Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:04.879
Well, please remain standing for our
reading of the scripture this evening. Our
2
00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:08.990
scripture reading for the sermon comes from
the Gospel according to Saint John, in
3
00:00:09.150 --> 00:00:15.150
the twenty first chapter, versus one
through Nineteen, John Twenty one one to
4
00:00:15.310 --> 00:00:22.339
nineteen. This is the word of
the Lord. After these things, Jesus
5
00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:26.780
showed himself again to the disciples of
the Sea of Tiberius, and in this
6
00:00:26.940 --> 00:00:32.619
way he showed himself. Simon Peter, Thomas, called the twin Nathaniel of
7
00:00:32.740 --> 00:00:36.289
Cana and Galilee, the sons of
Zebode, and the two others of his
8
00:00:36.409 --> 00:00:41.329
disciples, were together. Simon Peter
said to them, I'm going fishing.
9
00:00:42.409 --> 00:00:45.770
They said to him, we're going
with you also. They went out and
10
00:00:45.850 --> 00:00:50.479
immediately got into the boat, and
that night they caught nothing. But when
11
00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:54.119
the morning had now come, Jesus
stood on the shore. Yet the disciples
12
00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:58.600
did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, children,
13
00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:03.079
have you any food? And they
answered him no, and he said
14
00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:07.069
to them casting that on the right
side of the boat and you will find
15
00:01:07.150 --> 00:01:10.709
some. So they cast, and
now they were not able to draw it
16
00:01:10.829 --> 00:01:15.829
in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved,
17
00:01:15.950 --> 00:01:19.340
said to Peter, it's the Lord. Now in Simon Peter heard that
18
00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:23.060
it was the Lord. He put
on his outer garment, for he had
19
00:01:23.099 --> 00:01:26.299
removed it, and plunged into the
sea. But the other disciples came in
20
00:01:26.420 --> 00:01:30.299
the little boat, for they were
not far from land, but about two
21
00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:34.969
hundred cubits, dragging the net with
fish. Then, as soon as they
22
00:01:34.010 --> 00:01:38.290
had come to land, they saw
a fire of coals there and fish laid
23
00:01:38.329 --> 00:01:42.170
on it in bread. Jesus said
to them bring some of the fish which
24
00:01:42.250 --> 00:01:46.450
you have just caught. Simon Peter
went up and dragged the net to land
25
00:01:46.530 --> 00:01:49.519
full of large fish, one hundred
and fifty three. And although there were
26
00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:53.760
so many, yet the net was
not broken. Jesus said to them come
27
00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.439
and eat breakfast. Yet none of
the disciples dared ask him. Who are
28
00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:01.950
you, knowing that it was the
Lord, Jesus then came and took the
29
00:02:02.030 --> 00:02:06.629
bread and gave it to them,
and likewise the fish. This is now
30
00:02:06.670 --> 00:02:09.870
the third time Jesus showed himself to
his disciples after he was raised from the
31
00:02:09.949 --> 00:02:15.389
dead. So when they had eaten
breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
32
00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:20.060
Simon son of John. Do you
love me more than these? And he
33
00:02:20.180 --> 00:02:22.979
said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
34
00:02:23.539 --> 00:02:27.699
And he said to him, feed
my lambs. And he said to him
35
00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:30.849
again a second time, Simon son
of John, do you love me,
36
00:02:30.969 --> 00:02:32.969
and he said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love
37
00:02:34.090 --> 00:02:38.289
you. He said to him,
ten my sheep. He said to him
38
00:02:38.330 --> 00:02:44.319
the third time, Simon Son of
John, do you love me? Peter
39
00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:46.879
was grieved because he said to him
the third time, do you love me?
40
00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:51.199
And he said to him, Lord, you know all things. You
41
00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:54.759
know that I love you. Jesus
said to him, feed my sheep.
42
00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:59.909
Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded
43
00:02:59.990 --> 00:03:02.830
yourself and walked where you wished,
but when you are old, you will
44
00:03:02.870 --> 00:03:07.270
stretch out your hands in another will
girde you and carry you where you do
45
00:03:07.509 --> 00:03:12.389
not wish. This he spoke,
signifying by what death Peter would glorify God.
