March 17, 2025 • 28 mins
Chapter 22 of Heroes in the Bible: Jesus with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by the Gospels.
Do You Love Me? - Jesus restores Peter. Alone and ashamed, Peter sits on his boat awaiting his fate… Until he hears a familiar voice.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by John 21:15, So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon, Peter, Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He
said unto him, yea Lord, thou knowest that I love
thee He saith unto him, feed my lambs look twenty
one fifteen. Thank you, Jesus, that you use broken people
(00:27):
to do mighty things. As I look at the life
of Thomas, he represents the areas in my life where
I have doubt and fear. He represents the areas in
my life where I begin to question whether or not
the promises will come to pass in my life. However,
(00:47):
through Thomas, I also see the goodness of the Lord,
and that you are not taken back or angered by
my moments of doubt, but instead you feel compassion and
provide ways for me to lay hold of and to
put my hands on the truth of your word. Through Peter,
(01:09):
I see that you give me many chances to regain
my position and my honor within your kingdom, And like Peter,
I will not miss my opportunity to proclaim your goodness
and your love to the entire world. With each opportunity
of open doors that you bring me, I realize it
(01:30):
is you asking if I love you enough to walk
through them and give you glory in all that I do,
And to that I say yes. I say that I
am ready to represent you, Jesus with all of my heart.
I realize that my time has come. I realize that
(01:52):
the days of being afraid are gone. And I realize
and I realize I am ready for what's next in Jesus' name. Amen.
Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the Greatest Stories Ever
Told from pray dot COM's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evan je host for Heroes in
the Bible Jesus. If you've been enjoying this series, please
write a review and let me know how this podcast
has impacted your life. Welcome to the greatest story ever told.
It is a story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep,
a father's love for his children, and a hero's triumph
over death and darkness. This is a story that continues
(02:39):
to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the
divine heart of God right into the hearts of you
and me. This episode is Jesus's final act of healing
on Earth. He spent a great deal of time during
his ministry, healing the sick, lame, and blind. He cleansed
lepers and closed up a woman's bleeding. He even brought
(03:00):
people back from the dead. But this healing is special,
unlike any other we have seen before. Beside a fire
on the sandy coast of the sea, Jesus is going
to restore a broken heart. This episode will take us
back to the beginning, where the seas of Galilee gently
bobed Peter's boat up and down. Simular sights, sounds, and
(03:21):
smells were into the story to remind us of a
more innocent time. Peter is about to be taken on
a journey back to the past so he can move
on to the future. Our prelude today once again brings
us back to King David, only this story takes place
before he ruled over anything but a sheep pasture. Before
David slew giants and defeated armies, he was a lowly shepherd.
(03:44):
Beside the tall swaying grass and underneath the shade of
a cypress tree, David strummed the sweet melody for the Lord.
His words soothed billions of hearts like Peter's lost and
alone needing to be brought back to the heart of
their good shepherd. I pray this episode restores your heart
as well. Here is episode twenty two, Do You Love Me.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Praylude Chapter twenty two. David sat in the tall grasp,
looking down at the sheep grazing below the hill. He
sat with his back against a cypress tree, strumming his arm.
The melody was soft and filled with emotion. The sweet
(04:34):
melody seemed to make the grass dance slowly. As the
sun set behind them, the sheep began to fall asleep.
As night came, David sang to the sheep below. The
Lord is my shepherd. I shall want for nothing else
(04:54):
but him. He makes me lie down in lush pastures,
and he leads me beside peaceful waters.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
He restores my soul.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
David's strumming was methodical. Its sound was like sweet incense
rising up to the Lord. David continued to sing into
the night.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, there is no evil I will fear, for
you are with me. Your rod and shepherd's staff comfort me.
(05:49):
You prepare a table before me, in the presence of
my enemies. You anointed me with oil, and my cup
overflows with your blessing. All the sheep had fallen asleep,
and David played with unwavering faith to the God of
(06:10):
his heart. He looked at the stars and breathed in deeply.
With a final note, David raised his voice to the
heavens and sang, Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me
all my life, and I will dwell in the House
(06:31):
of the Lord forever.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
Amen.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
David knew that the heart of God was like a
shepherd for his sheep, and the quiet and stillness of
night David connected to his Lord. Yet David did not
know that his song to the Lord was prophetic. In
his song, David sang of a greater shepherd that would
(06:59):
rise and lead his sheep to still waters. He would
restore their weary souls and lead them in paths of righteousness.
This shepherd would lay his life down for his sheep,
and through him they would dwell in the House of
the Lord forever. Chapter twenty two, Do you love me regret?
(07:29):
This was the sickness that consumed Peter day and night.
