We don’t like to admit to failure yet it is part of our day to day lives. Jesus confronts and deals with failure in our lives. It seems that Peter only opened his mouth to change feet! He went from follower to failure in moments. Jesus had unfinished business with Peter after he had denied Jesus three times. There are frustrating times when we fail to live up to what we believe. Peter had seen and done so much with the Lord that it might seem surprising that he fails to accept that he is a follower of Jesus. Peter goes through a journey that is not only covers time but is also a spiritual journey.

1 – The darkness

Peter had spent the night fishing and caught nothing.

• The privileges – He had seen the transfiguration and miracles of Jesus.
• Profession – He had professed with his mouth that Jesus was Lord.

He had privileges and a profession but he had abandoned these to go back what he knew – fishing. When you fail, you often go back to what you know. You don’t want to do business with God. However, the fishing was not working! They were active but they were catching nothing! The Lord was pursuing Peter who was in a place of frustration and fruitlessness.

2 – The dawn

The Lord steps back into the life of Peter.

• Realisation – The disciples did not recognise Jesus at first. Jesus knew that they had caught nothing but still asks the question about what they had caught! It had been a time of total failure and all was not well with Peter’s soul. Jesus tells them to throw out the nest again and they catch 153 large fish! They then realise it is the Lord. Peter realised that the risen Lord does not abandon us.
• Reminder – The restoration of Peter starts with a meal and not a sermon! Peter needed a reminder that God is good.

3 – The day

After breakfast there was unfinished business (vs. 15).

• Communing – Jesus goes back to calling Peter by his original name of Simon. He was no longer “Rocky”! It is a gracious confrontation. The love of Peter is weak He goes from a “phileo” love to “agape” love. Notice that Jesus asks three questions in response to Peter’s three denials.
• Commissioning – Peter is forgiven and commissioned again. Failure is not final. We can be a failure and still be of use to God!

Categories: John