John 21:15-23
MEETING with the risen Lord is awkward yet is the redemptive compassion of Christ:
· The Pressure of guilt (may atraso ka)
· The Presence of Christ brings Redemption
· The Pain of failure is humiliating
· The Process of healing is humbling
Meeting with the risen Lord is awful yet is a remarkable chance to change for God’s glory.
· A mixture of grace and truth oftentimes does not taste good but yields the remarkable result of a transformed life that only the Risen Lord can do!
· The process is spiritually invasive and yet spiritually remarkable when our wounds and scars are used by God to heal many!
· The questions of Christ resound like an awful reminder of an offense you thought was forgiven...not to condemn but as a fresh mandate of grace to be authentic. Loving God’s flock requires authenticity (mean and do what you say), overcoming familiarity.
· The feeling of being disqualified is real...yet is remarkable as Jesus in grace re-qualifies Peter for his great responsibility as a shepherd of the flock
The encounter with the risen Lord is agonizing yet is refreshing when we are corrected by grace.
No true child of God is exempted from God’s discipline. The Lord corrects whom He loves (Hebrews 12:5-6). Encounter with the Risen Lord is agonizing; we see ourselves in desperation then we learn and are now willing to surrender to God humbly. Godly convictions are usually formed in the furnace of painful corrections. Our guilt no longer reminds us of our sin but the scars become a perpetual reminder of our need to be broken before the Risen Lord!
· Peter’s hurt must be directed to God’s healing before it turns into self-condemnation
· Peter’s hurt on how Jesus treats John compared to him must be dealt with before it turns to entitlement
· Peter’s death must be mysteriously predicted before it all turns to self-glory
· Peter’s denial of Christ must now be a scar that will remind him of Christ love
What traits of Christ are highlighted in this post-Easter encounter with Peter?
· The Risen Lord always initiates the encounter, we respond
· The Risen Lord is in charge of the agenda, on His terms, not ours
· The Risen Lord puts us in our place...He said it in simple words to Peter “Follow Me”
Congregational and personal prayers
ABBA, remind us to reflect on the realistic implications of knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. It can be awkward, awful, agonizing episodes in life...even then Abba, still stir the desire and longing to encounter the Risen Lord. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYERS
ABBA, help us see the purpose and process of redemption. Grant us gratitude for the chances you have given us to change for your glory! Change our hearts, Oh God, make it ever true. LORD HAVE MERCY
ABBA, help us to willingly and humbly accept the corrections of the Risen Lord so we will know our roles and stay in our places. Help us to always remember the words of Jesus to Peter - FOLLOW ME. LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYERS. AMEN