46
00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:15.740
And when he had spoken this,
he said to him follow me.
47
00:03:17.139 --> 00:03:22.259
Thus farest reading of God's holy word. The grass withers in the flower fades,
48
00:03:22.340 --> 00:03:30.490
but the word of our Lord endears
forever. Please be seated. Let
49
00:03:30.530 --> 00:03:35.210
us pray. Father God, we
thank you for this your word that you
50
00:03:35.330 --> 00:03:38.409
have given us. We pray again, Lord, that you had set aside
51
00:03:38.449 --> 00:03:44.080
all of our distractions and the things
which clutted the mind. Give us your
52
00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:46.400
grace, Lord, that the words
of my mouth and the meditations of our
53
00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:51.479
hearts would be pleasing to you,
and then we might learn the things you
54
00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:54.199
would have us learn and be reminded
of the things you would have us be
55
00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:58.550
reminded of, and that we would
draw near to you by the power of
56
00:03:58.669 --> 00:04:08.069
Your Holy Spirit. For we ask
this in Jesus name. Amen. Well,
57
00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:15.540
you know, in the Christian life, sometimes we feel very close to
58
00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:20.220
God, don't we? We have, from time to time, these mountain
59
00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:27.730
top experiences in our lives. We
feel like nothing could ever come between us
60
00:04:27.889 --> 00:04:33.129
and God. In those times it
seems like he's our most constant companion,
61
00:04:33.329 --> 00:04:40.000
that he's our ever present encourager,
and it seems like our closeness to God
62
00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:46.000
is so sure, so so natural, that nothing could ever damage that relationship.
63
00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:50.959
But then there are other times in
our lives when we feel very far
64
00:04:51.040 --> 00:05:00.589
from God. Maybe we've done something
truly awful, maybe we've gotten ourselves caught
65
00:05:00.629 --> 00:05:05.829
up in some destructive patterns or habits, maybe we get overwhelmed at all the
66
00:05:05.990 --> 00:05:10.899
things that are required of us in
this life and we feel our inadequacy,
67
00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:15.300
or or we just look at ourselves
and we see that we're just really broken
68
00:05:15.420 --> 00:05:24.050
down sinners. Maybe we just get
cold in heart. But whatever it is,
69
00:05:24.329 --> 00:05:29.569
there are times when we feel very
far from God. We long for
70
00:05:29.730 --> 00:05:33.089
him, but we feel like our
failures and our sins just keep us from
71
00:05:33.129 --> 00:05:39.079
him. He seems to withdrawn from
us. We look for him and and
72
00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:43.000
we can't find and we go down
those old paths we used to go of
73
00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:47.519
prayer or scripture reading or looking for
something in nature or in other people or
74
00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:51.910
whatever it may be, but we
cannot seem to find him and we wonder
75
00:05:51.990 --> 00:06:00.389
if we will ever feel close to
the Lord again. Well, this morning
76
00:06:00.550 --> 00:06:06.420
we saw Jesus's last call to repentance
of his earthly ministry and we considered the
77
00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:11.060
women that he addressed on the via
the Laurosa as he was being led out
78
00:06:11.100 --> 00:06:14.899
of Jerusalem to the place of execution. And we saw, I think,
79
00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:19.889
something profound about Jesus's conception of what
he was doing on Good Friday, namely
80
00:06:20.009 --> 00:06:25.170
that he was on his way to
save his bride, his people, his
81
00:06:25.329 --> 00:06:30.970
church and that he was going to
betrothe us to himself as our bridegroom,
82
00:06:31.250 --> 00:06:35.800
and I think that remembering that is
a great way to begin a remembrance of
83
00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:42.319
this Holy Passion Week today, on
Palm Sunday. So that's what we did
84
00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:46.120
this morning and now this evening I'd
like us to look at the great news
85
00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:50.709
of Easter, the great news of
the Resurrection, and what that means for
86
00:06:50.790 --> 00:06:58.990
us as we start out on this
Easter Week. And I want US especially
87
00:06:58.990 --> 00:07:01.420
to be thinking about that. Is
what I just talked about, those times
88
00:07:02.060 --> 00:07:08.259
when we feel very far from God
and when our faith seems old and cold.
