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HOW WOULD JESUS HANDLE HOPE TODAY?
(Delivered 12-1-02) (John 21:15-17; Eph. 4:22-24)

After a little boy had been very naughty one day, he said,
"Please go away, Mom. I want to talk to God." "Well, isn't
there something you want to tell me?" his mother asked. "No,
you'll just fuss and fuss; but God will forgive me and forget
about it."

Well God does forgive and forget about it. Jeremiah said, " 'No
longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother,
saying, "Know the Lord," because they will all know me, from the
least of them to the greatest,' declares the Lord. 'For I will
forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more' "
(Jer. 31:34).

The Psalmist said, "As far as the east is from the west, so far
has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psa. 103:12).

John said, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and
will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

Jesus did that with Peter. In fact, he did more than that. He
reinstated him and gave him great responsibility. Alan Paton
said, "The tragedy is not that things get broken. The tragedy
is that they're not mended again."

After Jesus was arrested, Peter lied and cursed and denied that
he knew him. The Scriptures say, "Now Peter was sitting out in
the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him."You also were
with Jesus of Galilee," she said. But he denied it before them
all. "I don't know what you're talking about,"he said. Then he
went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to
the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." He
denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" After a
little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said,
"Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."
Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to
them "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed"
(Matt. 26:69-74).

When Peter realized what he had done, he probably thought he
could never be forgiven. The Scripture says, "Then Peter
remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows,
you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept
bitterly" (Matt. 26:75).
In fact, the whole gospel movement seemed to be over. Peter
gave up. He went back to his old way of life. He said, "I'm
going out to fish!" And they all said, "We'll go with you." So
they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught
nothing" (John 21:3).

The lack of success in their old way of life symbolized the fact
that we can't go back. Later, when Jesus appeared to the
disciples, it's significant that Peter was the first to respond.
Usually, when we're guilty and ashamed, we try to avoid the
person we've hurt; but Peter wanted to see Jesus. The
Scriptures say, "Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to
Peter, 'It is the Lord!' As soon as Simon Peter heard him say,
'It is the Lord,' he wrapped his outer garment around him (for
he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other
disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for
they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they
landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it,
and some bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish you
have just caught.' Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the
net ashore. It was full of large fish, but even with so many the
net was not torn. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have
breakfast.' None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?'
They knew it was the Lord" (John 21:7-12).

Jesus fed the group because he knew they were confused and
uncertain, and eating together helped break the ice. "When they
had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of
John, do you truly 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 truly 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).

Peter had denied Jesus 3 times; so he was given an opportunity
to declare his loyalty 3 times. After Peter's statements of
commitment, Jesus said, "Follow me" (John 21:19b).
Why do you suppose Jesus interacted with Peter as he did? What
lessons can we learn from this incident? What point does it
make about hope?

I. FIRST, JESUS DEMONSTRATED THAT RESTORATION IS POSSIBLE.

After lying and denying Jesus, Peter was still able to preach
that historic sermon at Pentecost. The Scripture says, "Peter
stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the
crowd: 'Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me
explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say' " (Acts
2:14).

Afterward thousands were converted. "Those who accepted his
message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to
their number that day" (Acts 2:41).

Peter went on to lead the church in the first century. Paul
described his role: "Seeing that I had been entrusted with the
gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter {had been} to the
circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in {his}
apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to
the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to
me . . ." (Gal. 2:7-9).
David believed in God's mercy to sinners. After his sin with
Bathsheba he said, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and
grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me" (Psa. 51:12).

No matter how low we fall or how badly we fail we can come back.

II. NEXT, JESUS DEMONSTRATED THAT RESTORATION REQUIRES A
RE-COMMITMENT.

Jesus didn't criticize Peter; he didn't condemn Peter; he didn't
try to shame Peter; and he didn't punish Peter. As far as we
know the dreadful incident in Pilate's court was n
ever mentioned again. But he did give Peter the opportunity to
make a re-commitment. Three times Jesus asked, "Do you love
me?" And three times Peter answered, "Yes!" That's exactly how
many times he had denied the Lord.

Later Peter expressed it this way: "And the God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have
suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you
strong, firm and steadfast" (I Peter 5:10).

He knew this from personal experience.

III. FINALLY, JESUS DEMONSTRATED THAT RESTORATION INCLUDES A
MISSION.

The best evidence of repentance is behavior. The best cure for
backsliding is service. When Jesus gave Peter a mission to
accomplish he was showing that he still had faith in him and
valued his contributions. Three times Peter was commanded to
feed the sheep. This meant he was to work and minister and
teach the people.

