"The Grace and Hope of Second Chances"

Sermon July 23, 2011

Scripture: Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called
you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Peter

1:13-15 Thesis:God s grace offers us the hope of second chancesas part of his mission to make us holy 3 Part Plan To see grace & second chances through Peter s eyes AND our own personal experience 1) The Grace (Gift) of a Second Chance a. From Fisherman to Disciple b. From breaking up one last time to a dream of losing my Grace c. How about you? school, career, relationship, 2) Grace s #1 Enemy: Self (show how Peter s self in the alternating forms of fear and pride stands in the way of Grace) a. From Walking on Water to Drowning - fear b. From Recognizing Jesus as the Christ to Denying he even knew him - pride c. 3) Making the Most of a Second Chance just 2 WORDS: Follow Me a. Disclaimer: The grace of a second chance is not something you COUNT on it is a gift and there is a very real danger of presuming your will ALWAYS get another chance. SO it is essential that when God grants you a second chance that you do all you can to make the most of it. How? Let s turn to John chapter 21 and the last time that Peter saw the risen Messiah b. Jesus reinstates Peter Do you lover me? c. Humility embraces Grace and makes 2nd chances no longer necessary

Intro Act out Peter denying Christ (like Cecil once did with the prodigal son). If anyone ever hoped for a second chance, it was Peter right after the cock crowed
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Matt 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?
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Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times

Conclusion Act out Peter s last conversation with Jesus (Do you love me?)

Peter s Second Chances (find parallels for each example in my/our modern lives) 1) From fisherman to disciple: And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matt 4:18-19 (note from Rob Bell s video on what it usually took to be asked to follow a rabbi only top Bible students were ever asked to become disciples. In Jesus time ALL male children were sent to school at age 6 to learn the Torah. The Jewish historian that was a contemporary of Jesus said Above all, we pride ourselves in the education of our children .
Bet Sefer (elementary school) When Jesus was a little boy around six years old, every other little six-year-old Jewish boy went to a local synagogue school called Bet Sefer. Let me hear you say Bet Sefer. It means house of the book. From the days of Ezra a child usually attended Bet Sefer from age 6 to age 10. And you would attend this school five days a week - from Monday - Friday. There would be a local synagogue Torah teacher who would begin teaching you the Torah. The Torah was the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It is said that on the first day of class a rabbi would take honey and cover your slate, your personal chalk board, where you would write. Honey was a sign of Gods favor. There was nothing finer, nothing sweeter, nothing more full of pleasure than honey. And he would rub honey all over your slate. And then he would say, Now class, lick the honey off the slate and off your fingers. And so now you also can lick the honey off your fingers. And as you did this the rabbi would say, May the words of God be sweet to your taste, sweeter than honey to your mouth (Psalm 119:103). May the words of God be the most pleasurable, the most enjoyable thing you could even comprehend. And so as a child you were introduced to the Scriptures as there was nothing more enjoyable in the entire universe than tasting, receiving , accepting the words of God and making them a part of your life. This is how Jewish boys were introduced to the Scriptures. From ages 6-10 they would memorize Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. By age 10 they had memorized the entire Torah and completed Bet Sefer. Bet Talmud (middle school) Now the best of the best students would continue on. The next stage was probably called Bet Talmud. Bet Talmud meant house of learning. Roughly from ages 10-14 in Bet Talmud you would memorize the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures all the way to Malachi. OK? By 13, 14 years of age you had the entire Hebrew text memorized. Even today in Jewish seminaries they still do this. You would also at this age begin learning the Jewish art of questions and answers. Now today in our schools we memorize information that we have to write down on quizzes or exams. So we learn things like 2 plus 2 is? (4). 4 plus 4 is? (8) 8 plus 8 is? (16) 16 plus 16 is? (32). Today teachers love to give tests where the students memorize lists. But in Jesus day the rabbis taught you to answer with a question. So the rabbi might say what is 2 and 2? And you could answer what is 8 minus 4 or what is 16 divided by four? OK? So you would begin to learn the Jewish art of answering with questions. By the way, when Jesus parents comes and find him in the Temple He is how old? (12) And what do they find Him doing? Mark 2:46 says, they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. When it came to Scripture Jesus was the best of the best. He knew how to answer with questions. Why? Bet Talmud. Bet Midrash Now, at the end of your study at Bet Talmud, when you were around 13-14 years old, if you are the best of the best, then you would go and present yourself to a well-known respected, powerful rabbi. And you would say, Rabbi, I want to become your disciple, your talmudeen, your student. Please let me in your Bet Midrash, your house of study. And so the rabbi would say, OK. And the rabbi would ask you lots of

