Meals with Jesus - Peter

Sunday, September 20, 2009 | |

Sermon Series: Meals with Jesus

Sermon Title: Jesus’ Meal with Peter (1 of 4)

Teacher: Tim Keller

Date: 423A, December 4, 2005

Verse: John 4:21-32

Brief notes taken by Shane Eckert



My take-away from this sermon:

It’s not despite my failures and my shortcomings that I may be a better tool in God’s hands, it is because of them. This is more than just poetic; it is fact and this sermon shows how Jesus tells Peter, someone I relate to, how to “plunge his failures into God’s grace” so that he may be used of God.


Open with Quote from Ann Rice

N.T Wrights book points out the wisdom of Jesus does not fit myth prose. For example the notation of 153 fish. 153 is not symbolic, nor is it for realism, that was not the style then in fact that style of narrative had not yet been invented. This is therefore a fact, an eyewitness account. So it happened. But what does it mean. (Peter threw jacket on before jumping into the water – why note that since people usually take clothes off to jump in the water – because it was an actual event) What is he trying to teach?


God and sinners reconciled – this is made concrete in this verse.

I. Reconciled to each other

Verse 4 – 7 disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus on the shore. (Luke Ch. 5 same thing had happened) John realizes that it is the lord. We note that in the boat that these people were totally different.

a. Credulous Nathaniel – points out under the fig tree. Believes to quickly.

b. Thomas is opposite, does not believe. Has to see the hands of Jesus. Cynical. (Interesting observation, would not a resurrected man have his scars and wounds healed, interesting that Thomas wanted to see the scars on Jesus’ hands)

These two are in the boat together! Talk about being with people you do not get along with or have something in common with.

c. John is rational. He figures it is Jesus – he thinks before he acts.

d. Peter is the first one to do something about it. Peter is less thinking and more doing and acting on impulse.


God will bring people together, who would otherwise despise each other. He brings them together in unity. Jesus does this. (Also see Eph 2)


Cites the Apostle’s Creed. Starts of with “I believe”. Faith required. The apostles creed says, you have to believe in the church. It takes a lot of faith to be in a church, you have to believe and act as if it is true that God will make the supernatural community work.


II. Reconciled to ourselves

Jesus reconciles us to ourselves. James chapter 4 talks about fighting’s outside coming form fighting’s inside. All of us without God’s help are disillusioned. We spend our lives pretending we are something else. We cannot be transparent to others until we are transparent with ourselves.

Peter was a part of the inner circle. Peter was also out of touch with reality. He was caught up in the way he looked to the outside world. He swore that if all fell away that he would stay close to Jesus. None of the others said anything like that. They were more in touch with who they were. Basically saying that the other 11 do not love Jesus as much as he did. But as we all know, Peter publicly denies Christ.


Jesus brings Peter back to the fire. Verse 15 - Jesus asked Peter if he truly loved Him. Jesus asks him three times. Recounts three-fold form, content, setting. Jesus requires the end of fantasy, he wants reality. He is twisting the knife but it is the knife of a surgeon. Jesus wants Peter to see the love and affirmation that He can give to Peter.


“Plunge your failure into my grace and it will make you greater than you were before”


Dick Lucas – retired British minister. Teaching on John 21. Was supposed to do a Christian life conference. Pastor invited the students to get counseling from Dick. He was a life long bachelor and old Englishman. Was not the fondest of kids. Listening over and over again to teen girls talk about boys that did not even know they exist. He was getting tired of hearing it and turned to the bible for strength. He read “Feed my lambs” from John 21. You get nothing out of feeding a lamb, unlike say a cat who at least snuggles you. There is no benefit from feeding sheep, you have to have that kind of heart! Patient and loving, moving into relationships for your own needs and desires, but doing so out of tender kindness. Jesus says we need to understand that we are moral messes that need to plunge into Jesus. Reconciled to the reality of who we are.


III. Reconciled to God

So how do we get plunged into grace? (Verily, Verily – AMEN, AMEN)

You cannot hug someone with out stretching your arms out, but that means vulnerability. Same with relationships, you have to risk getting hurt by being vulnerable.


Double entendre

Stretching out arms = vulnerability and embrace

Greek says Stretching out arms = crucifixion.


Just as I had my arms open for you, to that degree you will be able go into the world with arms open. In fact Peter would be so good at it, he would die as a shepherd for his sheep.

Peter is now a personality restructured by grace.


“If you are a sinner saved by grace, now failure is not means of psychological death but a means of spiritual and personal growth.”


Fly to Jesus the way Peter flew to Jesus. For example peter did not wait for the boat to stop, he just jumped out. And keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus tells Peter he will die for him, and peter says “what about him?” and points to anther disciple. Jesus basically says, stop worrying about others and comparing yourself. I have a plan for them, keep your eyes on me not on them. Stop looking at them, look at me.


As Aslan tells the young King in Narina, I only tell you your story not the other person’s story.


End in prayer.


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