Lovingly Restored

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you 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. (John 21:15-17)

Peter denied Jesus three times on the night before his crucifixion. This was a failure so well known that it was mentioned in all four gospels. And yet this didn’t disqualify Peter from being the leader of the early church after Jesus’ ascension. When Jesus appeared to Peter at the end of John’s gospel, we see him respond to Peter’s three denials by asking him three times, ‘Do you love me?’ I believe this failure made Peter an even better leader: more humble, and more able to love, forgive, and restore others because Jesus had loved, forgiven, and restored him

Join us tomorrow as we look at why God calls us, focusing on the life of Moses.