questions, to find out if you are the best of the best. Because each rabbi wanted to teach his thinking, his philosophy, his interpretation of Scripture. Do you know what this was called? It was called his yoke. This rabbi wants to know, when he is questioning this possible disciple, Is this boy able to become a rabbi himself and to teach and spread my yoke? So the rabbi would ask all kinds of questions. And if the rabbi believed that you were the best of the best, that you were able to become a rabbi, He would say, Lech Acharai Come, follow me. And you would leave your family. You would leave your family compound. You would leave your village. You would leave the local synagogue where you had been studying. You would leave everything and you would follow that rabbi. You would become a talmudeen, a disciple, a student. You would give your life to being exactly like that rabbi. They would eat the same food in exactly the same way as their rabbi. They would go to sleep and awake the same way as their rabbi. And they would learn to study the Torah and understand God the exact same way as their rabbi. And you would follow him everywhere. One of the Mishnah rabbis would tell disciples or students, May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi. Because you would have a rabbi come to the village and behind him would be these tamudeen following right behind him. And the roads were dusty. So these disciples who closely followed their rabbis would get covered with the dust of their rabbi. You wanted to be so much like your rabbi that when your rabbi would pick up a piece of straw and put it in his mouth then you would. And you would follow this rabbi everywhere. Because the rabbi believes that you can be like him. But for some Jewish boys when the rabbis quizzed them they did NOT say, Lech Acharai Come, follow me. But instead they said Ah, my son, you do know Torah. And you know Torah well. But you are not able to be my talmudeen, my disciple, my student. So the rabbi would say, Go, home to your village. Make babies. Pray that they become rabbis. Go home and learn the family business - fishing, farming, carpentry. Because you wont be studying to be a rabbi. Bet-Jesus Now what was Jesus occupation? What kind of job did Jesus have? He was a what? Do you know what? Jesus was a rabbi. 13 times in the New Testament Jesus is called a rabbi (Matthew 26:25,49; Mark 9:5; 11:21; 14:45; John 1:38,49; 3:2,26; 4:31; 6:25; 9:2; 11:8). 41 times He is called a teacher. Only one time is he called a carpenter (Mark 6:3). In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, Come unto Me all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Now almost all the other rabbis would quiz the students and would choose the ones who were the best of the best of the best. They were the smartest. They were very good at answering questions with questions. But Jesus didnt do that. He called disciples who had already failed the rabbi test, the rabbi ip-hakshiham. And He said, Lech Acharai Come, follow Me ... Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. Why did Jesus choose these guys? Because He believed they could become like Him. And you know what? Jesus wants to be your rabbi. He wants to be your teacher, your master. He wants you to be His disciple, His student, His talmudeen. He is calling you today,LechAcharai Come, follow Me. It doesnt matter who you are. It doesnt matter where you are. It doesnt matter what company you work for. The most important thing is not how much you can memorize. Its not about how much you know. Its all about who you follow. You can be like the rabbi. And some said, Yes and followed Jesus. Others said No and would not follow Him.

Acts 4:13 [ Showing clearly that Peter had TRULY became Jesus disciple ] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. [ Also compare Jesus sleeping in the storm to Peter sleeping in the jail cell]
Jesus Calms the Storm

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, Lord, save us! Were going to drown!
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He replied, You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
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The men were amazed and asked, What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!
Herods Violence to the Church

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant[a] prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers;
Peter Freed from Prison
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2) Walking on water to drowning: And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. So He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous,[b] he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? 32 Matt 14:28-31

Peter actually showed remarkable faith in following Jesus out on to the water. I wonder if the thought even occurred to the others? I wonder if it would have occurred to me?

