John 21: Peter's Denial

Intro

Intro

I’m not a very emotional person

La La land

My favorite chapter in the Bible

It shows both the character of Jesus, Peter, and John

It shows the effects of pride and the downfall it brings

Ultimately the justice and loving grace of God

First understand the full context, to understand the power of this.

Peter’s Bravado

John 13:31-38

First of all Jesus that we are to be identified by loving one another

Peter has a lot of bravado he's puffed up thinking that he can do everything that God asks of him

Jesus warns him of sin, a prophecy that must be fulfilled.

You will deny me three time

If someone said this to me then I would do everything in my power to stop it

The Devil often uses uses our overconfidence to be our ally

James Simpson and the hangout

Because it had never happened before I was confident it would happen again

James 4:6

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble

When we do great thing or find success in our temptation we cant become puffed up or prideful that when we are subject to failure

Peter denies

John 18:15-18 25-27

Peter denies Jesus three time after saying that he never will

But whosoever shall deny me before men, he will also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

High school denying that you are friends with someone

God cannot force you to love him that’s a choice you have to make, because that isn’t love

Matthew 10:33

“but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Interlude

John 20:30

Perfect number, amazing message to end on, it puts everything in the

Jesus’ response

John 21:15-16

Peter goes back to the fishing instead of doing what Jesus says

John recognizes Jesus when the other disciples did not

John recounts the number of fish

Because he was there this is a real story

Its not a fairy tale or something to tell a moral but a real story

Jesus makes Peter repeat this three time for the three time that Peter betrayed him

When someone betrays your trust it takes a bit for you to forgive them, they have to have the initiative to get back into your good graces.

Jesus takes the initiative mending the relationship even though it was not his responsibility.

Have you ever betrayed someone's trust and you just wish there was something you could do or say to make it all better.

Yet even in this Jesus is not looking for himself but to other

Tend to my lambs, Shepherd my Sheep, Tend my Sheep.

Christ did not ask Peter to build monuments in his name or punish himself in anyway, he simply said “You love me prove it help others”

Gospel response in ernest

Jesus took the initiative to forgive Peter not the other way around

When you hurt someone who has to apologize

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends

Jesus proved this on the Cross

He put his money where his mouth is

Talk is cheap

Why did he do this out of love

JOhn 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

We are the children of God and it hurts us when we are separated.

It our actions that keep us separated we sin and that makes us not be able to be with God

God got rid of our sin for us taking the initiative in forgiveness

He’s done all the work now all we have to do is be humble

Like Peter we can’t think we can do it all on our own

We have to ask fro help

How do we do this

Romans 10: 9-11

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.

When we do that we take the first step in our faith, we won't be instantly better it’ll still take some work but all that sin is forgiven