Three Chances To Get It Right - Peter Is Restored

Three Chances To Get It Right - Peter Is Restored

John 21:15-17 “ - 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

Introduction

About Peter

Peter was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him. In fact he was fishing when he was called.

The fisherman of that and to this day were tough and even offensive.

If you’ve ever seen a movie that included fishermen, you have a preview of what Peter may have been like.

Peter was known to bite off more than he could chew, always seeming to speak when he shouldn’t.

Peter was the one…

Who tried to rebuke Jesus when Jesus told His disciples that He would have to suffer, die and be raised on the third day.

Who told Jesus he was ready to go with Jesus to prison and to death.

Who told Jesus he would never deny Him.

Who cut a servant’s (soldier’s) ear off.

Who denied Jesus three times.

An Awkward Moment For Peter

Peter had led the other disciples out into the sea of Galilee to fish.

Perhaps this was a prophetic moment - Peter would later become a leader, an apostle of the church.

I recall Jesus telling Peter and Andrew to follow Him and He will make them fishers of men. (Matt 4:19)

As they were fishing Jesus appeared on the shore.

Peter being hasty as he was, plunged into the sea and swam from the boat to Jesus.

They all sat and ate breakfast with Jesus.

This had to be an awkward moment for Peter. Let’s put ourselves in Peter’s position for a moment.

Can’t you see Peter sitting there in silence because His Lord, whom He had denied was right there with him?

I want you to think back on the time you offended someone and had to be in their midst. You probably wondered when they were going to bring your offense up, and even more awkward, you wondered if they would bring it up in front of others.

But Jesus did something so loving, forgiving and reassuring to and for Peter.

Jesus Restores Peter

Jesus asked Peter did he love Him three times. The first time Jesus asked if he loved Him more than these.

Earlier Peter claimed he would never stumble even if the rest are offended of Him, he would never be. But he denied Jesus three times.

Jesus knew Peter’s heart and knew Peter loved Him. He asked in this fashion because Peter perceived the other disciples loved Jesus more because they hadn’t denied Him (but they ran away when Jesus was arrested.)

Peter only answered, “Lord you know that I love you.”

Jesus told Peter, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus was giving him an assignment. Jesus was saying He trust Peter to feed His lambs, which would be the new followers of Christ. He was telling Peter He was assigned to be a shepherd of the flock.

Jesus asked Peter two more times if he loved Him.

The second time Peter said, “Lord you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” These were the ones who had already begun to follow Christ.

The third time, Peter became grieved and answered again; “Lord you know that I love you.” Jesus told Peter again to feed His sheep.

Now I wonder if Peter understood that Jesus asked him if he loved Him three times, after Peter denied Him three times?

It’s as if the Lord gave Peter three chances to repent for the three times he denied Him.

I wonder if Peter understood right then that the Lord was restoring him from being in denial to an Apostle of the church?

We Are Or Have Been Peter - conclusion

As I said earlier, put yourself in Peter’s position. We are or have been in denial of Christ.

Like Peter we were on fire for God, but as we stood by the lure and warmth of a worldly flame, we denied Him.

When our claims to be disciples for Christ was tried and put under pressure we discovered we had a leak in our spiritual plumbing.

I watched a plumber work on my house one day. When he made all the connections he wanted to be sure there wasn’t going to be any leaks. So he turned the water back on. This increased the pressure to the pipes. If he sealed everything right, there wouldn’t be any leaks.

Our faith is like this. When the pressures and cares of this world is applied, if we have any leaks, they will show.

Like Peter, we may have reacted in such a way that led others to think we are the opposite of who they thought we were.

Peter denied Christ three times to someone who he saw as a threat to his safety or comfort zone.

Have you ever professed your faith and soon afterwards you were tested in front of other people?

I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad that Jesus loves us enough to come back to reaffirm His love for us regardless of how far we’ve fallen…

Just like Jesus could see the sadness of Peter’s heart and how sorry he was for denying Him, Jesus can see our hearts and knows if we are sorry for what we’ve done.

Just like Jesus saw beneath that tough outer appearance of Peter, He can see beneath our skin all the way to the bone.

He knows what we’re capable of just like He saw Peter had what it took to be His Apostle for the establishing of the Church.

In spite of what we’ve done, the Lord wants to forgive us and restore us so He can use us for great exploits.

Peter denied Jesus three times but gave him three chances to get it right.

And He is giving all of us a chance to get it right today...