Restored

Introduction:

"Peter’s Story”

Emphasis on story; feel like narrative. Connect dots poetically, draw you into story, but incorporate words of scripture.

Lst wk: Peter called while cleaning nets; large catch of fish…

FFW to denial around the fire.

Jesus crucifix, pathway to forg’ss…

Today, we meet >>

Peter After the Resurrection

“Well, that was a whirlwind!

“Three days. Three long days… with a great payoff,” thought Peter!

You see, about three days ago, Jesus of Nazareth (Lord & teacher) had been brutally put to death on a Roman cross—most visceral and effective way to stop ppl from rebelling.

All of the 12 were shaken. And, well… you know Peter’s low point:

In the High Priest’s courtyard, being questioned around a campfire.

But now, they had seen and even touched the Lord! It was almost too good to be true!

Jesus was back. He was very much the same, but also supernaturally different.

John 20:20 “…He showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”

Jesus’ resurrection gave the disciples hope before they even realized why.

Peter was still uneasy though.

“I never got a chance to apologize for the courtyard… indiscretion. I want Him to know how truly sorry I am. I just can’t face him. Too soon…

“Perhaps my denials will somehow keep me from the blessing the others receive… It would make sense; I deserve it!

“I guess I’ll just live with the consequences of my actions”.

The Angel had told the disciples to remain in Galilee:

Mark 16:7 “Go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘[Jesus] is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ””

And so there they remained; and they waited.

The disciples didn’t know how many times they’d see Jesus or when. He had appeared, hung out, and then left again as quickly as he came. (John 21:3)

But they knew they wanted to see Him again.

In their waiting, Peter suggested a pastime which everyone could get behind:

John 21:3 ““I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat…”

//BREATH

All night they toiled at their nets to no avail; until they saw a man on the seashore.

They were frustrated, tired as sunrise graced the hills surrounding the lake: “This feels like we’re right back where we started!” Peter thought.

The early morning light did nothing to lighten their moods; in fact, it only made them miss their Lord all the more.

Suddenly they heard someone yelling to them off in the distance. Nathaniel said, “HEY! Quiet down. I think he’s talking to us!”

John 21:5–6 “He called out to them [from the shore], “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some…”

This seemed like an odd request. They had tried everything in their great knowledge and power to catch some fish and nothing had worked! It’s not like they were inexperienced.

With their fishing hopes diminished, they honored the stranger’s suggestion.

However,

Something felt strangely familiar about this interaction. Their pulses each ticked up a notch as they put in on the other side.

John 21:6 “…When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

In an instant, memory joined with Spirit and the discouraged fisherman had renewed hope; and a new objective—don’t let the boat sink!

They fought & tugged as their over-encumbered vessel dipped and struggled to stay afloat.

In the midst of their fight, faith flashed forth:

John 21:7 “[John] said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard [this], he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.”

“I KNEW IT”, he thought, swimming as quickly as he could toward the shore.

“What only felt like an inkling—black & white, blurry, tickling the back of my mind—is suddenly crisp, brilliant, technicolor, 3D! Jesus is here!”

Everything made sense now. The familiar scene, the familiar call—Jesus was making a statement!

Peter swims to shore and races to embrace his rabbi & friend. “Rabboni. We didn’t know when we’d see you again.”

“And here I am,” Jesus utters with a nod. “You should probably help your brothers though…”

By this time, the struggling boat was almost ashore and was dragging a huge net full of 153 fish.

Peter helped the others drag the catch to land and, as they stood/laid there panting from the labor,

John 21:10, 12 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught...Come and have breakfast.”

He hadn’t seen it before, but, as they wrangled their catch toward where Jesus was, Peter noticed the familiar smell of a charcoal fire.

All of the other disciples reunions & greetings faded from his attention as the smell of burning charcoal filled his nostrils.

Peter remembered the all-too familiar smell; and he shuddered. This was the place of rejection, sin; of falling away.

Just a few nights ago, he had denied His teacher & Lord around a campfire just like this in Caiaphas’ court. The scent brought it all back.

//BREATH

It seemed to Peter that conversation was rough-going around that fire. He was uncomfortable at least.

Jesus and the others prepared the fish and began to cook it, very much like they used to.

However, it wasn’t like it used to be—something had changed and Peter felt it. “Maybe this was the time to apologize, ask for mercy,” he thought.

The hope Peter had received when Jesus appeared seemed polluted by the vivid memory of his betrayal.

“Everyone else seems so casual,” he thought. “I must be broken.”

John 21:15–17,19 “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these do?”

“Simon?! That’s not the name He gave me. That’s who I used to be,” Peter thought. Yet he replied:

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was grieved right to His spirit. “Is this really necessary? Haven’t I taken enough abuse already?! 3 Times! He knows the answer already. Does he still really question my devotion?!”

He replied, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”… 19 “Then he said to him, “Follow me!””

When those two words left his master’s lips, Peter felt a wave of peace flood His soul.

Again, realization hit like a ton of bricks:

Peter had to first contend with his own guilt, understand the hurt it had caused his Lord, and reaffirm his devotion.

Peter was still called, his purpose as a disciple was secure. Jesus had offered him great grace & forgiveness.

Even though made indirectly, Peter understood the significance of Jesus's inquiry: he is forgiven.

“Gratefully, Jesus was discreet—the others didn’t need to hear this; it was between me and him.”

“But what was that business about sheep and lambs?”

Jesus Restores Peter

Precursor thoughts

Peter’s pattern is the same for us today.

More thoughts

SubAbuMenHeaServAdm

The SAMHSA uses a similar path as Christ to help restore people from trauma.

We must face the weight of our sin.

We still sin! This is the bad news of the gospel (See: 1 John 1:10)!

1 John 1:10 “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

Peter emotinoally and physic. experience his sin again.

Charcoal campfire brought back sin at Caiaphas’ court.

Jesus, I believe, intentionally sets this up. John uses the word for the fire to connect the two accts. directly.

Each of us sin—unfortunately true. At some lvl, need to let that affect us.

Jesus’ half-bro gives a solemn command—one that we mod. W’ern. post-enl. Xians aren’t comfy with:

James 4:8–9 “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.”

We like to avoid this harsh or bitter reality of our sin.

But we need to feel that guilt… and do the next right thing.

Feeling guilt is RIGHT… Feeling condemned is wrong.

So what’s the next right thing in the face of egregious sin?? >>

We must renew our commitment to Jesus.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

I wish we didn’t have to do this, but we do!

Bc we are still fallen and we need Savior, we need to repent regularly.

A “commitment” to Christ really means “covenant” and should not be broken lightly. (Romans 6:1-2)

Romans 6:1–2 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

Our commitment to Christ like marr. covenant—in mod. culture means less to most than it should.

A solemn promise between God and us.

Move us to repent. kill, do away with, the desires of our old life and pursue something new.

The tension lies in the fact that we are told to grieve our sin and yet… Jesus offers us grace! >>

We are never too far from Christ’s call.

The egregiousness of our offense is true… and yet his grace is big enough to handle it!

I think we need to feel our sin so that we are moved to repent and change.

1 John 2:1–2 “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

SALVATION CALL AGAIN?

That’s Usually it

“Shepherd My Sheep”

John 21:15–16 “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.””

Jesus commands Peter to gently deal with young lambs & firmly defend and keep the elder sheep.