89
00:07:08.339 --> 00:07:13.139
And in particular, I'd like us
to see what we can learn from
90
00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:17.689
how Jesus is resurrection turned around the
life of one of the greatest failures in
91
00:07:17.810 --> 00:07:25.250
the entire Bible, namely Simon Peter, the Apostle Peter. And I'd like
92
00:07:25.370 --> 00:07:29.050
us to do that by looking at
a couple of three scenes from the week
93
00:07:29.089 --> 00:07:34.959
or so before and after Jesus death
and resurrection. Now, do y'all remember
94
00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:40.920
at the last supper that Jesus told
the disciples? He said they would all
95
00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:46.189
forsake him that night? We remember
that, but of course Peter who was
96
00:07:46.430 --> 00:07:51.550
brash and overconfident and thought he knew
everything. He told Jesus true to form.
97
00:07:51.629 --> 00:07:56.949
He said, I don't believe it, I will never forsake you.
98
00:07:58.110 --> 00:08:03.620
And Peter didn't believe that because he
felt so close to Jesus, he loved
99
00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:07.500
him so much, he was his
best friend. He would never do such
100
00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:13.290
a thing to Jesus. But of
course Jesus told Peter. He said,
101
00:08:13.370 --> 00:08:18.889
not only will you forsake me,
but you will deny me, and not
102
00:08:18.129 --> 00:08:26.329
one time, Peter, but three
times in one night. But Peter still
103
00:08:26.370 --> 00:08:31.879
didn't believe it. He told Jesus
that night that he would rather die than
104
00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:35.360
deny him. But but he was
wrong, wasn't he? And we see
105
00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:39.720
that in Luke, chapter twenty two, and want you to listen to this.
106
00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:46.029
This is from the night in the
courtyard when Jesus was being tried.
107
00:08:46.190 --> 00:08:50.629
Having arrested Jesus, they led Jesus
and brought him to the high priest's house,
108
00:08:52.509 --> 00:08:56.340
but Peter followed at a distance.
Now, when they had kindled a
109
00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:58.860
fire in the midst of the courtyard
and then sat down together, Peter sat
110
00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:03.740
among them, and a certain servant
girl, seeing him as he sat by
111
00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:07.419
the fire, looked intently at him
and she said this man was also with
112
00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:13.529
Jesus, but he denied him,
saying, woman, I do not know
113
00:09:13.690 --> 00:09:18.769
him. And after a little while
another saw him and said you are one
114
00:09:18.809 --> 00:09:22.649
of them, but Peter said,
man, I am not. Then,
115
00:09:22.730 --> 00:09:28.279
after about an hour had passed,
another confidently affirmed, saying surely this fellow
116
00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:31.600
was with him, for he is
a Galilean. But Peter said, man,
117
00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:37.399
I do not know what you're saying. And immediately, while he was
118
00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:43.750
still speaking, the rooster crowd and
the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
119
00:09:43.789 --> 00:09:46.750
Then Peter Remembered the word of the
Lord, how he had said to him
120
00:09:46.750 --> 00:09:52.830
before the Rooster Crows, you will
deny me three times. So Peter went
121
00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:58.379
out and wept bitterly. Now,
as we come to this passage, we
122
00:09:58.580 --> 00:10:05.419
see how all of Peter's sins and
failures and his guilt and inadequacy, it's
123
00:10:05.460 --> 00:10:11.809
all just piling up and up and
up. At the last supper he denied
124
00:10:11.929 --> 00:10:18.409
that he would ever deny or stumble
at Jesus. But then that very night
125
00:10:18.610 --> 00:10:24.000
in the garden of get simony,
while Jesus was sweating blood and was torn
126
00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:28.960
apart at the thought of the agony
that was coming for him, Peter just
127
00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:33.679
slept the night away. Then,
when Jesus was arrested, Peter drew his
128
00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:39.509
sword to try to defend Jesus and
cut this guard's ear off, only to
129
00:10:39.629 --> 00:10:43.549
have Jesus rebuke him and then heal
the ear of the fellow he had wounded.
