Luke 22:31-34,54-62; John 18:15-18; 21:1-19
We are continuing with our theme for the month in preparation for VBS, 7/17/22, “Twists & Turns,
where following Jesus changes the game of life.” Life is not all fun and games – even after becoming a
follower of Jesus; it’s full of twists and turns that can leave us feeling like we’ve taken one step forward and
two steps back.
We are looking at 4 encounters Jesus had with His friend Peter this month. Peter messed up,
stumbled, and wasn’t perfect. But even when he messed up, it wasn’t ‘Game Over.’ God still worked through
Peter to help others learn about Jesus.
So far we’ve seen Peter’s Aha! Moment where and when He first recognized Jesus for who He really is!
We’ve seen Peter’s first steps of faith in Jesus when he first trusted Jesus enough to risk stepping out in faith!
Today we will see that, even after all that, Peter turned his back on Jesus and denied even knowing
Him! Even so, Jesus forgave Peter and restored him. Redemption is a free gift available to everyone!
If you need to know how you can experience this for yourself ,or how to bring this hope to others in
your life, our Theme Verse for the week is a great way to start by praying – Psalm 25:4 – Make your ways
known to me, Lord [so I’ll recognize and know the difference between what’s from You and what’s not];
teach me your paths [so I’ll know how to live them out and bring others into your ways more confidently].
Today’s Point: Jesus is forgiving, even when I sin.
Our sin doesn’t change Jesus, but it breaks us! Jesus loves us and wants to heal and forgive us.
We want this for all the kids we get to minister to at VBS next week, but do we have this ourselves to give?
Q: What is forgiveness? At its’ simplest, forgiveness is canceling a debt.
We are all sinners in need of forgiveness. We all think, say, or do things that displease God. We’ve all
had plans for our lives apart from God’s plans for our lives.
For every one of us, the debt for our sin costs more than we are able to pay. Sin always costs us more
than we can afford to pay, takes us further than we can afford to go away, and keeps us longer than we can
afford to stay. That’s the trap! First sin fascinates, then it assassinates. It’s a thriller, then a killer – a bait,
then a fate.
Jesus paid that debt for us by dying on the cross for us. He offers us that debt-forgiveness for free, but
it’s not automatic – we have to believe Him and receive it from Him, trading back our control and plans for
our lives apart from Him for His. He gave His life as a ransom for all to pay the penalty we all own, since we
all cut ourselves off from the life God gives us by turning to our own plans apart from Him, which lands
us…apart from Him.
For those who believe and receive God’s offer through Jesus, Colossians 1:13-14 says God “…has
rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we
have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Redemption is a churchy-sounding word, but it is very, very practical and important!!!
“Redemption” is the action of re-gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or
clearing a debt.
Redemption means “to restore”.
When we humble ourselves and come to God for forgiveness of our sins, by way of Jesus’ payment
with His own life, Jesus makes it possible for our relationship with God to be restored. We can spend eternity
with Him forever.
When Jesus forgives our sin, He restores our relationship with God!
John 1:12- “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name [In who He says He is, in
how He defines reality, in what He promises to do], he gave the right to become children of God.”
This is something you want! It’s what you were made for in the first place! (Please speak with us if
you have questions about how Jesus can forgive your sin.)
For the moment, here is Peter’s story, how he over-estimated his own character and his come-back!
3 years prior to today’s passages, Peter laid down everything to follow Jesus – His family, his relationships, his
career, his life as he knew it – and everything changed, even reality, as he had known it!
For 3 years Peter has been being taught and trained by Jesus, all day, every day. He followed Jesus
around the area, hearing His teaching and seeing all the miracles and healings first-hand. Today’s passages
begins right after Jesus warned the disciples of His upcoming suffering and betrayal, and then they shared the
Passover meal together, famously known as “The Last Supper”, when Jesus says…
Luke 22:31-34 – “ 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.”
- Satan is our Enemy
Jesus is warning them of satan’s sifting, his ongoing attempts to separate their believing from their behaving
and following through.
