Moment of Restoration

Introduction

We, as humans, have a propensity for failure. The Scripture plainly declares this truth.

Psalm 14:1–3 (NASB 2020) The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind To see if there are any who understand, Who seek God. They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Psalm 53:1–3 (NASB 2020) The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Romans 3:10 (NASB 2020) as it is written: “There is no righteous person, not even one;

As plain as the scripture is on this focus, it is still hard for us as individuals to learn to forgive the failures of others. And as a side note, for some, if not most, it is just as hard for us to forgive our own past failures. The truth of the matter is that none of us can restore ourselves. Although all of us will at some point in our lives, if not already, come a point where we realize that we need restoration, will we accept it? Or will we try to earn it? If we try to accept or even earn it, will it be through the right source that we seek this restoration? There is but only one source that you and I can find restoration, Jesus Christ.

In Psalm 23, David writes, “He restoreth my soul,” and later in Psalm 51, he writes, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” This is a great truth for all of us to take note. So during this service, let ust take a look at one such “Moment of Restoration,” the restoration of Peter.

Background Passage: John 21:1-19

Focus Passage: John 21:15-19

John 21:15–19 (NASB 2020) Now when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 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.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt 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 said to him, “Tend My sheep. “Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.” Now He said this, indicating by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

Outline

Reminder of the need for restoration

John 21:15–17 (NASB 2020) Now when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 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.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt 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 said to him, “Tend My sheep.

Peter needed restoration because of a broken relationship

We know when and where this relationship was severed (Jn 18:16-18, 25-27)

We know that this severance was not without warning (Lk 22:34)

God will bring us to a realization of our need for restoration

God does this through memory

John 21:9 NASB 2020

So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already made and fish placed on it, and bread.

God does this through conviction (Jesus’ questioning of Peter)

There is but one that bring to memory our sin and bring us to conviction over that sin, Jesus Christ. He will break us to restore us.

God will break you to restore you

Psalm 34:18 NASB 2020

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Restoration requires three steps

God calls to question our heart and the motives there of

He does not question our heart or its motives out of anger or vendetta, but rather out of love. He’s calls to question our heart for us to understand the true nature of our heart and the motives that proceed out of it.

Our hearts truly are, “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” Just as Jesus called this to the attention of Peter, he brings it to our attention.

God allows us the opportunity to repent

God requires action

For restoration to begin, we must act positively to God’s call and allowance of repentance on our life. He’s afforded the opportunity, we respond in kind to this opportunity. As John the Baptist stated to the Pharisees, “Bring forth fruits meet for repentance.”

Moment of restoration

Jesus identified Peter’s broken relationship – ‘...Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John...’

Jesus, rather than calling him his new name, Peter, He called him his old name, Simon. He did this to remind him that his relationship with him was broken and in need of restoration.

Many times, Jesus, will remind us through subtle notations that our relationship is not firm with Him.

Jesus provided Peter an opportunity to repent (vv.15b-17)

Jesus asks Peter three times, Do you love me. This was no coincident that Jesus asked this question three times. It was as a way to drive home the point of Peter’s denial and need for restoration.

The first two times that Jesus asked, Do you love me, He used the Gk word “agapo,” meaning, “Do you love me, Peter, out of principle or obligation?”

The last time that Jesus asked, Do you love me, He used the Gk word “phileo,” meaning, “Do you love me due to personal affection or sentiment?”

Jesus gave Peter an opportunity to respond every time, just as He continues to give us opportunities to respond.

Peter’s response was two-fold every time…

He tells Jesus, “You know that I “phileo” you every time. He is telling Christ that his love is not one out duty or social standing, but of affection and devotion.

Peter also tells Jesus that he knows all things. He twice used the Gk word, “eido,” meaning to properly see, to know, be aware of. The last time, in response to Jesus’ question, Peter used the Gk word, “ginosko” meaning to know absolutely.

We need to understand that Jesus not only knows what we have done in the past, but has an absolute knowledge of what we are going to do in the future and who we are today.

Jesus calls Peter to action – ‘...Feed my lambs…feed my sheep…feed my sheep…Follow me...’

Three times Jesus tells Peter to “Feed.” Twice, Peter is called to feed Jesus’ sheep (mature Christians) and then once, “Feed my lambs (baby Christians).

The idea is the same for both

Keep them engaged, feed them, and let them grow

Keep them cared for and protected

Restoration comes (vv. 18-19)

John 21:18–19 (NASB 2020) “Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.” Now He said this, indicating by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

Jesus revealed to Peter of his life before Christ – ‘When you were younger...’

Jesus revealed to Peter His life to come in Christ – ‘…but when you grow old...’

Jesus revealed to Peter his need to be in Christ – ‘...Follow me…’

Conclusion

What do we see within the text before us?

We a man who loved Christ but doubted Him

We see a man who loved Christ but failed Him

We see a man that was loved by Christ

We see a man that was convicted by Christ

We see a man that was restored by Christ

How do we apply this to our lives? We apply this to our lives by realizing that we have a natural bend to fail. We have a natural bend to rebel against Christ. We often fall to that bend. No matter how far we fall, Christ is there to pick up the broken pieces and restore us to a right relationship with Him. However, we must be willing to do as that old hymns says, Let us have a little talk with Jesus. Let us come with a broken heart over our sin knowing that He alone can repair and restore.