It was like a knot in his stomach that could
not be untied. The memories of denying Jesus flashed in
his mind like a nightmare. Although Jesus was alive, he
did not have the courage to speak to him when
(07:52):
he first appeared. How could I possibly face Jesus after
what I did, Peter thought to himself. A gentle wind
came in from the Sea of Tiberius. Peter sat on
a ledge overlooking the waters. The sun was setting, creating
a burnt hue over the glassy horizon. It was perfect
(08:17):
sailing weather. An evening was the perfect time to fish.
Peter breathed in deeply. He had conceded to the reality
he would never be anything more than a fisherman. His
dreams of proclaiming the Kingdom of God had shattered the
night he sat by the fire and denied Jesus to
(08:38):
a little girl. Even if Jesus is alive, he doesn't
want to use me, Peter thought. A few yards away
sat Nathaniel, Thomas, James, and John. Peter stood to his
feet and began walking towards the shore. Where are you going,
John shouted. Peter didn't look back. He waved his hand
(09:01):
and yelled fishing, and continued down the rocks towards his boat.
The four others joined him. As the sun set over
the gleaming sea, the Disciples set sail. The four other
men laughed into the night, sharing stories of Jesus's ministry
and dreaming about the future. Peter remained silent, staring at
(09:25):
the stars above. He threw his nets over the side
of the boat and waited nothing. For a few weeks.
Now Peter had barely caught anything. I can't even fish,
Peter whispered, what's the point? He rested his head against
the mast. The four others were casting nets on their
(09:46):
sides of the boat as well. Together they casted, tugged,
and recasted. However, none of them were able to catch anything.
What do you think Jesus will do now that he
has returned, James asked the others. Maybe he will show
himself at the temple. Could you imagine the look on
Caiaphas's face, John chuckled. The rest of them laughed. They
(10:09):
speculated throughout the night, wondering when Jesus would show himself again.
It all still seemed like a dream.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
All I know is that I will follow him.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
To the end. Thomas said, I'm done doubting.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
He has proven to be faithful, so I will be
faithful in return.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Thomas's words felt like a knife in Peter's side. It
was too dark for the others to see tears streaming
down his face. The boat rocked up and down, and
the disciples continued their vain attempts at catching fish. Peter
remembered the first time he witnessed the graciousness of Jesus.
(10:53):
He had fished all night and caught nothing, Yet Jesus
wanted to go out for a catch. Anyways. Peter obeyed,
and that day they caught more fish than the boat
could handle. Peter remembered the feeling of shame he felt
in Jesus's presence. He was a lowly fisherman. What right
(11:14):
did he have to stand before the son of God?
Yet even so, Jesus accepted him and gave him purpose.
Peter closed his eyes and allowed the boat to gently
rock him to sleep. The sound of creaking wood and
splashing water was a familiar lullaby. That night, Peter dreamt
(11:38):
of Jesus. He remembered the smile on his face when
he hurled in the last catch He remembered the flashes
of Jesus's glory on the Mountain of Transfiguration. In Peter's
heart of hearts. He longed to be restored to Jesus's
side once again, but there was still far too much
(11:59):
shame and captive. Dawn was breaking and Peter awoke to
the gulls flying overhead. The morning light was ascending over
the east side of the sea, breaking up the morning fog.
Peter rose to his feet and checked the nets. Still
no fish. He ran his fingers through his hair, tying
(12:21):
it back into a knot. Peter rolled up his sleeves
and brought the nets back into the boat. The oir
the disciples woke up shortly after and began to row
back to shore. Just one hundred yards away from the beach,
Thomas could see a figure waving at them. The sun
was behind him, making it impossible to see his face.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
My children, the voice shouted, did you catch any fish?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
No, sir, We toiled into the night and caught nothing.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
The tides must not have been on our side, James
shouted back.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
Try again. The strained replied, cast your nets on the
right side of the boat.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
I think you may find some.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
James rolled his eyes. They were tired and discouraged from
a night of no fish. However, perhaps the tide had
shifted in their favor, so the disciples took their nets
and cast it on the right side of the boat.
The water was flat and still. The disciples waited in
(13:26):
silence for something to happen. A few moments passed and
Peter was growing frustrated. Just as he was about to
grab the nets to pull them back in, he could
hear the sound of tugging rope. The men stood back,
and the nets stiffened and pulled against the side of
the boat. The vessel began to lean towards the right,
(13:49):
and the men leapt for the nets, trying to tug
them back in. Fish filled the nets to the brim.
There were so many that the disciples could not even
pull them in. James and Nathaniel were laughing. Thomas stood
over them with his hands on his head in disbelief. However,
John was peering at the shore. As the sun rose
(14:11):
slightly higher, he could see the figure standing in the distance.
