The Restoration of Peter

Intro:

Peter’s Brokenness

He Boasted

John 13:8 “Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.””

John 13:37 “Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.””

He Fled

He Denied

Just a few days ago

By another charcoal fire

About the same time of day - the early morning hours

Peter uttered his first denial that quickly led to two others.

He Felt: Grieved

Doubt - He was grieved because his love was at least in his own heart in question.

Shame

Fear

He Received

Humility: “Do you love me more than My other disciples do?”

Confidence: Yes, Peter you do love Me. I know it and you know it, but now you are just more honest about it.

Restoration

Three times Jesus makes Peter say “I love you”

Some have made major emphasis on the different words for love in this text.

Jesus: Peter do you agape Me?

Peter: Yes, Jesus I phileo you.

One for every denial that Peter previously said.

Application: Do you relate to Peter’s brokenness?

Peter’s Commission

The Chief Shepherd

“MY” sheep - these are not Peter’s sheep, but Christ’s.

John 10:27 ““My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;”

If you know Christ you are one of HIS sheep and as John recorded earlier in this book “no one can pluck you out of His hand.”

Taste the goodness of the Lord: welcomed home to his embrace, all his love, as blood outpoured, seals the pardon of his grace. Can I doubt his love for me, when I trace that love's design? By the cross of Calvary I am his and he is mine.

The Under-shepherd

Feeding - with the Word of God

Protecting - from false doctrine

Guiding - applying the word

Peter’s Sacrifice

Loss of Freedom

Illustration: when you are young you go and do whatever you want.

But there is coming a day for you Peter when that freedom to choose will be lost to you.

Life does that sometimes when you find yourself in a place or circumstance that you didn’t choose.

Picture of Crucifixion: “you will stretch out your hands.”

Peter lived for many years after this prediction.

Can you imagine living everyday with this hanging over your head?

Some of you have health concerns, financial concerns, family concerns that hang over your heads everyday.

Peter knew that someday he would die a horrific death, but I believe this one thing kept him going. That in his death he would glorify God.

The Glory of God

There are too many Christians aimlessly and apathetically wandering through life.

God has given us purpose, to glorify Him.

In what you choose to do

In what you choose not to do

In what you say

And even, like Peter, in how you die

Illustration: Pastor Johnson

Peter’s Concern

John’s Future

I believe that Peter’s question about John’s future came from a place of concern rather than selfish pride. Some have interpreted Peter’s question as him effectively saying “If I have to go through that John should too.”

I just do see it. Peter and John were close and Peter was a natural protector.

Peter’s Focus

Jesus’ mild rebuke of Peter was not because of the nature of his question but because of how quickly Peter was distracted from his commission.

John had to correct a rumor that started because of Jesus’ words in v. 22

Jesus has to get Peter’s focus back on Him, so He says again “follow me”

It is so easy to get our eyes off of Jesus