John 21:1-25

(Notes of a sermon preached a number of years ago, revised and re-preached recently.)

The dentist had just finished fitting the bishop out with a complete set of new teeth.  As soon as the dentist had finished, the bishop went over to a mirror.  And as he looked at himself and inspected his mouthful of fine teeth, he said, “Jesus Christ.”  And again: “Jesus Christ.”  The dentist was surprised to hear such profane language coming from a man of the cloth.  But the bishop explained.  “This is the first time in 20 years,” he said, “that I’ve been able to say that precious name without whistling!”

Clearly, that dear man loved Jesus.  And love for Jesus is a central theme of our Bible passage.  Three times Jesus asks Simon Peter, “Do you love me?”  And three times comes the reply, “Yes, Lord, I do love you.  Of course I love you.  You know that I love you.”

There is, of course, an intriguing back story to this interaction.

Scene 1.  Self-confidence, Mt 26:31-35

Jesus and his disciples have just celebrated what we call the Last Supper.  They move out to eh Mount of Olives.

‘Jesus tells them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me.”   Peter replies, “Even if all [these others] fall away on account of you, I never will…Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”’

It is a typical Peter reaction: blustering, self-confident, boastful even.

Peter hadn’t reckoned with how vulnerable we can all be at critical times.  I remember the time when a relative of mine – a Christian – lost her husband at quite a young age.  Soon afterwards, she was tempted into a relationship which she knew would have been disastrous.  Her prayer at the time echoed a song by Paul Field: ‘Don’t let me fall’.

1 Cor 10:12 If you think you are standing firm, be careful you don’t fall!

Scene 2.  Failure, Mk 14:66-72

We move from the Mount of Olives into the courtyard of the High Priest.  Jesus has been betrayed by Judas, and his trial has begun.  Peter, who has been following behind, is challenged: “You’re one of his disciples, aren’t you?”  Peter replied, “No, I am not.”  A second time: “Surely you are one of Jesus’ disciples?”  Peter again denies it again.  Then a third time: “I’m sure I saw you with Jesus earlier this very evening.”

Peter ‘began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”’

Proud, boastful Peter had failed, and he knew it.  He broke down, and wept bitterly.

Of course he was not the only person to fail as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Some people fail very publicly.  A well-respected clergyman gives in to sexual temptation.  Overnight, his reputation is shattered, his career ruined, his family devastated, and his Christian witness brought into disrepute.

Some people fail very privately.  They may not been on speaking terms with the Lord for a very long time.  Yet they know enough about how they are supposed to speak and behave that they can keep up the pretence for years.  They have the form of godliness, but not the power.

Some people fail repeatedly.  They find themselves in a seemingly endless cycle of disobedience.  Maybe it’s sexual sin, or bad-temperedness, or an unforgiving spirit.  Each time it’s followed by regret and self-recrimination, and by a determined effort to do better next time.  Indeed, they’ve done this so often that they despair of ever breaking the cycle.

But I have good news for you.  Failure is never final.

3. Restoration, Jn 21

It is some time after the crucifixion and resurrection.  The disciples are up at the Sea of Galilee.  Peter says: ‘Let’s go fishing’.  They toil all night, but catch nothing.  Then Jesus appears, tells them where they can find fish, and they soon their net is bulging with a fantastic haul.

They enjoy a convivial breakfast together on the beach.

V14 – ‘This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.’  What thoughts were racing through Peter’s mind?  What emotions were stirring his heart and his conscience?

Then comes that threefold question from Jesus to Peter: “Do you love me?”  “Yes, I love you.  Of course I love you.  You know that I love you.”

Jesus handles this conversation with the utmost sensitivity.

Consider this.  All this takes place on Peter’s home turf of Galilee.  He has just been doing what he knows best, which is fishing.  It happens in the context of an early-morning breakfast barbeque by the lakeside.

But there’s more.  They were probably within a few hundred yards of the very place where Jesus had first called Peter to leave his nets and follow him.  Jesus goes on to address Peter by his pre-Christian name of “Simon, son of John.”  And then Jesus says to Peter, “Follow me”.  But these were the very words which Jesus used when he first called Peter, Jn 1:43.  In all these way, Jesus is taking Peter right back to the beginning.  He’s offering him a fresh start.

But there’s one more thing.  I have said quite a lot about Peter’s failure.  But Jesus doesn’t mention it at all.  He didn’t need to.  There is just a hint of Peter’s threefold denial in Jesus’ threefold question, “Do you love me?”  But, beyond that, Peter didn’t need a lecture on how badly he had failed.  He’s already feeling terrible about it, and Jesus isn’t about to make him feel even worse.

Jesus, let me remind you, had no hesitation in giving the hell-fire treatment to the proudly self-righteous, but those who, like Peter, know that they failed badly he treats with utmost gentleness and compassion.

Mt 12:20 ‘A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.’

In all of these ways we see Jesus’ love for Peter.  But what Jesus wants to talk about is Peter’s love for him.

Dear friends, love for Jesus is at the heart of Christian experience and usefulness.  Mere habit, or sense of duty, or act of will-power, will never sustain our faith and service through the difficult days of temptation, doubt or discouragement.

When you apply for a job, you’ll be told which qualities and qualifications are desirable, and which are essential.  In the Christian life, various gifts and qualities may be desirable, but the one indispensable quality is love.  Without love, I am nothing.  But with love I am patient and kind, not envious, boastful or proud.  Not easily angered or eager to keep a record of wrongs.  Not delighting in rejoicing with the truth.  Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseves.

Ah, yes, perseverence.  The very thing that Peter had failed to show.  But now, listen to the Saviour’s words to him in v18 – ‘“When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.’  Peter had once boasted of his loyalty to Jesus and yet had so quickly denied his Master.  But he has now been reinstated and recommissioned.  From this time forward, declares Jesus, he will remain Christ’s faithful soldier and servant to the end of his life.

There may be some here this evening who are only too aware of having failed our Saviour.  Now is the time to tell him that we love him, and to ask him for his renewing grace.  Maybe we will want to go home this very evening and do that quietly in private prayer.  Or we might take the opportunity to spend a few moments with a trusted Christian friend.

Failure comes in many shapes and forms.

But there is one remedy that never fails.

Jesus stands ready to be reconciled to those who have let him down.

Our faith he will revive; our hope he will renew; our love he will rekindle.

And the greatest of these is love.