John's jaw fell to the ground. He stood to his
feet and smiled ear to ear. He pointed to the
horizon and shouted, it's him, it's the Lord. Peter released
his grip on the net and looked out. Standing near
the water was Jesus. He wore his familiar grin and
(14:36):
waved towards the boat. Peter's heart stopped. He remembered the
time Jesus stood on the waters and called out to Peter.
He remembered how his gaze left Jesus and he sank
to the bottom of the ocean. That is what he
did beside the fire the night Jesus was taken. He
(14:57):
took his eyes off Jesus. That is why he denied
him three times. Peter understood now it wasn't perseverance or
skill that would save him. It was fixing his gaze
solely on Jesus. Without another second of thinking, Peter dove
head first into the water. Peter remained underneath for a
(15:19):
moment with his eyes closed, having flashbacks of drowning before
Jesus rescued him. He opened his eyes and saw the
sun peeking through the top of the water. Peter's heart
beat swiftly and he swam ashore. His large arms chopped
through the water and his legs kicked with vigor. He
couldn't wait for the boat to be dark. He had
(15:42):
to see Jesus. Peter finally made his way to the beach.
His clothes were soaked, and it turned out the boat
had beat him to the shore. Peter scanned the beach
for Jesus. He was sitting by a charcoal fire, waiting
for the disciples to bring in the fish. Peter ran
to the boat and hauled the net off the boat.
(16:04):
Panting with water dripping from his clothes, Peter ran to
where Jesus was sitting. He dropped the fish beside him
and paused. Peter looked at that fire. He had seen
that dark charcoal before. It had a special scent that
brought back many memories. The charcoal Jesus used to start
(16:27):
the fire was unique. It was the same charcoal used
for the fires beside the temple where Peter denied Jesus.
Peter stood over the fire for a long moment. His
clothes were sopping wet and dripped on to the sand below.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
Will you sit with me and enjoy some breakfast, Peter.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Jesus asked. Peter looked Jesus in the eye and nodded.
All the disciples sat down and ate. However, Peter just
stared at Jesus, looking for the right words to say.
They finished eating silently by the fire. The sun was
now high in the sky, yet Peter was still shivering
(17:11):
from the damp clothes draped on his back. He was
lost in thought, staring blankly at the fire. Jesus looked
up from across the coals and said.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
Simon, son of John.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Peter looked up. It had been a long time since
Jesus called him Simon. Jesus looked deeply into the fisherman's
eyes and asked, do you love me? Peter met Christ's gaze,
the flickering flames reflected in his eyes. Yes, Lord, you
know that I love you, Peter answered. Jesus nodded and
(17:45):
poked the charcoal with a stick.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Then feed my lamps, he replied.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
The black smoke rose high into the air. Peter hated
the smell of it. It reminded him of his sins.
He could still hear the echoes of the rooster's call
in his mind.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Jesus asked again. This time Peter paused before answering. He
considered the question. Did he truly love Jesus. If so,
then why did he fall asleep when Jesus wanted him
to pray? If he loved him, then why did he
deny him three times? Peter sighed and thought deeply. He
(18:30):
raised his head and looked at Jesus. Although his actions
did not fully express it, Peter knew the answer. Yes, Lord,
you know that I love you. Jesus's gaze did not
leave Peters.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
If you love me, tend to my sheep, he answered.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
The tension was thick enough to run a blade through
the Other disciples merely watched and listened silently as Jesus
asked Peter a third time. This time, Jesus's tone was
serious and filled with intensity.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Peter fell to his knees. Jesus had now asked three times,
the same amount of times he denied him. He placed
his hands in his face and wept. The rest of
the disciples listened to the sound of his sobs and
the crackling of the fire. Peter looked up to see
Jesus's compassionate smile. Peter wiped his tears and nodded his head. Lord,
(19:38):
you know all things, You know my heart, and you
know my mind. You have searched me and known me.
You know that I love you. Jesus nodded and stood
to his feet. He knelt down to Peter and placed
his hand on his shoulder. Jesus held it firmly and said,
then feed my sheep. In that moment, Peter felt the
(20:03):
full weight of grace fall upon him like a tidal wave.
He breathed in deep and felt the burden of shame
melt away. He embraced Jesus and wept on his shoulder.
Jesus had restored Peter, although he denied him, there would
be no condemnation for those who loved him. Peter's heart
(20:28):
was filled with the spirit of God. He had finally
realized why Jesus died on that cross. His sins were
heavy like an anchor on his soul, Yet Jesus was
able to take it upon himself so Peter would not
have to. Peter was now empowered to run without the
(20:49):
burden of shame. Jesus helped Peter to his feet and
took him alone to the water. Together they walked and
spoke as friends. The two of them stopped and looked
out on the water. They watched as the gulls doove
head first into the water to snatch up fish. Still
(21:09):
looking out, Jesus spoke to Peter, saying, when you.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
Were young, you were used to doing as you pleased.