[v32] “ 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back [from
the turning-away that your present level of understanding and commitment will inevitably lead to],
strengthen your brothers.” [I’m counting on you helping them learn from your lapses, and that you won’t
have gone through any of it for nothing.]
You can’t just blame satan and demons for everything – we do a lot of their work, most of it, for them when
we allow ourselves to be deceived by them! But we don’t have to fall for their lies in the first place. And when
you see their deceptions and hurdles for what they are, in Christ, Jesus helps us help others get through what
He got us through!
[v33] “ 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
I believe he meant it, too! He was the only one to exercise faith in the boat and walk on water then! He is
ready for a fight now. But Jesus knew he was not ready for the actual fight…yet! He had plenty of self-
confidence, but not enough God-confidence. He was just starting to understand that God takes full
responsibility for a heart wholly devoted to Him.
Aren’t you glad you know the rest of the story? But be careful: Knowledge by itself just makes you
accountable. Acting on that knowledge, faith, acting on what Jesus says we can and should trust Him with,
makes you use-able, bless-able and a blessing to others!
[v34] 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you
know me.”
And God would provide those 3 opportunities, and the rooster, to show Peter just how un-prepared he was –
and (don’t miss this) – so that Peter might actually become prepared, like he wanted to be.
Fast-forward a few hours to the Garden on The Mount of Olives…
Luke 22:54-62 – “ 54 Then seizing him [Jesus], they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.
Peter followed [with Him – no, instead he followed] at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire
in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him
seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed
[that’s a pretty dramatic wake-up call! But wait, there’s more!].
61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter…
However you envision that (a glare, a scowl, with a head-shake, or hopefully with love and compassion since
that is who He is), I believe Jesus wanted Peter to know He knew – just like He did with the woman at the well
and with the woman caught in adultery – so that they could experience His love and forgiveness with Him,
and not just work around their guilt, going around in circles and never finding it apart from Him.
…Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will
disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
- Sin Brings Adversity
Jesus was taken away, put on trial before Pilate, beaten, and killed on a cross for crimes He did not commit.
Peter probably felt like he would never get to make things right with Jesus because he would never see Him
again.
And that was it for Peter. He just kind of coasts. He’s not carrying on Jesus’ vision or ministry. In fact, he just
goes back to what he was doing before he even met Jesus.
Lost people leap into sin and love it. If sin wasn’t fun, no one would do it. And if you don’t believe in
consequences, you’re doomed to experience them.
Believers lapse into sin and loathe it. The Spirit that is in you, if you are a believer, the Hoy Spirit, will not
allow you to feel good about things that are harmful to you or others. And until you deal with your sin, you
can be left feeling stuck.
But John shows us how Jesus provided redemption to Peter, recorded in his Gospel in Chapter 21:
John 21:1-19 – 1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and
two other disciples were together [7 of the 12]. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said,
“We’ll go with you [back to their old job they’d left 3 years earlier to follow Jesus].” So they went out and
got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were
unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved [John, whom God is writing this through – so confident and excited to
embrace that self-title] said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,”
he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water [he didn’t
waste time puttin’ his clothes on!]. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for
they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards [that’s a pretty good swim]. 9 When they landed, they
saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the
boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?”
[they’d seen Him die, and they knew His claims] They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and
gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples
after he was raised from the dead.
And this time would be especially significant and meaningful for Peter!
- Jesus offers forgiveness, even when we sin.
15 When they [all 8 of them together] had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do
you love me more than these?”
There are 2 things to notice in Jesus’ question: - The word Jesus used for “love” is “agape” – all giving, intentional, unselfish love “Are you given to My
cause, My purposes, Me – more than… - “These” – I in no way think Jesus was trying to get Peter to compare himself to anyone else, and not the
other 6 disciples there, and especially not right in front of them! I believe Jesus was getting Peter back on
track, away from the 153 fish he’d just dragged on-shore, away from fishing for a job, and back to doing
what Jesus was teaching and trusting him to do for the past 3 years, and with even more clarity from now on!
…“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Peter responded with a different word for love, “phileo”, which means to regard with affection, to cherish –
“I’m your friend, I dearly love You” (a step up from just “I love you to pieces”).
