The Word This Week
John 21:1…
We come to the final chapter of the Gospel of John.
This chapter is known for the redemption of Peter, who had already been redeemed by Jesus spiritually, but now will be redeemed in his own mind and heart for his ministry calling by Jesus.
What had Peter done to lower his expectation of himself? (This is a common experience in all of our lives – making this chapter very important to each one of us personally.)
Who among us would say they have never sensed they had disappointed Jesus at any time? How wonderful it is therefore to see Peter restored so gently by Jesus from the failure Peter had considered himself to be.
From Peter’s perspective, his denial of Jesus when Jesus needed Peter most was a complete shock to himself. It was not as if Peter could have done ANYTHING to prevent Jesus’ crucifixion, but in Peter’s mind I believe he thought the least he could do was to stand with Jesus through the process.
This explains why Peter followed Jesus to High Priest Annas’ house after Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Even though Jesus commanded them NOT to follow Him.)
Peter even came into the inner court of Anna’s house, in hopes of seeing the proceedings.
This became the sight of one of the greatest disasters of his spiritual life. Three times Peter denied he was a follower of Jesus, and worse - Peter denied vehemently - with a curse – that he even knew Jesus!
When you’ve had the experience of hearing words come out of your own mouth you didn’t know were possible for you to say – words you thought yourself incapable of saying – then you have some sense of the great shame and disappointment Peter had in himself.
Peter probably thought himself disqualified from ministry.
But could he go back to his previous life as a fisherman?
Jesus said, “No way!”
Pastor Bill
We come to the final chapter of the Gospel of John.
This chapter is known for the redemption of Peter, who had already been redeemed by Jesus spiritually, but now will be redeemed in his own mind and heart for his ministry calling by Jesus.
What had Peter done to lower his expectation of himself? (This is a common experience in all of our lives – making this chapter very important to each one of us personally.)
Who among us would say they have never sensed they had disappointed Jesus at any time? How wonderful it is therefore to see Peter restored so gently by Jesus from the failure Peter had considered himself to be.
From Peter’s perspective, his denial of Jesus when Jesus needed Peter most was a complete shock to himself. It was not as if Peter could have done ANYTHING to prevent Jesus’ crucifixion, but in Peter’s mind I believe he thought the least he could do was to stand with Jesus through the process.
This explains why Peter followed Jesus to High Priest Annas’ house after Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Even though Jesus commanded them NOT to follow Him.)
Peter even came into the inner court of Anna’s house, in hopes of seeing the proceedings.
This became the sight of one of the greatest disasters of his spiritual life. Three times Peter denied he was a follower of Jesus, and worse - Peter denied vehemently - with a curse – that he even knew Jesus!
When you’ve had the experience of hearing words come out of your own mouth you didn’t know were possible for you to say – words you thought yourself incapable of saying – then you have some sense of the great shame and disappointment Peter had in himself.
Peter probably thought himself disqualified from ministry.
But could he go back to his previous life as a fisherman?
Jesus said, “No way!”
Pastor Bill