Restored”
Have you ever lost something or misplaced something and you couldn’t remember where you had placed that something. If you are like me you take that something and place it in a safe place where you know you can find it again. The problem with this is that after a certain amount of time has passed, you completely forget about where that safe place is located. Then one day you need to find that something and low and behold, you just can’t remember where it was placed. You search the house for hours or maybe even days when you stumble onto that secluded safe spot and then everything comes back to memory. Now I knew why I placed that something in that safe place and you commit that place to memory for future use. Has anyone ever followed that scenario? I have done just that any number of times.
The topic tonight is about being restored. We will discuss how Peter was restored to his position as leader of the apostles after his greatest disappointment. Let’s take the story as it appears in the twenty-first chapter of John verses 15-19.
When therefore they had breakfasted Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He says to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He says to him, “Feed my lambs.” He says to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He says to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He says to him, “Tend my sheep.” He says to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he says to him, “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you.” Jesus says to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger you used to gird yourself and walk where you willed; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and lead you where you do not will (to go).” This he said signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when he had said this he says to him, “Follow me”.
At times throughout our life there will be moments when we will be in need of restoration because of events that transpire. There are three major themes when restoration must come to us. (1) When are self-esteem doesn’t allow us. (2) When we have failed miserably in the past. (3) When or pride won’t allow ourselves to be used.
Let’s look at peter and see why he is in need of restoration.
Throughout the Gospels’ Peter was the leader of this apostolic band that followed Jesus. However, at the time of the crucifixion the group had disbanded and there seemed to be no one in leadership. Peter had denied Jesus three times and was greatly disappointed with his cowardliness. All the others had run off in different directions. General doom and gloom had overwhelmed the group and all seemed to be at lost. After Jesus had died there seemed no need to carry out the work, which needed to be done.
But then something tremendous had happened, Jesus rose from the dead.
Now the doom and gloom was gone and the disciples could face each day with a new spring in their step. Christ had appeared to the entire group at one time or another and it is clear the Jesus had defeated death. Within the coming weeks it is made clear to them where there duty should lie. No longer do they wait in fear for their demise but are excited and hopeful that their Lord lives. They are still unsure of what Jesus would have them to do but are encouraged in the fact they will be used.
All this is background to the ultimate story that is taking place – Jesus is restoring Peter to his place as leader of the apostles. Publicly, before a few of his peers, He was giving Peter charge over this group who will ultimately follow him. Peter is without a doubt leader of the first church.
As Peter was a simple fisherman, after the death of Jesus, he went back to what he knew, fishing. He was not educated. He was not of royalty. He was not of priestly birth. He was just a fisherman of common lineage. What could anyone expect of him? He didn’t have much in the way of self-esteem. He knew where his place was among men. He belonged to the lower class of Jews. This is where he expected to live and die.
When we receive our self-esteem from anything but Jesus, we cheat ourselves of our own self-respect. Living life within the bounds that society places upon us will continually beat us down till we are nothing in our own eyes. We will develop a low self-esteem if we listen to what the world says about us in our station in life. When we live for our places of employment and expect to live a fulfilled life in what we accomplish for ourselves we will ultimately be disappointed with the outcome. Work should be how we make a living not how we define how successful we are in life. How many work aholics are there because they are always striving to be better at success through their work? Low self-esteem will develop because no one can succeed because of his or her own abilities; they will fail at life.
Success can only be measured through our service to our creator. We will find self-esteem through the person of Jesus Christ. Success is measured in the eternal not the external experiences of life. Where are you measuring your self-esteem?
The scene first unfolds as a small group of disciples are finishing a breakfast on the seashore of the Sea of Tiberias. Jesus poses a question to Peter and John makes it clear that this was a solemn and important occasion by using the formal name, “Simon Peter”. John further shows how important this event was by adding “Son of John” to the title of Peter. There is an underlying seriousness to the tone in which Jesus is addressing Peter and undoubtedly the rest of the group perked up when this official tone of voice was used.
The question placed to Peter is this; “Do you love me more then these?” Where the comparison raises a specific question: what does “these” refer to. Do you love me more then these men? Do you love me more than these things: boats, nets, etc? Do you love me more than your station in life?