Jeremiah also believed sinners could return to service.
"Therefore this is what the Lord says: 'If you repent, I will
restore you that you may serve me' . . ." (Jer. 15:19).

We are not saved to sit. We are saved to serve!

Now, what if this were today? Would Jesus cook a meal for his
disciples? Would he go to their places of business? What would
he ask Peter?

We don't know for sure. Even though the details would be
different if Jesus lived in America today instead of in
Palestine 2000 years ago, his basic responses would still be the
same.

1. FIRST JESUS WOULD RESTORE FELLOWSHIP.

He never gives up on a person. He said, :The shepherd goes
after the lost sheep until he finds it" (See Luke 15:4).

Later Peter actually referred to this parable: He said, "You
were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the
Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (I Peter 2:25).

Jesus had specifically prayed for Peter and the other disciples.
He said, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world
but that you protect them from the evil one" (John 17:15).

2. NEXT, JESUS WOULD ACCEPT THE FALLEN PERSON WITHOUT
CONDEMNATION.

He wouldn't criticize and shame him. He wouldn't say, "I told
you so." He wouldn't withhold affirmation, and make him suffer.
That does no good. The sinner already knows that he is weak.
He is already aware of his failure. He already feels guilty.
Instead, Jesus would accept and validate the fallen one. He
would practice what he preached when he said, "Be merciful, just
as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36).

3. FINALLY, JESUS WOULD ASSIGN THE PERSON AN IMPORTANT JOB.

This would show trust and give them a standard to live up to.
That's the best way to rehabilitate anyone. If you treat a
person as he has been, he'll remain that way. But, if you treat
a person as he can be, he'll become that. God gives people
second chances.

Newspaper columnist Ernest Rogers hit bottom at one point in his
career. He wrote a poem. One verse says,

Oh Lord, I have failed in the final drive
My body and mind and heart
I've lost all my strength and my will to strive-
I've played out the loser's part.

So down on my trembling knees I fall
And seek a forgiving glance
I pray to the merciful Lord of all-
The God of the second chance.
-Adapted by Maralene Wesner

Peter was given another chance.

Now, if we're to take the Gospel seriously, what does this mean
for us? Remember the Scripture says, "Whoever claims to live in
him must walk as Jesus did" (I John 2:6).

If Jesus lived today, he'd be a confirmed reconciler. He
wouldn't hold us to our past. A wise man said, "The most
meaningless statistic in a ball game is the score at half-time.

Years ago, Georgia Tech played the University of California in
the Rose Bowl. During the second quarter, Roy Riegels recovered
a fumble for California. He became confused and ran sixty-five
yards in the wrong direction. A teammate tackled him to prevent
him from scoring for the opposing team.

At half-time, the men filed into the dressing room and sat down
on the benches-all but Riegels. He squatted down in a corner.
You know, a coach usually has a lot to say during the half-time,
but that day Coach Price was silent. The timekeeper came in and
announced that there were four minutes before playing time.
Coach Price looked at the team and said, "Men, the same team
that played the first half will start the second."

The players started out, all but Riegels. He didn't budge.
Coach Price went over to him and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me?
The same team that played the first half will start the second."

Roy Riegels looked up and said, "Coach, I can't do it. I've
ruined you. I've ruined the University of California. I've
ruined myself. I can't face that crowd."

Coach Price put his hand on Riegel's shoulder and said, "Son,
get up and go on back. The game is only half over."

Roy Riegels went back and spectators said they had never seen a
man play football like Roy Riegels played that second half.

All of us have run in the wrong direction. All of us have
fumbled and fallen. All of us have regrets and shame; but Jesus
says, "Get up and go on. The game is only half over." That is
essentially what he told Peter.

A wise man said, "There's more hope for a self-convicted sinner,
than there is for a self-righteous saint."

***
(Word Count 2026)

These messages are from an unpublished manuscript ©
copyrighted by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. Please
use them in any way you think appropriate. The only thing we
ask is that you give credit for original material in published
works.

Material in our sermons usually present the Gospel from a
psychological point of view.

My ministry has been blessed immeasurably by reading other
people's sermons. When I started preaching 55 years ago, I
waited for "inspiration" (usually Saturday night, about
midnight) before I began my sermon preparation. Then, I
discovered it wasn't inspiration at all-it was sheer PANIC. I
would have welcomed this service.

Comments are always welcome. (Please indicate if you do not want
your comments to appear in New Perspectives).

Miles E. Wesner