When the Rooster Crows. P.3

It is often said that to forgive is to forget. Unfortunately, the reality is that some offences are not easily forgotten. Furthermore, forgiveness, in many cases, is a process, a slow one at that. There is not a person alive who has not been hurt by those they love,  felt betrayed, and, for many, abandoned. The impact can have a devastating effect on us and on our current and future relationships.

In parts one and two of this series, “When the Rooster Crows,” the apostle Peter, along with the other twelve disciples, despite their best intentions, have let their Lord down. Peter, despite his bold declaration of loyalty to Jesus, “Even if they all fall away, yet I will not” (Mark 14:29) hours later,  denied Jesus not once but three times. One would wonder if Peter could ever look Jesus in the face again. What would he say to the Lord? What could he say? How would Jesus receive him? The answer is found in a beautiful encounter between the risen Jesus and His close friend on a beach near the Sea of Tiberias. While fishing, a few of the disciples encounter Jesus on the beach. There, Jesus asks His beloved Peter three questions. The encounter between Peter and His risen Lord is found in John 21:15-17. 

15. “So 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, “Tend My Lambs.” 16. He said to him again 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, “Shepherd 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

There are some very important details to note regarding the exchange. First, note that Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times, once for each of Peter’s denials. The third time, Peter is deeply moved by Jesus’s line of questioning. I can only imagine Peter's emotions: embarrassed, regretful, shamed, humbled, unworthy. Yet, note that with each question, Jesus gives Peter an order. “Tend My Lambs,” (v.15)  He stated the first time, “Shepherd My sheep,” (v.16) the second and “Tend My Sheep” (v.17) the third. Jesus’s intent was not to shame Peter. Instead, He intended to restore him. Jesus still had a plan for Peter, and Peter had a decision to make. Sit in the memory of his shortcomings or accept the forgiveness available to him and see himself as Jesus saw him, “the rock upon which He would build His church.” (Matthew 16:18) 

The closer we walk with the Lord and the more we understand His character and His holiness, the more evident our sinful nature is to us, the more desperate our need is for His grace and His forgiveness and the more grateful we are for His unfailing, lifegiving, redemptive love. It is written, “But God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). That verse never ceases to take hold of my heart. On the heels of Peters's denials, Jesus died on the cross for him. Knowing my every sin and every imperfection, Jesus died on the cross for me. However, Jesus’s plan was to restore Peter, and that is His plan for you and for me. That said, we, like Peter, have a decision to make. See ourselves through the failures of our past, or receive the redemption that Jesus offers and become the people He has created us to be. Peter chose the latter, and I figure I will as well. Will you?

Yours in Christ,

Brad