Published 05/16/2018 by

Breakfast with Jesus (Part 2 – The Reconciliation)

Scripture Reading: John 21:15-19

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’”—John 21:15

After Jesus directed the disciples to the massive catch of fish, they recognized it was the Lord who had spoken to them and they made their way to the shore. The disciples arrived to find Jesus preparing breakfast over a coal fire. Once breakfast was done, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Three times Peter responded yes. Three times Jesus told Peter to tend His sheep.

Peter and the other disciples present recognized Jesus was addressing Peter’s denial the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. The Gospels tell us Peter wept bitterly after his denial. Undoubtedly, the hurt and shame of his denial remained etched in Peter’s heart and mind. Understanding Peter’s wounds, Jesus provides Peter an opportunity to clear the air and attest to his love for the Lord.

The way Jesus went about restoring Peter gives us a lesson in reconciliation. Jesus did not make the reconciliation about Himself by reminding Peter what he had done or how Peter made Him feel. Jesus did not resort to “I told you so” or lecture Peter on his brash promises to go to prison or death with Jesus. Instead, Jesus made Peter’s restoration about healing a disciple’s wounds. Jesus redirected the guilt and shame of Peter’s failures in the past into positive expectations for the future—if you love me, feed my sheep. Jesus was giving Peter a second chance.

Sometimes, reconciliation requires absolving ourselves of the right to be right; and even more, the right to remind others that we are right. Reconciliation truly means restoring relationships back to their original position without the stigma of past failures. Real reconciliation involves learning from the past without rehearsing or rehashing the errors of the past. We achieve reconciliation when we offer others hope for the future instead of shackling them to the failures of their past.

Jesus did not devote time to reminding Peter of his failures; Peter’s guilt and shame had done that already. Jesus’ words and attitude liberated Peter from shame and guilt, transforming Peter from a wounded, heartbroken disciple to a powerful voice to the new Church. Who do we need to initiate reconciliation with today by giving them words of encouragement and hope?  

Lesson to Remember: Reconciliation can happen when you give up the right to remind others you were right.
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”—2 Corinthians 5:18-19

                                   

 

Archives

Pages

Author@Strengthenedby