130
00:10:46.269 --> 00:10:50.940
And now we find Peter slinking around
in the shadows while Jesus was condemned
131
00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:58.299
and mocked. And finally Peter Does
precisely what Jesus had foretold and he denies
132
00:10:58.460 --> 00:11:03.889
Jesus three times before the rooster crowd. And all of this, I mean,
133
00:11:05.009 --> 00:11:09.970
this is bad. This is really
bad, and I'm sure that it
134
00:11:11.289 --> 00:11:16.009
every single point Peter had to feel
worse and worse about himself, but he
135
00:11:16.169 --> 00:11:24.000
was seemingly unable to stop failing Jesus. He didn't want to do this anymore,
136
00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:28.240
but he just kept on doing it. Surely he resolved every time to
137
00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:35.669
do better, but when the moment
came, his fear and confusion and in
138
00:11:35.789 --> 00:11:41.269
Adam at an inadequacy got the better
of him every single time and he failed
139
00:11:41.309 --> 00:11:46.470
again. But is it bad?
Is All of that was what we see
140
00:11:46.590 --> 00:11:52.100
here, and what I just read
is the final blow to him. While
141
00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:56.340
Peter was still speaking, the rooster
crowde and the Lord turned and looked it
142
00:11:56.539 --> 00:12:01.809
Peter. Then Peter Remembered how the
word of the Lord, how he'd said
143
00:12:01.809 --> 00:12:07.970
he would deny him three time before
the grouster crows. So Peter went out
144
00:12:07.490 --> 00:12:20.120
and wept bitterly. Jesus turned and
looked at Peter just as the words are
145
00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:26.600
spilling out of his mouth the last
time and just as that rooster is crowing
146
00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:37.789
from way across the courtyard, Jesus
turns and his eyes met Peters. Now
147
00:12:37.909 --> 00:12:43.659
you know what Peter must have felt
and what he must have thought. Suddenly,
148
00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:48.059
Luke tells us, Jesus his words
came back to Peter and all of
149
00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:52.500
his failure came down on him like
a ton of bricks. In my mind's
150
00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:56.899
eye, I imagine that all of
his failures of the whole day came back
151
00:12:58.019 --> 00:13:03.250
to mind. All of his proud, self confident conversations with Jesus were ringing
152
00:13:03.529 --> 00:13:07.769
back hollow in his ears and all
he could see in that moment was his
153
00:13:07.970 --> 00:13:15.200
total and complete failure and inadequacy.
And Luke tells us, with all of
154
00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:20.960
that echoing in his mind, Peter
broke down racked with sobs and fled the
155
00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:30.230
place. And you know, as
I think about this, I am always
156
00:13:30.350 --> 00:13:35.269
struck by how like Peter I am, aren't you? I mean all of
157
00:13:35.350 --> 00:13:39.190
us go through this thing with the
Lord and and even with other people all
158
00:13:39.269 --> 00:13:46.259
the time. We blow it again
and again and so often it seems that
159
00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:52.820
that Jesus is probably just as angry
and just as horribly disappointed at us because
160
00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:58.529
of it as we imagine he is. Has perhaps other people have been at
161
00:13:58.570 --> 00:14:03.409
us when we've been angry? I
mean, how often have we all wept
162
00:14:03.450 --> 00:14:09.159
over our failures and grieved in our
hearts because of what wretched people we are?
163
00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:16.039
And like Peter, we run away
from it, we run away from
164
00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:22.519
Jesus's presence because we cannot bear to
feel the weight of God's gaze upon us
165
00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:31.909
when we finally see how broken and
weak we really are. But the Wonderful
166
00:14:31.190 --> 00:14:37.389
Gospel according to Easter, as that
this is not the end of the story.
