Peter's Restoration To Office
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
4/19/2009 PM
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Text:
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John 21:15-17
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Psalters: |
374, 232, 52, 221 |
- The necessity.
- Jesus leads Peter to see his sin and its seriousness.
- Jesus shows him (and us) that the heart of his sin was a lack of love for Jesus.
- Note that Jesus uses the name “Simon, son of Jonas.”
- Jesus’ three questions reminded Peter that he denied his Lord three times.
- Jesus’ questions of Peter were increasingly intense.
- The first question asked Peter to compare his love for Jesus with the other disciples.
- The second question asked Peter individually: do you love me – at all?
- The third question used a different word, because it was the one Peter used in each of his previous answers.
- Jesus’ questions are very instructive.
- Peter does publicly confess his public sin, and does so by publicly professing His love for the Lord.
- In front of the other disciples Jesus speaks with Peter.
- His sins were in front of them.
- The other disciples/apostles needed to see that Jesus had restored him to the office so they would receive him.
- First, note well that Peter’s confession is obviously sincere because he avoided using other things (two very common).
- He did not hide behind mitigating circumstances to deny or lessen his sin.
- And Peter did not do any comparing of self with others.
- Second, true confession requires humility which sees only self and what I did against the Lord and against His love.
- Peter becomes increasingly aware that his denial was a violation of the love-relation.
- All boasting is gone, and so Peter uses the weaker word.
- There is the complete absence of any self-reliance.
- The restoration.
- The restoration to office is accomplished by the Chief Shepherd.
- The chief responsibility of the office is to nurture the flock.
- The flock is distinguished as “lambs” and “sheep.”
- The flock he is to “feed” (15,17) and to “tend, keep” (16).
- The chief quality required for the office is to love the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Love for Him breeds love for the sheep.
- Proper care for God’s sheep in their sins and difficulties arises from loving them for Christ’s sake.