For some of you, it was all you could do to even come here today. You failed over and over. You had such a bad week or month that you really didn’t even want to show up today.
We sometimes want to give up because of
· the regularity of our sin (“I just can’t seem to stop!”),
· the reproach of our sin (“What I did was so bad!”), and
· the result of our sin (“I hurt the ones I want to love so much!”).
But here you are. God got you here today.
“But I’ve blown plan A for my life!” There are 26 letters in the alphabet. And God can come up with a plan B, C, D or X, Y, Z for you. He can invent more letters of the alphabet for you if He wants to. And when you get to the end of your days, you’ll look back and see that what you thought was plan Z was plan A after all.
Do you feel God has placed you on a shelf because of something you’ve done? Consider that God may be going to use you to accomplish more in the future than you have in the past. If such a thought seems far-fetched – then remember this fact: You serve the God of a second chance. Never forget that you are serving the God, not only of a second chance, but countless chances.
Failing forward, part 3: Getting a fresh start
John 21:1-19 (NASB)
Series: Life Under Construction
If anyone ever needed a second chance it was Peter. This inner circle friend of Jesus had every opportunity for spiritual success. Peter made the first powerful profession of faith. He called Jesus the Son of God, then denied Him three times in one night. He promised that he would never to forsake Christ, but when the going got tough, he ran. Peter: A man of broken promises. A man of who failed. He wimped out when he should have stood strong.
Later in the Bible, we see Peter boldly proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. He’s willing to go to jail for his faith. And he does. He has so much power with God that people just wanted to be touched by his shadow believing that it could heal them. What turned Simon, a piece of jello, into Peter, a rock?
Think about a time when you have failed Jesus. Now, you’re not really sure that you want to face Jesus. What will Jesus say to you? Is He going to “chew you out”? Is He going to place you on the shelf never to be used again? What will He do?
This morning, we’re going to take a look at a conversation between Peter and Jesus that made the difference. When Peter denied Jesus, their eyes met. Then Jesus died. But now, He’s back! And when Peter and Jesus talk one-on-one, what’s Jesus going to say? “How could you”?
Today, we’re going to learn some lessons about how Jesus treats us when we let Him down. Five big ideas today:
When I have failed Him,
1. Jesus comes to me. vv. 1-7
1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
Peter and a few others had gone fishing. Maybe he needed to make some money for his family. Maybe he just wanted to get back to something familiar. We don’t know why. But we do know that Peter went fishing and that he was spectacularly unsuccessful that night.
4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No." 6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
The first talk in this series was from Luke 5. It explained how Jesus called Peter to follow Him. The similarities in that story and this one are striking. Both conversations take place on the Sea of Galilee when Peter was fishing. Both times Peter couldn’t catch a thing. Both times Jesus told him to throw his nets into the water again. Both times there is a miraculous catch.
Sometimes when you’ve failed, you’ll find that Jesus comes to you to take you back to where it all began.
It might sound strange to some of you, but I’ve had many one-on-one conversations with Jesus on baseball fields over the years. I walk. I talk. I listen. And Jesus comes to me.
Here Jesus is going to offer Peter another starting point, a second chance to make things right.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.
It may sound strange to us for him to put on clothes to swim to shore. But in those days, you wouldn’t want to greet a rabbi in your underwear – especially One who has risen from the dead! But do you sense Peter’s excitement? Jesus has shown up unexpectedly! Last week, we learned something important about Jesus.
The Lord keeps close watch over the whole world, to give strength to those whose hearts are loyal to him.
II Chronicles 16:9 (TEV)
Here’s the point. When you fail Jesus, you can expect Him to show up unexpectedly. You might sense His presence in your backyard when you are raking leaves. Or in the kitchen when you are washing dishes. Or in your office. Or in your bedroom. Jesus is coming to you even when you have failed Him.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in…
Revelation 3:20a (NCV)
You did not choose me, but I chose you.
John 15:16
He comes to you even after you fail. Do you see Him? Do you sense Him? Look for Jesus in the routines of your life. And when you sense His presence, stop what you are doing. Jump out of your boat and swim to Him.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8
Peter can fail forward because Jesus showed up.
