WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.120 You may be seated. 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:10.859 This morning, we're going to welcome the Reverend Andrew Goisweta to our pulpit. 00:00:11.140 --> 00:00:16.339 Andrew is the former assistant pastor at a Presbyterian church in Traveler's Rest, South Carolina, 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:21.519 and now serves as the campus minister for Reformed University Fellowship at Davidson College. 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:24.480 And Andrew's not just simply a guest preacher. 00:00:24.620 --> 00:00:26.339 He's actually had some influence on our church. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:27.740 So I'm going to tell you a couple of stories. 00:00:27.739 --> 00:00:32.079 I first met Andrew in 2008 as a student. 00:00:32.199 --> 00:00:37.560 We were both students at Davidson College, and Andrew went ahead of me to Covenant Seminary. 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:41.200 Andrew started Covenant in St. Louis in the summer of 2012. 00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:46.359 And July 3rd, 2012, was a Sunday. 00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:51.599 July 4th, 2012, Andrew walked over from his apartment on campus, 00:00:51.599 --> 00:00:57.340 and he scanned in his worship guide from the worship service the previous Sunday and emailed it to me. 00:00:57.740 --> 00:01:00.480 You might be wondering, why was he sending you a worship guide? 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:02.859 Well, he wanted me to see what this church was doing, 00:01:03.179 --> 00:01:07.560 which is that they had these interesting worship guides where they had a sidebar explanation 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:09.519 of what was happening in the worship service. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:12.079 And I thought, that is so cool. 00:01:12.620 --> 00:01:15.200 If I'm ever leading a church, we have to do that. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:20.079 So nine years later, it finally happened last year in 2021. 00:01:20.520 --> 00:01:27.299 So if you can either thank or insult Andrew depending on your feelings about the worship guide, 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:28.939 it's his fault. 00:01:28.939 --> 00:01:34.079 The other thing that's Andrew's fault is, so that was 2012. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:38.560 And then in 2014, I actually started at Covenant Seminary. 00:01:38.679 --> 00:01:42.799 And what I think none of you know is this Bible that I use every Sunday to preach from 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:46.640 was a gift from Andrew as soon as I arrived in seminary. 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:49.840 And he gave it to me partially to show me the importance of having a Bible. 00:01:49.979 --> 00:01:54.439 What's neat about this Bible is it can stay open on any page of the Bible, including Genesis 1. 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:56.179 So it's a preaching Bible. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:01:58.700 And he told me, it's really important when you preach, 00:01:58.739 --> 00:02:03.519 you've got to always have the Bible in your hand so people know where the authority comes from. 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:05.420 So that's some influence. 00:02:05.539 --> 00:02:07.359 It has this inscription in the front that says, 00:02:08.079 --> 00:02:15.379 For my dear friend, Matthew Capone, June 2, 2014, from Andrew Goizueta, Proverbs 30, verse 5. 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:18.000 And Proverbs 30, verse 5 says this, 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:20.300 Every word of God proves true. 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:23.860 He is a shield to those who take refuge in him, 00:02:24.219 --> 00:02:27.640 which is fitting because Andrew's going to come now and bring us God's word. 00:02:27.860 --> 00:02:30.200 So, Andrew, we're delighted to have you. 00:02:39.860 --> 00:02:44.580 Matthew, for that kind introduction, it is great to be with you this morning, 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:46.780 joined by my wife, Amanda. 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:51.099 This is actually my second time worshiping with y'all. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:54.199 Even though it's my first time preaching for you, it's my second time worshiping here. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:58.580 The first time was several years ago at Matthew's installation service. 00:02:59.099 --> 00:03:01.939 And what a joy that was to be here for that special occasion 00:03:01.939 --> 00:03:06.500 and to worship the Lord that Sunday morning, that Lord's Day morning. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:11.680 So it's a delight and a privilege to be able to preach God's word for you this morning. 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:14.460 I want to thank Matthew and the elders for having me. 00:03:14.460 --> 00:03:18.560 My sole regret in offering to preach for Matthew this morning 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:21.820 was that I wouldn't get to hear him preach this morning. 00:03:22.020 --> 00:03:26.719 As y'all know very well, Matthew is quite the gifted preacher 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.840 and has been for very many years. 00:03:29.420 --> 00:03:32.319 I know that he has served y'all well through those preaching gifts. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:36.200 But even more importantly, Matthew is a good man. 00:03:36.860 --> 00:03:39.640 And I'm sure you've learned that as well. 00:03:40.100 --> 00:03:43.420 He did not mention this, but he was actually the best man in my wedding. 00:03:44.460 --> 00:03:47.000 And one of my dearest friends for very many years. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:51.300 So it's a privilege to preach in his stead this morning. 00:03:52.040 --> 00:03:57.319 If you have a copy of God's word, I'd invite you to turn with me to John chapter 21. 00:03:57.920 --> 00:04:00.900 We're going to be looking at verses 4 through 19 this morning. 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:06.060 And we are jumping into the very end of this gospel account. 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:11.860 We're going to be looking at the very famous passage of Jesus restoring Peter. 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:15.880 And as we prepare to read God's word, I want to ask you this. 00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:20.939 Have you noticed how very many TV shows these days, 00:04:21.139 --> 00:04:24.620 they begin with the two words, previously on. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:26.460 And then they launch into a recap. 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:29.980 In fact, Matthew and Amanda and I were watching a TV show last night, 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:31.879 and it did the very same thing. 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:33.680 It started with previously on. 00:04:33.900 --> 00:04:37.220 And it helps orient you to where you are in the story. 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:40.740 So as we're jumping into the very end of John chapter 1, 00:04:40.780 --> 00:04:44.780 I want to begin by saying, previously on John's gospel, 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.960 Jesus has been crucified. 00:04:48.940 --> 00:04:51.660 He's been buried in the tomb in Jerusalem. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:54.040 He remained there for three days. 00:04:54.540 --> 00:04:58.080 And on the third day, he has risen again to new life. 00:04:58.380 --> 00:05:03.680 And he appeared to many of his disciples on multiple occasions. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:08.639 Well, our story begins more than a week after those events. 00:05:09.139 --> 00:05:13.519 No longer are we in Jerusalem, but we are up in the north in Galilee. 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:21.519 And this story begins after Jesus' disciples have been fishing all night, 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:23.759 and they've caught nothing. 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:29.139 So that's where our story begins early the next morning. 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:33.939 So would you please give your attention to the reading of God's word? 00:05:34.039 --> 00:05:37.839 This is John chapter 21, verses 4 through 19. 