Trinity pines
Failure John 21: 1-19
What do people typically do when people fail:
1) We go back to the familiar. What we knew. Eg in John: fishing.
After becoming Christian, it gets harder, more convicted, maybe conflict in church, falling out of relationship...then maybe just want to call out old college groups, old friends, go back to what they knew before. When Jesus died, disciples: Go back to fishing. "It's over. Lets go fishing. But caught nothing."
Cast your net on to the other side... like "did you turn it on? 🤔"
When they went back to what they were good at, the Lord graciously draws Peter back to Him and reveals himself. Failure is seeing Jesus in a new setting. Is Jesus still gracious and loving when we are the bottom. The more we fail, the more Jesus reveals himself. Show mercy, love.
Asked Peter do you love me? (Diff words of love, flock/sheep). Jesus is trying to bring him back to the point of failure. Jesus is maneuvering Peter back to the night when he failed Jesus. Charcoal fire: only other time mentioned was John 18 when Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times. So Jesus asking if Peter lives 3 times matches the 3 times of denying Jesus. Bringing Peter back to the moment of failure so we can feel full restoration. When feel full weight of our failure, so we can feel fullness of grace, salvation, forgiveness.
Apologize in our culture is downplaying the wrong: im sorry. No worries, no biggie, dont even mention it. But Biblical way is opposite: you really screwed up, that was wrong...but in Christ you are forgiven.
So we can experience fullness of forgiveness. Counseling is what this is about. Take months to confront memory/reality. Hard because everything about us don't want to go back to that moment.
4 statements Jesus says:
1) How's that working for you?
Not why you doing that?
Its a great counseling technique?
Someone can being doing something harmful for career or relationship and want to control them.... J just asks how is that happening for you? Is it actually good?
I want to spare Christians all the paths to failure, but that's not how it works...
2) I have an idea. You can try going back to church? When you are fully out of options...
Be open when they are willing.
3) Bring me what you have.
Here: fish
Jesus already had fire, fish, bread. Doesn't need it, but he invites us to participate. Do together as disciple.
Not perfect, but bring what you do have. Eg ppl think not good enough to go to church, but ask them to bring themselves anyways.
4) Let's eat together.
Something about food and fellowship.
Many times forgive, but dont hang out. Forgive, but not want to be same small group/sit together. But when Jesus restores us, he goes back to eating and same table. Lord specific about going to tables of tax collectors, etc.
When we hit rock bottom, he will say these 4 things.
Feel full weight of our failure so we can celebrate the great joy of our salvation.
Pruning:
When do we need pruning?
Can be pruning what we see as good things in our life, but allow us to be more fruitful. Be better at making disciples.
