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May 21, 2023

John - The Restoration (click for resources)

Passage: John 21:1-19

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: John: Come and See

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: sin, forgiveness, repentance, shame, guilt, restoration

Peter's life as a disciple revealed his incredibly strong leadership as well as ability to blow it. When his discipleship "ended" with 3 public denials of Jesus, we cannot fathom the amount of shame and guilt he would have carried. Into this pit Jesus offers a Peter absolutely full forgiveness and restoration, not just purging Peter's failures but writing the Righteousness of Christ on his heart, and sending him out to proclaim this same Gospel to the World. And so it is for us. We bring our sin, shame, failure and impossibly heavy burdens to Jesus, who welcomes us with open arms (and a fish BBQ), cleansing us from our sin AND giving us His Righteousness.

THEME

Peter's life as a disciple revealed his incredibly strong leadership as well as ability to blow it. When his discipleship "ended" with 3 public denials of Jesus, we cannot fathom the amount of shame and guilt he would have carried. Into this pit Jesus offers a Peter absolutely full forgiveness and restoration, not just purging Peter's failures but writing the Righteousness of Christ on his heart, and sending him out to proclaim this same Gospel to the World. And so it is for us. We bring our sin, shame, failure and impossibly heavy burdens to Jesus, who welcomes us with open arms (and a fish BBQ), cleansing us from our sin AND giving us His Righteousness.

MAIN PASSAGE

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) What are some words that describe Peter's three years as a disciple?

What kind of a leader was he?

What was his temperament like?

 

2) Given Peter's history and personality...describe the impact of him denying even knowing Jesus three different times during the crucifixion.

 

3) When Jesus rose from the dead and stood before Peter, what do you think was going through Peter's mind?

 

4) Shame and Failure -- how have you responded to these in the past?

Think about these categories and how you may have acted this way:

Defend Myself -- Avoid the issue -- Wallow in it

 

What does it take to "own" your failure? And why is it so difficult?

 

5) John 21 is maybe a couple of weeks after the resurrection and is the 3rd time Peter and Jesus come face to face, but this is the first time (that we know of) where Jesus brings up the "elephant in the room." What was that conversation like?

 

6) A lot has been said about the two different Greek words for "love" in this passage. (Do you AGAPE me? I PHILEO you. Do you AGAPE me? I PHILEO you. Do you PHILEO me? I PHILEO you.) Some have said that Jesus is asking for unconditional love (Agape) but Peter is only able to give friendship love (Phileo). But I think there is something else going on. These two Greek words for "love" weren't nearly that distinct at that time. They were often used interchangeably. But the most glaring difference between them was that "Agape" was an action oriented love while "Phileo" was an emotional/heart oriented love.

Given this...Peter's discipleship years were filled with "action love" -- what is the significance of him now humbling himself and confessing an emotional and heart-felt love?

 

7) Jesus' response in this is phenomenal -- what is the huge significance of Jesus asking 3 times?

 

8) Relate this "Total Forgiveness" to us today when we are in our worst failures and shame.