FRIDAY 9 April 2021 “Second Chance”

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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,

Think back for a moment to when you were a child. Perhaps you were playing with several friends and suddenly you heard your mother’s voice calling you. How did you recognize that it was the voice of your mother and what did you do?

My father had a shrill and unusual whistle with which he used to call me all the way up into my teen years. I think I could hear his whistle 1/2 a mile away. I knew that whistle meant ‘come immediately, from wherever you are.’ And I did! I’m in my sixties now, and I can still hear that whistle in my mind.

Yesterday we were with 7 disciples of Jesus in their boat. They’d fished all night on the Sea of Galilee and caught nothing, zero. As daybreak was just beginning a voice from the shoreline called to them “Friends, haven’t you caught anything?” (John 21:5) While I don’t know, I presume it was Peter who shouted back “No!” At least that’s all John reports to us that was shouted to the voice on the shoreline.

Then the voice shouted back to the fishermen, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” At least four of these men were professional fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John. They made their living fishing this lake, and this guy on the beach is giving them fishing lessons??

But they did throw their nets in the water one more time, and suddenly the net began to draw down into the water. It was packed full of fish, so full even 6 grown men couldn’t draw that net into the boat! Yes there were 7 in the boat, but one had no interest in the fish. John was leaning over the side of the boat with his gaze fixed on voice on the shoreline. And then look, do you see it? A smile comes across John’s face and he waves to the man on the shore, and says to Peter “It’s the Lord!” How did John know? Was it the voice? Was it the fish?

Peter does an amazing thing. He releases his grip on the net full of fish, maybe the biggest catch of fish he’s ever seen, and Peter grabs his outer garment, and jumps into the water and starts swimming to shore!! Why? Peter desperately wants some alone time with Jesus. While resurrected Jesus has appeared at least twice before this (John 20:19; 20:26) it was always in a group. Peter needed some time for a long overdue private conversation with Jesus.

As far as I know, Peter and resurrected Jesus had not yet discussed Peter’s three denials of Jesus just before the rooster crowed that Thursday night of Passover weekend. Have you ever been in that situation? You know there’s a problem between yourself and another person and time has dragged on. You should have tried to resolve the issue weeks, maybe months ago, and it haunts you. How did that feel down deep in your heart, what did you do about it?

King David felt like that for almost a full year while he tried to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba. And finally he and God dealt with the issue. David then wrote Psalm 32 reflecting on how he had felt during those months of trying to ignore the problem. “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity…and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Blessed is the person whose transgressions are forgiven…” (Psalm 32:1-5)

While I don’t think at that time Peter fully understood all the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross, over time he came to understand as we do, that Jesus paid the full atonement price for our sin so we can be forgiven by God when we confess our sin to Him. (1 John 1:9)

My friends, are you right now living in that painful place of ignoring or trying to cover up something in your life which you know is wrong? I invite you to do what Peter did. Drop everything and rush to a private meeting with Jesus. Discuss it with Him. Be honest with Him, He knows even more about the situation than you do. He saw and heard it all. Repent of your wrongdoing in it, put it all in His hands and experience the glorious power of God’s forgiveness! Evidently Peter did, in his private conversation on the beach with Jesus.

John tells us Jesus actually had breakfast cooking on the beach for the men when they finally pulled the boat to shore! He knew they’d been working all night and ended up with nothing. He knew they were exhausted and frustrated. Do you notice Jesus met that need first by calling them ‘friends’ when He called out from the shoreline, and then He filled their nets fuller than they’d ever seen! And now, Jesus met their need with hot, fresh cooked, shore-line breakfast at sunrise!! Go ahead, help yourself, roasted fish and hot, fresh bread. While John doesn’t mention it, perhaps there’s even coffee! Let’s sit with them and just listen to the conversation. I’m sure they talked about many things.

And then Jesus leans over toward Peter with a simple yet profound question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15) Jesus used Peter’s original name, going all the way back to before they first met, Simon. Oh my all that has happened in Peter’s life and their relationship since that first encounter. And I wonder what you think Jesus meant when He asked if Peter loved Him ‘more than these’? More than what or who? Peter loved his homeland, the Galilee, the lake, his friends, Peter loved fishing, and especially a big catch! Peter loved his brother Andrew, his family, and now these other disciples. But where did Jesus stand in the list of things and people that Peter deeply loved? And then Peter knew John and Jesus had a very special relationship. Was Jesus asking Peter if he loved Jesus like John did?

Jesus used the word ‘agape love’ in his question and it reminded Peter of what Jesus had said in the upper room that Thursday evening: “Love one another as I have loved you… there is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 13:34,35; 15:13) Far from laying down his life for Jesus, Peter had denied that he even knew Him! But now Jesus was giving him a new chance… but Peter was cautious. Peter responded “Yes Lord, you know that I ‘phileo love’ you”. There’s a big difference between “agape love”, the kind of love Jesus had for His disciples which He proved going all the way to the cross, and “phileo love” which is a friendship affection. Look around the group, what do you see in everyone’s face as they contemplate the question and the answer?

