Feb 7 - Incomplete Failure

Feb 7

Incomplete Failure

 Joh 21:15 …Simon, son of Jonas,

lovest thou me more than these?...

 This last chapter of John used to seem a little odd to me.  Christ appeared on the shore with breakfast for the 7 who had been fishing. After they had eaten, Christ asked Peter the same question three times and told Peter to feed sheep. I just didn’t get it??  I do now and it contains huge lessons for Peter and for us today.  There is a lot here!   Follow in your Bible to grasp it all.

In John 18:17-27 Peter denied Christ three times. In John 21 Christ reminded Peter of his three denials by asking him three times if Peter loved Him. The purpose of the questions is to let Peter know he was forgiven, reestablished as an Apostle and worthy to care for the flock.

But there is so much more here. To grasp it all we need to compare scripture with scripture.  In Luke 5:4-7 we read of the call of Simon (Peter).  The similarities with John 21 are worthy of notice.

In both accounts Peter was there with other men who would become Apostles. In both they had caught no fish. And in both Christ directed where to cast their nets and in both they caught a multitude of fishes. Read these two sections to fully appreciate their similarities.

After Christ’s resurrection he appeared to 7 Apostles on the same Sea of Galilee, (here called sea of Tiberias) and Peter must have had a sense of dejavu (been there before).  It would have reminded Peter and the others of the excitement when Christ called them to be fishers of men. Then all they desired was to follow Christ and learn of Him. But that was about to change.

Joh 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land,

they saw a fire of coals…

Only a few days earlier Peter had stood by another fire of coals.

Joh 18:18 And the servants and officers… had made a fire of coals

; …and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

It was by that fire Peter had denied Christ.  The presence of the breakfast fire would have been a sad reminder of Peter’s failures when he denied Christ three times.

      We are not told if there was any “table” talk around the fire. Since all of them had forsaken Christ the fire may have been a reminder of that night before the Crucifixion. It may have been a silent meal. We are not told. But after they had eaten and were warmed and refreshed Christ began the healing process for Peter.

      “Simon, son of Jonas (John) do you love me more than all these other guys?”  Peter could not miss why Christ had used those words. After the last supper Christ said they would be offended. Peter had said “No Lord, everyone else may be offended but not me”

      Mt 26:33 Peter answered …Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

He also realized Christ had not called him Peter but used Simon, his name before he was an Apostle.  Had Peter’s betrayal of Christ cost him his place with the Apostles? The memory of Peter’s proud boastful words must have been painful. But the Great Physician knew He needed to cause Peter pain to heal him.  Now humbled, Peter does not even trust himself to answer what is in his heart. He depended on Christ to know and could only manage “Yes Jesus I am very fondly affectionate toward you.” (different Greek words are used for love)

The second time Christ asked a similar question and received the same response.

The third time Christ used the same word Peter was using. “Peter are you fondly affectionate toward me?”  Peter wanted to say it stronger but did not trust himself. He had learned his lesson. Christ responded to each of the three answers by declaring Peter was fit to carry on the work with Christ’s lambs and sheep. Far from elevating Peter to some lofty oversight of the church as some maintain, a disqualified Apostle was forgiven and reinstated. It was done before six other apostles to demonstrate the unfathomable mercy of God to forgive them as well.

Oh dear brother or sister, if you are laboring under a great failure for Christ, rejoice that God’s mercy is unending. Confess your failure, forgive yourself, and enjoy the presence of our merciful and loving Father.  Do you think you have out done Peter’s repeated denials of Christ?  Your failures are not greater than God’s ability to forgive and cleanse you.  For those who have no crippling sin burden, may you learn humility, and be thankful for God’s mercy. Let us thank God that it is only by His Grace that we stand at all.     

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.