Now, if were not thinking carefully, we might assume that what held Peter up was his faith. But thats not accurate. It wasnt Peters faith keeping him afloat. It was Jesus. Peter knew that. Thats why he didnt just leap out of the boat on his own. He asked Jesus to command him to come. What Jesus did was honor Peters faith by commanding the water to bear his weight.

Lesson #1: faith is not faith in our faith in Jesus, its faith in Jesus word.

But once Peter was outside the safety and familiarity of the boat, out in (or on) uncharted waters, everything started feeling precarious. Why? Well, people dont actually walk on water. We may be so used to the story that the ridiculousness of walking on water doesnt hit us. But it sure hit Peter at that moment. And he started to sink.

Have you ever noticed that Peter the Rock didnt sink like a rock? The last time you jumped into a pool, how gradually did you sink? Theres something profound going on here.

Peter began to sink when his faith shifted from the firmness of Jesus word to the instability of his circumstance. And when he did, it was Jesus letting him sinkslowly. And for Peter that was a grace.

Why? Because Peters sinking produced his cry to Jesus. It quickly got Peter to stop looking to the world or himself as the source of truth and salvation and instead cry out to his Savior. When he did that Jesus pulled him back up.

Lesson #2: Jesus word is truer and stronger than what we see or feel, and when we doubt that, sometimes he graciously lets us sink to help us refocus.

Trusting in Jesus and his word over our perceptions is difficult to learn. Thats why the Lord takes us through so many different faith-trying, faithbuilding experiences.

And when he does, it is never for just our own benefit. Hes displaying his power so others faith will be strengthened too. And, like the disciples in the boat, we end up saying together, Truly you are the Son of God (Matthew 14:33).

3) From recognizing Jesus as the Christ to denying he even knew him:

John's note in verse 14 indicates that the focus of the story to this point is on Jesus and his appearance. It also signals a transition. This story has focused on Jesus' love and lordship, but Peter and the Beloved Disciple have also been featured. Now we will see Jesus' love and lordship in action in their lives specifically.Jesus Forms Peter as a Leader and as a Disciple (21:15-23) Jesus' inviting his disciples to share a meal signals his love and fellowship with them. But he has unfinished business with Peter, the one who denied him in a special way. After breakfast Jesus speaks to Peter. Throughout this story Peter has been referred to as Simon Peter (vv. 2-3, 7b, 11) or simply as Peter (v. 7a), the name Jesus had given him (1:42; cf. Mk 3:16 par. Lk 6:14). But now Jesus calls him by his former name, Simon son of John (v. 15), "as if he were no longer (or not yet!) a disciple" (Michaels 1989:359). In the first part of this chapter Jesus began with a question that revealed the disciples' poverty (v. 5), and then he gave a series of commands (vv. 6, 10, 12). So also now he questions Peter and then gives a command, and he does so three times. His question is extremely searching, indeed, it is the ultimate question in life: do you truly love me more than these? (v. 15). What does these refer to? If it is the net and boat, then this question gets at the central point of discipleship and reveals a person's heart. What do we love the most? Have we abandoned all to follow Jesus? Every time we are faced with a temptation this question is raised. Every time we become preoccupied with even the good things God gives us this question is raised. But, while all of this is true, it is probably not the specific point here. By these Jesus probably means "these other disciples." According to the other Gospels, Peter had boasted that though all the others fall away, he would not (Mt 26:33 par. Mk 14:29; cf. Lk 22:33; Jn 13:37). John does not record this boast, but Peter's actions in swimming to shore and hauling up the net by himself reveal the same attitude. Jesus' question, therefore, goes even deeper than the issue of false attachments. He gets at the root of all sin, namely, pride. Peter replies, Yes, Lord, . . . you know that I love you (v. 15). He does not claim to love Jesus more than the others do, which suggests he has benefited from having reflected on his shameful denials of the Lord. This response is typical of true discipleship, for it is humble and focuses on the Lord's own knowledge. According to the NIV it is also a humble response in that Peter does not claim to truly love Jesus, but only to love him. Behind this translation there are two verbs for love, truly love (agapao) and love (phileo). In the past it was common to find a great distinction between these two words, but in recent years the idea that they are close synonyms has come to prevail (for example, Carson 1991:676-77). The older idea that agapao is divine love and phileo a lower, human love does indeed go too far. For both verbs are used of the love of the Father for the Son (3:35; 5:20), and agapao can be used of false love, for example, the love of this world (2 Tim 4:10). So a simple distinction between the verbs is not justified, but this does not mean there is no distinction at all. For in this passage there is a pattern, with Jesus asking Peter twice whether he loves him (agapao) and each time Peter responding that, yes, he does love him (phileo). Then the third time Jesus switches to using Peter's word. Such a pattern suggests there is a distinction here (McKay 1985; H. C. G. Moule 1898:176), and since agapao is used more often in John for God's love than is phileo, "it was likely that agapao would be chosen for the higher meaning" (McKay 1985:322). The present context itself supports this view, for otherwise Peter would be claiming "the higher meaning" from the outset, which would not fit with his more chastened perspective. So the NIV seems justified in distinguishing these two terms in the present context. Peter was not boastful when Jesus gave him the opportunity to be (v. 15), but by the third time Jesus asks whether he loves him, Peter is hurt,that is, deeply grieved (elypethe, v. 17). Jesus' asking three times recalls the three denials, and Peter's pride is cut to the quick. Here we see the Great Physician performing painful but necessary surgery. The light is shining in the darkness of Peter's heart, bringing life. For this is what John of the Ladder (c. A.D. 570-649) refers to as "joy-producing sorrow" (The Ladder of Divine Ascent, chap. 7), the repentance that enables one to experience the Lord's love and salvation. Without such brokenness we are full of self and unable to hear and receive the guidance of the Chief Shepherd. In response to this searing third question, Peter says, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you (v. 17). Two different words for "know" are used here, although these are not distinguished in the NIV. But as with the two words for "love," these words are in a pattern. Each time Peter has responded you know (syoidas, vv. 15-17), but now he adds you know [syginoskeis] that I love you. The pattern here suggests that there is a distinction between oida and ginosko, with the latter perhaps