00:05:38.919 --> 00:05:42.339 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore, 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:45.259 yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 00:05:46.339 --> 00:05:47.159 Jesus said to them, 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:49.620 Children, do you have any fish? 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:52.219 They answered him, No. 00:05:52.919 --> 00:05:53.959 He said to them, 00:05:54.339 --> 00:05:57.159 Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. 00:05:57.160 --> 00:06:03.680 So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because of the quantity of fish. 00:06:04.880 --> 00:06:07.740 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 00:06:07.980 --> 00:06:09.240 It is the Lord. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.400 When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, 00:06:12.880 --> 00:06:16.240 he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, 00:06:16.460 --> 00:06:18.500 and threw himself into the sea. 00:06:19.379 --> 00:06:24.160 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:28.020 for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 00:06:28.820 --> 00:06:32.200 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:35.400 with some fish laid out on it, and bread. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:37.460 Jesus said to them, 00:06:38.020 --> 00:06:39.940 Bring some of the fish that you have just caught. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:45.160 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore full of large fish, 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:46.960 one hundred fifty-three of them. 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:50.979 And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 00:06:52.159 --> 00:06:53.159 Jesus said to them, 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:54.639 Come and have breakfast. 00:06:55.699 --> 00:06:57.659 Now none of the disciples dared ask him, 00:06:58.120 --> 00:06:58.779 Who are you? 00:06:59.039 --> 00:07:00.339 They knew it was the Lord. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:03.919 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, 00:07:04.299 --> 00:07:05.379 and so with the fish. 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:09.679 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples 00:07:09.679 --> 00:07:11.419 after he was raised from the dead. 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:13.639 When they had finished breakfast, 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:15.319 Jesus said to Simon Peter, 00:07:16.159 --> 00:07:19.699 Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:21.539 He said to him, 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:23.599 Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:25.159 He said to him, 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:26.620 Feed my lambs. 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:28.459 He said to him a second time, 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:31.000 Simon, son of John, do you love me? 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:32.620 He said to him, 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:34.300 Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:35.719 He said to him, 00:07:37.039 --> 00:07:37.819 Tend my sheep. 00:07:38.699 --> 00:07:40.459 He said to him the third time, 00:07:40.659 --> 00:07:42.979 Simon, son of John, do you love me? 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:48.439 Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, do you love me? 00:07:49.140 --> 00:07:52.020 And he said to him, Lord, you know everything. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:54.040 You know that I love you. 00:07:55.080 --> 00:07:57.500 Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. 00:07:58.580 --> 00:08:03.200 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk 00:08:03.200 --> 00:08:04.240 wherever you wanted. 00:08:05.080 --> 00:08:09.780 But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and 00:08:09.780 --> 00:08:11.960 carry you where you do not want to go. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:17.859 This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:22.279 And after saying this, he said to him, follow me. 00:08:23.739 --> 00:08:26.799 Every word of God proves true. 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:30.879 He's a shield to those who take refuge in him. 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:32.699 Would you pray with me? 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:41.939 Father in heaven, would you grant us this morning eyes to 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:49.840 to see and ears to hear glorious things spoken of you in your word? 00:08:50.640 --> 00:08:55.120 We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. 00:08:56.020 --> 00:08:56.340 Amen. 00:08:56.340 --> 00:09:04.620 Now, I don't know if Pastor Matthew does this when he preaches, but a lot of times I will 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:10.780 preach and I'll save the main point, the big idea, to the very end of the sermon. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:12.860 Not this morning. 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:19.840 This morning I am too excited and this is too important for you to miss. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:21.460 So here it is. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:25.740 Here's the big picture, the big idea from this morning's passage. 00:09:26.420 --> 00:09:28.320 In fact, it's right there printed in your bulletin. 00:09:29.460 --> 00:09:33.379 God's grace is bigger than our biggest failures. 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:35.180 Can I say that again? 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:40.580 God's grace is bigger than our biggest failures. 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:45.180 You know, that's the message of all of Scripture. 00:09:46.020 --> 00:09:49.379 And in particular, it's the message of this morning's passage. 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:55.540 And as we dig into this story that we just read, let me ask you this. 00:09:56.800 --> 00:10:00.360 What's been your biggest failure from this past week? 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:01.840 Take a second. 00:10:02.420 --> 00:10:03.660 Think over this last week. 00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:14.600 Perhaps it was a sharp word spoken out of anger and frustration to a child, to a spouse, to a parent. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:22.639 Maybe it was a show that you watched or a website you visited that you know you had no business visiting. 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:33.279 Maybe it was a word of gossip or slander where you highlighted someone else's failures instead of covering over them in love. 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:34.659 Maybe it was a word of gossip. 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:35.299 Maybe it was a word of gossip. 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:37.360 What's been your biggest failure from this past week? 00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:43.079 Maybe you're sitting here this morning and you're thinking, well, shoot, I've had a pretty good week this week. 00:10:43.819 --> 00:10:45.980 I haven't had big failures. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:49.039 Well, if that's you, let me ask you this. 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:58.519 What's your biggest failure from the past month or the past year or your entire life? 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:13.899 If you have read any of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, then you already know what Peter's biggest failure was, don't you? 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:27.379 Peter's biggest failure was denying Jesus three times, just mere hours, maybe even minutes, since promising to Jesus that he wouldn't. 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:38.759 Now, you and I, we may have failed pretty spectacularly this week or this month or this year or in our lives, but not quite like Peter, not like this. 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:46.539 And yet, look at that very last verse that we just read together, verse 19. 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:55.759 In other words, Jesus, even in the aftermath of Peter's biggest failure, Jesus turns to him and says, follow me. 00:11:58.459 --> 00:12:02.240 In other words, Jesus doesn't discard Peter. 00:12:04.179 --> 00:12:07.399 Even after his biggest failure, he doesn't discard Peter. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:10.079 In fact, he beckons Peter to himself. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:18.980 If God's grace is bigger than Peter's biggest failure, then it's bigger than our biggest failures, too. 