Did Peter love Jesus more than he loved the disciples with whom he had gone fishing? He had three times denied Jesus but his loyalty to his fellow fishing buddies was unquestioned. He had just completed a fishing expedition with his old-fishing partners. Christ wanted to know “to whom is your love directed?” Did his deep affection lie with those he fished or with the Christ, which he denied? It may seem unlikely that Jesus would ask him for a comparison of his love for him of his peers but remember in the upper room when peter made his bold statement. He stated, “If all should take offense because of you, I will never take offense.” He definitely claimed a higher loyalty or love than the others at this time. He claimed a readiness to give the supreme sacrifice for his Lord, even if it meant death. It seems that Jesus was asking him whether he still stood by his claims.
Jesus may have been referring to the boat and the nets and the fish and the comradery of those he fished with all night. Peter had been a fisherman before he was called to follow Jesus and these were what were comfortable for him. What was at the center of Peters’ love? Where did his true devotion lie?
Peter had been through some difficult times, with the arrest of Jesus and his crucifixion; he had been through plenty. He had denied his Lord and failed miserably as the leader and a follower of Jesus. He made tremendous mistakes and the world was sitting on his shoulders, a failure. How could he ever make it back from these set backs.
All three ways of understanding the question are possible, even though objections to the meanings can be raised against each. A closer look at the context of how the contents were formulated could answer this dilemma. I feel he is asking Peter, “Are you shaken by all that has happened to you over these courses of events? Or do you stand behind your boast of deep everlasting love for me?” Peters reply is that he does love Jesus.
But in Peters’ reply we find a different word for “love” than the word used by Jesus. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” in which Peter replied to Jesus, “You know that I am your friend.” The same thing happens the second time in which Jesus asked, “Peter do you love me?” in which he responds, “Jesus, you know that I am fond of you.” However, the third time Jesus comes down to Peters’ level and uses his word for love and asks, “Peter, do you like me.” In which Peter replies sorrowfully, “Jesus, you know that I love you.” Did you notice that path that led to the full restoration of Peter, It started with a high Godly level and finished at the personal level? God calls you from his level and then starts his work in you at the personal level, at your level where you can relate to him.
God calls for a higher, richer kind of love but when we begin to walk in his ways we are unable to relate to his type of love till years later when we become mature Christians. We have to begin our walk from our understanding of what love means to us. We know that Gods’ love is so much more than what we have ever experienced but we are unable to correlate it’s meaning. God has to come to our level of understanding or most of us could never make that step of faith. The Holy Spirit fills our soul and makes that personal link we need into God’s love.
Peter is said to be “grieved” by the fact that Jesus had to ask him three times concerning his love for him. How many times have we been grieved in the spirit because of some thing the Holy Spirit questioned in our life? Have you ever been pierced through the soul because of some unproper action or questionable event in which you took liberty within. He was hurt because he knew in his heart that he had been wrong and needed to be forgiven by Jesus.
Jesus replies all three times to Peter with a commission, “Feed my sheep.” It isn’t enough to be forgiven. It isn’t enough to have a clear conscience. It isn’t enough to feel good about yourself. Now is the time for action! It’s time to pick yourself out of the gutter of life and get about doing the Lords’ work. It’s time to fill your life with the work of Jesus and feed the sheep. It’s great to be forgiven but if it’s not followed by action it’s fruitless. How many of us have been living under the good graces of Jesus as forgiven sinners and have not served Christ in any capacity? If we are not working for Jesus then we are working for our selves and someday we will be held accountable.
Peter was questioned three times and given the charge three times to pick up where Jesus has left off. There is no doubt that Jesus meant to fully restore Peter to his position of leadership in his church. When he denied Christ three times in the faces of the enemy he acted unworthy as a follower of Jesus Christ. Now he is given the opportunity three times to acknowledge his love for the Lord and three times he has been commissioned to act as pastor of this group. This made it clear to the other apostles that Peter was restored as their leader.
When one follows Christ, there is no guarantee that adversity will ever come your way. You can be sure that living and serving Christ will make your life fulfilled and your heart full of joy. There is no better satisfaction in knowing that your life has been given meaning because you chose to serve your almighty God. Whether you live or you die when you live or die for Jesus, your life has eternal meaning. Jesus told Peter at the end of this dialog some very disturbing news. He told Peter how he was going to die. Should not this have grieved Peter more then being questioned three times about his love for the Lord? NO! He was so overjoyed that Jesus forgave him and commissioned him to His service that he was off and running before his feet hit the ground. When you are certain of your eternity, death has no hold over you. Jesus rose from the dead claiming victory! Death can’t hold a child of God down when he already knows where he is headed. O, Death where is your victory, where is your sting!