meaning "you must be able to see" (McKay 1981:304). This shift of vocabulary, along with the reference to all things, reflects a view of the Lord that is more exalted and suggests that Peter's humility is deeper. "Do you see how he has become better and more sober, no longer self-willed or contradicting?" (Chrysostom In John 88.1). Peter is dying to self and finding his confidence only in the Lord. It is the Lord who knows (cf. 1:42, 47-48; 2:25). Despite the appearances, Peter does love Jesus. After each profession of love Jesus gives a similar command, using different words. First he is to feed [boske] lambs (arnia, v. 15); then he is toshepherd [poimaine] sheep (probata, v. 16). The third command includes a word from both of the previous commands (v. 17, boske/probata), thereby tying the three commands together. While attempts have been made to find significant differences in these words, none are convincing (Brown 1970:1104-6; McKay 1985:332). Rather, this pattern suggests we have a comprehensive image of shepherding, a very familiar figure of speech for leadership over God's people. God himself was known as the shepherd of Israel (Gen 49:24; Ps 80:1; Is 40:11), and under him the leaders of his people were known as shepherds (2 Sam 5:2; Jer 23:4; Ezek 34). This motif continues in the New Testament (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 2:25; 5:1-4). Jesus himself is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:1-18), and now he commissions Peter to care for the flock that belongs to Jesus, for they are my lambs . . . my sheep. The community has already been established, and now Peter is given authority, though of a particular kind. The key qualification for this task, as this chapter indicates, is a love for Jesus that is characterized by humility, dependence and obedience. Peter already had a devotion to Jesus, but he was still full of self will and was thrusting himself to the front. Such a proud attitude of heart would spell disaster for the community, as had already been evident in Israel's history right up to the opponents who had just had Jesus crucified and as has sadly been just as evident in the history of the church. But Peter himself learned his lesson, as is clear from his first letter. When he addresses the elders of the communities he does so as a "fellow elder" and encourages them to "be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers . . . not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away" (1 Pet 5:1-4). Here is authority exercised in humility and conscious of the Chief Shepherd. Such are marks of a true shepherd. Jesus had predicted Peter's denials after Peter had said he was willing to die with him (13:37-38). Jesus told him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later" (13:36). Here now is the call to follow. After Peter professes his obedient love, Jesus spells out the cost of that love. He contrasts Peter's youth, his life up to this point, with what is coming. He has been able to go wherever he wanted, but when he is old, Jesus tells him, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go (v. 18). Here is an explicit contrast between Peter's life of self will and his coming under the will of another. He has just submitted to Jesus and his will, and now Jesus says such submission is going to include being taken where he does not want to go. John says this obscure saying is an indication of the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God (v. 19). The translation of the NIV (v. 18) could be a picture of death from natural causes after increasing senility. But according to tradition, Peter was crucified head down during the Neronian persecution in the midsixties A.D. (Eusebius Ecclesiastical History 2.25.5; 3.1.2-3). So John, late in the first century, knows that Peter's hands were stretched out and tied to a cross. The word dress (zonnymi) is a play on words. It is used for getting dressed, but it specifically means to gird, that is, fasten a belt or rope around one's clothes. While this word is not used for the binding of prisoners (cf. 18:12, 24; Acts 21:11-13), this could be the significance of this image. More likely, however, it refers here to the binding of a person's arms to the crossbeam as they are led to crucifixion (Beasley-Murray 1987:408-9). The Good Shepherd laid down his life for the sheep, and this shepherd will have to do likewise, though his death will not, of course, take away the sins of the world. He has submitted his will to God, and his death, like Jesus' death, will be in accordance with God's will and thereby glorify him (Moloney 1998:556). Furthermore, in the death of Jesus the glory of God is revealed since God is love and love is the laying down of one's life (1 Jn 4:8; 3:16). So now Jesus predicts that Peter also will glorify God by his death (v. 19). Having spelled out his will for Peter, Jesus calls him to follow him (v. 19). Peter had answered such a call at the outset of the ministry, but now he understands much more about who Jesus is and what following him entails. He has also received a commission from the Lord for leadership in the community. So this is a call to recommit himself. Just as this Gospel shows that faith must be exercised in the face of each new revelation, so one's commitment to Jesus must be renewed as one learns more of Christ and his call.