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs [spiritually nourish, like I do, those who had and would follow Me].”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” [Same word He used the first time]
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” [Peter answered with “phileo” again]
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” [“shepherd” – guide and guard, direct and protect, like I do]
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” [But this third time Jesus used Peter’s
word for love – “phileo” – “Do you regard with affection, cherish, dearly love Me?”]
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me? [in this way?”] He said, “Lord, you
know all things; you know that I love you [dearly].”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
I do believe Jesus is giving Peter 3 opportunities to make up for the 3 times he dis-avowed knowing Him! I
also believe Jesus is inviting Peter, who now has more clarity than ever, in light of life-experience, Jesus in
inviting Peter to His original invitation to follow Him: “Don’t just commit to the rules, or to ideas about Me;
join Me in doing what I’m doing, for the reasons I do them, with Me. And let’s keep going together.”
18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted [you
followed you]; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and
lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would
glorify God [“It’s coming Peter, and I’m going to help you be able to give glory to God even then. And here’s
what it’s going to take from you in the meantime”…]. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
For all followers of Jesus, Jesus says, “Follow Me and I will send you out to fish for people.” But what then?
No one has a baby and just leaves it out on the corner to make it on its’ own! Believers are expected to be
fishers of people, soul-winners, and we’re also expected to feed and care for them – all of us in this together,
building up and ministering to the ministers, making disciples who make disciples, who make disciples.
God wants us to encourage each other to grow deeper in friendship with God and to bring everyone
else we can with us, acquainting them with Jesus as well!
3 Take-aways:
- Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. (John 21:1-8; John 15:5)
We tend to do what we do because we don’t know what else to do. That applies to every role in the church,
too! If you’re not intentionally following Jesus, your enemy the devil and his fellow demons are waiting to
take you somewhere fast across lines that you really don’t want to have crossed. God has plans for your life,
but so does satan. - As we care more about what Jesus cares about, we will care more for others! (John 21: 9-18)
We, believers, are Jesus’ plan for caring for His sheep.
I believe you’ll never grow closer to Jesus than you’re willing to share with others what you are learning from
Him. Your relationship with Jesus is personal, but it was never intended to be private!
Jesus shows us that love is a personal choice and a gift freely given – it’s the giving of oneself to another
person for their sake. Love is un-selfish, oriented wholly to the good of the other person, for their own
welfare and benefit. - Disciples Follow Jesus. (John 21:19)
No Sunday saint, Monday ain’t! Children don’t stop being their parents’ children when they go to school, play
in the neighborhood, or sleep over at a friend’s house! If you carry His name, remember whose you are and
who you point to! And in the meantime, follow Jesus!
Psalm 86:5 – You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abounding in faithful love to all who call on you.
We all have a sin problem that needs restoring, just like Peter.
1 John 1:9 tells us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
all unrighteousness.”
All means all, and that’s all that all means!
Jesus died for us to be able to be forgiven! Jesus offers that if we’ll believe Him and trust Him, He will
forgive us of everything that happened before in our life that was lived out of not believing and trusting Him.
Side Note: Jesus forgives our sin, but He does not fix our consequences. It really is in your best
interests to deal with this sooner than later! But when we do come to Him, He does give us hope, the ability
to cope, and the power to make reparations as far as possible- doing what we can as we trust Him to do
what we can’t.
AND when we believe and trust Jesus to forgive us, His offering of His life for us becomes having died
instead of us! (What we actually deserve!) He gives us His gift of life that is free, but it comes at the cost of
His life. And it’s free, but not automatic – you must believe and trust Him with your life to receive it. And
then, just like God raised Jesus back to life, we get raised to life with Jesus! Life that starts now and lasts
forever!
Sometimes it’s hard for followers of Jesus to forgive themselves for their mistakes. However, we must
humble ourselves enough to receive God’s grace and let go of our wrong-doings. If God, the One we sin
against, is loving and kind enough to forgive us, then we can forgive ourselves and confidently walk in a
restored relationship with God, free of guilt.
Followers of Jesus forgive other people because God has forgiven us.
