Our greatest failures are not the end of our faith. They can be the beginning of something much deeper if our hearts remain tender and responsive to God and open to His process of restoration.
The restoration of Peter had similarities to his three denials of the Lord. Peter’s restoration was a purposeful template used by Jesus to help Peter know the Lord was not done with him. His restoration would be the beginning of a new chapter in Peter’s life.
The place where Peter had denied the Lord three times had a charcoal fire burning. It’s where Peter stood along with the servants and guards to warm themselves on a cold night. It was around the warmth of that fire where Peter denied the Lord.
After Jesus had risen from the dead, the disciples returned to fishing, unsure of what to do next. One night, as they fished and caught nothing, the Lord stood on the seashore and built a charcoal fire where He would invite the disciples to have breakfast. The Lord was purposeful in choosing to make a charcoal fire because it was where Pete had denied the Lord.
From a distance, the Lord called out to the disciples, “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” (vs. 6).
A disciple shouted, “It’s the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard those words, “He wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.” (vs. 7). We can only imagine what was happening in Peter’s heart. It must have been a combination of hope and joy as he swam toward the Lord.
When the disciples arrived on shore, Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast. None of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord” (vs. 12).
Three times during breakfast, the Lord asked if Peter loved Him, mirroring Peter’s three denials just weeks before. Each time Peter said, “You know that I love you”, each response was offered with increasing intensity. While questioning if Peter still loved the Lord, he was told to “feed My lambs” and “take care of My sheep.” It was a calling awaiting Peter if he could get past the shame of his denials.
After asking the three questions if Peter still loved the Lord, Jesus finally said “Follow me!” (vs. 19). Jesus used the exact words He first told Peter three years before when the Lord told Peter, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people! They left their nets at once and followed him” (Matthew 4:19-20).
Paul wrote, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn” (Romans 11:29). We are the ones, not God, who think our gifts and calling end after we fail Him. Peter’s restoration was the beginning of something much deeper. Once again, Peter had to leave behind his fishing nets and choose to follow the Lord.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins
Featured Image by chanwit whanset from Pixabay
