Jesus to Peter:"We need to talk"

John 21:15-25

Last week, Danny looked at the first part of John 21 and explained how Jesus renewed his friendship with his disciples, more or less repeating how He first called them, by acting like a partner in their fishing enterprise, directing them to the big catches. Danny suggested that in doing so He showed how their future relationship was going to be more a partnership which would flow from their relationship with Jesus, but would involve partnering with Jesus in the fishing of people. He didn't say this and these words are not original from me either, but Jesus needs our hands, our feet, our mouths ... He needs us as full partners with Him in the business of bringing salvation to the world. The problem is there is often blood on our hands, our feet, our lips and in our minds. Peter had, so to speak, blood on his lips, lips which had denied Jesus, as much as the Roman soldiers had blood on their hands.

Most writers and commentators agree that Jesus 3 questions to Peter are related to the Last Supper and Peter’s three times denial of Jesus. After the barbecue on the beach, Jesus is graciously re-enlisting the deserter. These words are recorded for us:

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." 

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed.

And now here they are, having a barbecue on the beach ... and there's unfinished stuff between them. This is at least the third time they've been together since the resurrection, but perhaps the first time alone ... we don't know. What we do know is that Peter let Jesus down, Peter hurt Jesus ... get this, please ... Peter is in the wrong ... Jesus goes out of His way to put it right.

Let's put it another way (THIS IS A MADE UP STORY, WITH RUPERT'S PERMISSION): You'll have noticed Rupert isn't here; some time ago I was walking down Reepham Rd and a bunch of guys were beating him up. He called out to me, but I looked the other way. They carried on hitting him and spitting on him, kicking him. He pleaded with me ... and one of them said: "We've seen you together at Costa" "I don't know this man" I said. He started praying to Jesus and suddenly a young girl, 10ish said to me "You're from his church, I've seen you with a Lead Elder badge during Holiday Club" I began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!” ...  And somewhere in the distance a rooster crowed.  I saw Rupert a few days afterward, but I didn't say anything. Then I saw him again a week or so later ... and I carried on as if nothing was wrong. He seemed ok ... it really was as if nothing had happened ... but, I must admit I struggle to look him in the eye.

Now you're getting an idea of what's going on in this reading and the impression one gets is that they are now a little separated from the group. There are hints that this is now a private conversation and it seems that Jesus is the one who takes the initiative.

This is a "We need to talk" situation ... you know those conversations? Your spouse gets a very serious look and says: "We need to talk." Your child whose been a bit strange lately comes home and says: "We need to talk"  The boss of the small business you work for, which has been getting quieter and quieter lately comes looking for you and says: "We need to talk" ... the doctor whose been reading a pile of reports from tests and X-rays that you've had to have, the doctor says: "We need to talk"

Jesus and Peter find themselves a little separated from the group ... I suggest because Jesus has indicated "We need to talk, Peter."

Many of you: "Need to talk to each other." Something spiritual happens when in a home, workplace, church, people ignore the elephant in the room. And particularly in the area of hurting, when people who have been hurt by others or have hurt others ... when they carry on as if everything is normal, or if they stay away from each other (Rupert's going to be there, so I won't go) ... something spiritual happens in that situation which makes Satan rejoice and our Lord cry and bleed all over again. You see, when you've hurt or been hurt, Christ's wounds are opened all over again, in the Spiritual realm, and it is as if blood is shed. And you cannot pretend it didn't happen; You can't go on like this ... it is making your marriage sicker, your workplace even more unbearable, the damage this does in a church is dreadful ... spiritual disease sets in.

Who do you need to talk to? This works itself out in nations as well. In South Africa, guess when the path to healing and reconciliation began: It was when the leader of the apartheid government said to Nelson Mandela, leader of the ANC: "We need to talk"

Who do you need to talk to ... what elephant in the room needs to be confronted.

And here's the scandal: often it's the hurt party that has to put things right. Rupert has to come to me, because in my shame or in my pride ... I'm too embarrassed to go to him. As long as he's happy to carry on as if everything is all right, that's all right with me ... and spiritually, everything continues to rot. Jesus has to go to Peter.

Who do you have to go? And if all that comes to mind is who you are waiting for to come to you, because they have hurt you so much, well ... that's the person you have to go to. The gospel turns everything upside down doesn't it? To which you reply: "No ... the gospel turns everything the right way up."

Notice the overriding emotion in this story: In three verses, love is mentioned 7 times. Notice Jesus' whole approach to Peter the denier. It is love. This story just oozes the love of Christ for Peter and Peter, when he receives the Holy Spirit, becomes one who oozes love for others. Jesus said to those who followed Him: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). It is because of our love, that we initiate the “We need to talk” conversations, even if we are the hurt party.

 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-10).

The Bible declares that we who follow Jesus Christ should be just as much in love with each other, yes, even with those who hurt us, as God was in love with us when He sent His Son to die on the cross. 

Notice that each time Jesus asks Peter whether he loves Him, Jesus gives Peter an act of love to do: Feed my lambs; take care of my sheep; feed my sheep. 

And Peter comes to realize that Jesus is far more interested in Peter's future than his past. Have you? Can you see how God works through all things for the good in those who love Him? Peter's three-time denial becomes the tomb from which he proclaims his love for Christ three times. Peter's three time proclamation of love becomes Jesus opportunity to give Peter a future and when the Spirit comes, Peter steps into that future boldly.

You have a future ... you also have a past. Jesus is far more interested in your future, wants to partner with you in that future, His power, His investment made on the cross, your hands, feet, mouth, your ... self ... but no undealt with, lets pretend it never happened, I won't mention it if you don't, no stuff like that. That past can poison your future, your home, your church, especially where there is anger, bitterness and resentment. Peter would never have become what he became if Jesus hadn't taken him aside that day and said: Hey Peter, we need to talk. Let's clear the air. Yes, I know what you did but I refuse to do anything other than love you. Do you love me? Let's walk and work together.

The Scriptures are full of people whose futures were full of the very people they once wanted nothing more to do with and often for good reason. Moses had to say to Pharoah: "Let's talk"; Joseph had to say to his brothers “Let’s talk”; Jesus went out of his way to say to tax collectors and sinners: "Let's talk" ... Jesus had to say to Saul, His ongoing persecutor who in persecuting the church was persecuting Jesus all over again ... Jesus had to say to Him: "Let's talk"

Jesus is far more interested in your future than your past, but He doesn't want you to pretend some things didn't happen, He definitely doesn't want the past to be an ongoing source of shame, or anger, or bitterness or resentment in your life. 

With Jesus at your side, who do you need to talk to?