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:27.460 And what this story highlights for us, what it shows us, is just how this grace, this huge grace, comes home to us. 00:12:28.160 --> 00:12:29.800 And it does so in three ways. 00:12:30.580 --> 00:12:36.220 Through the grace of presence, the grace of place, and the grace of persistence. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:40.060 So let's begin with the grace of presence. 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:49.840 Have you noticed how many protagonists, how many heroes, main characters in books or movies, have particular calling cards? 00:12:50.540 --> 00:12:58.340 These distinct things that they do or they say that lets everyone, including the reader or the viewer, know that they're there? 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:00.920 I mean, think about it. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:03.780 Who says, elementary, my dear Watson? 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:06.740 Everyone knows that's Sherlock Holmes, right? 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:08.840 Or, I'll be back. 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:11.540 We all know who that is, right? 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:13.860 Or, to infinity and beyond. 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:22.259 Like, we can't help but know who exactly is talking to us with those distinct calling cards. 00:13:23.040 --> 00:13:25.620 Well, Jesus has a distinct calling card, too. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.360 Did you catch it from this morning's story? 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:34.460 Look back with me at the first couple of verses, verses 4 through 6. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:36.879 The text says, God's word says, 00:13:36.879 --> 00:14:05.299 Okay, so did you catch it? 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:08.539 What is Jesus' calling card? 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:22.539 It's him telling his disciples after a really poor night of fishing to cast the net and then providing them with this miraculous, this supernatural catch of fish. 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:24.539 That's Jesus' calling card. 00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:25.699 That's his thing. 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:28.419 That lets everyone know that it's him. 00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:33.179 And this is not the first time that Jesus has done this, right? 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:41.799 At the beginning of Luke's gospel, in Luke chapter 5, we read that this is precisely how Jesus called his first disciples. 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:45.199 It's his calling card. 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:50.759 And so how, here in our story, how did the disciples respond to Jesus' calling card? 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:52.539 Look at verse 7. 00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:55.919 First, something snaps. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:58.740 Something clicks in John's mind. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.279 The disciple whom Jesus loved. 00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:02.079 It said that he said to Peter, 00:15:02.579 --> 00:15:03.519 It is the Lord. 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:05.379 John gets it. 00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.699 He turns to Peter and says, 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:07.700 It is the Lord. 00:15:08.400 --> 00:15:13.140 And then something kind of goes haywire almost in Peter's mind. 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:15.780 Because look what happens when Peter hears that it's the Lord. 00:15:16.520 --> 00:15:18.379 He put on his outer garment. 00:15:19.280 --> 00:15:22.980 For he was stripped for work and threw himself into the sea. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:29.320 He was so overwhelmed and overcome by the realization that Jesus is here. 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:33.660 He's overwhelmed by the grace of Jesus' presence. 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:35.279 And you can imagine him just thinking, 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:36.819 Can this really be? 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:39.500 Is Jesus really here? 00:15:41.839 --> 00:15:48.919 When I was 12 years old, my Grandpa Santos, my dad's dad, passed away. 00:15:50.079 --> 00:15:52.779 Now, Grandpa Santos was one of my favorite. 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:54.559 I'll just say he was my favorite grandparent. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:56.980 He was the one that loved me and my siblings the most. 00:15:57.439 --> 00:16:00.620 And he had a unique calling card. 00:16:01.339 --> 00:16:02.919 It was this whistle. 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:08.259 That this sound that he would make that let everyone know that he was present. 00:16:08.339 --> 00:16:09.059 That he was there. 00:16:09.819 --> 00:16:11.699 And you probably never heard it before. 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.819 I'm going to try it this morning. 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:15.799 But Grandpa Santos' whistle sounded like this. 00:16:23.479 --> 00:16:25.259 That was Grandpa Santos' thing. 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:27.279 Who here has ever heard that noise before? 00:16:28.339 --> 00:16:28.740 Exactly. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.399 Right? 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:30.360 A couple people. 00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:31.259 Have you met my grandpa? 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:32.819 That's amazing. 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:40.659 But whenever I would hear that, if I was in a large crowd, I would know that Grandpa Santos was there. 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:44.279 Like I said, he passed away when I was 12. 00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:46.939 It was really sad and really tragic. 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:49.740 It was the first grandparent to lose. 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:54.200 He was in the hospital. 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.960 He was recovering from surgery. 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:59.060 They had removed some cancerous tumors. 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:01.740 And we thought he was going to pull through and make it. 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:06.200 And then the day that he was supposed to come home, everything went south. 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:08.920 All of his internal systems started shutting down. 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:11.720 There were complications from the surgery that they didn't catch. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:18.339 And I remember as a 12-year-old praying fervently with my family that the Lord would spare his life. 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:21.959 And within a day or two, he was gone. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:37.279 Now, if I were walking around Davidson where I live, where my wife and I live with our two girls, let's say I was walking down Main Street or I was walking around campus where I work, and I heard, 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:49.619 you better believe that I'd be overcome with emotion, that the hair on the back of my neck would stand up just as it's standing up right now. 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:54.079 And you better believe that I'd be wondering, could this really be? 00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:56.639 Is Grandpa Santos here? 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:00.799 Are all these sad memories coming untrue? 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:11.200 Brothers and sisters, have you, like Peter, have you heard Jesus' calling card? 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:17.180 Have you experienced the grace of Jesus' presence? 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:19.059 Have you been overwhelmed by that grace? 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:29.859 If you have ever experienced genuine, loving fellowship, Christian fellowship, then you have heard Jesus' calling card. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:35.399 He promises that where two or three are gathered in his name, there he is among us. 00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:43.859 Or have you ever opened up God's word and let God's word open you up? 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:49.379 Have you ever let yourself become saturated in God's word? 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:52.099 If so, then you have heard Jesus' calling card. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:56.279 Jesus was so saturated in God's word. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:19:01.779 And if you have internalized God's word, then you've internalized Jesus as well. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:06.700 The word of God, the writer of the Hebrew says, is living and active. 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.019 Why? 00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:14.039 Because Jesus is living and active among us in and through his word. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.879 Or how about this? 00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:17.440 Have you ever prayed? 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:25.660 Have you ever offered up your sincere thoughts, longings, desires, fears, worries, anxieties? 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:27.640 Have you ever lifted them up to the Lord? 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:33.259 If so, then you've experienced the grace of God's presence. 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:37.660 God's word promises that our prayers are like incense before the Lord. 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:44.180 Even today, even right now, in the very presence of the most high God in the heavenly throne room. 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:46.640 An extension of you is there. 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:50.940 Your thoughts, your desires, your longings in God's own presence. 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:53.640 Or how about this? 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:56.420 Have you ever participated in communion? 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.820 Have you ever taken communion? 00:19:58.820 --> 00:19:59.700 Have you ever been baptized? 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.779 Have you ever witnessed a baptism? 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:05.779 Then you too have heard Jesus' calling card. 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:12.279 Because he promises to meet with his people in and through the sacraments of the Lord's Supper and baptism. 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:23.019 Well, not only does God meet with Peter and with us through the grace of his presence, 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:27.940 but he also ministers to us through the grace of place as well. 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:34.819 Would you look with me at verses 9 through 14, kind of the middle of the passage that we just read. 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:42.879 And as we look over these verses, I want to invite you to imagine the sights and the smells of this scene 00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:47.299 through the eyes and yes, even the nose of Peter. 00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:54.439 So enter Peter's sandals and imagine this scene through his eyes and even through his nose. 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.099 Here's what I mean. 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:58.859 So for one, it's dark out. 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:02.359 Verse 4 told us that day was just breaking. 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:08.379 And on the shore, there's this charcoal fire already set up. 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:13.179 Jesus is there and he's breaking bread and he's serving you a meal. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.899 He's feeding you. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.839 Now, if you're Peter and you're taking in all these sights and smells, 00:21:19.479 --> 00:21:21.179 what do these things remind you of? 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:28.159 When was the last time you saw Jesus break bread and serve you a meal? 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.960 Oh, yeah. 00:21:30.300 --> 00:21:34.880 It was that night when Jesus predicted that you, Peter, would deny him. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.080 And you doubled down and said, no way. 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.720 I'm going to die before I deny you. 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:46.240 Or, man, what is that smell? 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:51.400 I mean, what is that smell that's filling your nose, that's clinging to your hair, 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:55.019 that's getting in all your clothes, that's stinging your eyes? 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.759 What is that? 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.299 Oh, yeah. 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.700 How could you forget? 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:01.559 It's the smell of a charcoal fire. 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.319 Now, let me pause there. 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:08.299 For you and for me, the smell of a charcoal fire, what does that remind us of? 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:12.099 It was a July 4th, Independence Day, right? 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:17.000 Like gathering with family and friends, cooking some hot dogs and hamburgers, right? 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.139 Not so for Peter. 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:24.360 What does the smell of a charcoal fire remind Peter of? 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:29.520 Well, for Peter, that smell is the smell of failure. 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:42.780 Because it was around another charcoal fire that Peter watched Jesus be dragged before a kangaroo court in the high priest's courtyard. 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:49.180 And it was there around a charcoal fire that you, Peter, denied Jesus three times. 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:56.680 And, you know, they say that smell is one of the strongest senses, especially as it relates to memories. 00:22:56.680 --> 00:23:04.500 So, again, if you're Peter and you're there on the shore of Galilee, your body might be here on the shore of Galilee, 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:11.279 but your mind and your heart are back in that courtyard, around that other charcoal fire, 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:16.680 watching Jesus and denying that you ever knew him. 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:24.560 And so, for Peter, the smell of failure is the smell of a charcoal fire. 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:28.900 It reminds him of the biggest failure that he's ever had in his entire life. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.980 What does failure smell like to you? 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:38.580 Is it the smell of your childhood home? 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:41.460 Maybe a particular room in your childhood home? 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:45.680 Is it the smell of a certain perfume or a certain cologne? 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:50.700 Is it the smell of stale beer or whiskey? 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:54.920 Is it the smell of a high school gymnasium or locker room? 00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:57.900 Is it the smell of scantrons and number two pencils? 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:02.860 What does failure smell like to you? 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:07.420 Well, for me, failure smells like rubber. 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:11.840 Not all rubber, but a very particular kind of rubber. 00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:16.680 The kind of rubber that they put in stairwells in commercial buildings. 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:18.220 You know what I'm talking about? 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:24.640 Like those concrete stairs in commercial buildings that have the rubber coating and that's glued down 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:27.740 and it has those little bumps that prevent you from skidding. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.980 That smell, that's the smell of failure for me. 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:37.099 Because when I was in college, when I was a junior at Davidson, 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:43.680 I had a huge crush on this girl that I met in RUF. 00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:48.000 The same ministry that Matthew and I met in, the same ministry that I now serve with. 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:54.460 And it just so happened that my junior year, she lived one floor above me in our dorm. 00:24:54.460 --> 00:25:01.460 And so one night, I mustered up the courage to go and ask this young woman out. 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:06.579 And just so you know where this story is going, that young woman is not my wife, Amanda. 00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:11.299 So late one night, I get the courage. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.720 I'm going to go ask her out. 00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:16.759 I go out of my room, down the hall, get into the stairwell, 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:22.160 and bam, immediately I'm hit with the smell of these rubber steps. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:25.080 Our dorm had just been renovated the year before. 00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:29.620 And I think, I don't know if it was the rubber or the glue that was connecting the rubber to the steps, 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:31.920 but man, it was making me lightheaded. 00:25:32.540 --> 00:25:33.440 So distinct. 00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:36.180 And so I go up the steps. 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:39.080 I'm getting nervous, right, to ask this young woman out. 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:44.300 And I go to reach for the door, to open the door to go onto her hall, 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.940 and I say, I can't do this. 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.580 So I let go of the door. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:49.900 I turn around, I go back down the steps. 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:54.100 I go to open the door to my hall, and I'm like, Andrew, you've come this far. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.620 You've got to go follow through with it. 00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:59.660 And I must have done this probably two or three times up and down the steps. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:05.600 And at one point, I actually started to get concerned for my own health and physical well-being 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:10.340 because I was getting so lightheaded from these fumes coming off these rubber steps. 00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:13.400 And so I was like, all right, you've just got to go do this. 00:26:13.540 --> 00:26:14.960 You can't stay in this stairwell. 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.740 Go for it. 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.620 So I did. 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:21.720 I opened the door, went onto her hall, got up to the door, knocked on her door, 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.059 and she answered. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:26.259 I asked her out, and she turned me down. 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:30.640 And then I had to go back into that stairwell, 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:34.900 get my nose and my lungs filled with this obnoxious smell of rubber, 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:37.099 and then go back to my room. 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:44.059 Now, that is not necessarily a story of moral failure, 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:47.579 but it certainly felt like social failure. 00:26:48.679 --> 00:26:52.579 You know, that rejection from a young lady that you're interested in, 00:26:53.159 --> 00:27:00.279 it certainly felt like a failure of attractability, of desirability. 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:06.740 And so for years, whenever I would smell that distinct rubber smell, 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:09.460 I'd be brought back to that place and be reminded of that failure. 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:15.599 Until just a few years ago, when I returned to Davidson College 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:17.619 to serve as the campus minister. 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:22.960 And wouldn't you know it, the same stairs with the same rubber 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:26.920 is in the student union where we have all of our meetings, 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:29.700 as it was in that dorm room when I was a junior. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:33.660 And so from the very beginning, when I started serving as campus minister, 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:37.200 I'd have to go up and down these stairs and smell that rubber smell 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:40.080 to go to our large group meetings, to go to our Bible studies. 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:43.200 But here's the difference. 00:27:44.360 --> 00:27:47.680 When I would go on Tuesday night to go get ready for large group 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:51.840 as a campus minister, I had my wife Amanda by my side. 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:55.480 We would often go up those steps together. 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:59.019 And after a few times of that happening, I realized, 00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:01.860 this smell doesn't have a hold over me anymore. 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:08.400 Like the Lord is redeeming that smell and that memory for me 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:14.120 and replacing those with new and better memories with my wife Amanda. 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:18.880 The Lord is doing something very similar here for Peter. 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:22.380 He's bringing him back to that place of failure 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:26.400 so that he can redeem that memory for him, 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:29.740 so that he can heal him of the guilt and shame and regret 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:34.340 that he felt in denying his Lord and Savior three times. 00:28:35.080 --> 00:28:39.460 And the Lord is inviting you to return to those places of failure 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:43.100 so that he might heal and redeem those parts of your stories. 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:46.539 And now it might not be practical 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:49.899 for you to actually physically go back to those places. 00:28:50.459 --> 00:28:53.259 I mean, what if it was in another country, right? 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:57.179 What if it was in your childhood home and your family since sold it? 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:59.799 I'm not saying that y'all need to go back 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:01.759 and like knock on a stranger's door and say, 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.459 hey, can I go? 00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.619 I used to live here. 00:29:03.719 --> 00:29:04.639 Can I go to my bedroom? 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:07.219 There's some unfinished business that Jesus wants. 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:10.299 No, like that's not what I'm saying. 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:14.019 But what I think the Lord would have us do is, 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:20.059 look, you can invite Jesus into those places of failure 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:25.360 by inviting a brother or sister in Christ into those stories. 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:28.960 You could turn to a trusted brother or sister in Christ 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:32.420 and open up and share in vivid detail 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:35.400 the story of your biggest failure 00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:41.500 and allow the Lord Jesus to heal and redeem those memories for you. 