Jesus responded to Peter “Feed My lambs”. Jesus was not a shepherd, He had no flocks of sheep. But Jesus had used the sheep and shepherd as an example of the relationship He wanted with His followers. He had said “The good shepherd calls his own sheep by name and he leads them. He goes ahead of them and they follow him because they know his voice… I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand…” (John 10) Peter knew sheep have little lambs, and those lambs are both valuable and vulnerable. They need constant care from the shepherd and have great future potential. Was Jesus here commissioning Peter to a special focus on people who newly put their faith and trust in Jesus and like little lambs are vulnerable while also being valuable, but needing much care as they begin their journey of a relationship with Jesus?

As conversation continued around the fire that early morning, Jesus did it again… He leaned toward Peter and asked him a second time, in a slightly different way this time: “Simon son of John, do you truly ‘agape love’ Me?” All eyes are now riveted on Peter. He looks at each of us sitting around him, then he looks out to the lake, the net full of fish, even up into the sky as some birds fly overhead. How should he answer? Peter knows Jesus is looking down deep into his soul, and He knows Peter even better than Peter knows himself. Peter knows he outwardly appears strong and self confident, but down deep inside, that insecurity, which caused him to deny Jesus, can bubble up at any time given the right set of circumstances. Oh how he hated that about himself, but he couldn’t promise Jesus it would never happen again. “Yes Lord, You know that I ‘phileo love’ You.” Everyone around the circle is feeling the same thing… ‘That was a wise answer Peter, and while I feel sorry for you, I’m sure glad it’s you and not me engaged in this conversation with Jesus.’

Look, Jesus is speaking to Peter again, “Take care of My sheep.” Sheep, of all animals, need care. They need a shepherd who is with them always, guiding them to good pasture and water, and keeping a sharp eye out for predators which might harm or attack the sheep. Good shepherds are constantly evaluating the health of every sheep in their flock, and giving special care to those which need it! Was Jesus asking Peter to be that kind of a shepherd to people who were going to entrust their lives to Jesus and maybe even many of those who already were followers of Jesus but would feel lost when Jesus leaves and returns to heaven? As you sit around this breakfast fire listening to Peter and Jesus, looking into the eyes of the other 6 disciples and especially into Jesus’ eyes… what are you feeling friends? Likely, you are imagining what you would answer if Jesus was asking you these questions, right?

Finally for a third time Jesus leans toward Peter and asks “Simon son of John, do you ‘phileo love’ Me?” Oh my everyone leans back a bit, eyes darting back and forth among us. While Jesus had consistently used Peter’s original name, taking him back to even before they met, this time Jesus has dramatically changed the question… now Jesus is asking, ‘Peter, are you even committed to a strong friendship with Me?” Forgiveness is a powerful thing isn’t it my friends? But forgiveness always has the unspoken question behind it… ‘now that I’ve forgiven you, will you do it again, will you break my heart again, will you hurt me again?’ We’ve all been there. We have extended forgiveness to someone who has hurt us deeply and we begin to rebuild trust and a relationship, but all the while, in the back of our minds is this question… could it happen again?

Jesus had made it clear, He was soon leaving, permanently, returning to heaven. Peter knew he was known as one of Jesus’ closest associates and Peter should assume he would be questioned about Jesus, hundreds of times, all the rest of his life. Peter should assume some of those who hated Jesus so much they called for His death… those very same people would likely be coming after him and calling for his death too. The question was an important one, in fact in some ways it would define the rest of Peter’s life. “Do you love Me?” Peter knew Jesus was asking him ‘What is the true definition of our relationship?

I think it’s important we pause right here. Let’s spend the rest of today with this group of men on the beach. The truth is we can’t see down to the depth of their souls, but you and I can look deeply into our own souls. We know ourselves. We know what we really think and feel about Jesus. And so I invite EACH and ALL of us, my “Walking with Jesus” friends all around the world… let’s have this very same conversation with Jesus. Let Him look deeply into your eyes. His look is loving, not accusing, but it is also honest. Jesus made you and loves you, and He knows you fully… so how do you answer each of the questions as Jesus asks you how much you love Him? And with each answer, what is Jesus inviting you to do in our world, which flows out of the relationship you and He have?

I invite you to engage these questions as often as you can today, and tomorrow we’ll finish looking at this incredible sunrise beach scene with Jesus. Now, here’s a wonderful song to help you engage this important conversation with Jesus. Listen closely, can you hear the accent of the singer? It’s from a place where many have died as martyrs for following Jesus! Ponder the powerful truths of the song, and look at His nail scarred hands as you contemplate the relationship Jesus wants with you…

Today’s Scripture is John 21:1-17.

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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.

Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.

Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)

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