PETER: FROM COWARDICE TO COURAGE

Sermon Summary (8/4/19) “Peter: From Cowardice to Courage” (John 21:1-3; 15-17)

When we last saw Peter, he was having the worst night of his life.  His Lord and Master had been arrested and he had denied knowing him three times, then went out a wept bitterly.  Fast forward, and we find only John and the women at the cross.  The other disciples are in hiding.  Our story culminates with one of the greatest acts of forgiveness and reconciliation, ever.

Let’s look at the disciples.  They have had supper with Jesus, have experienced his body and blood.  They call him Messiah, yet without understanding.  He tells them he is going away, and Thomas asks, “Where are you going?”  On the way to the Garden, Jesus tells them they will scatter because of him.  Peter says, “Even if I die with you, I will never deny you.”  So say they all. 

Jesus is arrested in the Garden.  The disciples scatter.  Peter follows to the home of the High Priest, watches Jesus convicted and sentenced and while warming himself around a charcoal fire, denies him three times. He weeps.  Jesus is taken to Pilate.  By 9:00 am he is on the cross to die.

The first disciple on the scene is Judas, even before he gets to Pilate, returning the 30 pieces of silver.  “I have betrayed innocent blood.”  He goes out and hangs himself.  A mini-lesson: Had he only waited 48 hours, had he encountered the Risen Lord, he would have been forgiven!  Can you imagine the Evangelist he might have been?  Maybe Judas was God’s Plan A, and when he took his own life, Paul became Plan B.  With Jesus, the worst thing is never the last thing. 

Weeks later, Peter and some of the disciples are in Galilee.  I think that Jesus is in danger of losing his Church.  Peter is returning to his old life: “I’m going fishing.”  They fish all night and catch nothing.  Jesus intercedes, meets them on the shore.  “Put down your nets on the right side.”  They catch so many fish their nets are in danger of breaking.

The come ashore.  Jesus is preparing breakfast around a charcoal fire.  Jesus breaks bread and gives it to him.  We are supposed to see the Lord’s Supper in the breaking of bread and be reminded of Peter’s denial of Jesus by the charcoal fire.

After supper and around the charcoal fire, Jesus asks, “Simon Peter, do you love me.”  Peter replies, “Lord, you know I love you.”  “Feed my lambs.”  A second time Jesus asks, and a third time, Jesus replying, “Tend my sheep.”  “Feed my Sheep.”

Forgiving Peter and recharging him to be the Shepherd, calling him and us to love him by tending the most vulnerable among us.  We love God by loving others.  So may it be with all of us.  Amen.