167
00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:45.340
We know that that very night Jesus
was condemned. The next day he
168
00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:50.019
was crucified dead and was buried.
Three days later he rose from the dead
169
00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:56.009
and the women came running up from
the tomb to tell the disciples the news
170
00:14:56.690 --> 00:15:00.210
that the empty or the tomb was
empty and he was risen. And as
171
00:15:00.289 --> 00:15:05.409
soon as they heard that, remember
Peter and John just start running as fast
172
00:15:05.450 --> 00:15:11.320
as they possibly could down to the
tomb. And as Peter is racing down
173
00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:15.039
there, you know his feet are
slippering it, slipping in this in the
174
00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:18.919
gravel. He's running so fast.
He's just flying down there with John.
175
00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:26.629
What do you suppose was in his
mind and in his heart as he was
176
00:15:26.629 --> 00:15:31.870
springing to that tune? Well,
surely there was. There was hope,
177
00:15:31.029 --> 00:15:35.379
there was joy in his heart.
I mean surely he's so incredibly glad that
178
00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:41.940
maybe couldn't be true. Jesus was
risen from the dead, just as he
179
00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:50.090
said. But along with that,
I'm sure there was something else in Peter's
180
00:15:50.169 --> 00:15:56.090
mind and heart as well. Along
with that hope and joy, you know,
181
00:15:56.450 --> 00:16:02.169
there was guilt and anxiety. There's
this there's this mixture of longing and
182
00:16:02.850 --> 00:16:10.919
fear. On the one hand he's
like it's true he is risen, but
183
00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:18.870
on the other hand, oh my
doubts, my denials, my despair,
184
00:16:19.750 --> 00:16:27.830
my faithlessness. Laughter. They went
down to the tomb. We know that
185
00:16:27.909 --> 00:16:33.019
Jesus appeared to the disciples in their
room and he showed himself to them and
186
00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:37.899
it was a scene of great amazement
and joy and happiness. You know it
187
00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:45.779
was. But you fast forward a
few days and we see a very different
188
00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:48.850
sort of picture. And this brings
us to the passage that I read this
189
00:16:49.049 --> 00:16:55.690
morning, nor this after this evening
for our scripture reading John Chapter Twenty one.
190
00:16:57.450 --> 00:17:02.200
Now, the first thing we see
in the passage that we read is
191
00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:04.839
that, after all of the initial
excitement and joy of the resurrection, it
192
00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:11.640
seems that Peters now become very melancholy
and sad. In Verse Three of Chapter
193
00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:18.829
Twenty One, John Begins the story
by telling us that Peter decided to go
194
00:17:18.990 --> 00:17:23.710
fishing. Jesus has risen from the
dead, but Peters decided that he's going
195
00:17:23.789 --> 00:17:27.109
to go fishing, and it seems
to me that he said this in something
196
00:17:27.150 --> 00:17:32.259
of a dejected way. You know, you can picture him. They're sitting
197
00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:37.339
at a table around a camp fire
and suddenly Peter Pushes back and stands up
198
00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:44.369
impulsively. He goes. He says, I'm going fishing. We've seen people
199
00:17:44.490 --> 00:17:48.250
do that, we probably done it
ourselves. And then, after a night
200
00:17:48.369 --> 00:17:52.809
of fruitless fishing, which must have
been that much worse. You know I
201
00:17:52.890 --> 00:18:00.480
mean. Now Peters of failures,
a fisherman too. Just as the disciples
202
00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:07.000
are about to give up, what
happens? Jesus appears on the shoreline and
203
00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:11.240
he hollers at them to try the
net again from the other side. And
204
00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:17.230
as they're hauling the net in,
John goes to Peter says, Hey,
205
00:18:17.829 --> 00:18:22.069
look, it's Jesus. And and
and Peter looked at these Jasus, Jesus,
206
00:18:22.109 --> 00:18:26.740
and he's so excited and he just
he grabs his coat and he dives
207
00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:33.460
into the water to swim after Jesus. Now it seems Peter's Melancholy is overcome
208
00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:40.859
by his love and excitement for Jesus. So just as he acted impulsively to
209
00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:45.450
go fishing, now he acts impulsively
and jumps off the boat to go see
210
00:18:45.490 --> 00:18:48.089
Jesus. He just has to swim
there before they can get the boat there.