It is written in one of the ecclesiastical books of ancient writings that Peter died by crucifixion around 56 AD during the reign of Nero. The story goes that Peter and his wife where arrested while in Pergamum strengthening the church. They were arrested and thrown into prison for what we would call treason today. Before the arrest the church tempted Peter to run for his life. However, the Spirit of God told him that he needed to stay put. They were tried and sentenced to death. One day, peter was led out of Prison to the place of crucifixion and there he was made to watch while they crucified his wife. As she was being crucified he cried out to her to find strength in the crucified Lord, he will never fail her.
After she died on the cross he was led back to prison to contemplate his end. The very next day he was led back to the site of her crucifixion and they began to crucify him. He cried out that he was unworthy to die the same death as his master. So he asked to be crucified upside down. They honored his request and placed the cross upside down where he died by crucifixion. He didn’t cry out for himself. He didn’t deny Christ the fourth time. He felt unworthy to die the same death as the one he served. “…But when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and lead you where you do not will.”
John explains that in this saying Jesus was speaking about the death in which Peter would in due course die. The explanation was needed here because the wording in the proceeding verse was unclear. The words were clear to Peter but John adds the explanation for the reader of his gospel. Jesus was not speaking of Peter simply being bound and detained but about his death. And in his death he would glorify God. To the heathen there could be no glory in a person dying such a horrible death but to one, who serves the risen Lord, this was real glory. He was saying that in due time Peter would die a humble death and in that there is real glory.
John finishes off his narrative with the command of Jesus to Peter, “Follow me.” Notice the present tense of the command. It is used as a continuous command, which I humbly submit that it means, “Keep on following me.” This I feel is the real point of the subject since Peter’s past had been somewhat erratic in his following of Jesus. Jesus shows him where he should place his faith. He should focus his sights on Jesus and never take his eyes off his saving grace. You cannot fail at life when you are truly and faithfully serving the Lord of all.
Let’s go back to those three themes I spoke of at the start of this message. Low self-esteem, failure and pride were the themes. Peter had gone through all three of these themes during the course of this dialogue. He had to deal with his low self-esteem that plagued him because of his station in life, a plain fisherman. He had to deal with miserably failing his calling. His pride stood in the way of fulfilling his Christian duty. He was in need of restoration from the one who loved him the most, Jesus Christ.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:12-16)
Jesus knew Peter more than Peter knew Peter. He looked at the heart of the man who was running from himself. His questions penetrated into the heart of what was the matter with Peter. He uncovered all the answers to the questions, which Peter was searching. He helped Peter find the grace and mercy for which he needed to receive healing of all the pains of life. Peter was forgiven and restored into the full graces of his Lord. Jesus helped Peter to discover his hidden qualities for which he needed for his service as leader of the group of apostles. His thoughts and attitudes were laid bare before the Lord and forgiveness became possible.
Christians today, are living at a low level in which God is not pleased. God, today, is calling you to a higher plane. When you come to him, you’ll have to first come to Christ in your distress, a lost sinner. You’ll have to come knowing that you owe God a great debt and are discontented with this world. Our problem today is most people think they are to sophisticated, to educated, to knowledgeable and their way is the correct way. Their problem is they don’t love Jesus. That great big fisherman, Simon peter, says, “Whom having not seen, you love” (1 Peter 1:8). And our Lord’s question to Simon Peter is His question to you today: “Do you love me?” (John 21:16). “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John14: 15). Oh, to be in love with Jesus Christ today.
What is keeping you from a life full of service to your Lord and king? Has low self-esteem hampered you from fully giving yourself to the Lord? Has past mistakes made you a failure in life? Has your pride gotten in the way of fully committing yourself to the service of Jesus? Jesus is watching and waiting for you to decide what you are going to do next. He is still asking, “Do you love me more than these.” He is still waiting for an answer. He wants to offer you restoration (just like Peter) and an opportunity for you to serve Him with your life. How are you going to serve him? When will you begin? There is no time like the present to give your life entirely to Christ.
Do it now!