When I have failed Him, Jesus comes to me and…
2. Jesus provides for me. vv. 8-14
8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
If Peter thought “Jesus has written me off and doesn’t really want a relationship with me anymore” then this meal blew up that theory. Jesus has started a fire. He’s already caught some fish. He’s prepared a meal. He’s serving it. Peter had denied Jesus when it counted. Yet the risen Jesus cooked breakfast for Peter. He invited him to sit down and eat.
Surely Peter knew at that moment that Jesus was the Shepherd of Psalm 23.
You prepare a banquet for me… you welcome me as an honored guest and fill my cup to the brim.
Psalm 23:5 (TEV)
No matter what your failures, Jesus still longs to be your friend, your shepherd, your provider. The Savior who died for you still loves you. And He still wants you to sit down with Him, talk with Him, be with Him, and receive from Him.
… I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.
Revelation 3:20b (NLT)
When I have failed Him, Jesus provides for me and…
3. Jesus deals with me. vv. 13-17
15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon…
Notice the name change here. Jesus doesn’t refer to Peter as Peter “the Rock.” Right now, it’s Simon. A rock is dependable. And Peter had been anything but dependable.
… Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?"
More than what? More than the fish? No, this is a reference to Peter’s boast when he said that even if every other disciple ran he never would. Peter had been filled with self-sufficiency. Jesus was asking, “Simon, are still willing to make that claim? Do you love me more then these?”
Jesus still loved Peter. He was still His friend. But that relationship was damaged. It was strained. And the damage to that relationship had to be dealt with. Jesus confronted Peter. He said, “So, Peter … I remember all of that stuff you said … how you would always stick by me … how you would never fall away … how you would die for me. But look at what you did. Do you still think you love me more than all of these other guys?”
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
No comparisons, no boasting about how his level of commitment was superior to everyone else. He avoided the comparisons and just said, “You know that I love you.”
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." 17 He said 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 said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus is dealing with Peter! Three times Peter denied Jesus. Three times Peter is asked, “Do you love Me?” Those three questions reminded Peter of his three failures. No wonder he was grieved. Jesus confronts Peter’s failures head on.
Now, sometimes the Greek language can be a more exact language than the English language. That’s why often it’s hard to translate certain passages in the Bible. This is a good example.
In these verses, there are two Greek words for our English word “love.” The first is agape – an unconditional, self-sacrificing love. It means a complete devotion to someone. The second is phileo – an affectionate kind of love. Philadelphia, for example, is known as the city of brotherly love. Some have compared it to our word “like”. With that in mind, let’s look more closely at this Q and A.
Q & A #1.
Jesus: Do you agapas me?
“Peter, do you love Me with a sacrificial, totally committed love?”
Peter: I philo you.
“Lord, you know I have warm feelings toward you.”
Peter was honest. He knew that his actions didn’t match the kind of devotion Jesus was asking about. He’s been humbled.
Q & A #2.
Jesus: Do you agapas me?
“Peter, do you love Me unconditionally?”
Peter: I philo you.
“Lord, you know I like You.”
Peter is staying humble. But it’s this third question that helped to break Peter’s heart.
Q & A #3.
Jesus: Do you philies Me?
“Peter, do you really have warm feelings for Me. Do you really like Me?”
Peter: I philo you.
Jesus confronts Peter with his sin. He humbles Peter. He sees remorse in Peter’s eyes. He hears repentance in Peter’s voice. He feels the force of Peter’s commitment. He meets Peter where Peter is.
He knows Peter can’t give Him agape. He knows Peter can only give Him phileo. But because He is a God of love and grace and mercy, He’ll take what He can get.
If you can’t remember getting a second chance, you need to know that Jesus has come here this morning to meet you. Let Jesus confront you with your failure and deal with it graciously.
When I have failed Him, Jesus deals with me and…
4. Jesus works through me. vv. 15b, 16b, 17b
I skipped over some key commands after the Q and A between Jesus and Peter.
15 He said to him, "Tend My lambs." 16 He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." 17 Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.
Just in case Peter wondered, “Can I ever be trusted again to serve Jesus?” Jesus calls Peter to ministry. Peter, the failure. Peter, the one with his foot-in-his-mouth. Peter, the coward. Three denials. Three commands. Jesus lets Peter know that he was still valuable to the cause. He was still useful. Peter had a purpose. In fact, Peter would still be a great leader. Jesus days, “I don’t want you to miss this Peter. I have a job for you to do.”
