Have you ever messed up big time? Have you ever done
something that almost made you want to give up and walk away from your faith? Has there been a time or two when you didn’t
want to open your Bible, or pray? Was there ever a time when there didn’t seem to be any reason to
attend church any longer?
I love John 21 because, in a way, it is every Christian’s story who has blown it a time or two. Peter was a true failure! He denied the Lord three times when Jesus most needed him - at the trial before his crucifixion. In fact, just after one servant girl asked Peter if he knew Jesus and he vehemently denies Him, Peter looked up and saw Jesus staring right at him. Peter - was - crushed.
At the time of Jesus’ resurrection, Peter is overjoyed, but at some point reality set in. Peter must have wondered how Jesus could ever forgive him, and decides to returns to his former life as a fisherman - back to his old life, old relationships, old ways. This is probably as low as Peter can go.
Have you ever been there? Wondering if God could ever use what little you have to offer since you've messed up even in the little things.
This is exactly why I love Peter and the story John shares with us in John 21.
Jesus comes to Peter, meets him right where he is, and the process of forgiveness is beautiful. First, Jesus reminds Peter and the other disciples of who He is, for after fishing all night, and catching nothing, Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. The results were a staggering 153 fish in one cast.
Second, Jesus reminds Peter and the other disciples of His call upon their lives. If you remember, it was exactly the same sort of fish catching event that led the disciples to follow Jesus in the first place (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus was reminding Peter that he was called to be a fisher of men, not just a fisherman.
Finally, Jesus restores the relationship with Peter through forgiveness. Did you notice that Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” three times? At first you may think that Jesus is being cruel, but here is a perfect spot to use a Greek concordance to better understand the passage, for the Greek language has more than one word for love:
1. Eros: love on the physical level.
2. Phileo: "am fond of."
3. Agape love on highest level, “supremely” .
Jesus first asked, "Do you love Me supremely?"
(agapas).
What Peter answered, "I am fond of you." (phileo)
So Jesus asked again, "Do you love Me supremely?"
And again Peter answers, "I am fond of you."
The third time Jesus asked, "Are you fond of Me?"
And
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked, "Are you fond of Me?" Grieved that the
Lord came down to his level, for Peter would have loved to have risen to His level,
but given the circumstances he couldn't, for if he loved the Lord supremely, he
wouldn’t have been back fishing.
Now, take hold of this one fact and hold on to it! Jesus met Peter where he was! Not where Peter wanted to be, or Jesus, but where Peter was at the moment and raised him up with the words, "Feed My sheep!"
In spite of all Peter had done, and all he was feeling,
Jesus still expected Peter to FEED HIS SHEEP!
That's God's grace and mercy in action! No matter how far we wander away, or what we've done in the past, Jesus will meet us where we are, reinstate us and set us to work for His kingdom!
