31 ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’
Luke 22:31-32. We already know this; Jesus knew what was going to happen with Peter. He knew that he would be tested and would fail. But do you know what’s key here. Jesus prayed for him. What would happen to us if Jesus didn’t speak on our behalf? All those times when you’ve been so ashamed that you can’t even bring yourself to even talk to God. He had your back.
That’s the best part. If there’s hope for Peter, who publicly renounced any association with Jesus, then there’s hope for you and me. If Jesus wouldn’t let Peter use his failure as an excuse just to walk away and forget it, then He won’t let us walk away either.
I think it’s about time we see Peter get restored to his former glory.
John 21. Let me set the scene. Jesus has been crucified and has risen from the dead, the vibe is a little different now. Peter and six of the disciples were sitting around and Peter said, “I’m going out to fish.” And they said, “We’ll go with you.” Kinda like how it used to be. Peter would do something, and the rest would follow.
Throwback to Luke 5, we’ve got Peter, the fisherman, out on the boat with Jesus. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Peter was adamant that there was nothing to be done; they hadn’t caught fish all night, but he obeyed anyway. They let down the nets and caught “such a large number of fish that their nets began to break”. It was then that Peter realized who Jesus was and he fell at his feet. It was at this moment that Peter became a disciple of Christ.
Aww, the good old days.
Now back to John 21. “So, they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” Peter was so messed up that he was all the way back to where he was when he first met Jesus, catching nothing.
You see it’s a bit deeper than just fish. Peter had made his mind up that he was unfit. He was called to fish for people. But he had already lost sight of his ministry. I can’t be used for the people no more; I might as well go fishing.
Ever had that feeling? You “let God down” and decide you’re just not made for this “God thing”. So, what do you do? You put your time into anything else.
“I tried to dedicate time to prayer and reading the bible, but I’m still sinning. It’s not for me. I might as well put that time into my education, I’m sure I can get good grades and succeed in that.”
That may work. You may get what you wanted. But you won’t ever really achieve your full potential. In Peter’s case he couldn’t even get what he wanted. But the next day, he got a visit from a special someone.
Jesus pulled up on the spot, but like incognito. The disciples didn’t realise it was him. He asked them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’, and of course, they said no. Sounds a little familiar doesn’t it. Just like Luke 5.
6 He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Peter couldn’t get started without Jesus. Even when he messed up , he couldn’t get back to where he was without Him.
Damn that’s tough; you’re telling me he was worse off now than he ever was? I mean, who forced him to go at it alone? See the good news is that when you get right with God, the machine starts working good as new.
Cool so Peter slipped up a couple times, and forgot what Jesus said maybe once or twice, but this time, he remembered what happened last time (after some prompting from John, cause you know, Peter wasn’t completely there yet) and declared ‘It is the Lord,’ and “he wrapped his outer garment round him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.”
This linkup wasn’t one-sided though. It wasn’t just Peter chasing after Jesus.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
You see Jesus appeared once again at a point of weakness for Peter. Peter felt like everything was lost, and there Jesus was. I imagine Jesus looking at Peter and saying, “If you let Me, I can still make you a successful fisher of men.” Jesus knew it was about more than just fish. Let’s be real, Peter is here in front of Jesus who came back from the dead, even he knew it was about more than fish. He cared about what he thought he lost. His purpose in Christ’s vision.
Christ’s vision. You see when you’re in God’s will, he brings the plan to you. He tells you when to cast the net. That purpose you felt like you lost. Yeah, He’s got it for you. I guess it’s a matter of coming to get it.
My Sunday Skl 