For our Scripture reading tonight, turn with me to John 21. John 21, as we read together the first 19 verses, the text being verses 15 through 17. Many of you will recall from our Good Friday service that we considered Peter's denial of Christ on Good Friday. I would also like to read his denial from Matthew 26, verses 69-75, and then reading John 21, verses 1-19. You will recall that Peter was quite confident, saying that he would never disown Jesus. Even if everyone else fell away, he would remain faithful to Him. and even if he had to die for him, he would never disown him. And then in Matthew 26, beginning at verse 69, we read, 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. And 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 stood up to Peter and said, Surely you are one of them, for your acts are not going to give 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. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken. Before the rooster crows, you will disown you three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly. Then John chapter 21, beginning at verse 1, Afterward, Jesus appeared again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. I'm going out to fish, Simon Peter told them, and they said, we'll go with you. So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, Friends, haven't you any fish? No, they answered. He said, Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 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 round. 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 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 a large fish, a hundred fifty-three. But even with so many, the net was the net touring. Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast. None of the disciples dared ask Him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came. Jesus took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples when He was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you truly love Me more than me? 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. I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted. But when you were 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 which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, follow me. But of the Lord Jesus Christ, the risen Savior, had appeared to the disciples a couple of times already. Yes, He had initiated and spent time with those who had fallen away from Him on the night He was betrayed. He drew them back. We recall the angel's words to the women at the empty tomb recorded in Mark 16, But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee. There you will see Him as He said to you. His disciples and Peter. Peter was distinguished from the other disciples. You see, a spotlight still shone on Peter because he had boldly said, even if I have to die with you, I will never, ever disown you. But as we know, when it came down to it, Peter denied and Christ died. Many of us have experienced times when in some way we have hurt or betrayed one that we love. And we know that we need to talk about it. We know that we need to settle it with that one. But in some way, we just hope that it kind of works itself out, that things will move on, that the whole situation will just blow on by. Yet the truth is, until the matter is settled, that situation is an obstacle that stands in the way of a completely restored relationship. Things just aren't right. And you see, our Lord doesn't work that way. Everything is to be laid on the table, as we say. And here, after having eaten a beachside breakfast at the Sea of Typhus, Peter's denial still stood uncanceled. Peter's denial of Christ was still an obstacle a barrier between Him and Christ Jesus. And our Lord will address it with the intention of removing and canceling that obstacle. You see, what a wonderful example Jesus gives us as believers that it is Christ-like to deal with obstacles that might hinder our fellowship and get in the way of the communion of saints. But that's not what this text is talking about tonight. It's talking about something much more. You see, after what Peter had done, God's grace would now shine upon him as he would experience the purifying power of the Word of God and the recovering grace of the Savior. We consider together this Word of God. God reinstates Peter as his apostle. We want to notice the desperate need for reinstatement and searching examination toward reinstatement and then the glorious result of reinstatement. We know well that on the night in which Jesus was betrayed, all of His disciples ran away and left Him isolated. They had forsaken Jesus and they had forsaken the work to which He had called them. And now on this morning, with the miraculous catch, the large catch of fish which they had experienced, Jesus was reminding them of their call as apostles. They were not to be fishers of fish, but they were to be fishers of men. You see, all of the disciples, except for Peter, ran away from their task, but Peter went beyond that. Peter outright denied the task. Romans 10, verses 9 and 10 says, If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth the confession is made unto salvation. But instead of openly confessing Christ on that night, Peter openly denied with his mouth in any part in God's salvation program. I have nothing to do with it. You see, Peter had publicly forfeited his office. And this is seen, I believe, as Jesus addresses him. The text says, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John. Now remember, this was Peter's name given to him by his parents. But it was not the name given to him by Christ. This address was a reminder to Peter of his pre-apostolic days before Jesus said to him, John 1, verse 42, You are Simon, son of John. You shall be called Cephas, which is translated Peter. We know, of course, that Peter means rock, but Peter's apostolic dignity had disappeared for a time because he had not acted like the rock. He had acted more like shifting sand. He had lost the credit of his strength and stability which the name Peter signified. And therefore, Simon, son of John, needed to be reinstated as Peter the Apostle. In the congregation, we need to understand that Peter had been reinstated as a believer. I believe that's clear from the angel's words and Peter. Very clearly, Peter was one of them. As well, Jesus had already fellowshiped with the disciples a