March 20, 1996
I. INTRODUCTION:
His name is Simon Peter. We remember him as the disciple who tried to walk on water, but started sinking when the waves and wind blew his faith away. He testified Jesus as the Son of God, yet denied Him three times in one night. He swore never to forsake his Master, but ran away for fear of his life. Simon Peter: A man of broken promises. A man of failures.
His name is Simon Peter. We remember him as a great apostle. He boldly and tirelessly proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God. He baptized hundreds and thousands of people. He performed miracles by healing the sick and raising the dead. People chased his shadow believing that it could heal them. Simon Peter: A man of success. A man of Fame.
What made Simon Peter, a man of failures, become Simon Peter, a man of fame? Let us pray.
II. BODY:
What made Simon Peter, a man of broken promises, become Simon Peter, a man faithful to his promises? What turned Peter’s defeat into victory? What transformed Peter’s failures into fame? What made Simon Peter, a discouraged fisherman from Galilee, become Simon Peter, an inspired fisher of men for God’s kingdom?
Answers:
A. The Divine Initiative: Jesus stood on the shore
The answer to these questions is found in the Gospel of John chapter 21, beginning with verse 4. Reading from King James Version, it reads: " But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus." This is now the second week after Christ has been resurrected. Jesus has already appeared to his disciples on two occasions. This will be the third time that Jesus will be with his disciples. And now Jesus is standing on the shore, looking and observing his disciples. His disciples, on the other hand, are busy doing their job. They have spent the whole night fishing, but got nothing. Peter and the other disciples still love their old job.
They still love to be called fishermen rather than being called fishers of men. They still enjoy casting their nets rather than casting God’s word. They still like rowing their boats rather than rowing God’s kingdom into the hearts of men. But Jesus is standing on the shore. Now it’s early in the morning. It’s their last chance to catch some fish. They are working harder than before, hoping to salvage the night spent fishing. While Peter and the disciples are busy, Jesus is standing on the shore.
The failures of Peter were turned into fame, his defeat into victory, not because he was back at his old job, nor because he labored so hard all night. His defeat was turned into victory because Jesus, the same Jesus that Peter denied, came early in that morning and was standing on the shore.
Like Peter, our failures could turn into fame, our defeat into victory, because of the divine initiative: Jesus is standing and knocking on our door. We may be back into our old habits and lifestyles, but Jesus is standing and knocking on our door. We may be busy trying to gain success, but Jesus is standing and knocking on our door. Our passage continues.
B. The Divine Miracle
1. Honesty: They answered, No.
Verse 5, "Then Jesus saith unto them, Children have ye any fish? They answered him, No." Instead of answering no, Peter and the other disciples could have said, "Yes, we have some fish," in an attempt to boast their ego. Imagine a group of experienced fishermen, spent the whole night fishing, and catching nothing. It’s like looking at Billy Graham, an experienced speaker, standing in the pulpit and could not even speak a single word. This is a humiliating experience for Peter and the disciples. Yet, without any attempt to boast their ego, they honestly answered, " No, we got nothing."
If there is anything that will prevent Christ from turning our failures into fame, our defeat into victory, is to be self-righteous, and to deny our failures. To think that we are rich and in need of nothing. But deep inside, we are poor and naked.
2. Obedient to God’s Instruction
Verse 6, "And he said unto them, Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find." Peter and the other disciples are experienced fishermen. They have spent all their lives fishing. They knew when and where to fish. They could have ignored the instruction of Jesus. But they did not. And so they cast their net into the right side of the boat, and they were not able to pull it for it was full of fish.
Yes, Peter and the other disciples were experienced fishermen, but Christ is the creator of all fish. Peter probably knew when and where to fish, but the fish knew Christ and they obeyed when Christ commanded them, "Go, gather at the right side of the boat." Peter was honest enough to accept his failures. He was willing to follow Christ’s instruction. And Christ was able to perform another miracle for him and the other disciples.
Peter’s failures were turned into fame, his defeat into victory, not because Peter was back at his old job, nor because he labored so hard all night. Peter’s failures were turned into fame, his defeat into victory, first, because Christ came early in the morning and stood on the shore, and second, Christ was willing to perform another miracle for his disciples.
C. The Divine Provision
When Peter heard from John that the man on the shore is no other than Christ himself, he immediately put on his clothes, jumped into the water, and made his way to the shore. As always, the other disciples followed him on the boat. When they came to the shore, they saw a fire of coals with a fish on it, and some bread. Christ has prepared a meal for them.
After spending the whole night fishing, the disciples are now tired, exhausted, frustrated, hungry, and cold. If there is something in the minds of the disciples, it is to find a warm place, some cooked fish and some bread. And they found exactly what they needed.
