Painful Sins

Introduction

We have come to our last sermon in this summer sermon series on a life full of pain.  We have talked about painful decisions, painful finances, painful health, painful losses, painful relationships, and, now, painful sins.

 

Don’t forget, while this earthly life will always be full of pain, Jesus promises eternal life free from pain.  That will be in heaven and only for those who made a personal decision to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

 

Also, please remember that we haven’t been only identifying painful experiences.  We have also identified how we as followers of Christ can survive.

 

Here in John 21, Jesus and seven of His closest disciples were in Galilee.  The 7 had spent all night fishing and caught nothing. 

 

Jesus told them to throw their net on the right-hand side of the boat.  They did and caught 153 large fish.  They then sat down with the post-resurrected Christ for breakfast.

 

Today’s verses focus on Peter.  Peter was the unofficial leader of the 12 and was the second closest to Jesus next to, John. 

 

Remember how Peter had recently failed the Lord?  Peter denied Jesus on three different occasions late Thursday night and early Friday morning before Jesus was crucified. 

 

John 18:17 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”  He said, “I am not.”

 

John 18:25 25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore, they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”  He denied it and said, “I am not!”

 

John 18:26 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

 

As we talk about painful sins this morning, we are not going to talk specifically about any one sin of SEVEN DEADLY SINS or breaking any of the TEN COMMANDMENTS.  We are talking about denying Christ.

 

However, don’t think you are off the hook.  Every sin is ultimately a denial of Jesus’ Lordship in our lives.  When you disobey parents, you are denying Christ.  When you lie, you are denying Christ.  When you lust, you are denying Christ.  When refuse not to witness, you are denying Christ.  When you are sexually immoral, you are denying Christ.

 

The good news is that in today’s story, Peter is forgiven and restored.  You can be too.

 

 

17. Jesus Restored Peter’s Past Failures, John 21:15-17.

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”  17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

 

In verse 15, Jesus turned to Peter and asked him this question, “Do you love Me more than these?”  Remember that they are probably sitting around the fire that cooked their fish, and it was around a fire that Peter first denied Jesus on Thursday night. 

 

Notice that Jesus called Peter “Simon, son of John.”  It was this name that Jesus first called Peter to follow Him in John 1:40-42.

 

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

 

As for His question, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him more than these.  Jesus asked this question of Peter three times to mirror the three times that Peter denied Jesus, and Jesus used the word “agape” to describe that perfect, total, complete, all-encompassing love that He desired.

 

What did He mean by “more than these?”  Was He talking about the fish and fishing and Peter’s former profession?  Was He talking about Peter’s love for the other disciples?  Was He talking about Peter’s love for Jesus compared to the other disciples’ love for Jesus? 

 

I would contend that Jesus was talking about Peter’s love for Him compared to the other disciples’ love for Him. Peter had said previously that he would follow Jesus regardless, but we know that didn’t happen.  It was important for Jesus to remind Peter what he said and then what he had done.

 

BTW…Before we glorify in God’s grace, we have to be reminded of our wretchedness.  The wages of sin is death!

 

I believe Peter grieved his failures in verse 17.  Jesus had asked him three times if he loved Him.  Three times, Peter said yes, and three times Jesus restored him to ministry after his three denials.

 

There is not a person in the room this morning that hasn’t failed in some form or capacity.  Some have failed as employees.  Some have failed as friends.   Some have failed as parents.  Some have spouses. We have all failed as Christians and church members.  I have failed as a pastor and your pastor.

 

However, I have good news for you today.  Peter failed, and yet, Christ restored him completely to ministry and service and to lead the first century church when He was gone. 

 

 

19. Jesus Revealed Peter’s Painful Future, John 21:18-19.

18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 

 

In verse 18, Jesus continued His conversation with Peter, and reminded Peter of what life was like when he was young.  When you are young, you make decisions for yourself and go your own way. 

 

However, when Peter would get older, Jesus revealed that others would lead Peter were they wanted him to go, and he would do what others decided he would do.

 

BTW, if you are here today and you are adult children caring for your elderly parents, be considerate of the decisions you make for them on their behalf.  More than likely, what you do with your parents when they are old will likely come back to you from your children when you are old.

 

 

Verse 19 tells us that Jesus was talking about how Peter would die.  His arms would be stretched out in order to be tied to or nailed to a cross, and he would be crucified like Jesus was. 

 

Church history confirms this fact as Jesus was correct in His revelation.  Peter indeed was led away against his will and crucified on a cross but upside down at his own request as Peter believed that he was not worthy to die in the exact same fashion that Jesus had died.

 

 

• Jesus Rebuked Peter’s Premature Focus, John 21:20-23.

 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”  22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”  23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

 

In light of what Jesus had to say about Peter’s future, Peter was curious about John’s future.  Peter saw John there close by and asked Jesus about him in verse 21. 

 

Notice Jesus’ response in verse 22.  He rebuked Peter’s premature focus. 

 

Peter shouldn’t be worrying about John.  Peter should be worrying about Peter, and Jesus told him that.  Don’t worry about John.  You worry about Peter and just keep following Me. 

 

In verse 23, Jesus then corrected some misinformation within the group.  He didn’t say that John wouldn’t die.  He simply said that if He wanted John to live that was nobody’s business but His.

 

It’s real easy to worry about everybody else except the person in the mirror.  We can point fingers and name names and criticize everyone else’s actions and words and failures. 

 

Jesus said stop.  You worry about you, and let Jesus take care of everybody else.

 

 

 

Conclusion

What is the antidote to painful sins?  How can we survive painful sins?

 

Twice in our text, Jesus said these two words, “Follow Me.”  He said it at the end of verse 19 and the end of verse 22.

 

Here is how Jesus said it in in Luke 9:23. 

 

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

 

First, deny self.  Second, prepare to die to self daily.  Then follow Jesus. 

 

Submit to His leadership in your life.  That is how you survive painful sins.