"IT's Time FOr A Fresh Start"

It’s Time For A Fresh Start

Once there was a pastor who was such a golf addict that one Sunday he called in sick and went golfing instead. Two angels were above him on the golf course, discussing the situation. One angel said, “You just wait. I’m gonna punish him good for this.” The other angel just floated back to see what would happen. The pastor stepped up to the first tee where he promptly whacked the ball 300 yards straight down the middle of the fairway. Since he had never driven the ball more than 200 yards, he couldn’t believe it. Yet, there it was. And his luck continued. Long drives on every hole, perfect putting. By the ninth hole the pastor was six under par and was playing near-perfect golf. He was walking on air. He wound up with an amazing 61, about 30 strokes under his usual game. The one angel looked at the other and said, “Wait a minute. I thought you were going to punish the pastor.” The other angel smiled and said, “That is punishment. I mean, who’s he gonna tell?”

The Story

John 21:1-14 (NASB)

It was an early morning on the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee. A light haze of fog hung over the water making it hard to see much further than 100 yards out. The resurrected Jesus, who just eight days earlier lay dead in a sealed tomb, was now preparing a charcoal fire on the beach.

After placing some fish and bread over the fire, Jesus calls out to Peter and several of the disciples who were with him, “Children, catch anything?” As someone who likes to fish, I hate that question, especially when I’m not catching any fish! Because of the early morning haze, the disciples have no idea it’s Jesus.

The guys on the boat reply, “Ummm, well, not very good. We’ve caught nothing.” All night long they’ve been fishing, its daybreak, and it’s about time to call it a day. I’ve been there. I know exactly how they felt. It’s frustrating and embarrassing to fish all day and catch nothing. You’re ready to go home.

Jesus says, “Hey, why don’t you throw your net on the right side of the boat and you’ll find some.” In case you didn’t know this, fishermen are some of the most prideful people you will ever meet. We hate taking fishing advice from others, especially from people who are not fishermen! It was a miracle that they even listened to this stranger, but that’s how tired and frustrated they were. In desperation, they throw the net over the right side of the boat, and as they begin to retrieve it, suddenly the boat leans hard to the right side and begins taking in water.

Peter yells out to the others in the boat, “Get over here and help me haul it in.” They couldn’t because of the large number of fish. Now, if you’re ever on a fishing boat and something like this happens, it becomes chaotic quickly. Adrenaline kicks in, everyone’s running around trying to help, it’s crazy.

Suddenly, amid the chaos, something clicks to the Apostle John. Three years previously this same thing happened to him. Peter, James, and John were all fishing and catching nothing, when a popular young Rabbi named Jesus joined them on the boat and encouraged them to let their nets down into deeper water.

And just like this early morning, they caught so many fish their nets began to break and the boats began to sink. On that day, afterward on the beach, Jesus told them, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people, come follow me.” Simon Peter and John left everything and followed Jesus. And on this day, John immediately turns to Peter and says, “It is the Lord!”
Peter’s Response In The Boat

I love what happens next, because this is exactly what we expect Peter to do. Peter was a guy who leads from his heart. He’s an intense and emotional person. For eight long days he’s been wallowing in his own prison of shame, discouragement, and failure. The one person he’s betrayed, the one person who can do anything about his emotional state, is standing only 100 yards away. Peter wraps his clothes around him, jumps into the water and swims ashore, leaving the other disciples to manage without him.

You know what’s interesting? Peter had seen the resurrected Jesus before. Why didn’t he run to Jesus then? Why now? Peter’s response mirrors the way we deal with our shame. I don’t think any of us would run to Jesus for forgiveness after the massive failure Peter had.

Our natural and first response to shame is to hide it, bury it, and ignore it by going back home and going fishing. But Jesus works on our shame by showing up over and over again. Peter needed forgiveness and the resurrection will give it to him.
The Backstory: Peter’s Failure

A question dawned on me: What was Peter and the others doing fishing? I know that Jesus told them he’d meet them back in Galilee, so maybe they are being obedient. I think it’s deeper.

I think they were returning to their old way of life. They go back to what they knew. They go back to fishing. Why would they do that? Peter was ashamed. I’m sure he’s thrilled that Jesus is alive, but what does that have to do with him now? How could Jesus ever use him again after all he’s done? Peter is certain he’s been disqualified from being a disciple and is hopeless. So, he goes back fishing.

At this point, it’s important to remember the backstory about Peter’s failure. After the Last Supper, Jesus took the disciples to the Mount of Olives and told his disciples that they’d all fall away from him. But Peter declared, “I will never fall away! I will never disown you Jesus! If all others fall away, I won’t!”