Jesus has been teaching Peter many lessons in this encounter on the beach, but in what follows it is clear that Peter has more to learn. Peter has had his attention fixed on Jesus ever since the Beloved Disciple told him the person on the beach was Jesus, but now he takes his eyes off Jesus and looks at the Beloved Disciple, who is following (v. 20). Apparently Jesus and Peter have had this conversation while walking along the beach. The NIV says the Beloved Disciple was following them, but the word them is not in the text. The NIV thus obscures the connection, for right after Jesus commands Peter to follow him we hear of one who is following. The Beloved Disciple is identified as the one who leaned against Jesus and asked who would betray him (v. 20; 13:25). This note recalls that first explicit reference to the Beloved Disciple in the Gospel and the setting in which Jesus demonstrated his love and servanthood, key characteristics about which he has just been speaking to Peter. It also recalls the insight Jesus granted to the Beloved Disciple. Peter now tries to assume this same role and asks for insight regarding his friend (v. 21). In response Jesus speaks strong words to Peter. Peter's old habit of lapsing into error right after experiencing truth is still present (cf. Mt 16:16, 22-23 par. Mk 8:29, 33). He is sure of the Lord's knowledge (cf. v. 17), but he has not learned what submission to his will entails (vv. 18-19). Jesus repeats his call: If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me (v. 22). Jesus is indeed Lord, and his will shall be accomplished in the Beloved Disciple's life, but that is none of Peter's business. Peter can trust Jesus with the life of his friend.

Part 3 The Antidote The antidote to SIN in Peter s life: just Two Words The same two words that will bring grace into anyone s life. If you hear them, you should tremble in excitement and in fear: Follow Me

The Calling of the First Disciples

Matt4:18-20 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

POSSIBLE SCRIPTURE reading: Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
POSSIBLE SCRIPTURE reading: Be Holy (I Peter 1:13-16) Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.
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Jesus Predicts Peters Denial

John 13:36-38 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where are You going? Jesus answered him, Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward. 37 Peter said to Him, Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake. 38 Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

John 21:17b-19 Jesus said, Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but 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. 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, Follow me!