Experiencing sound quality issues? Please Click here A Grace That Restores
In John Chapter 21, we see Jesus coming to a discouraged and distracted Peter and resets his life with a fresh start. Peter was a disciple who took on a risk of his life when he left his fishing and followed Jesus. He was extraordinary among the disciples, that he jumped into the water and went walking on the water. Peter went up on the mountain and experienced the incredible event of Jesus’ transfiguration. Peter also had a big mouth that worked for Jesus, but also worked against him. Peter said that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, and the One that they had been waiting for. Then almost in the same breath, Peter steps in front of Jesus and tells Him that Hecan’t die. Then Jesus calls him Satan and says, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God.” (Matthew 16:23). Then on the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas, Peter’s mouth opened again to deny knowing Jesus. Not once, not twice, but three times! In all these fumblings and failures of Peter, there was one thing that remained constant. It was Jesus’s love toward him.
We all need restoration because of the brokeness of our spirits and souls. There are many TV shows and social media sites that cover restoration of old houses and builings. "This Old House" "Fixer Upper", and "Backyard Build" are the popular ones. They find old and dilapidated buildings and renovate them and make them look like new ones. They are old buildings with new looks. As we live through through life the storms beat against us, the sun beats down on us, and the events of life beat us up. We Begin to show signs of the stress. Life has broken us down into a state of despair and disrepair. We Find ourselves in need of renovation and restoration. We Need our Creator, the Master Carpenter to step in and make us whole. This desire, or need, to be restored is a theme all throughout the Bible. The Psalmists cry out, “How long, O Lord until you restore me?” (Psalm 6:3), “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you” (Psalm 51:12), “I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as you promised” (Psalm 119:107). The prophets pleaded with God, “Turn me again to you and restore me, for you alone are the Lord my God” (Jeremiah 31:18), “Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again!” (Lamentations 5:21). The Apostles named it as the goal, “Your restoration is what we pray for” (2 Corinthians 13:9), and “Aim for restoration” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
Jesus loves us regardless of our condition. He comes and helps us in spite of us straying from Him and denying Him. After Peter’s denial something changed. Something died in him. It was a conversion-like moment for Peter, a turning point. Peter’s own bold confidence and strength were killed. He knew he was just clay still being moulded, not “the unmovable rock” that Jesus called him to be. That’s why he went outside to weep after his denial. (Luke 22:62). Peter realized that he was a sinner in need of forgiveness! At that moment everything about Peter changed, his entire being surrendered to His Lord and Savior. His self-reliance left him. Peter ran to the tomb on Easter morning. He wanted to meet the risen Lord. He knew Jesus will forgive and restore him. But he did not meet him there. But the women who went to the tomb delivered Jesus’ message to the disciples that they should go to Galilee and wait for him there. So Peter and the other disciples went. But, it seems that Jesus wasn’t there to meet them the moment they arrived. They had to wait, and wait. Peter gets tired of waiting says, “I’m going out to fish”, to return to his old ways, the job he knows and trusts. His failures still loom over him. The denial of Jesus plagues to him.
Jesus then appeared on the shore waiting for them with a breakfast already prepared. After the breakfast, Jesus took Peter aside and asked three times if he loved Him. Why would Jesus ask his question three times? It’s hard to say. Jesus was not asking if he loved the sheep more than anything. Jesus has renewed in him the assurance of His love toward him. This is good news for us as well. Restoration is possible. When Jesus asked him about his love, He was referring to the statement Peter had made before His death, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." (Matt 26:33). The three questions might relate to the three denial, thus undoing all of them. Or, they might refer to the making of a contract. At that time in history a threefold of questions and answers was done to make a contract. Maybe it’s both. We dont know exactly why Jesus asked him three times the same questions. What we do know is that Christ came to restore Peter. He blots out and destroys Peter’s three denials.
Jesus then appeared on the shore waiting for them with a breakfast already prepared. After the breakfast, Jesus took Peter aside and asked three times if he loved Him. Why would Jesus ask his question three times? It’s hard to say. Jesus was not asking if he loved the sheep more than anything. Jesus has renewed in him the assurance of His love toward him. This is good news for us as well. Restoration is possible. When Jesus asked him about his love, He was referring to the statement Peter had made before His death, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." (Matt 26:33). The three questions might relate to the three denial, thus undoing all of them. Or, they might refer to the making of a contract. At that time in history a threefold of questions and answers was done to make a contract. Maybe it’s both. We dont know exactly why Jesus asked him three times the same questions. What we do know is that Christ came to restore Peter. He blots out and destroys Peter’s three denials.
The great Christian author C.S. Lewis has written a book called “The Four Loves” that explains love in the Scriptures, based on four Greek words Storge, Philia, Eros and Agape. The first three are possessive and the fourth one is sacrificial. Storge or affection is not real love, but has some characteristics of love. It may not last. It is seen in friends, neighbors, schools and even in church. It is conditional based on location and controlled by forces outside of oneself. It can be compared to affinity. North and South poles of magnets, electrons etc attract when they are close. Intimacy is important, but there is no passion. I call it ‘charismatic’ love or ‘fanatic’ love (of fans). It may also be called mania (excitement). We see this affection during the baseball and foot ball game seasons. People get excited in love for teams that win, and then when things don’t look so good, they change their love to another team. It does not stand the test of risks or dangers.