211
00:18:48.130 --> 00:18:51.890
And and for some reason he takes
his coat with him in the water.
212
00:18:52.809 --> 00:18:59.799
And that little tidbit tells you how
discombobulated the man is. I'm just
213
00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:04.599
going to grab my coat when I
go for an unnecessary swim. But then
214
00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:12.990
a little later in Verse Eleven,
Here Peter Decides to make himself useful and
215
00:19:14.150 --> 00:19:21.589
he drags in three hundred or more
pounds of fish all by himself. Now,
216
00:19:21.710 --> 00:19:32.339
don't miss that. The risen Jesus
is standing right here and Peter Decides
217
00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:34.579
to be used. Three hundred kid. I mean, have you ever dragged
218
00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:40.690
anything over wets and let alone three
hundred and some odd counds of flapping fish?
219
00:19:41.849 --> 00:19:48.890
Let me imagine that. That just
seems like a really odd thing to
220
00:19:48.970 --> 00:19:52.329
do if you're so all fired up
to go swim with your coat to go
221
00:19:52.490 --> 00:19:57.200
see Jesus. But I think the
reason that he does this here in Versi
222
00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:02.519
Leven is because Peter's sense of failure
and inadequacy's come to the fore again.
223
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:10.670
See, what's going on here is
that Peter's guilt and shame and inadequacy was
224
00:20:10.910 --> 00:20:18.109
so overwhelming that every moment he spent
with the risen Jesus was both ecstasy and
225
00:20:18.309 --> 00:20:26.539
misery at the same time. He
loved Jesus so much and being with him
226
00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:33.299
was so wonderful, but every time
he looked at Jesus's eyes, you know
227
00:20:34.769 --> 00:20:41.410
he was thinking of that night in
the courtyard. And if you noticed,
228
00:20:42.410 --> 00:20:52.799
Jesus still hasn't mentioned Peter's failure when
hot you know, Peter was thinking of
229
00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:57.240
it constantly, and so that had
to be just that much more misery for
230
00:20:57.400 --> 00:21:03.039
Peter. So here's Peter, you
know, back and forth, back and
231
00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:07.549
forth. Now he's too depressed to
sit still, and now he's so happy
232
00:21:07.630 --> 00:21:14.750
to see Jesus that he acts like
a fool. Now he feels so guilty
233
00:21:14.869 --> 00:21:19.019
that he starts some job that's too
big for him just so he can get
234
00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:26.380
his mind off of his guilt and
his shame. But I want you to
235
00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:32.380
take notice of what happens in verses
fifteen to nineteen, when they get eaten
236
00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:37.650
breakfast. Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon Son of John, do you
237
00:21:37.769 --> 00:21:41.089
love me more than these? And
he said to him, yes, Hord,
238
00:21:41.170 --> 00:21:44.609
you know I love you. And
he said to him, feed my
239
00:21:44.650 --> 00:21:48.960
lambs. He said to him again
a second time, Simon son of John,
240
00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:52.359
do you love me, and he
said to him, yes, Lord,
241
00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:56.960
you know that I love you.