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:45.920 That's the grace of place. 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:51.060 Well, we've encountered the grace of presence. 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:53.200 We've encountered the grace of place. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:57.340 Lastly, we encounter the grace of persistence. 00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:59.279 Let me ask this. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:03.220 As I finished reading the last section of this story 00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:05.180 as Jesus is restoring Peter, 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:08.039 as I read verses 15 through 19, 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:11.279 where Jesus, again, he asks three times, 00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:13.160 do you love me, do you love me, do you love me? 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:15.619 Did any of you feel for Peter? 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.759 Like at least a little bit? 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:21.379 I know I did when I first read this story 00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:23.119 and many times since. 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:28.700 Or how about when you read that Peter was actually grieved 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:31.420 the third time that Jesus asked him, 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.220 do you love me? 00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:34.940 I mean, anyone else here kind of feel like, 00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:37.920 man, Jesus, why do you got to be so hard on poor Peter? 00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:40.500 Like, can't you see that you're hurting him, 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.900 that you're causing grief, 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:43.319 that you're inflicting pain? 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:46.700 Anyone else kind of feel for Peter in this situation? 00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:51.200 Y'all, there's no way around it. 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.519 This is a hard passage. 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:55.160 And especially when we get to those last two verses 00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:56.259 in 18 and 19, 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:59.259 where Jesus predicts how Peter would die, 00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:02.720 that last section, this whole last section 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:04.180 can kind of feel like a wet blanket. 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:07.240 Like, man, that's cold, that's harsh, 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.779 that's heavy. 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:11.660 But what I want us to see 00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:14.859 before we end our time in God's word this morning 00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:17.299 is that grace is abundant here. 00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:19.839 And it's the grace of persistence. 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:22.000 So look with me, 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:25.000 and let's notice the grace of Jesus' persistence 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:27.240 and even the grace of Peter's persistence. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.779 So first, Jesus' persistence. 00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.879 In verses 15 through 17, 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:36.440 three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, 00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:38.399 which wouldn't you know, 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:42.519 that's one time for each of Peter's three denials. 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:48.000 And three times Jesus restores Peter 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:50.200 to his high holy calling, 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:52.500 to go and fish for men. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:56.180 That calling that Jesus placed on Peter's life, 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:59.339 Jesus is now restoring Peter to that calling. 00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.039 And I don't know, 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:03.079 I can imagine Peter, 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:05.680 after a really poor night of fishing 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.680 where they've caught nothing, 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:09.160 just being really hard and down on himself. 00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:10.820 Like, man, 00:32:11.820 --> 00:32:14.220 Peter, what made you even think 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:16.420 that you could fish for men 00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.940 like Jesus called you to? 00:32:18.060 --> 00:32:19.660 You can't even fish for fish anymore. 00:32:20.820 --> 00:32:21.920 Like, I just imagine 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:24.519 Peter just so hard on himself 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.560 or even wondering, 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.860 you know, man, 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:30.480 now that Judas is gone, 00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:32.440 I'm the worst disciple. 00:32:35.060 --> 00:32:36.680 I mean, the text doesn't say it, 00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:38.340 so I'm not saying that this actually happened, 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:39.919 but if I were Peter, 00:32:40.179 --> 00:32:41.839 that would be going through my head. 00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:44.379 I mean, Judas was the worst disciple. 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.439 He betrayed Jesus. 00:32:46.959 --> 00:32:48.179 But Judas is gone. 00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.579 Who does that leave? 00:32:50.679 --> 00:32:52.519 That leaves me, Peter, the denier. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:54.319 I denied him three times. 00:32:57.199 --> 00:32:58.279 Have you ever been there? 00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:00.139 Have you ever been 00:33:00.139 --> 00:33:02.359 in this place 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:04.399 where you failed just so spectacularly 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.180 that you're like, 00:33:05.800 --> 00:33:07.460 man, 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:09.280 is life even worth living? 00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:11.840 Should I keep going? 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:16.100 If you have wondered that at all, 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:17.780 and I'll just acknowledge that 00:33:17.780 --> 00:33:19.100 there have been a few times 00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:19.780 when I've acknowledged, 00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:21.500 when I've wondered that myself. 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.580 If you've ever wondered that, 00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:26.140 please pay attention 00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:28.360 to what Jesus is saying to Peter here. 00:33:28.359 --> 00:33:31.259 He is saying, 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:32.059 look, Peter, 00:33:32.159 --> 00:33:34.039 I am not done with you yet. 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.699 He's restoring Peter 00:33:38.699 --> 00:33:40.199 to his Jesus calling 00:33:40.199 --> 00:33:41.659 to go and fish for men. 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:43.639 Feed my lambs, Peter. 00:33:44.219 --> 00:33:45.079 Tend my sheep. 00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.019 Feed my sheep. 00:33:46.199 --> 00:33:47.799 I still have a use for you. 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:50.559 How amazing is that? 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.659 So why is Peter grieved? 