Agape is the acrificial divine love. It is the self sacrificing love of God for humanity that we see in John 3:16. It is also used in places where Jesus said, "Love your God with all your heart and Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 22:37-41). It is the love described in 1 Corinthina 13, also referred to as 'charity'. Science has still not explained what kind of chemical causes this. God has shown his Agape love through the blood that was shed on the Cross.
God’s love is gift of no return. He gave His Son without expecting anything, rather to save the sinners. Jesus said it is common to see people sacrifice for a good man, but God sacrificed His son for the sinners. God’s love is unconditional, not “because of” who we are, but “in spite of” who we are.
God’s love is gift of no return. He gave His Son without expecting anything, rather to save the sinners. Jesus said it is common to see people sacrifice for a good man, but God sacrificed His son for the sinners. God’s love is unconditional, not “because of” who we are, but “in spite of” who we are.
The words here in John's gospel indicate that Peter will walk the same road that Jesus did. History says that Peter also died on a cross, some say he was crucified upside down. Luke 5 tells about how Peter followed Jesus when He showed up on Peter boat, where they caught nothing all night. Jesus told them to cast their nets into deeper waters and they caught a big catch. Peter at that time was very vocal in telling Jesus that He may be wrong, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Peter must have remembered that now he does not talk back. No questions from Peter! He picks up the nets and tosses them on the other side, and what a catch. So much that they can’t haul the net in. Peter probably remembered the first time when Jesus did this and told him about fishing for people. The old Peter is coming back, irrational, erratic, spontaneous Peter who jumps into the water. But when Peter gets to Jesus he doesn’t say anything. No conversation is recorded in John. The rest of them arrive and they eat breakfast in silence. When we are gloomy and lonely, frustrated and disappointed, don't know what to do, and become silent, Jesus will come to break the silence. He wants us to talk to Him because He wants us to talk to the world as well. We are not meant to be silent.
The story is more about Jesus than Peter. Jesus was not asking if he loved the sheep more than these? The Power of Easter breaks the silence of shame and guilt. Peter couldn’t talk. Jesus made him talk. Peter needed to speak. Jesus made him speak. Jesus does not confront or rebuke him. Jesus was there to restore him, to forgive him, to make him new again…, and again…, and again. Jesus turns to Peter and asks him, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” More than anyone or anything? The last question hits hard. It digs deep. Peter is hurt. “Lord You know all things.”
Jesus tenderly reaches out to this wounded, hurt, afraid child of God. Peter was unable to go to Jesus due to his shameful past. But Jesus came to him. We are no different. When life’s biggest mistakes occur, we find it almost impossible to go to the person we offended. We are more likely to hide it. Tuck it away deep down where no one else can find it. However, Jesus taught his disciples something different in Matthew 18. He said, “If your brother or sister sins against you… go to them. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” Jesus is practising what He preached. Jesus came to Peter, to forgive him, to win him over. This is what Jesus is doing today. He goes to the one who offends Him.
Peter got stronger and stronger in Christ after he was restored. Peter takes up his cross, follows Christ, and becomes the 'rock' Jesus spoke of. Peter leaves his fishing boats and tackle and gear behind, for good. He goes to Jerusalem. He goes to preach and to lead and feed and nurture the tender flock of Christ's followers. Peter has changed and become the rock that speaks firmly and loudly. If you look at Acts 2, the silent Peter is turned into an eloquent preacher, where 3000 people were converted in one preaching. In Acts 4, the number became 5000, counting just the men alone who believed. According to tradition, Peter was crucified for his faith under the rule of the wicked Roman emperor Nero, in A.D. 64. He was crucified upside down at his request because he did not feel worthy of dying as Jesus did. 1 Corinthians 9:5 tells us that Peter's wife accompanied him on some of his missions. According to some history, Peter and his wife were led to the crucifixion together, and she was the first to be martyred. Peter comforted her in her sufferings by urging her to remember the example of her Lord.
We all deny the Lord in our own way. God’s grace flows abundantly to each of us. Christ came into this world, emptied himself and became nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. He humbled himself and became obedient to deat; even the death on a cross. Each of us has stumbled and fallen. Maybe we have gotten stuck in a hole and we can’t get out of. Or maybe we don’t even want to get out. Jesus is reaching out to us to pick us up, to clean us, to empower us, and then he says, “follow me!”
Peter endured persecution following his restoration. He was the strength of the early church and was used by God’s Spirit to reach the gentiles. Later, after the Council of Jerusalem, Peter leaves town and leaves leaves Jerusalem to continue leading the church. He wrote letters, from which we gain insight into his development and his understanding of the Christian faith. Peter’s letters reveal his warmth and sincerity, his faith in times of testing, his reliance upon Christ in suffering and his unfading hope of glory. More and more, day-by-day he became the 'rock'. Amid all the stumbles and falls, which continued throughout his life, the name the Master had given him, “rock” came into reality. His humility, his devotion, his shattered self-assurance, his experience of the Lord’s forgiveness, kept bringing him back, not by his own doing, but through the love of Jesus Christ.
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