October 27, 2024 Preaching | Ptr Marty Ocaya
Do you remember those gadgets from years ago? You needed more patience to operate them manually, and they were not as fast or efficient as we would want them to be (VHS players, Family Computer, cassette tapes, beepers, etc.). Today, we have streaming services for movies, cellphones, PlayStation, and K-Pop bands instead. But regardless of your generation, we will experience failures. We all have cheated, lied, gossiped, etc. at some point in our lives. Whatever our sins were, we tend to either cover-up, isolate, or even harm ourselves. These do not bring true healing and restoration. Only God can restore us; we need to run to Jesus when we fail. The apostle Peter failed massively, but Jesus restored him. Restoration is not found in a process but in a Person.
Peter was in his mid-teens when Jesus first called him (Luke 5:3-5). Peter has heard about Jesus and experienced a miracle of an abundant catch of fish (Luke 5:6-7). Peter responded with awe and respect and saw himself as a sinful man. After revealing Himself to Peter, Jesus called Peter to become His follower (Luke 5:8, 10). Peter would go on to witness many more miracles as he followed Jesus. Yet even after experiencing all that, Peter still failed the Lord, he denied Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). We too, deny Jesus when we lie, cheat, etc. and we fail Him. But how does God restore us?
HE REACHES OUT (John 21:1-5)
Peter and the other disciples decided to go back to fishing. There’s nothing wrong with fishing, but Jesus had already called Peter to become a “fisher of men”. Sometimes, we run back to our old ways when we fail. We allow ourselves to be consumed by sin.
Yet God reaches out to us when we fail at our calling. Like Jesus standing on the shore calling out to Peter that morning, He is actively seeking those who are lost (Luke 19:10). We always seek what’s important to us; you are important to God! The Lord seeks us by surrounding us with people of faith. You may get invited to a church service, or hear God’s words through a Christian song, read a verse on social media, etc. Jesus is actively seeking every one of us!
HE REMINDS (John 21:6-13)
Jesus reminded Peter of the first time He called him to follow Him. The scenario that Jesus presented to Peter and the other disciples was similar to and was a reminder of His calling for them. Jesus wanted to remind them of who He is—the One who called them, the God who can accomplish miracles (the bountiful catch of fish, the net not breaking). That was not the only thing that Jesus reminded them about. When He broke the bread and gave it to them along with the roasted fish He prepared for breakfast, it was a reminder of the Lord’s Supper. A reminder that Jesus sacrificed His body and shed His blood to save us. Being reminded of who Jesus is will be our greatest motivation to stand up again when we fail.
HE REBUKES (John 21:14-17)
We may like that Jesus reaches out to us and reminds us of who He is and His ways, but we may not like the fact that Jesus also rebukes us when we sin. When you only receive encouragement and no rebuke to let you know what you have done wrong or where you must improve, that is not love at all. That’s why Jesus rebuked Peter. But take note, Jesus waited until after breakfast. Sometimes, we rebuke right away, but let’s learn from how Jesus did so with Peter. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him—and Peter responded that he does love the Lord. But Peter was grieved that Jesus asked him three times; the same number of times that Peter denied Jesus. It was a rebuke from Jesus; He rebukes us because He loves us. But part of God’s rebuke is His discipline. There are consequences to our sins – – it could be shame, rebuke, emotional hurt, physical hurt (e.g. sickness from sexual sins), loss, damaged relationships, or even death. God allows those He loves to experience the earthly consequences of our sins as part of His discipline (Hebrews 12:5-6). Part of God’s rebuke is His discipline.
We need to give the right response to God’s discipline. We need to admit our sins, accept God’s discipline, and continue to abide in Him. For when we abide in Jesus, we receive the comfort we need. Even when God restores us, the consequences tell us that it’s not worth it to sin.
HE RECOMMISSIONS (John 21:18-22)
Jesus recommissions Peter by telling him to “Tend His lambs”, “Shepherd My sheep”, “Tend My sheep”, and finally… “Follow Me!”. Jesus was preparing Peter for very tough times ahead, that his life will be very challenging. Peter led the church during a time of great persecution under the emperor, Nero. But never again did Peter deny Jesus. At the time when 1 and 2 Peter were written, the apostle Peter was committed to the Lord, no matter how difficult it was.
Like Peter, we often compare our lives with others. Their restoration process may be “easier” than ours, but we are not to focus on others. We focus on and follow Jesus! Broken people who humble themselves make a great impact in God’s kingdom. Brokenness becomes beautiful when we humble ourselves because then we see how God restores. Peter wrote about this in his letter to the persecuted church (I Peter 5:6-7). He also warns believers against our enemy, the devil (1 Peter 5:8-9). Finally, I Peter 5:10 tells us that it is “God Himself who will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you”. Our imperfections cannot limit the God of all grace to move mightily in our lives. Our response is to humble ourselves, and run back to Jesus because we have a God who restores.