Only a few hours later, around a charcoal fire, as Jesus was standing before the high priest being mocked, beaten, spit on, and blindfolded, Peter denied knowing his Lord three times. And the rooster crowed. And he broke down and wept.

What was Peter’s problem? It wasn’t insincerity. Peter meant exactly what he said that night. His problem was pride. It was innocent enough. Peter was ignorant of what he was made of, and what it would take to follow Jesus. So be careful when you say, “I will never … (fill in the blank).” Because at our weakest, most vulnerable moments, under enough pressure, you and I can do almost anything. If you don’t think so, well you already are farther down the road of pride than you think.

Thankfully, this story doesn’t end with bitter tears. The good news about the life of Simon Peter is it demonstrates that failure is never fatal or final. Far from being the end, failure lay the foundation for a whole new way of living.

Restoration turns our failure into our greatest reason for joy. If you recall on Easter morning, the angel says something to some women who’d come to visit Jesus’ tomb. But instead of finding his body, they found an angel. This is what the angel said to them…

Mark 16:6-7 (NASB)

Did you catch those words? “But go, tell his disciples ….” What did he say next? “and Peter.”

The women at the tomb didn’t catch the significance of those words. When they got back and told the disciples what the angel said, I don’t think the disciples understood the significance of those two words either. I believe those two words sent shock waves down one man’s spine.

I can see Peter staring intently into the eyes of those women and saying, “Wait a minute! Did I hear you right? Did he really mention my name? Are you sure? He said, ‘Peter’? He really said ‘Peter?’” Peter needed forgiveness and restoration. And that’s exactly what Jesus provides.

Jesus Restores Peter

John 21:15-19 (NASB)

After breakfast, Jesus and Peter take a walk down the beach. We find out later that John was following them close behind. On this walk, Jesus asks Peter a devastating question, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” This is a moment in time that will restore Peter’s life.

What will be that restoring moment for you? What is the question that Jesus might ask you today that would cut right down to your very soul? Maybe a question like:

Do you really think that relationship will fill your loneliness?

Is the promotion at work worth the price your family will have to pay?

When are you going to tell someone about your secret?

Are you finally done living your life without me?

Think about your worst failure. Think about the one thing that instantly makes you feel shame. That’s how Peter was feeling. On this walk, Jesus with both grace and truth confronts Peter and speaks right into his failure. Jesus doesn’t tiptoe around the issue. He’s not angry either. He lovingly confronts Peter.

Jesus wants to do the same to you. Jesus will keep coming to you and asking you those hard questions, questions that need to be answered, not because he wants to hurt you, but because he loves you and wants to heal you.

“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” It’s interesting to me that Jesus uses Peter’s old name. Remember, Jesus had renamed him, Peter, which meant “rock.” Now he’s calling Peter by his government name, as if to emphasize his old way of life.

Do you love me more than these? Do you love me more than your life as a commercial fisherman? Do you love me more than you love the other disciples? Do you love me more than they claim to love me? Jesus is probing Peter’s heart, forcing him to think about and examine his own motives. Three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” emphasizing and connecting to Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus. Peter was hurt because of that. Despite all his failures, Peter in turn says, “I love you, you of all people, know that I love you.”

In Peter’s response, he’s really asking, “Jesus, can you still use me?” In Peter’s mind he’s blown it. He’s failed. What’s left for him is a life of fishing. Like Peter, many of us live with a lingering wound that has left us hesitant about coming to church, unsure if Jesus really loves us, bitter and afraid. This story teaches us the resurrection of Jesus forgives our past and restores our future. Whatever wounds you have, bring it to Jesus! Don’t let anything hold you back as we close out the year. Jesus died for you and now lives for you. Jesus knows your whole story and all the ways you have and will deny him and yet loves you anyway. That is the power of restoration. It’s more than an event, it’s a person!

Conclusion

A major question hangs over this scene: What will Jesus do with Peter now? Jesus gives Peter two powerful words he’s heard before: “Follow me.” With these words, Jesus says Peter can start again. Despite Peter’s past, Jesus invites Peter to have a fresh start and a new life. He restores Peter’s past littered with broken promises and failed devotion. These two words announce grace to Peter. Peter, who failed, is not a failure. His past is in the past because of the resurrected Jesus.

Returning to “Go” Illustration

The oft-enjoyed game of “Monopoly” has one card that is discovered occasionally when someone lands on “Chance”: “Return to ‘Go’-collect $200.” The irony of the directive is that in one respect it seems to penalize, but in another it rewards. And so it is with God. There may be no way to forget the foolishness of our blind pursuits that end in a dog chasing his tail, but the God we “began” with … will seek us … and draw us back to the beginning for a fresh start!