Restoration In Christ
In recent years the History channel
has exploded with an assortment of television shows that many in America love
to watch. Those familiar with the History channel have probably seen Axe Men, American Pickers, Pawn Stars and
others. In addition to these, one program that has gained a great deal of
attention is American Restoration. The
story line of the show details a family-owned business that takes old, antique
things and restores them to their former self. During the show the viewer gets
to see the “before” and “after” of the objects and their transformation really
is amazing. The makeover many of these items go through is stunning and they
are literally as good as they were when they were new. Because of this show,
one is made aware that the restoration business provides a great service to
society in that objects many consider useless, worn out, or past their prime
are given a new life and function.
This same principle, in many
respects, can be applied to Christianity in that Jesus Christ restores. He
brings people back to a former state, making them as they were when they were
new. A significant aspect of being “in Christ,” “born again,” “saved” or a
member of God’s family is being able to take advantage of the restoration Jesus
provides. Jesus can and will restore a person to the place they were when they
were first forgiven—or to some high point they have experienced in their
spiritual journey. The key, though, is
desire—desire on the individual’s part to return to that state. In the
following article I want to briefly highlight an instance in which the apostle
Peter was restored and what that means for followers of Jesus.
In John 21:15-19 we read of Jesus’
threefold restoration of Peter. It is quite an interesting passage, one in
which Jesus asks a unique question, three times, to Peter. He asks, “Do you
love me?” and each time Peter replies with an assured, “Yes.” If one is familiar
with the New Testament then he or she is aware of the ups and downs in Peter’s
life. Although one might be tempted to
always think of Peter as the man who preached on Pentecost and three thousand
people were saved, he was not always that man. In reality, Peter’s down times
were really down.
In John 21 Peter professed his love
for Jesus three times. But one might recall that in John 18 Peter denied Jesus
just as many. The first instance he did so is in John 18:17. After Jesus was
betrayed by Judas and arrested, a slave girl asked if Peter was one of Jesus’
disciples, too. In verse 17, Peter boldly exclaimed, “I am not!” (HCSB). Skipping
down a few verses, verses 25-27 demonstrate Peter’s denial as well. While
warming himself by a fire he was, again, asked if he was one of Jesus’
disciples. In verse 25 Peter denied by saying, “I am not.” (HCSB). And, lastly, in verse 27
Peter denied he was a follower of Jesus. The Peter described in John 18 is very
different from the Peter in John 21.
If one goes back further, however,
to Matthew 16:13-18, they will find an instance where Peter professed Jesus and
was at a high point, spiritually. At this particular point in the narrative of
Matthew’s gospel Jesus asked his disciples the question, “Who do people say
that the Son of man is?” The disciples explained that most people believed
Jesus was one of the prophets of old. It is to this response that Jesus then,
very pointedly, asked in verse 15, “…who do you say I am?” (HCSB). And Peter,
bravely and faithfully, responded with, “…You are the Messiah, the Son of the
Living God” (HCSB, v. 16). Such a response, as noted by Jesus, was revealed to
Peter directly by God (HCSB, v.17). The fact that God revealed to Peter such
truth indicates, it seems, the good position of Peter spiritually.
From
the three passages mentioned one gets a fairly decent depiction of Peter’s life
and, if we are honest, insight into our own. In the gospel of Matthew Peter
professed Christ and was at a high point spiritually because the Holy Spirit
revealed to him the identity of Jesus. As things became tough in John 18, Peter
denied that he was a follower of Jesus. In John 21, Peter was restored. So
much, in fact, that in Acts 2 Peter preached and thousands were saved on the
day of Pentecost. Like many Christians, Peter’s spiritual life was like riding
a roller coaster—there were ups and downs.
What
does it mean that Jesus restored Peter in John 21? How does that translate into
our lives? Primarily in this way: just because a person messes up does not mean
God is finished with them. This cannot be stressed enough. As noted earlier in
John 21:15-19, Jesus asked Peter the same question three times—“Do you love
me?” And Peter answered “yes.” It is to the “yes” response that Jesus made
three additional statements. In verse 15 Jesus told Peter to “Feed my lambs”;
in verse 16 he stated, “Shepherd my sheep”; in verse 17 he urged, “Feed my
sheep.” All three responses by Jesus indicate He was bestowing a certain amount
of responsibility on Peter—even though Peter sinned drastically John 18. This reinforces
the fact that with us, too, just because we mess up does not mean God is
finished with us.
We
are our own worst critics. We beat ourselves up over our sins. And we should be
remorseful when we fall short. But one should also keep in mind that God does
forgive and, because of this, we should forgive ourselves too.
If
Jesus is not finished with a person simply because they mess up, the question, then,
is why? Why does He not simply give one chance and if a person blows it, then
move on? The answer is because Jesus is The Restorer. He takes great delight in
cleaning up the dirty individual and making them into a person who is as good
as when they were brand new. When a person, in their Christian faith, strays
from God’s desired path it does not mean they are done. Jesus will still use
them, but He must first restore them.
Jesus
gives chances to be restored. Every second of every day is an opportunity for
someone to turn to Jesus in humility for forgiveness. Scripturally, this is
called repentance. It is interesting to note, though, Jesus’ conversation with
Peter in John 21 when he asked him three times, “Do you love me?” (John
21:15-17, HCSB). Such a question gave Peter the opportunity to vocally and
publicly profess his love for Jesus. Though these responses by Peter are not
repentance in itself—because repentance is not simply doing something good to
make up for something bad—they are proof of Peter’s repentance. Or, possibly
better stated, they are the fruit of his repentance. With those responses it is
evident that Peter was of a different mind and on a different path. But the
point that should not be lost is Jesus gave the opportunity for Peter to demonstrate
his change.
The
closest an individual has ever been to God, it is to that point they can
return. For the three times Peter denied Jesus in John 18, Jesus made certain
there was an equal number of times Peter affirmed him in John 21. One gets the
impression that Jesus was making things right, that He restored order. Peter
was restored to the Matthew 18 Peter. But this is not just true for Peter. It
can be the case with anyone. The beauty of being in the family of God is that
once we get scraped and dinged up, we are not cast aside. Just as those worn
objects on American Restoration are
brought back to their former glory, so can we. There is restoration in Christ.
Take advantage of all He offers.
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