God's Purpose for Lost Sheep

God Brings Up the Past to Restore, Not to Condemn

Jesus manifested Himself to His seven disciples for the third time at the Sea of Tiberias. Though Jesus had already appeared to His disciples two times (John 20:19-21; John 20:26), greeting them with, "Peace be with you," and then revealing Himself to Thomas, who doubted His resurrection and said he would believe only if he saw His hands, the print of the nails, and put his finger into the print of the nails, He did not deal with Peter during those two appearances.

Although the disciples saw the risen LORD and rejoiced, Peter's earlier denial was not addressed. Peter was probably still covered with guilt and shame, uncertain about what was next for him.

Peter and John had already experienced the LORD before He called them to follow Him. After toiling all night and catching nothing, they obeyed His word and caught so many fish that they could hardly drag the net to shore (Luke 5:9-10). In this passage, Peter and John experienced a similar situation. After deciding to go fishing and spending the entire night without catching anything, they again obeyed the LORD's command to cast the net on the other side. This time they caught 153 fish.

Since Jesus did not deal with Peter regarding his denial during the first two appearances, Peter decided to return to fishing, not knowing what would happen next in his life. He went back to the life he knew.

However, Jesus used this third appearance, through an experience separated from the larger gathering of the disciples, to restore Peter. The fire of coals (John 18:18; John 21:9) and the miraculous catch of fish that they could not drag ashore (Luke 5:9-10; John 21:6) were two familiar experiences for Peter. Through these familiar experiences, Jesus brought Peter back to the very moments surrounding both his calling and his denial.

Peter was restored in a small gathering of disciples rather than before the larger group, revealing the LORD's grace in restoring him.

Unlike the first two appearances, this time Peter put on his outer garment, jumped into the sea, and went to the LORD.

This is the LORD's pattern. We may have the skills, be familiar with the work, and put forth all our effort, just as the fishermen labored all night, yet accomplish nothing. But His word makes the difference. At His word, we can accomplish far more than by our own strength.

His Restoration Always Leads to His Calling for a Higher Purpose

After comforting the disciples, including Peter, with food, Jesus asked him for the first time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"

The first time Peter let down his net after catching nothing the entire night, he obeyed Jesus' word and caught a great number of fish (Luke 5:9-10). Peter had also declared that even if everyone else forsook Jesus, he would follow Him even to death (Luke 22:31-34).

In John 14:15, Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." We should not love the LORD merely because He can give us the earthly provisions we desire. Rather, we should allow His will to overtake our own. Jesus asked Peter these questions to make sure he understood this principle.

Peter was asked three times, corresponding to the three times he denied Jesus. He was then restored and entrusted with the responsibility to feed Christ's lambs and shepherd His sheep.

God does not stop and move on because of our failures. Instead, He uses our failures to transform our lives and make us vessels to restore others (Romans 8:28).

Eventually, Peter became a foundational leader of the early church.

SOW THIS WORD INTO YOUR SOUL

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