The Space Between

Introduction

It’s another Easter worship service. It is another year we reflect, meditate, worship, and celebrate the most important weekend of the entirety of history. The weekend that God’s plan of redemption is fulfilled through His Son by His life, death, and resurrection. It’s a powerful weekend the events that took place are the very breath of life in Christianity.

This morning I don’t want to examine Easter from a theological perspective or from the direct narrative associated with Christ. Instead I want to look at Easter through the eyes of Peter, through eyes that view this weekend as many of us do. As we progress through the text and thoughts you will understand more fully what I mean.

Who was Peter?

Peter was a rugged, blue collar fisherman who was probably a little rough around the edges. We know he was married and worked quite hard. He sought to care for his wife, make some money, and live a good life.

He would have been raised religious and likely had a belief in God. We don’t know how he followed God prior to Jesus, though.

One day Peter is fishing at night and by morning comes to shore with empty nets. He is tired, sore, and frustrated. Jesus is there, whom Peter has encountered before, but Jesus asks to use the boats to speak to the crowd. Peter is hesitant and so Jesus has Peter go out into the water a little ways and cast nets out.

Imagine some random teacher guy coming to tell you how to do your trade. Little did Peter know, it wasn’t some random teacher, but the Creator of the world. Peter obliges and has nets filled immediately.

Coming to shore, Peter experiences the Messiah and falls at His feet and surrenders. This experience was the start of a full life change that would come to him.

For 3 years Peter walked with Jesus, listening, learning, watching, ministering, and teaching. He would become one of three of Jesus’ closet disciples who would experience things others would not. Their bond was tight, close, a brotherhood of sorts. Still teacher to student, yet more.

When the moments of John 18 happened it was a deep cut. Jesus told Peter this moment would happen and he didn’t believe it or accept it. Peter brazenly says, I will follow, even unto my death.

Pride in who he is sneaks into his heart and life. Pride that Peter can grind it out, he is tough and is able to push through anything. Pride in his own faith, in himself, and in his own ability.

John 18:15-18, 25-27

What is happening in these moments?

The once brazen, bold, strong, get it done man who once cut off the ear of a man who was attempting to arrest Jesus; now lurks in the shadows.

The strong fisherman who helped lead the disciples cowers at the question of a little girl.

Peter is scared…

Peter is helpless…

Peter is monetarily hopeless…

Peter is broken…

Luke 22:62 records that the moment Peter speaks his final denial of Jesus; Jesus looks at Peter. I assume they make eye contact and Peter goes away and weeps bitterly.

I like what Dan Darling said of these denial moments,

Peter’s failure here was not one of cowardice, but of pride. He had loyally stayed by Jesus’ side far longer while others fled. Peter’s failure was his inability to fully see himself. When Peter looked into the mirror every morning, he saw a strong, successful, brave warrior, but Jesus’ piercing look that dark night revealed the real man: a weak and frail disciple.”

Peter’s denial reveals what afflicts us all. In our pride we believe we can have it all together with Jesus. In our pride we can think life is good and we got this apart from Jesus. One piercing look from the Savior into our hearts, one moment in our lives that leaves us scared, helpless, momentarily hopeless, and broken reveals our pride and who we are without Him- weak and frail.

Was this denial a sin? Yes. Jesus taught that disciples of Him are to acknowledge Him before men. He said that after He taught that following Him would lead to persecution. This moment for Peter broke his relationship, his fellowship with Jesus. The very thing that all sin does in us. It breaks relationship and fellowship with God.

What stands between Peter’s denial and brokenness and his restoration?

The cross and the empty tomb!!

What stands between us all in our sin and brokenness and our restoration?

The cross and the empty tomb!!

Friday was the cross. The tragic day Jesus is crucified after being beaten, placed on a trial for false charges, convicted, and forced to be brutally killed.

Friday was the day the the full wrath of God against sin and the sin of the world was laid upon His shoulders. As Jesus who knew no sin, became sin for us. It was this day that Jesus “bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. He was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.”

And it pleased the Lord to crush Him for our sake.

The blood of Jesus paid for our sin, His death taking on our own. Friday was the day the veil between God and man was torn and access to God was granted permanently through Jesus. Friday was the moment Jesus spoke- “It is finished” and completed in full the will of Father and made Titus 2:11, 14 a reality.

Titus 2:11,14 “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,… 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.”

Friday was a day for Peter that likely seemed it was all done. He’s gone, dead, what more can Peter do? He watched Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, I wonder if Peter hoped the same of Jesus. But how can a dead man resurrect Himself? Peter will soon know, but for 3 days, I imagine guilt, pain, hurt, and regret loomed over him.

The weight of his own sin. Have you felt the weight of your own sin? Have you felt the weight of your own brokenness? How about the weight of a mistake, trial, or failure? Sitting in it hoping for redemption, for renewal, for new life.

For Peter Sunday came! The day death was defeated and resurrection power entered the chat. For us, Sunday came!

John 20:1-15

What is taking place here? Eye witness account of an empty tomb. Perhaps first believed someone stole the body of Jesus, the disciples go running. Peter is specifically mentioned. Why? Given just days ago he denied Jesus, for three days he has been living in the shame of what he had done, now if the resurrection is true, hope is found.

John writes that Mary encounters the risen Jesus and we see resurrection power is reality.

Resurrection power for life after death.

Heaven is not the end all be all of eternity. We will not stay as spirit, nor do we become angels which is something lesser. Instead, the Lord will recreate all things in heaven and earth and one day will grant unto all who believe new, resurrected bodies. We will experience resurrection just as Jesus experienced resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 21-22,25-28, 53-57 (read)

Paul tells us that our hope in death is resurrection life that is to come. Death is a reality of sin. It is apart of the brokenness that sin brings to this world. The reality and sting of death is felt each and every time we lose someone.