There is work for all of us to do for His glory, and there is no failure in your life past, present, or future that puts you beyond the scope of usefulness to the Kingdom of God. Find your ministry and fulfill it.
God says to who are flawed and who have failed,
So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God.
Acts 20:28 (TEV)
What are you doing to help people – to serve in the church – to tend the little lambs – to feed the flock? You says, “You don’t know how bad I’ve been. I’m not qualified. I’m too much of a failure.” Not true. Jesus seeks to work through you!
Please understand … no matter how you have failed … no matter how you have allowed sin to infect your life … Jesus has the remedy for that sin. He wants to restore that relationship with you. He wants to forgive you. He wants to be your very best friend. God can and will restore you and use you in mighty ways to make a difference in His kingdom.
If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
II Timothy 2:21 (LBT)
When I have failed Him, Jesus works through me and…
5. Jesus believes in me. vv. 18-19
Sometimes, after a failure in our lives, we are tempted to think that we could never stand up to a similar test again. Jesus predicts that Peter will be given the ultimate test – that one day someone will say to Him, “Deny Christ or die.”
18 "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!"
Tradition tells us that at the end of his life, Peter was persecuted for being a Christ-follower. He was to be executed for his faith. Execution by crucifixion. And Peter said, “I am not worthy to die like my Lord. If you are going to crucify me, turn me upside down.”
Jesus believed that the next time Peter had the opportunity to deny Christ, he would stand firm. Jello turned into a rock.
Jesus is still believing that His people will stand strong for Him. Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. There are more than 200 million followers of Christ being persecuted in our world today?
Last month, in Buddhist Burma, militia and insurgents destroyed a Christian hospital and orphanage, using rocket-propelled grenades. In North Korea, great grandchildren are punished for a great grandparent’s “crime” of following Christ. International Christian Concern reports, “if there is even a hint of the possibility of Christianity, the person and their entire family to the fourth generation are killed outright or sent to a prison camp to be [starved and killed].”
Several Muslim countries have intensified persecution since September 11, mistakenly equating Christianity with the United States. Attackers beat, burned, and sexually abused a nine-year-old Pakistani girl—saying it was “revenge for the American bombing of Iraqi children . . . because you are an infidel and Christian.”
In Indonesia, a young woman who had refused to deny Christ. So a jihad member put a gun into her mouth and said “Let’s see your God help you now.” Then he pulled the trigger. Miraculously, she survived, but she was horribly disfigured.
Many leaders of China’s unregistered church have been arrested, beaten, and tortured. In Vietnam, Christians are denied jobs, promotion, and medical benefits—even water from the community well. When a Vietnamese pastor was beaten to death, authorities pressured his brother to sign a confession that he had done it.
News dispatches from around the world read as follows: “Mexico: Armed Assailants Kill Evangelical Pastor;” “Israel: Bible Shop Trashed . . . ;” “Nigeria: Two Catholic Priests Assassinated.”
Jesus is still believing that His people will stand up for Him. And no matter what your past failures, He’s believing that you will stand up for Him, too. Will you? Are you willing to suffer in order to follow Jesus?
When I have failed Him, Jesus believes in me.
It’s helpful to have a real life example of someone who failed and then got back in the game. (Here was a testimony/interview from Will Coffinbarger…)
Did you see who the star of this story is? Jesus comes to me. Jesus provides for me. Jesus deal with me. Jesus works through me. Jesus believes in me. The star isn’t Peter or Will or me or you. It’s not about us. It’s about Jesus! Will you obey Him?
Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Only do as I say, and all will be well!’ 24 "But my people would not listen to me. They kept on doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.
Jeremiah 7:23-24 (LBT)
A point to ponder: I am serving the God, not only of a second chance, but countless chances.
A verse to remember: We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. II Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)8
Questions to consider: Am I limiting God’s power in my life by hiding behind my past failures? What is Jesus now calling me to do for Him?
Jesus can take your old life and give you a new one. Jesus offered Peter new opportunity. He forgave Him and sent Him on to new responsibility. Perhaps, you need a fresh start today. Jesus is here today to make you a new creation, old things will pass away, all things become new. He is pursuing you. He is out to rescue you. He is ready to turn your failures into stepping stones to success. You have a friend who is pursuing you. His name is Jesus. He will meet you, right where you are.
