JESUS RESTORES THE
BROKEN!
Introduction:
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was
lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. It was John Newton who wrote
that song. Many perhaps do not know the story behind that song. John Newton was
nurtured by a Christian mother who taught him the Bible at an early age, but he
was raised in his father's image after she died of tuberculosis when Newton was
seven.
At age 11, Newton went on his first
of six sea voyages with the merchant navy captain. Newton lost his first job,
in a merchant's office, because of "unsettled behavior and impatience of
restraint"—a pattern that would persist for years. He took up employment
with a slave-trader named Clow, who owned a plantation of lemon trees on an
island of west Africa.
He was transferred to the Greyhound's
captain's service, a Liverpool ship, in 1747, and on its homeward journey, the
ship was overtaken by an enormous storm. He was converted during the storm. After
that, he followed Jesus until he reached 80. He refused to retire even though
he became almost blind and partially deaf. He owed his redemption in Christ to
God’s mercy.
Later in life, John Newton became an
influential abolitionist. He died in 1807. We read these words on his tomb at
St. Mary Woolnoth: "Once an Infidel and Libertine, A Servant of Slaves in
Africa, Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST, Preserved,
restored and pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith He had long labored to
destroy."[1]
In our passage, we will see as
though before His ascension to heaven, Jesus had some unfinished work to do. It
was to restore one of his close friends, a broken and remorse-filled disciple.
Upon encountering Jesus, this disciples' life was radically transformed and
became more impactful. We reap the benefits of his restored life even after
2000 years. John 21:1-19
John Chapter 21 is the epilogue or
conclusion of the story of the resurrection, where Jesus ties up a few loose
ends. Before His great commission and ascension, Jesus restored confidence in
seven disciples who were discouraged. After His resurrection, he appears to the
disciples on the Sea of Galilee for the third time Peter and his friends had gone
fishing.
I.
GONE FISHING
John 21: 3-6, "Simon Peter
said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all
said. So, they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn,
Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was. He
called out, "Fellows, (children)have you caught any fish?" "No,"
they replied. Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of
the boat, and you'll get some!" So, they did, and they couldn't haul in
the net because there were so many fish in it." Let me share an earlier event
where Peter got his first call to follow Jesus.
Luke 5:5-11, Despite working all
night and not catching a single fish at the command of Jesus, Simon Peter lets
down his fishing net only to catch a considerable number of fish. Vs. 8-11, "When
Simon Peter realized what happened, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said,
"Oh, Lord, please leave me—I am too much of a sinner to be around you. For
he was awestruck.
"Jesus replied to Simon,
"Don't be afraid! From now on, you'll be fishing for people! As soon as
they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus." That was the
beginning of Peter's adventures with Jesus. Fast forward now to the incidents
of the crucifixion and resurrection. In
our passage, we see Peter found himself in a similar situation, "fishing."
The only difference this time was, Peter didn't have all the bravado he
exhibited earlier. He was perhaps ashamed of his failure of denial. He was a
broken man.
When he was told it was the Lord, he
was the first one to respond. While others remained in the boat, he put his
cloak around and headed to the shore, wondering how he would be received. Would
he be ignored or accepted?
II.
JESUS RESTORES PETER
The Lord did not leave him in the
first incident and certainly will not leave him now. When they got to the
shore, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal
fire; and some bread. Jesus said, bring some fish you have just caught, come
and have some breakfast! It was a fatherly act Jesus performed towards His
guilt-ridden children. None of the disciples dared to ask him any questions as
little children caught by the father in their mischief. After breakfast, Jesus
and Peter had a dialogue of healing and restoration.
Let's see how Jesus gently restores Peter
to his original calling to follow Him. Vs. 15-17, "Simon son of John, do
you love me more than these? "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you
know I love you." In Greek, two terms were used for the word translated as
love. When Jesus asked Peter two times do you love me in Greek, Agape
signified total commitment.
Peter responded with a word for
love, Phileo, representing his love for Jesus but not his total commitment.
It was not because he was unwilling to express the supreme love, because he had
been disobedient and denied Christ three times. Perhaps now, he was reluctant
to make any boastful claims. The message here is that Jesus demands total
commitment from his followers.
Peter may have thought it is all
over. I denied the Lord three times for which I may never be forgiven. I could
never follow Jesus as I did before. But Jesus didn't let Peter remain in his
brokenness. He walked straight to where Peter was, restored him unto himself. With
each of Peter's responses, Jesus entrusted him with a specific responsibility.
We read about this pardoned,
restored, and re-appointed disciple's preaching in Acts three, which gathered
three thousand souls into God's family. Talk about fishing for people! He
became a strong pillar of the Church of Jesus Christ. Peter stands as an
example of Jesus' restorative work of broken people. In one way, we all are
broken people in need of restoration.
III
JESUS RESTORES THE BROKEN
Restoration is a reoccurring theme
in the Bible. It is synonymous with healing, repairing, returning to a previous
state of being. Since Adam and Eve's sin, we all became broken and are living
in a broken world. Jesus came into this world to restore our broken
relationship with God.
Through
His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection, humanity can be restored to
God again. When we believe in Jesus, we
will be saved, and our relationship with God is restored. How about after
getting saved? Are we still in need of restoration? Stephen A. Macchia, in his
book, Broken and Whole, "Healthy spiritual leaders (Christians)
recognize the reality of living in the tension of the already-and-not-yet
nature of the kingdom. They expect to experience both transformative redemption
and continued brokenness in their generational life."
In Christ, we are a new creation, and our father
profoundly loves us. Yet, we struggle with sin and need to be restored and
renewed daily. Salvation happens at the moment we confess our sins and accept
Jesus as our savior. But restoration is a process. God in his mercy, restoring
his people. A wretch and saint alike, we all experience brokenness. Our
brokenness varies.
Some of our souls are weary (Ps
23:3). Some have been afflicted with physical sickness and need of healing. Jer
30:17, "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares
the Lord." Some may have lost the joy of their salvation (Ps 51:12). Maybe
your heart is broken.
Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds (pains)." Some are enduring suffering; listen to
Peter's advice. I Pet 5:10, "In his kindness, God called you to share in
his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a
little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place
you on a firm foundation." Whatever your brokenness, maybe Jesus sees it. He
will have compassion for you. He won't ignore you but walk right where you are,
restores you, and re-appoints you to preach the Good News. Amen!