But one day, for those who believe by faith in Jesus Christ they will be able to say, “death has been swallowed up in victory, where death, is your victory? Where, death is your sting?

I have victory in Christ Jesus my Savior and King. I am subject to Him and not to you anymore. I will dwell with Him for all eternity.”

What blessed hope this is!

The resurrection power is seen right now from the moment Jesus arose:

Resurrection power that will bring freedom from sin.

Resurrection power to no longer be a slave to who we were, but a person redeemed, filled with the Holy Spirit who was promised by Jesus.

Resurrection power that brings hope, renewal, reconciliation, and transformation.

Resurrection power that leads to greater purpose in this life.

How do I know? Turn with me to John 21:15-19

John 21:15-19

After Jesus appears to the disciples several times, they’re was still one who needed to experience resurrection power in his life now. Peter is out fishing and Jesus replays the scene when He first calls Peter to follow Him. Peter recognizes Jesus and swims to shore and they have breakfast together.

Our text reveals the conversation. What do we notice here?

3 times Jesus ask Peter do you love me. I don’t think this is coincidence to the number of times Peter denied Jesus. It is purposeful of our Lord as He takes Peter through reconciliation. Perhaps to be clear to Peter, the space between us, the very thing that divided us, is now bridged by the cross and empty tomb. Jesus bridged the space between by the work He did but He is also bridging the space between by drawing Peter to Himself.

The cross and the tomb is the only thing that can bridge the space between us and God.

Not your parents faith, not religious observance, not being good, not even church attendance. Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and only through Him could people come to the Father.

Salvation is found in no other than Jesus Christ. If you know you are not right with God, your Creator, you must believe in faith that Jesus took care of what separates you from God. Receive His work on the cross in your place. Surrender your life to His.

Peter no longer has to live in his guilt, shame, sin, and brokenness. That is washed away as he rests in the redemption Jesus brings.

You no longer have to live in guilt, shame, sin, and brokenness. That can be washed away and is washed away when we rest in the redemption Jesus brings.

Jesus restores Peter to the purpose He was given. Feed my lambs, shepherd by sheep, feed my sheep all relate to the call of caring for Jesus’ church.

The Lord isn’t satisfied to simply leave us in our old way. He isn’t satisfied to leave us in our sin to be mastered. He restores us back to our purpose of reflecting His image in holiness, righteousness, and goodness.

Paul said we are God’s workmanship, once called into saving relationship with Christ Jesus, created to do good works. Andrew Murray wrote, “Whatever God creates is exquisitely suited to its end.” The eye is created to see, the sun to give light, he proposes.

So, He restores us to a purpose in Him. It is not that we will simply live as moral people, but that we will live as people surrendered to Him. A people that reflect His character, His life, His image the very thing we were created for.

He tells Peter to follow Him once more. Through the redemption of the cross and the power of the resurrection; Peter is to fulfill the greatest commission given. Our purpose is more than to believe a truth about God and Jesus, believe our ticket to heaven is punched, and then live our lives as we wish.

Peter went back to fishing after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He went back to what he knew and was comfortable with. Jesus says, you have a greater calling in me, Peter.

Because of the resurrection power, we are called to the same call as Peter- Follow me. Follow Jesus unto the ends of the earth. Follow Jesus to make disciples in your family, in your community, among those around you.

Follow Jesus to teach what He has taught you. Follow Jesus to baptize those who believe. Follow Jesus when it is hard, when it doesn’t make sense, when you want to give up. Follow Jesus to abide in deeper relationship. Follow Jesus to construct your life unto what He commands of you.

If Christ, who defeated the grave and sin by the power presented in the resurrection; what is there in this life that He cannot empower us and see us through?

Conclusion

Peter would go on to preach boldly the gospel of Jesus. He would lead the early church. He would find himself in jail for the sake of Jesus. He would one day find his life at stake for Jesus. Peter would be crucified, not entirely as Jesus was because he felt unworthy to be killed the same, but Peter would die for his faith in Jesus.

What drives a man do that? It is not simply a community. It is not lights, stages, and a worship show each week. It is not donuts and coffee in a foyer. It is not religion. It is what Peter witnessed and experienced by the cross and empty tomb.

Why have we looked at Easter through the eyes of Peter? Because Peter reveals the transformative power of the cross and the empty tomb. Peter didn’t just believe some doctrine or theological treatise.

Peter didn’t simply become religious. Peter didn’t just take the status quo of what the faith or Jesus could give him. Peter was entirely different before Jesus and after Jesus.

Peter displays through his testimony the same truth that is available to us. We can find power, salvation, and hope that doesn’t let us stay the same. We can find in the Person and work of Jesus that reconciliation and redemption of it all is found.

We do not have to be bound, chained, held captive to our sin, our mistakes, failures, trials, and lackluster faith.

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of old dusty religion. Faith that is as dusty as the Bibles that sit on our shelves. Knees worn out from trying to live this life apart from Jesus instead of worn out in surrendered prayer to the One who bears all authority and power.

Easter is not a day or weekend we wear once a year, like the nice clothes we often get for this day. Easter, resurrection weekend, however you call it is about the transforming power of Jesus Christ for a lifetime.

My call to you is to stop living apart from this power. Stop surrendering to your sin and brokenness. Surrender to the Almighty who displayed unto us His love, grace, mercy, and power.

Stop treating Jesus like an add on to your life and let Him be your life. Stop finding the excuses why you can’t believe and fall into the the Father’s embrace of hope. Let go of the pride and claiming a life of Jesus, yet denying Him in action.

Resurrect anew today through belief, confession, repentance, and surrender.