape)? I am fond of You (phileo). Shepherd My sheep.
3. Are you fond of Me (phileo)? I am fond of You (phileo). Feed My sheep.
D. TEN LESSONS LEARNED ENCOUNTERING CHRIST
1. Good intentions are not enough to keep us faithful to Christ. “Therefore, let him who thinks he stand, take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
2. Being sorry does not automatically restore us to service. “Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So, Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62).
3. Christ will ask you questions to get you thinking about your failure. “I am going fishing” (John 21:3). “Have you caught any fish?” (John 21:4).
4. We do extraordinary things when we encounter Christ. “And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So, He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus” (Matthew 14:28-29). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We do extraordinary things when we are excited about Christ.
5. We must serve Christ with our talents, even though He could perform our task without us. Jesus guided fish into their net, but the disciples had to pull them in to the shore. “We then, as workers together with Him” (2 Corinthians 6:1).
6. We must honestly express our love to Christ. “While Peter could not say he loved Christ (agape), he nevertheless was honest. He did not brag this time. “I (Jesus) am He that searches the innermost heart to give to everyone a reward according to what I find” (Revelation 2:23, ELT).
7. We can be restored to service after honestly submitting to Jesus Christ. “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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