John 21:1-19

            {Prayer}

            One of my favorite movies is Gone in 60 Seconds. It’s about a brother who gave up stealing cars to protect his family to stealing cars in order to save his brother’s life.

            My favorite car in the movie, my dream car, is a 1967 Shelby GT 500 Ford Mustang. In the movie, the car goes by the name of Eleanor.

            Back 50 years ago, brand new, this car looked incredible. Over time, as things get used or sit in storage, they begin to break down. Rust forms. Parts wear out. The shine fades. What once looked perfect begins to show the marks of time.

            To get back to that pristine condition, the car needs to be restored. The dirt has to be washed away. The rust removed. Parts repaired or replaced. It takes tools and a lot of hard work. But when work is finished, that 50-year-old Mustang looks new again and runs like it was meant to.

            That’s what restoration does. It takes something broken and brings it back to what it was meant to be.

             As we continue our Forgiving Challenge and our look at Peter, we go back to the scene on the beach in John 21. Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at Peter’s sin, how he ran back to Jesus, and how Jesus’ death on the cross paid for Peter’s sin.

But what happens after forgiveness? What does restoration actually look like?

            At the Sea of Galilee, Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two are disciples were gathered together. Peter says, “I’m going fishing.” The other disciples decide to join him. So they go out, fish all night, and catch nothing. (John 21:1-3).

            After Peter’s failure, his denial of Jesus, Peter goes back to fishing, his old profession. For three years Peter walked with Jesus. He saw the miracles. He heard the teaching. He was given purpose. Jesus even changed his name from Simon to Peter, the rock. Jesus said “from now on, you’ll be fishing for men.”

            But now Peter goes back to fishing for fish. In other words, Peter goes back to Simon.

            And that’s what we often do after failures. When we fail, we start believing the lie that we’re unfit, unqualified for what God has called us to. So we retreat to what feels safe and familiar.

            We go through this life bouncing between Peter and Simon. When we trust Jesus, we live like Peter. When we fail, we retreat back into Simon. We settle for the lesser life. And sometimes we drag others with us.

            Peter says, “Guys, I’m going fishing,” and the other disciples follow him. Peter is still leading, even if it is in the wrong direction. But here’s the thing, they fish all night and catch nothing. What feels like failure is actually God’s grace. These are experienced fisherman. They know the sea. Yet all night, nothing.

            Sometimes God begins restoring us by frustrating the path we’re on.

            Jesus calls out from the shore, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No.” “Throw your nets on the right side of the boat and you’ll find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish” (John 21:5-6).

            The miracle should sound familiar. It’s the same miracle Jesus performed the first time He called Peter. Jesus is recreating the moment. He’s reminding Peter … the relationship isn’t over. The call still stands.

            When John realizes it’s Jesus, Peter jumps into the water. When they arrive, they see Jesus standing by charcoal fire with some fish and bread. The last time Peter stood by a charcoal fire, he denied Jesus. Now Jesus recreates the scene … not to shame Peter, but to restore him.

Jesus cooks breakfast. Notice how Jesus treats Peter in his failure. He doesn’t lecture him. He doesn’t shame him. He feeds him.

Many people imagine God as angry, ready to punish us. To smite us. To strike us down.

            But here’s the biblical picture. The risen Jesus cooking breakfast for the disciples who denied Him. That’s grace.

            After breakfast, Jesus says to Simon Peter, “Simon son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:13). Anytime someone says your full name, what do you expect? Trouble.

            Michael William Feldmann. Yeah, I’m in trouble. Somethings coming.

            But there may be something deeper here.

Jesus uses Peter’s full name, Simon son of John. This is the name Peter had before Jesus called him. It’s as if Jesus is bringing Peter back to the beginning, to the first time they met.

Then Jesus asks the question three times … do you love me? Three questions for three denials. The conversation isn’t easy. It’s painful. But notice something important … if Jesus wanted to shame Peter, He would point backward to what he did. Instead, Jesus points forward. To what Jesus wants him to do

Each time Peter answers, Jesus responds: “Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” In other words … Peter, you still have a place. You still have a purpose. You still have a calling.

Jesus isn’t just forgiving Peter. He’s restoring him.

And that’s the difference between absolution and restoration. Absolution cancels the debt of sin. Restoration rebuilds the relationship and renews the calling. And here’s the amazing thing … in Christ, those two things happen at the same time.

The moment your sins are forgiven … your identity as God’s child is restored. You don’t receive forgiveness and then have to earn your way back. No. Forgiven means restored.

And that’s what Peter needed to hear. Without this moment on the beach, every rooster crow might have reminded Peter of his failure. Every fish he caught might remind him of what he walked away from.

But Jesus doesn’t leave Peter there. He restores him. He heals the wound. He gives him back his purpose. And Jesus does the same thing for you.

            Some of us believe Jesus forgives us. So why do we still live like Simon instead of Peter? We believe the debt is paid … but we’re not sure God still wants us.

            So hear this clearly … God doesn’t need you … He wants you!!!

            He wanted Peter and He wants you. Remember, Jesus knew everything about Peter, who he was and who he would be, and He still called him. And even after Peter failed. Jesus went looking for him. Because that is what restoration looks like. Jesus doesn’t abandon you. He leaves the 99 and comes after you.

            If there was a time in your life you were on fire for Jesus and something happened that made you doubt yourself … hear this truth that has helped me more times than I can count. God doesn’t call the qualified … He qualifies the called.

            We will fail. Peter failed. But failure is not the end of the story. It’s not the end because Jesus has already canceled the debt. And, He restores what sin tried to destroy.

            Like that 1967 Shelby GT 500 Ford Mustang restored to it’s original beauty, Jesus restores. He restores what is broken. Your sins are forgiven. Your identity is restored. And your calling still stands.

            Because in Christ … failure is never the end of the story. Amen.

The peace of God that surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.