When Healing Hurts

We are not perfect.

This is no surprise to any of us, I hope. Life will happen and sometimes we will not be the person we want to be. Thsi is why grace is needed. How we respond to pain and failure is important. We have a couple options

We all have pain and failures.

We can bury it!

This may work in the beginning and to some extent it is easy. No one will ever know we think. It is in the past we don’t need to go “digging up stuff” any longer. Shame, disgrace and regret on top of despair set in.Yet, this is not healthy nor the way of Jesus. This may lead to despair. Jesus has a story about burying what is given to us in Matthew 25

We can use it as energy/zeal

This looks good at first. It may even be a good thing but underlying the activity is a mindset that says “I have to do more for the Lord because I have messed up! I have let myself, the church and Jesus down so now I cannot do that again.” There is a lot of “Is” in this mindset. There is little love and even less joy. Jesus had something to say about this kind of activity in Matthew 7.

Third option: let Jesus heal.

I admit this sounds almost too easy adn most of us go through all of these three at any time. As we open up John 21 may we find the courage and grace to choose this option.

Jesus comes to Peter.

We need to see that this restoration of Peter is at the invitation and initiation of Jesus. Peter does not do it on his own. We need to see that Jesus wants to heal, make us whole.

The question: do you love me more than these?

What did Jesus mean? Fishing, his career, his comfort, his known life, or the disciples? To some extent all of the above but this was not just a simple question about priority. I believe this goes back to John 13.37

John 13:37 NIV

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

In the synoptic Gospels he also proclaims that if all the others will deny Jesus he would be true.

Peter’s response: Lord you know!

This a great response in many ways. We rest on the knowledge of our Lord not what we “think”.

Jesus goes deep.

Three times he asked the same question. Why? Yes it is becasue three times Peter denied and I think this is the main reason. However, I believe there is something else about this. No not some magical formula. But, we can easily deny the pain while sayign the right thing once or twice. We can easily “fool” ourselves without believing . To have to repeat teh words and the healing it can touch us to the core. It can protect against despair and a self-centered zeal. This is where Jesus wants to go!

Jesus provides Peter, and us, with a mission—love His people & fish for others.

Jesus does not leave us in our pain and shame. He redeems it, forgives it and then sends us on mission. The last part is key to true healing. We must realize our purpose in Christ.

“The work of the church can only go forward when we are unburdened of our destructive memories through the gracious forgiveness of God. when this happens, we will be empowered and transformed and made ready to represent Jesus with a rejoicing heart.” Gary Burge, NIV Application Commentary: John

The call: follow Jesus!

There is much to distract but only one things matters; following Jesus. Our love for Jesus must be the foundation of anything done for Jesus. We cannot look at others and what their call is.