Peter’s Experience of Grace

A Disgraced Disciple

Bold

Matthew 14:28-29 ““Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.”

Confident

John 13:37 ““Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.””

Challenged

John 13:38 “Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly I tell you, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.”

Defiant

John 18:10 “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)”

Afraid

John 18:17 “Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” “I am not,” he said.”

Detached

Matthew 26:74 “Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed,”

Disgraced

Matthew 26:75 CSB

75 and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Still Part of the Group

They had all deserted

Mark 14:50 “Then they all deserted him and ran away.”

Yet stayed together

Peter and John

John 20:2 “2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!””

Then Ten Together

John 20:19 “19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.””

In sorrow, worry and wonder, Seeing Jesus.

Commissioned as Jesus’ Apostles

John 20:21 CSB

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

Given Holy Spirit Power and Discernment

John 20:22–23 CSB

22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But of course, Thomas was not there. Peter and John certainly were. But they were still trapped in their fear, worry and wonder.

Again Jesus Appears to Them in Hiding

Just the next week. And Thomas was there.

John 20:26 (CSB)

26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

The Third Appearance

John 21:1 CSB

1 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way:

They were all still lost in grief.

They were struggling to accept their mission

Their Buried Mission Needed A Resurrection

John 21:3 CSB

3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

We covered the lessons they still needed to learn:

Jesus called them to be fishers of men

Mark 1:17 CSB

17 “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Their net was empty with Jesus

John 21:5 CSB

5 “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered.

The net was full by Jesus’ command

John 21:6 CSB

6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.

Jesus’Revived their Purpose

John 21:10 CSB

10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them.

Jesus Invited The Disciples

Back to Fellowship With Jesus

John 21:12 CSB

12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.

And the Third Appearance was in the book.

John 21:14 CSB

14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

And then the focus shifts so we can understand. . .

Peter’s Experience of Grace

Worried About His Actions

-Broken Promises

-Fear Kept Him Out

-His Heart Kept Him In

-What would Jesus think of him?

Peter’s Experience of Grace begins with an important question:

How’s Your Heart?

John 21:15a “When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

I think I’m Good

John 21:15b “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”

Here’s Your Mission

John 21:15c “Feed my lambs,” he told him.”

Then A Second Time:

How’s Your Heart?

John 21:16a “A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

I still think I’m good

John 21:16b “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”

Here’s Your Mission

John 21:16c “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.

Then a Third Time:

How’s Your Heart?

John 21:17a “He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter Confronts His Guilt

John 21:17b Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”

A Humble Heart is an Honest Heart

John 21:17c He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Here’s Your Mission

John 21:17d “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.”

Following Jesus is Costly

Jesus Had Challenged Peter

John 13:38 “38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me?”

Now Peter’s Resolve Was Ready

John 21:18 CSB

18 “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”

Your Old Life Was Yours

John 21:18a “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted.

Your New Life Is Full Surrender

John 21:18b “But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”

To Glorify God Even in Death

John 21:19a He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God.

Don’t Fade in Faithfulness

John 21:19b After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”

Peter’s Experience of Grace

John 21:15 CSB

15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him.

-Invited to Fellowship

-Examining the Heart

-Receiving a Purpose

-Advised of the Cost

-Invited Back to Discipleship