What was it that Jesus asked Peter to do in order to demonstrate his love towards Him? Serve My people. Feed My sheep. The ultimate way and token of love towards God is by the way we serve, and feed, and take care of one another. It’s not about being ministers and then becoming the object of being cared for and served. It’s about being ministers of the Gospel by ways of serving others, caring for others, and feeding others. And Peter got it. Peter understood it, and Peter was then and there commissioned by Jesus.
From that moment on, the life of Peter completely changed. He had to be broken. He had to be empty in order to be used by God. And that, of course, my brothers and sisters, is the secret for a real good way to abide in Him. To come to the end of ourselves, to come to the end of our pride, our arrogance, our wishes, and our desires, and to present ourselves as living sacrifices before Him. And when we cast our ways unto Him, when we cast our will before Him, then He will prepare our ways and our steps.
The restoration of Peter on the shores of the Sea of Galilee is one of the most poignant moments recorded in the New Testament. It reminds us of the grace of God and the Lord’s desire and willingness to restore and use people who have made huge mistakes.
Peter’s three denials of the Lord were more than a momentary failure. They were an exposure to Peter, and us, of someone being in the flesh. You see Peter’s denials were the exact opposite of what he said of himself.
Mark 14:27-31 KJV – “And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.”
There is no question that Peter and the others were sincere in their proclamations, but neither is there any question that these proclamations were of the flesh and untrue. If we carefully read what Mark records, we can see that, having foretold of the stumble of the twelve, Jesus mentioned the very place where the restoration of the one who was the most vocal about His commitment was to take place. He said, “After I have been raised I will go before you to Galilee.” That is the very place Peter was restored.
This is what makes this story so poignant. Peter’s three denials were known by the Lord when Peter was chosen to be one of the twelve. The Lord knew Peter’s personality. He knew Peter’s outspokenness. He knew Peter’s pride and, even, that he would make an arrogant statement against the other disciples that “they” might stumble, but he wouldn’t.
Matthew 16:24-25 – “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Like Peter, sometimes we have trouble with the “deny self” thing, and, yet, also like Peter, the Lord chose and called us knowing we’d struggle. Our denials of the Lord may not be written down anywhere and they may not be as vehement and visible as Peter’s, but they are known by the Lord nonetheless.
Maybe you have gone through a season lately where your words and your walk aren’t lining up. Maybe you’ve made some decisions that are denials of who you are in Christ, and the flesh has taken over your decisions and actions for a time. Remember, the Lord knew about this time when He called you to follow Him, just as He did with Peter. And, just as He did with Peter, He wants to restore and use you.
The restoration of Peter on the shores of Galilee was a painful moment for him as the Lord asked him three times if he loved Him. The first time, He dealt with Peter’s pridefulness when He asked him; “Do you love me more than these?” The second time, Jesus simply asked, “Do you love me?”
John 21:17 KJV – “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Peter’s denials led to Peter’s brokenness, and Peter’s brokenness led to Peter’s usefulness. Don’t let the devil rob you by deceiving you into thinking the Lord doesn’t want to have anything more to do with you. He knew all about us when He saved us and nothing we do is a surprise to Him.
Maybe it’s time for some to have their Sea of Galilee moment and get back to being who Jesus died to make them. He is ready and willing to restore your usefulness, but it is going to require brokenness to do so. Remember, post-restoration Peter was a powerful, Christ-proclaiming Peter. Pride had died, arrogant claims were silenced, and a man greatly used by God was the result. And it was because of one simple thing – one who is forgiven much, loves much.
Nehemiah 9:16-17 KJV – “But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.”
For any who have refused to obey and not heeded God’s word, He is the unchanging God. This means He is ready to pardon, is gracious and merciful, and has not forsaken you. Have your Sea of Galilee moment today!
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus,