He said to him the third time,
242
00:21:56.279 --> 00:22:02.390
Simon Son of John, do you
love me? Peter was grieved because
243
00:22:02.390 --> 00:22:04.309
he said to him the third time
do you love me? And he said
244
00:22:04.309 --> 00:22:07.670
to him, Lord, you know
all things, you know that I love
245
00:22:07.789 --> 00:22:15.859
you. and Jesus said to him
feed my sheep. Now I want to
246
00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:22.259
know two important things here. First, as they were eating together, Jesus
247
00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:27.660
casually turns to Peter and he says
so, Simon Johnson, you love me,
248
00:22:30.089 --> 00:22:37.049
just casually. He loved me more
than these. Now just think about
249
00:22:37.130 --> 00:22:45.680
how that sounded like an accusation before, at the Last Supper, Peter had
250
00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:52.640
said that he loved Jesus more than
anybody and then he failed him more than
251
00:22:52.640 --> 00:23:00.630
anybody. But Peter just says you
know, yes, Lord, you know
252
00:23:00.710 --> 00:23:10.029
that I love you. and Jesus
doesn't condemn him, Jesus doesn't accuse him,
253
00:23:10.789 --> 00:23:18.259
he just says feed my lambs.
Next Jesus asked the same question again
254
00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:25.019
and Peter, Surely with tears brimming
up in his eyes, he says yes,
255
00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:30.410
Lord, you know that I love
you. Jesus says, tend my
256
00:23:30.569 --> 00:23:37.730
sheep. And finally Jesus asks the
third time, Simon Son of John,
257
00:23:38.890 --> 00:23:47.279
do you love me? John Tells
US Peter was grieved, and that is
258
00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:55.910
obviously an incredible understatement, I would
imagine. They he began to sob again,
259
00:23:56.349 --> 00:24:00.190
like he did that night in the
courtyard, and through the tears he
260
00:24:00.869 --> 00:24:07.670
says, Lord, you know all
things you know that I love you,
261
00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:17.980
and Jesus simply said feed my sheep. Now, why does Jesus ask this
262
00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:23.890
of Peter Three times and bringing this
big, strong fisherman to tears? Well,
263
00:24:23.970 --> 00:24:30.529
he says it three times because Peter
denied him three times. See,
264
00:24:30.890 --> 00:24:37.849
Jesus did this in this way to
show Peter that what he had done was
265
00:24:37.970 --> 00:24:42.440
undone. Jesus is the lamb of
God who takes away the sins of the
266
00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:49.480
world, and the Gospel of Easter
is that Jesus has taken away not only
267
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:57.109
the sins of the world, but
your sins and mine. And the great
268
00:24:57.230 --> 00:25:02.710
thing of the resurrection is that Jesus
says to each and every one of us
269
00:25:03.029 --> 00:25:07.029
that, no matter what it is
we have done, no matter what our
270
00:25:07.069 --> 00:25:11.299
guilt, no matter what our shame, it's what he said the last thing
271
00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:18.220
that he uttered from the Cross.
It is finished and he has erased it
272
00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:26.890
all. And not only did Jesus
Erase our sin on the cross of calvary,
273
00:25:26.369 --> 00:25:30.690
but he now has risen to prove
that it's so and to reign so
274
00:25:30.849 --> 00:25:36.759
that daily he can assure us of
his love and His forgiveness. And all
275
00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:41.079
that you and I have to do
to receive. That is simply say yes,
276
00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:45.279
Lord, I love you and I
am so very sorry for what I've
277
00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:52.869
done. And he stands there waiting
to smile and tell us that we aren't
278
00:25:52.869 --> 00:26:02.789
rumored, but we're his friends and
that everything is okay. It's what he
279
00:26:02.829 --> 00:26:06.059
said at the very beginning of his
ministry. He came preaching and he said
280
00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:12.380
repent and believe it's very simply means
in Greek, turn around and trust me.
281
00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:22.329
Just turn around and trust him.
