What is Easter 2
What is Easter? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
We are continuing in our series called “What is Easter?”
This is where we are looking at Jesus post-resurrection to see what He is calling His disciples (and us) to do!
Last week we looked at Mary and Thomas
To Mary Jesus told her that she needs to change her perspective! that she is looking for the wrong Jesus
For Thomas Jesus reminded Him of how much He loved Him - reminding him of all that He did for Him - the sacrifice on the cross
The reason we are looking at this is because the resurrection is so important when it comes to Christianity
John Stott put it this way:
Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion. The concept of the resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.
John Stott
Without the resurrection - Christianity is no different than any other religion
The resurrection shows that Jesus defeated sin and death - crushing the head of Satan
And today we are going to look at another conversation that Jesus had, this time with Peter
Peter
Peter
Brief story
Brief story
If you aren’t familiar with Peter, lets get you caught up before we look at what Jesus has to say
1 Now Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing around him to hear the word of God. 2 He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear.7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink.8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”9 For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”11 So when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Jesus first met Peter while he was fishing
Jesus performs a miracle in front of Peter and Peter confesses that he is sinful
Jesus tells him not to be afraid, but to come and follow Him
We then know that Peter goes with Jesus
We later see Peter walk on the water to Jesus
28 Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” 29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Now Peter was going to Jesus, but getting distracted he started sinking
Yet Jesus pulled Him back up!
Later when Jesus is telling them about how He will be killed Peter spoke without thinking:
30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
31 Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter said to him, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” 34 Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” And all the disciples said the same thing.
Peter said I’ll never deny you!
Yet Jesus tells him that he will deny the Lord 3 times
17 The girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You’re not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” He replied, “I am not.”
25 Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing in the courtyard warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” Peter denied it: “I am not!”
27 Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Peter ended up denying Jesus three times, just as Jesus had said
He rejected that he knew Jesus
Peter was upset yet when he heard that the Lord had raised from the dead he went to the tomb
3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out to go to the tomb.4 The two were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first.5 He bent down and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who had been following him, arrived and went right into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there,
Peter knowing that Jesus had been raised left the tomb and told the others
Then in Jesus appeared to the disciples and spoke to them
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus sends them out!
Peter’s restoration
Peter’s restoration
Here’s the problem though
The disciples didn’t know what Jesus meant when he said “I am sending you”
Listen to what they do afterwards
2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael (who was from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of his were together. 3 Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Peter decides to go fishing
We see that Peter was clearly a leader because 6 of the disciples decide to follow and go fishing with him
They probably need money, they are probably unsure of what to do
And to top it off - Peter is feeling shame and regret because of what he did to the Lord (denying him)
They decide to fish - something they are all good, yet none of them catch anything
This is the truth of John 15 playing out
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.
They were catching nothing - probably feeling lost and alone
Feeling like they can’t do it
Peter probably again feeling like a failure - first he failed the Lord, now he failed the 6 guys that went fishing with him
But look what happens next
4 When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you don’t have any fish, do you?” They replied, “No.” 6 He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.
Jesus performed a miracle for them to see
Reminding them of who He is
For Peter this was the exact same miracle that He performed when He called Peter to be a disciple
The guilt that Peter must have felt in this moment
He failed Jesus 3 times, yet here is the Lord showing up in Peter’s failings
He is saving the day again
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tucked in his outer garment (for he had nothing on underneath it), and plunged into the sea. 8 Meanwhile the other disciples came with the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.
9 When they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire ready with a fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you have just now caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three, but although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said. But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
They recognize Jesus because of the miracle and Peter decides to run to Jesus - much like he did when he was drowning at see
He ran to the Lord and the Lord had prepared food for them
All the disciples came and they ate a meal with the Lord
But what happens next changes everything
15 Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” 17 Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.
Jesus turns to Peter and three times asks Him “do you love me”
Jesus address Peter the same way he did when he first met him “son of John”
Jesus asks him these questions by a fire - the same place Peter denied him 3 times
Jesus looks at Peter and three separate times asks Peter if He loves Him
Jesus not only forgave Peter - He gives him a chance to fix his mistake THREE TIMES
The same number of times Peter denied Him
God of second chances
God of second chances
Students this is powerful message
Last week we looked at how Jesus told Mary to have the right expectations
Last week we looked at how Jesus reminded Thomas of how much God loves Him
Jesus looks at Peter and does something so powerful
Jesus gives second chances
He looks at Peter who is probably wallowing in his shame
He denied Jesus
Fishing isn’t working
Led people to no fish
He didn’t call on God during it
God showed up when he felt unworthy
Yet Jesus looks at Peter and three times, by a fire, commissions Peter
Jesus gives second chances
Students I don’t know what sins you have committed
I don’t know how far away you are from God
But here is what I do know
Peter failed Jesus in one of the worst ways
And Jesus comes to him and offers forgiveness
Here’s the beauty
No matter how far off you feel from God - just like Peter probably felt - Jesus is sitting there waiting for you
Waiting for you to come back to Him
Waiting for you to trust Him and surrender to Him
Conclusion
Conclusion
Here is what I know about us in the room
We fall into one of two camps
You don’t trust in Jesus as Savior and so you are eternally far from God
You trust in Jesus as Savior, but your sin is keeping you from God
Here is the beauty of Jesus - no matter which camp you fall into Jesus is standing by the beach of your life offering forgiveness
He is offering a second chance if we go to Him
He is offering forgiveness of sins
If you feel like Peter and you are far from God pray and He will show up with forgiveness