What was the last thing you regret saying or doing? Have you ever had one of those moments when you knew you shouldn’t have said something, but seemed powerless to stop it from coming out? Or maybe you reacted to someone/something and soon afterwards felt shame and regret? In today’s sermon, we will learn that Jesus restores His disciples when they fail. We pick up in John at Jesus’ third post-resurrection appearance to His disciples. In the first appearance, Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His Holy Spirit fueled witnesses. In the second, Jesus’ focus was helping “Doubting” Thomas believe. In this third appearance, Jesus’ focus is helping “Denying” Peter receive forgiveness for his sin and to do the good work Jesus has prepared for him to do.
Peter’s Horrific Sin
How does one describe Peter? Let’s say that he was one of those guys who knew what sandal leather tasted like! If anyone was going to “speak first and think later” it’s Peter. Peter was the one who once rebuked Jesus (Matt 16:22). Peter was the one who later boldly declared to Jesus, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble” (Matt 26:33). Then, after Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times, Peter declared: “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matt 26:35). Sure enough, when the time came, Peter denied Jesus three times (Matt 26:69-75). After the third time, “Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly” (Matt 26:75). Peter was regarded as the leader of the disciples. Jesus told Peter before Jesus was betrayed and crucified, “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Luke 22:31). Satan indeed sifted Peter as he denied Jesus three times.
Peter’s Permeating Shame
Peter carried the guilt and shame of denying Jesus. He carried it with him when Jesus was crucified. He carried it with him when he saw Jesus’ empty tomb. He carried it with him when he saw Jesus appear to the disciples. There must have been a mix of emotion in Peter as he knew Jesus was alive, but had shame about his actions leading up to His death. How odd must it have been to hear Jesus commission him (after what he had done) to be a Spirit-filled Gospel witness. Peter also must have wrestled with the shame of his denials while Jesus was speaking with Thomas about his doubt.
Peter was thrilled that Jesus had risen from the dead, but unsure about where he stood with Jesus. He had not at this time had a reckoning with Jesus about what happened. So, what was Peter to do? Peter was a fisherman so he decided to go fishing! The Sea of Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee (Matt 4:18) and the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1), was very familiar to Peter. It was where he fished for most of his life. Why did he go fishing? Well, usually when we don’t know what to do, we do what we have always done. For Peter, it was fishing. The other disciples with him decided to join him. Sadly, for Peter, it didn’t go very well. They didn’t catch anything.
Peter’s Merciful Salvation
While fishing, Peter saw Jesus at the shore so he plunged into the sea to be with Jesus. Peter was a man with regret that wanted and received a powerful encounter with Jesus Christ.
Jesus Removes Peter’s Shame
Peter needed Jesus to help him with his shame and Jesus was well aware of this. Therefore, Jesus sat at “a fire of coals” when He called out to Peter and the disciples to join Him. Peter might have seen (and smelled) the fire and thought “Oh no! Now I’m in trouble!” When was the last time John referenced a fire of coals? It was when Peter denied Jesus three times. John 18:18 says, “Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.” Three denials later, Peter is weeping bitterly because of his betrayal of Jesus. For Peter, the fire of coals was a reminder of his failure. For Jesus, the fire of coals was a means to help restore Peter.
Jesus Restores Peter’s Call
Three times Jesus asked, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” With every question came Peter’s response, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Peter is a humbler, wiser man than he was in Luke 22 when he boldly declared: “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Why did Jesus ask him three times? How many times did Peter deny Jesus? Three times. For every denial of Jesus by a fire of coals, Peter was asked for an affirmation of love for Jesus by a fire of coals. Remember when Jesus told Peter that Satan desired to sift him as wheat? Jesus also made a promise to Peter, “I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:32). This was an act of grace and love from Jesus. Jesus was restoring Peter and removing His guilt and shame.
How did Jesus restore Peter? Jesus did not remind Peter, who was full of regret and remorse, of his failure. Jesus didn’t mention how offended or ashamed He was of Peter. He didn’t have to. Jesus graciously asked Peter if he loved Him. Jesus wanted Peter to affirm his love for Jesus. A love that was greater than fishing and greater than anyone or anything else. After hearing his affirmation, Jesus recommissioned him for his work. All three instances can be summarized as: “Peter, I know you denied me, but I know you love me. I love you too. I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail. It hasn’t. Now that you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren by doing the good work I have prepared for you.”
Like Peter…
How Jesus restored Peter is very instructive for us. You and I are obviously not Peter, but we can learn from this encounter Jesus had with him. Peter wrestled with regret; do you? Do you stick your foot in your mouth? Do you feel the weight of your sinfulness and unworthiness? If you are a disciple of Jesus, He will restore you when you fail. Come to Jesus with your guilt and shame and confess it to Him. Repent of your sin and find Him to be a merciful Savior who loves you and forgives you. Don’t carry your burdens with you, hand them over to Jesus.
Jesus asks you the same question He asked Peter: “Do you love Me?” If you love Jesus it’s because He loved you first. So show your love and appreciation by obeying His commands and working in His kingdom. When Jesus restores us, He calls us back to Himself so that we can love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves (Matt 22:36-40). Also, when He restores us, He commissions us to be His witnesses. We testify that Jesus is a merciful and gracious Savior. Come to Him, find rest for your soul, and urge those around you to do likewise.
First Baptist Scott City, MO 
You must be logged in to post a comment.