couple of times. Peter was praying. But the question now was, did Peter have what it takes to be an apostle of Christ? We know what an apostle is. An apostle is one sent by Christ in the name of Christ to do the work of Christ. But Peter's public denial of the name of Christ had not yet been dealt with. how could one who had revolted both faith be capable of instructing others in the faith? He had sacrificed His authority on the altar of denial and that authority needed to be restored. In Luke's account of Christ's prediction of Peter's denial, we read, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, indeed, Sidney has asked for you that he may sift as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail And when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren. But as long as the stain of his denial stood between him and Christ, he could not strengthen his brethren. Peter had a desperate need for reinstatement. And this was to be public both for the benefit of Peter and for the benefit of his generous. This was to be for Peter's benefit first of all so that he might the more boldly exercise himself in the assurance of the calling with which Christ would reinvest him. He could go out in full confidence not knowing that he had been restored by Christ's decreases. As well, it was to be for the benefit of his hearers so that they could not use his stain, his sin, as an excuse or an occasion for despising the Gospel. You see, we all know that that when religious big shots sin publicly or when their sin becomes public, that the world takes advantage of that in order to despise the Word of God. But as our Lord reinstates Peter, putting his denial behind him, no one can question what Christ does because we know that as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Yet, reinstatement is not made apart from a searching examination toward reinstatement. This examination must be thorough. For each one of us, the examination must be thorough. Now the circumstances surrounding this examination as well as the details of each examination are both interesting and important. The context here, once again, includes Peter's denial which we read, but also it includes the miraculous catch of fish That catch of fish which reminds the apostles both of their original call, but it also reminds them of Christ's lordship, of who He is. But then here, Jesus sits with Peter and the rest around, as verse 9 says, a fire of burning coals, or as one translation says, a charcoal fire. And John 18, verse 18 tells us that in the courtyard, the night of Peter's denial, he was standing with the slaves and the officers, warming themselves around a fire. And again, that one same translation says, a charcoal fire. So what? Big deal. Well, you see, this would not be easy, not for Peter. In fact, it might even be painful, but Jesus will make this examination thorough with details and all. And then, of course, since Peter had denied Christ three times, he will be called upon to make confession three times. But beloved, notice the compassion in Christ's examination of Peter. He doesn't ask like we would be quick to do. Peter, why did you do that to me? What in the world were you thinking? What's the matter with you? Come on. What's your explanation? You know, that hurts so bad for Peter that I don't know if I can forgive you. No, he doesn't treat Peter like a criminal. But he treats him like a friend. He simply asks Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He doesn't ask Peter if he admires or honors or fears him, but do you truly love me? Jesus goes straight to the heart of the matter reminding Peter of the first great commandment to love God above all. You see, love for Christ is what is needed and from love then flows honor and fear and admiration. This is the test of true discipleship. Do we truly love the Lord? And that was the right question because Peter's deniers of Christ had been without love. You see, there's no love in rejection. And no doubt this question cut right through Peter's heart as his sincerity, his challenges, but the fact that he himself had made his sincerity questionable. And beloved, how often do we give our Lord reason to question our love for Him? May it never be said of us, as our Lord says in Isaiah 29, verse 19, These people come near to Me with their mouths, they would honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Yes, Peter had expressed humility and repentance. Why? by God's grace through Christ's prayer on His behalf. Peter, I have prayed for you that your faith might not fail. When the rooster crowed and Christ looked at him, Peter was cut right to the height. He was convicted of his sin. And he who had denied Christ before men openly wept bitter tears of repentance before God alone. But what is it? What is it that truly makes our expressions of repentance for the sake of Christ's sacrifice? What is it that truly makes true love acceptable? True love for Him. In Luke 7, we read about the woman who stood at Christ's feet behind Him weeping. And she began to wash His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. And she kissed His feet and anointed them with a fragrant oil. And why did Jesus say that her sins were forgiven? was it because she wept much? No. Verse 47 of that chapter says, Therefore I say to you, her sins which aren't any are forgiven, for she loved much. But whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. You see, the fact of Peter's love was crucial because if he did not love Jesus, he could not follow Him. He could not shepherd His flock. Because those who do not truly love Christ will never truly love the souls of men. But notice this first question doesn't end with do you truly love Me? The question includes more than these. And of course, there is a debate about what this means. It could mean, as some say, that Jesus is saying do you love Me more than you love these others here? Or some say it could mean do you love Me more than this boat and these nets? In other words, Peter, do you love me more than your occupation or the recreation and pleasure in fishing? And it's true, of course, that we are called to love God above all else. Jesus says, whoever loves father or mother, brother or sister more than me is not worthy of me. And we are called to set up treasures not on earth but in heaven. These are a couple of the ideas about what some say Christ means. But there's one more idea which I believe is the correct one. And that is Jesus asking Peter if He loves Jesus more than the other disciples love Jesus. And this too cut right through Peter's heart as he was reminded of his boastful, arrogant words before. Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. You see, Peter had boldly said in essence that yes, he did love Jesus more than the rest. This was his claim really that he loved Jesus more than all men. You can count on me. But then what happened? Well, as far as the other disciples are concerned, He fell further into sin than the rest. Yes, they ran away. He completely denied. And therefore, Jesus asks, is it true, Peter? Do you love me more than these? Peter had compared himself with the others before. And the question now was, did he still compare himself to the others? Because the only comparing that is acceptable is to esteem others better than yourself, as Paul says in Philippians 2. But his answer reveals that Peter had indeed changed. By God's grace, he recognized his sin and misery as he simply answers, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. And notice Peter's confidence was not honest as he now refuses to compare himself with the others. He cannot judge the love of others, but he must be responsible for his own love for Christ. The same is true for us. We cannot judge the love of someone else for Christ, but we must be responsible for our own love for the Lord Jesus Christ. But even at that, Peter knows that he cannot appeal to his own actions because his actions testify against Him. And therefore, he appeals to the omniscience, the all-knowingness of Christ. And he does this all three times. Peter knows better than anyone that you can't hide your sin from God. In fact, God knows it in advance. Peter must say along with David, O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You understand my thought afar off. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You see, Peter is careful with his words. His pride is gone. And now he stands by the hands of God as a humble man who knows his weakness and as a broken man who knows his sin. But you know what? These make the greatest soldiers in the army of God. Those who truly know how truly great their sin and misery are. And also know how great is the salvation from their sin and misery. but peter also watches his words carefully in another way when jesus asks about peter's love the greek word that he uses here is agapo agape love which is considered to be the deepest kind of love and that recognizes value and preciousness in the object of love and and loves with admiration or honor and respect and esteem and jesus asks peter if he loved him with a love that sacrifices everything. After all, Peter said, I will give my life for you. But Peter answers with a different word, phileo, phileo love. And this is the word for brotherly love and affection. And it's generally not as strong. Now, at this point, let me say that these words are often used interchangeably in Scripture and therefore they oftentimes mean the same thing. The debate throughout the centuries is do they mean the same thing here? Or is there a difference here? And I believe that given the context both of Peter's denial and what we have in John chapter 21, I believe that we can consider a difference between the two words. That there's not a strict overlap. But again, we cannot press it too far. And let me quickly add that the most important thing here is that Peter is called upon to profess his love for Christ, which he does. Peter says, Yes, Lord, I love You. Again, with a humble spirit. The second time, Jesus asks Peter the same question, but without reference to the others. Peter has been taught not to compare by boasting, and therefore this question is more, do you truly love Me? The others aside, do you really love Me? And to this again, Peter gives the same answer, and Jesus again uses agapo love, and Peter uses phileo love. And then the third time, Jesus asks the same question, only this time he uses Peter's word. As if to ask Peter, do you really have love and affection for me? Do you mean what you said? Can I take you at your word this time? Peter was hurt, the text says. Grieved, as another translation says, because Christ asked him about his love a third time. You see, in all of Peter's denials, all calm and love and affection and regard for Jesus had been cast aside. He who had said that he would sacrifice his life, as Christ claimed, that he didn't know the man, that he had absolutely nothing to do with the man. And therefore, Peter was called to give a full and a complete and an endless confession to profess his undoubted love for Christ. And notice that with Peter's third response, He appeals to more than to most Christ's knowledge. He doesn't just say, Lord, You know that I love You. He says, Lord, You know all things. And You know that I love all things. The idea here of to know is to realize, to be a full and direct and penetrating insight to know without fail. Peter does not appeal to his own confidence, but to the penetrating and searching eye of Christ who is able to read his heart much better than Peter can read his own heart. Peter was brought to the point in which he did not rely on himself for anything as he did before. But he relies upon Christ for everything. Peter had to learn humility because only then could he have the mind of Christ as Paul speaks of. Beloved, the only way to truly be a Christian, to truly be a follower of Christ, is to love for them. To love Him. And this is only possible if our sin is clearly and completely exposed and confessed by the grace of God, recognizing that Christ Himself has atoned for that sin. And only when our sin is exposed will we see by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, only then will we see the beauty of Christ and His saving work on our behalf. You see, Peter was right. And he still is. Jesus knows all things and He knew that Peter loved Him. Peter had now been molded by the hand of God through trials and tribulations, molded to be the apostle he needed to be. So now he would enjoy the glorious result of reinstatement. After each of Peter's answers, Jesus gives him a charge or a command, feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep. Peter's denial is forgiven and remembered no more and he is to look forward and to move forward