And the second thing that I want
282
00:26:22.369 --> 00:26:26.529
us to notice here is that Jesus
approaches Peter exactly as he did at the
283
00:26:26.569 --> 00:26:33.039
very beginning. He Calls Him Simon, son of John. Jesus is calling
284
00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:37.000
him by the name that he went
both by before Jesus gave him his nickname
285
00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:41.960
of Peter, and he speaks to
him each time as though it was their
286
00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:48.950
very first meeting. And then in
verse Nineteen, he finishes the conversation by
287
00:26:48.069 --> 00:26:53.549
saying, simply follow me. Now, if you remember, the first time
288
00:26:53.829 --> 00:27:00.109
that Jesus called Peter to be his
disciple, he did precisely the same things
289
00:27:00.230 --> 00:27:04.299
we see here with the miraculous catch
of fish in Luke chapter five. And
290
00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:08.700
then he calls to the disciples in
Matthew Chapter Four, and he says come
291
00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:15.490
follow me. So what's going on
here is that Jesus not only forgave Peter,
292
00:27:17.690 --> 00:27:22.650
but he recommissions him. But it's
not just that. The reason this
293
00:27:22.849 --> 00:27:29.890
story is here is for us to
tell us that Jesus loves us just as
294
00:27:29.970 --> 00:27:36.480
much today when we sin, as
he did the first time we ever came
295
00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:45.910
to know him. Every single time
you screw it up, every time you
296
00:27:45.309 --> 00:27:51.029
blow it and you feel like a
great big failure when other people look at
297
00:27:51.069 --> 00:27:56.269
you and tell you you are shameful
and horrible, when your own heart condemns
298
00:27:56.349 --> 00:28:03.660
you. The Gospel is that Jesus
is just as ready to welcome you home
299
00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:08.339
and accept you and your simple prayers, you as he was the very first
300
00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:14.130
time you ever heard his call in
your heart. And that's because every day
301
00:28:14.369 --> 00:28:21.170
with Jesus is in new day.
Every morning has the same hope as that
302
00:28:21.369 --> 00:28:30.480
first Easter moment morning. And know
we may actually though we will fail time
303
00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:36.279
and time again, and though each
time we blow it, each time we
304
00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:41.029
do something awful, it may seem
like the darkest of midnight, the Gospel
305
00:28:41.069 --> 00:28:47.589
tells us that Easter morning is still
waiting to dawn and you, as soon
306
00:28:47.670 --> 00:28:51.549
as you tell Jesus what it is
that you've done and ask him for His
307
00:28:51.750 --> 00:28:57.900
forgiveness. And there's one last thing
I want to encourage you with as we
308
00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:07.220
close. Just as Jesus knew what
Peter would do when he predicted Peter's denials,
309
00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:12.609
he knows exactly what you're fixing to
do. In fact, he can
310
00:29:12.690 --> 00:29:19.329
do every single sin that you would
ever commit as he hung on the cross
311
00:29:19.329 --> 00:29:27.160
of calvary. And just as Jesus
watched Peter, even as Peter was in
312
00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:33.559
the midst of denying him, in
that same way Jesus watches you and he
313
00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:40.470
sees your every sin. But Peter
was wrong when he thought that Jesus looked
314
00:29:40.470 --> 00:29:45.549
at him with judgment or accusation,
because Jesus doesn't do that to his people.
315
00:29:47.269 --> 00:29:52.500
Jesus was looking across that courtyard at
Peter with compassion and unders standing,
316
00:29:52.619 --> 00:30:00.299
because right then Jesus was about to
go to the Cross and die for that
317
00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:08.690
very sin. And to you this
evening, as we begin this this Easter
318
00:30:08.890 --> 00:30:15.170
Week, I want you to know
that the Great Blessed Gospel Hope of Easter
319
00:30:15.650 --> 00:30:22.400
is that there is no condemnation for
those who love God, because Jesus has
320
00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:30.799
taken all of the punishment you deserve. Jesus died for you. Your sins
321
00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:36.950
and your guilt went with him into
the grave and when he rose again,
322
00:30:37.390 --> 00:30:42.670
your sin did not. There is
no condemnation now, because the sin is
323
00:30:42.910 --> 00:30:51.700
dead and we live in the risen
Lord Jesus. And now, having risen
324
00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:56.099
for you, Jesus lives for you
as well. He intercedes for you,
325
00:30:56.619 --> 00:31:03.980
he reigns for you and he is
always there to love you and restore you
326
00:31:03.730 --> 00:31:11.289
and reassure you that you are not
a failure. You are the bride that
327
00:31:11.410 --> 00:31:19.039
he laid down his life for,
and that, my friends, is good
328
00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:22.200
news. And then