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:55.339 Why does it hurt so much? 00:33:56.139 --> 00:33:57.779 And why does Jesus allow Peter 00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.839 to feel that grief? 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:01.740 I think what's going on here 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:03.679 is that Jesus wants to make sure 00:34:03.679 --> 00:34:05.519 that Peter doesn't take 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:07.139 the same path that Judas took. 00:34:11.819 --> 00:34:15.199 Jesus wants to call Peter 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:16.679 off of that path 00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:19.119 that leads to death and despair. 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.699 And Jesus is calling Peter 00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.980 back onto this path 00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:24.039 that leads to life and salvation. 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:28.680 How do I know this? 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:31.600 Well, in 2 Corinthians 7, 00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:32.780 the Apostle Paul, 00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:34.820 he highlights the difference 00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:36.120 between godly grief 00:34:36.120 --> 00:34:37.280 and worldly grief. 00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:39.200 And what does Paul say 00:34:39.200 --> 00:34:41.460 in 2 Corinthians 7, verse 10? 00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:44.539 Paul says that godly grief 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:46.400 produces a repentance 00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:48.240 that leads to salvation 00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:49.680 without regret, 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.240 whereas worldly grief 00:34:52.240 --> 00:34:54.519 produces death. 00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:58.180 Again, Jesus wants Peter 00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:59.200 off that path 00:34:59.200 --> 00:35:00.660 that leads to worldly grief 00:35:00.660 --> 00:35:02.260 and onto that path 00:35:02.260 --> 00:35:03.620 of godly grief 00:35:03.620 --> 00:35:05.519 that produces a repentance 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:08.019 that leads to salvation. 00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:11.300 Jesus here, 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:12.400 towards the end of our story, 00:35:12.720 --> 00:35:14.940 Jesus is like the field surgeon 00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:17.079 that is pulling 00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:18.740 the wounded soldier 00:35:18.740 --> 00:35:19.820 off the field. 00:35:20.660 --> 00:35:21.780 This soldier, Peter, 00:35:21.780 --> 00:35:22.900 has just stepped on 00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:24.460 this landmine of failure. 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:24.539 Peter. 00:35:25.260 --> 00:35:26.860 And there's all sorts 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:28.240 of shrapnel of regret 00:35:28.240 --> 00:35:30.039 surrounding his heart. 00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:32.000 And so Jesus, 00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:32.860 the field surgeon, 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:33.760 the good physician, 00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:35.480 he is working hard 00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:37.380 to remove that shrapnel 00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:38.380 and to save Peter. 00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:39.740 And yes, 00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:40.500 it's painful. 00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:44.699 And just as Peter 00:35:44.699 --> 00:35:46.059 starts to feel overwhelmed 00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:46.579 and overcome 00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:47.639 by this pain, 00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:48.760 and just as Jesus 00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:49.860 starts losing Peter, 00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:52.640 Jesus has his hands 00:35:52.640 --> 00:35:53.720 around Peter's face. 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.500 It's as if he's telling him, 00:35:55.640 --> 00:35:56.800 stay with me, soldier. 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.380 Stay with me. 00:35:58.980 --> 00:35:59.980 Stay with me. 00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:02.460 Do you love me? 00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:04.140 Do you love me? 00:36:05.140 --> 00:36:06.099 Do you love me? 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.719 Do you love me? 00:36:10.900 --> 00:36:13.059 Jesus is sharing 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:14.219 the grace of persistence 00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:14.799 with Peter. 00:36:15.839 --> 00:36:16.880 And you know what? 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:18.880 That leads to the grace 00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:20.199 of Peter's persistence. 00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:23.099 So let's look at 00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:23.860 the ending again. 00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:26.079 Look at verses 18 and 19. 00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:28.199 Yes, 00:36:28.259 --> 00:36:29.539 this is a hard, 00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:31.199 hard couple of verses. 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:33.559 Jesus saying that 00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:36.000 that when Peter was young, 00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:37.000 he used to dress himself 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:37.960 and walk where he wanted, 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:39.119 but when he's old, 00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:39.940 he's going to stretch out 00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.559 his hands. 00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:42.159 Another is going to dress him 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:42.699 and carry him 00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:44.159 where he does not want to go. 00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.719 And then verse 19 says, 00:36:46.139 --> 00:36:47.420 this Jesus said 00:36:47.420 --> 00:36:49.900 to show by what kind of death 00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:54.059 Peter was to glorify God. 00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:57.599 Please don't miss this. 00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.759 Here at the very end, 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:02.539 Jesus promises Peter 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:04.239 that he's going to end well. 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:07.460 That Peter's death 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:10.380 is going to glorify God. 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.759 Peter has that promise 00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:15.159 from Jesus' own lips. 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:16.920 And can I be honest here 00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:17.380 for a second? 