Peter’s Reinstatement!                                                                                                           A - 7

 

This is a prime example of how Jesus deals with we humans when we miss the mark.  Peter was anointed as the leader of the band of followers of Jesus.  His strongest attribute was probably his uncanny knack to say something without thinking, or doing something impetuously, both of which would result in awkward moments.  He meant well but was always, it seemed, walking up the down stairways!

After Jesus was arrested and beaten up, Peter was lingering around, wanting to know what was happening with Jesus.  Some people recognized Peter as one of the followers of Jesus.  Peter, fearing his own arrest, then stated that he didn’t know Jesus, nor wasn’t even familiar with Him.  He said this three times.  Shortly thereafter he went away from there and began to weep bitterly, realizing full well that he abandoned Jesus in the midst of the crisis. 

He sure didn’t see himself as the appointed and anointed leader of anything, his self-image was shot through and through!  He thought of himself as someone with a spine of jelly!  He was afraid that one day he would see Jesus and be thrown out of being with Jesus.  Jesus knew all this, and He saw the destruction of Peter’s sense of well-being.  And he knew He must do something for this broken leader.  And here is what happened when they finally met after the Resurrection…..

 

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

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.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.  When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  So, Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.  Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”  None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?”  They knew it was the Lord.  Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.  This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

John’s Gospel, 21^st Chapter

 

Would Jesus flare out in anger at this weakling “traitor”?  Or…..

No anger, no reminding Peter about the hurt he caused, no yelling or screaming.  Just a deeper commitment to the job Jesus had for Peter, one of growing, leading and encouraging the other apostles while spreading the Word!

You see, even after Peter’s spectacular failing, Jesus kept seeing the “future” Peter!  A Peter knowing how much he was loved and accepted, a Peter now bolder than ever, a Peter with a spine of steel.  It was of prime interest to Jesus that Peter would see Peter as Jesus did!

 

1) On the evening of Peter’s greatest failure, how low did Peter go when he thought of himself?

2) How afraid may he have been after this failure?

3) What might the other apostles have thought about Peter?

4) Did Peter need, or deserve, a severe tongue-lashing?

5) What was Jesus thinking as He began to speak with Peter?

6) Do you think Peter periodically had doubts and fears even when he was with Jesus?

7) Peter was a hard worker.  Did he need this trait when trying to be the ROCK, the leader?

8) Notice that Jesus used Simon Peter’s BIRTH name.  Was this as personal as one could be?  Remember the name: “Peter” might have had scary connotations because it meant ROCK.  Peter sure didn’t feel like any kind of rock at that time in his life!

9) Notice that once again, Jesus was serving His apostles by providing fire to cook some fish and bread.  He invited them to have breakfast with Him.  Where was His anger at His followers for abandoning Him on the night before He died?

10) Finally, think of what does this story might mean for us?  How would Jesus strengthen us when we fall and fail?