Sermon Tone Analysis

Over the past couple of weeks we have journeyed together through the passion of Christ.

Two weeks ago on Palm Sunday we worshipped Christ again as King.

On Good Friday we were brought to the cross through the Lord’s Supper.

And last Sunday on Easter we saw the power of the resurrection and the new and eternal life that Christ brings.

But Jesus’ ministry did not end with the resurrection – in fact in many ways it just began -  following the resurrection Jesus met with his disciples on a number of occasions -  this morning we are going to look at Jesus’ restoration to Peter following his denying his Savior three times.

Please turn in your Bibles to John 21, (page 1688)  we are looking at verses 15-22.

Our passage begins after Peter led the disciples out to go fishing.

Then Jesus meets them, cooks them breakfast and then talks to Peter.

As I read God’s Word pay careful attention to Jesus’ words to Peter -

 

John 21:15-22

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”

He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; 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.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.

Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them.

(This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?

You must follow me.”

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, tougher in life than wanting and waiting to be restored in a relationship when you have blown it.

You don’t really know how the person you’ve hurt or offended will respond.

Will he or she understand and really forgive?; or will he use the offense to hold over you get something from us later, or will she tell us we are forgiven but bring it up frequently in conversation to let you know how much it really hurt.

When Jesus restores us he does so perfectly – so perfectly that sometimes it hurts because it is exactly what we need.

Like surgery that we need to live but we still hate to go under the knife.

It is brutal in that Jesus’ restoration is extreme – it goes far beyond human restoration – and it is beautiful.

We’ll see that in Peter’s restoration this morning but in order to understand the completeness of Peter’s restoration you need to see his offense.

Let’s turn back a few pages before Jesus went to the cross to John 13 and look at verses 36-38.

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now?

I will lay down my life for you.”

Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me?

I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

We’ll look at the specifics of arrogance in Peter’s statement in a few moments but summed up Peter is saying I can follow you, and I will die for you.

Pretty strong claims.

Interestingly, Mark tells us all the other disciples said the same thing as Peter.

Jesus simply says, Peter, you don’t know yourself and you don’t know my mission – not only will you not stand up for me – you will deny you even know me three times.

And of course it happened – Peter denied Jesus three times.

But Luke gives an interesting insight into Peter’s denial -  turn to Luke 22:59 – at this point Peter has already denied Jesus twice and at verse 59 it says, “About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.

Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Did you notice Luke tells us as soon as Peter denied him for the third time Jesus turned at looked straight at Peter.

Nothing would or could hurt more.

I don’t believe Jesus looked at him in condemnation – he didn’t have to.

I believe Jesus looked at him with compassion and Peter realized he had rejected love.

He had rejected the only thing worth having.

Peter went outside and wept bitterly.

Some films have betrayed this as Peter weeping in the dark against a cold wall.

Have you been there?

I know I have.

There is nothing worse then being against that cold wall – there is nothing worse than being between sin and forgiveness.

Against that wall all we find is shame and guilt and blaming ourselves, blaming others, self-righteousness, anger at the person we have hurt.

It is a place where we don’t think straight and all we know is a huge hole.

Have you been there?

Singer and Songwriter Don Francisco in his song He’s Alive sings of Peter against that cold wet dark wall listen to these words - 

BACK INSIDE THE HOUSE AGAIN THE GUILT AND ANGUISH CAME

EVERYTHING I'D PROMISED HIM JUST ADDED TO MY SHAME \\ WHEN AT LAST IT CAME TO CHOICES I DENIED I KNEW HIS NAME \\ AND EVEN IF HE WAS ALIVE, IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME

 

Have you ever been there with God?

I have counseled with many who have thought that is it – God can’t forgive me anymore.

If you knew my past, if you knew my thoughts, if you knew me -there is no hope of restoration.

That is what makes God’s restoration extreme – turn back with me to John 21- and I want you to see how God’s restoration is so much more than our restoration of each other.

We will see God’s grace as we learn three quick lessons this morning – Jesus’ Restoration is Personal, Jesus’ Restoration is Precise and Jesus’ Restoration is Purposeful.

Let me encourage you to follow along in your outline in the bulletin this morning.

First, Jesus’ Restoration is Personal.

You know nothing is more personal than your name.

Sometimes nothing will mean more to a person than using your name.

When someone calls you by name it draws you in.

Someone shared with me recently that they had been a part of a church and really involved for years and the Pastor did not know their names.

Or if someone pretends to know you closely and then uses a wrong name – this is my good friend – ouch!

In verses 15, 16, and 17 – what name does Jesus call Peter?

Right, Simon – ouch.

That was Peter’s pre-Christian name.

Do you remember when Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter – it is at the center of the gospels – it is after Peter confessed – You are the Christ the Son of the living God.

Jesus said blessed are you Simon bar Jonah – Simon son of John – for this was not revealed to you by man but by heaven.

I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.

What is that rock? - it is not Peter himself as we have learned today he would be a lousy man to build a church on – the rock it is the confession that Jesus is the Christ.

That is why Jesus calls Peter – Simon.

Do you see how personal that was?  Oh, that had to hurt – the name he received from confessing Jesus – he lost temporarily in his denying Jesus.

But Jesus needed to be specific on Peter’s sin and it is personal – it is brutal.

You ever notice that we don’t like to be specific about sin?

We respond more with “It’s OK, everyone does it…”

Jesus continues and he asks Peter three times Simon, son of John do you really love me?

Why did he ask Peter three times?

I believe it was because Peter denied him three times.

Peter had to be in torment at how seemingly brutal and personal Jesus is.

In fact verse 17 says, Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him a third time.

But you know something – although Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him a third time – later on, who knows when, perhaps it was later that day, perhaps it was years later – Peter must have thought back and realized that Jesus’ asking him three times allowed Peter to affirm-  to confess- Jesus three times.

What a blessing Jesus gave him to restore him for denying him three times!

*Listen, You know - sometimes when we think God is being extra brutal he is actually being extra gracious.*

I want to point out one other way Jesus was gracious to Peter.

Sometimes I play with my kids – Emily will say to me “Dad I Love You!”  I like to say back to them, Emily I really, really, really like you.

She’ll say no Dad I love you!!

When Jesus asked Peter in verse 15– Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?