00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:19.800 There are some days 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:21.579 where I long to have 00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.400 that same promise 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.820 from Jesus' own lips. 00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:25.820 You know those kind of days 00:37:25.820 --> 00:37:27.840 where things are not going well, 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:29.880 where you've messed up royally, 00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:31.300 when you're convicted 00:37:31.300 --> 00:37:32.440 over your own sin, 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:33.679 and you're just, 00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:34.400 you wonder, 00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:36.219 man, am I going to make it? 00:37:36.759 --> 00:37:37.679 Am I going to make it 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.460 to the finish line? 00:37:39.420 --> 00:37:39.759 And again, 00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:40.820 being really honest here, 00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.779 like as a minister 00:37:41.779 --> 00:37:42.400 of the gospel, 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:44.380 it is hard to see 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:45.340 those news headlines 00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:46.139 of ministers 00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:47.199 who I'm sure 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:48.199 went into ministry 00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:49.400 with great intent, 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:51.679 but at the very end, 00:37:51.759 --> 00:37:52.559 they don't end well. 00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.779 And you know 00:37:53.779 --> 00:37:54.639 who I'm talking about. 00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:56.679 Their names end up 00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:57.179 in the news 00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:57.860 and in the media. 00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:59.120 right? 00:38:01.240 --> 00:38:01.980 I know 00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.380 that apart from God's grace, 00:38:03.579 --> 00:38:04.460 that can be me. 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.660 And there are some days 00:38:06.660 --> 00:38:08.140 where I'm just longing 00:38:08.140 --> 00:38:09.480 for that assurance 00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:10.760 that I'm going to end well. 00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:14.420 I know what kind of day 00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:15.400 Peter was having 00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:18.420 on the Sea of Galilee 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:21.420 before Jesus showed up. 00:38:22.700 --> 00:38:23.400 And y'all, 00:38:23.720 --> 00:38:25.300 it was not the same day, 00:38:25.380 --> 00:38:26.340 the same kind of day 00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:27.940 after Jesus showed up. 00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:31.900 Because after Jesus showed up, 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:33.440 Peter has this assurance 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:35.920 that he will end well. 00:38:38.179 --> 00:38:39.019 And brothers, 00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:39.800 you and I, 00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:40.480 brothers and sisters, 00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:41.280 you and I 00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:43.179 have that same assurance 00:38:43.179 --> 00:38:45.000 from our Lord 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.780 and Savior Jesus. 00:38:47.659 --> 00:38:48.880 And so as I end, 00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:49.880 let me ask you this. 00:38:50.700 --> 00:38:52.019 Has Jesus shown up 00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:52.579 in your life? 00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.200 Have you heard 00:38:54.200 --> 00:38:55.139 his calling card? 00:38:55.139 --> 00:38:58.039 Has your hair ever stood 00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.579 on edge, 00:38:58.739 --> 00:38:59.400 on end, 00:38:59.739 --> 00:39:01.079 at the grace of his presence? 00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:04.480 Have you invited Jesus 00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:05.559 into those places 00:39:05.559 --> 00:39:06.679 of past failure? 00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:10.019 Have you heard 00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:11.519 Jesus' persistent 00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:12.420 knock, 00:39:12.819 --> 00:39:13.159 knock, 00:39:13.460 --> 00:39:13.900 knocking 00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:15.119 on the door 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:15.879 of your heart? 00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:18.779 If you can answer yes 00:39:18.779 --> 00:39:19.659 to those questions, 00:39:19.839 --> 00:39:21.579 then you need to rejoice. 00:39:21.579 --> 00:39:24.259 this is the best news 00:39:24.259 --> 00:39:25.199 there ever was. 00:39:25.639 --> 00:39:26.079 Rejoice. 00:39:27.199 --> 00:39:27.940 Have joy. 00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:29.259 And share that joy 00:39:29.259 --> 00:39:30.119 with someone. 00:39:30.319 --> 00:39:31.539 Go tell someone about this. 00:39:31.639 --> 00:39:32.340 This is amazing. 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:35.019 But if not, 00:39:35.079 --> 00:39:36.500 if you haven't experienced 00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:38.779 that sort of grace, 00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.719 a grace that's bigger 00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:40.480 than your failures, 00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:41.579 then please, 00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:42.480 would you hear 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:43.480 these words 00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:45.219 from Jesus' own mouth? 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:48.039 Jesus says, 00:39:48.279 --> 00:39:48.840 Behold, 00:39:48.960 --> 00:39:50.099 I stand at the door 00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:50.719 and knock. 00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:52.579 If anyone 00:39:52.579 --> 00:39:54.239 hears my voice 00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:56.000 and opens the door, 00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:58.119 I will come into him 00:39:58.119 --> 00:39:59.059 and eat with him 00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:01.259 and he with me. 00:40:03.420 --> 00:40:05.659 Peter heard that voice 00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:06.900 and opened the door. 00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:09.299 You all, 00:40:09.900 --> 00:40:11.699 you all have just heard 00:40:11.699 --> 00:40:12.639 that voice. 00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:14.880 Will you, too, 00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:16.719 open that door? 00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:19.339 Would you pray with me? 00:40:20.099 --> 00:40:25.739 Holy Spirit, 00:40:26.319 --> 00:40:28.679 I pray for all those 00:40:28.679 --> 00:40:29.339 in this room 00:40:29.339 --> 00:40:30.639 who have heard your voice, 00:40:31.059 --> 00:40:32.839 who want to open the door, 00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:34.699 but don't know how. 00:40:36.279 --> 00:40:37.679 Would you rush 00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:38.900 into them right now? 00:40:40.360 --> 00:40:42.119 Would you overwhelm them 00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:44.099 with your grace 00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:45.599 that is bigger 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:46.639 than their failures? 00:40:46.639 --> 00:40:49.039 and would you, 00:40:49.139 --> 00:40:49.639 Holy Spirit, 00:40:49.819 --> 00:40:50.819 comfort and convince 00:40:50.819 --> 00:40:51.819 all of us 00:40:51.819 --> 00:40:54.500 of your presence 00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:56.079 and your persistence? 00:40:58.359 --> 00:40:59.339 We long 00:40:59.339 --> 00:41:01.119 for you to heal us 00:41:01.119 --> 00:41:03.659 and we ask 00:41:03.659 --> 00:41:04.879 all of these things 00:41:04.879 --> 00:41:06.619 in Jesus' powerful name. 00:41:07.500 --> 00:41:07.799 Amen. 00:41:07.799 --> 00:41:07.940 Amen. 00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:08.000 Amen. 00:41:08.119 --> 00:41:08.940 Amen. 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:09.000 Amen. 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:09.079 Amen. 00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:09.099 Amen. 00:41:09.099 --> 00:41:10.000 Amen. 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.940 Amen. 00:41:10.940 --> 00:41:11.000 Amen. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:12.000 Amen. 00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:12.039 Amen. 00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:12.980 Amen. 00:41:12.980 --> 00:41:13.039 Amen. 00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:13.099 Amen. 00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:13.119 Amen.