in the name of Jesus. You see, Peter had what he needed more than anything now to be restored to the office of apostle and that was love for his Savior and Lord. You see, these three times, these three questions of our Lord to Peter were not for Jesus' sake. For him to know if Peter loved him. He already knew that. But this was all for Peter's sake. That through this, he might know of Christ's love for him. And to remind Peter that we love God because He first loved us. And Jesus makes it clear that the way to manifest that love for him is to take care of his flock. This is amazing to me. Christ commends to Peter's care. Christ commends to the care of the One who said, I don't know the man. I don't have anything to do with the man. He commended to Peter's care His most prized possession. His body. The church. Those who are dearest to Him. Those for whom He shed His blood are placed in the care of Peter and the apostles and all those He calls to shepherd His sheep. And the message is clear that no man can faithfully serve the church and be employed in the service of keeping the flock if he does not look for his strength higher than men. It's impossible to be a Christian if you should not look to Christ and His saving love. Because of the nature of sheep, you're wayward and dependent, no man can do this and persevere if the love of Christ does not reign in his heart. And true love is shown to Christ, for Christ, by desiring the salvation of the flock. Now some say that the fact that Christ commands our word is different here means that He is referring to children as lambs and grown-ups as sheep. And that sheep may be, but it may not be. It seems to me that all of these refer to the flock of the Good Shepherd. Believers and their children are lambs who are weak and immature and need tending and feeding. They must be strengthens of the food of the soul, the Word of God. But all of God's people are also sheep who are prone to wander and who are dependent in everything upon the shepherd. And therefore, they need to be shepherded that is guarded, guided, guided, and protected. And as well, the flock needs to be loved. Jesus is the good shepherd and works through those He has called. This was Peter's assignment to which he was reinstated. A most glorious assignment at that. And beloved, what love Christ showed for Peter by strengthening Peter's love for Christ. And as Christ prophesies yet once more in verses 18 and 19, Peter, who said that he would die for Christ, actually was dead. I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted, but when you were old, you would stretch out your hands and someone else would 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. And then He said to him, follow Me. Peter, it is recorded by the early church fathers, including Eusebius, was martyred in Rome between 64 and 68 A.D. by crucifixion. And it is recorded that he asked to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die the same way his Lord died. And as Christ says, his death for Jesus Christ would indeed bring glory to God. Beloved, when one has wronged us and then apologizes, we might accept their apology, but it takes a while for us to trust them again. But Jesus forgave Peter and immediately trusted him with his most valuable treasure. Christ-bearers in the church are entrusted with the care of the flock and must exercise that care with love. And that care is expressed when the flock is fed with only the Word of God. And through Peter, God's people are taught the blessing of Christ dying alone. Complete forgiveness, renewal, restoration, and the reformation of His people. Beloved, He has completely removed the obstacle of our sin. He has transformed our rejection into love. And He restores us completely to fellowship with God. And our Lord entrusts us with the truth of His Word to live by it, to die by it, to teach it, to defend it. And just like Peter, those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ by grace through faith are free from sin and guilt and get restored as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. You see, beloved, in Peter, we see the step of God's forgiving love and grace in Jesus Christ. In Peter, we are seeing how in all of our sins there is not one sin that our God cannot give. And He restores His people to full and complete fellowship with Him. And that must be an encouragement to us. When we're tempted to say God cannot, surely sin is too great for Him to forgive. All we need to do is look at Peter. What a precious example that God has given to us. And even though we still sin in our day-to-day life, we are to go forward in humble confidence because of our Savior. And we are called to live in the joy of forgiveness for God's glory. Only in Christ can we call His Father our Father. And Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ, prays even now for His brothers and sisters because He loved us first. But those who love Him not, who defies and forsake Him, will find themselves eternally separated from Him in the lake of fire. Beloved is Jesus Christ, your only hope and your heart's desire. If He's not, you are urged to turn to Him in repentance and faith. He alone is the way and the truth and the life. In Him alone is there forgiveness of all of our sins. May we never outlive our love to Him. But may our parting prayer be when leaving this life one day, more love to Thee, O Christ. More love to Thee. Amen. Shall we pray? Father, indeed, it is so easy to talk about the forgiveness of all of our sins. And we do that often in such a general way. But You have given to us such a precious episode in Scripture, a true story of restoration. And one of Your apostles, the chief of the apostles, Peter. And Father, may we be encouraged by that true episode. And therefore, be encouraged in our current lives as well that our sins are forgiven completely. As far as the east is from the west, so far have You removed our sins from us. And therefore, Father, You remember them no more. Oh, what a blessed and precious truth. And therefore, Father, may we be conscious of all that we say and all that we do. May we be conscious, Lord, of our lives that we might not willfully sin against Your glorious name, but when we are tempted to fall into sin, that we might be reminded of the blood that Jesus Christ shed to pay for that sin too. Hear our prayer, O Lord, in Jesus' name. We pray. Amen.