Did you spend the night fishing and got nothing? In the morning you will discover that Christ has some fish already prepared and cooked for you. Did you spend the night in cold? In the morning you will see that Christ has prepared a warm place for you. Maybe you spend the night wondering where you are going to get some bread for the following morning. When morning comes you will know that Christ has a bread for you. Did you spend the night in your sea of misery, trying to forget your failures and shortcomings? There is assurance in Christ. You may be hungry; there is provision in Christ. You may be exhausted; there is rest in Christ.
D. The Divine Re-Commission
So Christ invited them to eat. And when they had finished, Christ, for three times, asked Peter this familiar question: " Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" And Peter, for three times, made the same answer:" Yes Lord, you know that I love you." And Jesus commanded Peter, "Feed my lamb and follow me." Why did Christ have to ask Peter the same question three times? Ellen G. White explained it this way:
Three times had Peter openly denied his Lord, and three times did Jesus draws from him the assurance of his love and loyalty, by pressing home that pointed question, like a barbed arrow, to his wounded heart. Jesus, before the assembled disciples, brought out the depth of Peter’s penitence, and showed how thoroughly humbled the once boasting disciple. He was now intrusted with the important commission of caring for the flock of Christ.
Instead of rebuking Peter for his failures, Christ was giving him another chance to prove himself. Christ is not looking at Peter’s past. He is looking at what Peter can do for the future. Christ is not concerned about Peter’s resume. He is concerned about Peter’s redemption.
Peter’s failures were turned into fame, his defeat into victory, not because of human initiative, but because of the divine initiative: Jesus stood on the shore. Not because of human ability, but because of the divine miracle. Not because of human resources to meet human needs, but because of the divine provision in Christ. Not because of Peter’s worth for another chance, but because of God’s grace to reinstate him to his position.
One day Paul was in Jerusalem and was staying with the family of a young man named Mark. Mark got interested with the mission of the church. So he decided to ask Paul and his uncle Barnabas if he could join them in their missionary journey. Paul and Barnabas probably thought that Mark could be of help with their luggage as they journey from one place to another. So they accepted Mark’s proposal. As a result, Mark joined them in their journey. And so far Mark had been a good help both to Paul and Barnabas. Until they reached the place of Cyprus. Mark has heard about the persecution in this place, and he became overwhelmed with fear and discouragement, and wavered for a time in his purpose to give himself wholeheartedly to the Lord’s work. He decided to go home at a time when his services were most needful to the apostles.
When Mark got home, he probably wanted to stay out of his friends at the church, fearing for their scrutiny of why he is home. He probably entered through the backdoor of their house, trying to evade anyone. When his mother asked him why he is home, Mark was probably embarrassed to say that he became discouraged after experiencing hardships in God’s work. Mark was a failure. Until someone in Jerusalem tapped him on his shoulder, tried to encourage him, and told him that his services were needed at the church at Jerusalem. And that someone is no other than Peter himself. And as we know, Mark became the writer of one of the four Gospels.
Peter experienced what is like to fail. But he also experienced what is like to be given another chance. He experienced how Christ came early that morning to turn his failures into victory. He experienced how to be forgiven by Christ and be entrusted with the same responsibility where he once failed. And now Peter could do the same thing to Mark.
III. Conclusion:
As we know, this desire to turn our failures into victory, this urge to give us another chance is a priority in God’s plan. It is because of this that the Prince of the universe decided to leave his heavenly throne, was born a babe in Bethlehem, became part of human family, and experienced the same suffering which you and I suffer. It is this desire to give us another chance that the Son of God was there in the Garden of Gethsamane agonizing, pleading to His Father for mercy. It is this desire to give us another chance that Jesus could say, inspite of his ordeal in the cross, "Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing," was resurrected and ascended to heaven, and now seating at the right hand of God as our High Priest. And whenever we fail, Jesus could say, "My blood is sufficient for you." It is this desire that made Simon Peter, a man of failures, become Simon Peter, a man of fame.
IV. Appeal:
When was the last time you gave someone another chance to prove himself or herself? As a husband/wife, when was the last you gave your spouse a chance to prove himself/herself before passing your condemnation? We could preach and teach about love all day. But without this desire, this spirit of giving a person another chance, our preaching and teaching about love will be nothing.
Or when was the last time someone, a spouse, a teacher, or a friend, really gave you a chance to correct your failures and shortcomings? When did somebody stand in front of your door, waited for you, prepared a meal for you, was willing to die for you, so that he could give you another chance? If you cannot remember it, I want to tell you this morning that Christ is standing in front of your door. You may be experiencing some kind of failures in your life-
a) failure in the way you budget your finances
b) failure in your school
c) failure in your relationship with your family
d) failure in your dealing with your children
e) failure in trying to overcome those old habits
f) failure in trying to maintain those figures, etc.
Whatever your kind of failure may be, no matter how deep you may be in, regardless of how many times you have experienced it, Christ is able to turn those failures into fame, those defeat into victory. Like Peter, victory could be ours today.
