Thank God For Another Chance!

How often have you boasted about your ability to do something, and instead, fallen flat on your face? We have a President who boasts about his ability daily, even in the midst of obvious failure. In Mark 8:27–29; Luke 22:31–34; John 18:25–27; 21:15–17, We see Peter, receiving divine revelation about Jesus identity. Yet even with that revelation about Jesus, he stumbled and fell, failing to confess Jesus when confronted about his relationship with the Lord. But Jesus, who already knew Peter’s faults and foretold Peter’s failure, met with him after the Resurrection to reinstate His relationship with Peter… Giving him another chance! I pray that when we stumble and fall, that we never fail to look to our Lord and come back to Him, because he always stands ready to give us another chance. Amen.

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:27–29)

Peter‘s answer to God‘s question about his identity, show the profound and divine revelation about the true nature of Jesus. It demonstrated a level of understanding that it was obviously missing from the other disciples and many in Israel. Peter was blessed to have received this understanding and further marked him as a leader among Jesus, disciples.

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31–34)

While Peter had demonstrated and understanding of Jesus, true identity and nature, it marked him as a target for Satan. Jesus understands Satan and knows that because of Peter’s zeal and leadership among the disciples, he would be tested. And Jesus already knew that Peter would fail this test. Despite Peter’s attestation to the contrary, Jesus already knew that in the hours leading to His sacrifice on the cross, Peter would shrink from the moment and deny the one whom he had previously identified and confessed as the Messiah..

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. (John 18:25–27)

Just as Jesus had foretold, as Peter stood outside of the place where the high priest was holding Jesus and putting him on trial, Satan began his move against Peter. Peter was recognized and questioned about whether he was a disciple of Jesus. Peter‘s denials became more and more emphatic with each query. And then the rooster crowed… reminding Peter of his failure to live up to his zealous boast that he would go with Jesus to prison or even death.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15–17)

After Jesus, crucifixion and resurrection, he met with some of his disciples who had gone to Galilee at his direction. In a replay of Peter’s initial conversion, the disciples had been out in the sea fishing all night, but hadn’t caught anything. When Jesus appeared on the shore, he told them to put their nets out on the right side of the boat. And when they did, they were able to pull in a significant haul of fish. At that point, Peter recognized Jesus and jumped out of the boat to get to him first. After Jesus had prepared a meal for them and they had eaten, Jesus began the process of reinstating Peter. Peter denied Jesus three times in the courtyard of the high priest. Now Jesus had Peter reaffirm his love for him three times. And with each affirmation, Jesus reiterated the mission he was giving to Peter. Peter was to feed His sheep with the gospel.

Conclusion

Peter’s story is a beautiful example of the undying love that Jesus has for us. That even when things that we do or say, suggest that we don’t know Him and aren’t a follower of His, He stands ready for reconciliation with us and reinstatement of us in his service. How often have we said or done something out of fear or anger, that moments later we regretted? Things that we were ashamed of saying or doing as a child of God? Satan wants our shame to keep us exiled from God. But Peter’s story lets us know that the Lord always stands ready to receive us back again in our repentance and to commission us once again for his service. And to that we should all praise God, saying….thank you Lord for another chance!

Blessings, Rev. Glenn