You dressed yourself and walked wherever you wanted. You followed
your own desires, Peter. Yet now you no longer have
that freedom. You are called by me. That means you
will be taken where you do not wish to go.
You will be carried out as I was. Will you
(21:34):
still follow me?
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Peter turned to look at Jesus. He would no longer
deny him. He nodded, ready to receive whatever death awaited
him because of Jesus. Peter turned back to the fire.
John and the other disciples were still eating and talking
amongst themselves. What about John, Peter asked, what is his faith?
(21:59):
Jesus looked back at John. His young smile was infectious.
Jesus grinned and patted Peter on the back.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
My plans for John, and under your concern, he may
remain until I return once again. Yet that is not
for you to know. You follow me and the gifts
and callings I have given you, Peter.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Peter nodded, John and Peter would both suffer for the
sake of Christ. Peter would march up a hill with
his own cross and hang upside down. John would be
exiled to rot away on an island. Yet before these
things would happen, they would see the world forever changed
(22:39):
by the power of God's spirit. They will be called
as shepherds to tend Jesus's sheep. Together they would witness
and usher in the beginning of Christ's church. These lowly
fishermen from the back country of Galilee would be used
to usher in the glory of God himself. Yet it
(23:02):
all began with following the good shepherd Jesus.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
We were taken back to where it all began. For
Peter before his name was Peter, before he even knew Jesus,
just rocking on a boat with his head against the mask.
Frustrated after a night of no fish, Peter was attempting
to return to his old life. The shamey experience caused
him to return to what was comfortable and familiar. When
you and I experience pain and shame, and we have
(23:33):
no one to blame but ourselves, we tend to shrink
back and retreat to old habits. We find comfort in
our old lifestyles, relationships, and sins that gave us security,
even though we hated who we were during that time
of our lives. It's a human universal to slip back
into old habits when things get tough. Something about us
wants to burrow back into sin when we sense danger
(23:55):
or discomfort. For Peter, it was shame that led him
back to the fishing boat. While the other men dreamed
about their futures with Jesus, Peter was still reeling from
the past. Shame is paralyzing. When we define ourselves based
on our past mistakes, we keep ourselves from stepping forward.
We chain ourselves to our sins as self punishment. We
(24:16):
put ourselves in a prison of our own insecurity because
we think we deserve it. That is what Peter was
doing this whole time. He thought his sins disqualified him
from the love and favor of God. Have you done
this to yourself? Are you unable to forgive yourself and
move on from what you've done? Peter was in the
same boat, no pun intended. He gave up on his
(24:36):
dreams and put himself on time out. But Jesus was
on the shore ready to bring him back in. Jesus
first got Peter's attention through fishing. Do you remember episode
six when Jesus caused his boat to overflow with fish?
We shouldn't leave, Simon, Peter said, it's hopeless. He stood
up to begin unwrapping the sails. Then as Simon stood up,
(24:58):
he heard a slight tight of the rope behind him.
Simon froze. His eyes widened as he looked back slowly.
The nets were tightening at a fast pace, so fast
that if Simon did not act quickly, they would break.
He dole for the nets as they were being dragged
off the side of the boat. Andrew and Jesus leaped
(25:18):
forward to help him. Together they dragged the net out
of the water. As they pulled, Simon could see thousands
of fish being drawn into the boat. The three of
them laughed as they continued to bring in fish. Peter
yelled for James and John to come close to them
so they could draw more in. The men were screaming
with delight. Both the boats were filled with fish. It
(25:39):
was the most joy Simon had felt in years, Yet
his smile quickly faded as the other men cheered. Simon
looked at Jesus. His eyes began to water. He fell
to his knees depart from me. Lord Simon said he
felt so much shame for the life he had been living.
He had so much bitterness and anger within him. He
felt unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus. I
(26:01):
am a sinful man, O Lord, I am not worthy. Sometimes,
in order to realize our future, we have to face
our past. We have to revisit parts of our lives
we would rather forget. There are wounds that have not healed,
sins you have not repented of, and mistakes you haven't
learned from. Peter's past flashed before his eyes the first
(26:21):
time Jesus captured his heart, the moment he walked on
water and sank, and the transfiguration raced in his mind.
All those moments came back to Peter like a whirlwind.
He needed to deal with them, or else he would drown.
Jesus took Peter on a journey in order to restore
Peter and empower him for the future. He made him
face his past. Jesus invited Peter to sit down with
(26:44):
him by the fire. This was the second time Scripture
mentioned the charcoal fire. It was the same type of
coals that warmed Peter when he denied Jesus. The smell
of the fire brought back old memories, emotions, and images
from that dreadful Nightesus was lovingly making Peter face his shame.
With the memories of his betrayal fresh in his mind.
(27:05):
Peter was asked a simple question, Simon, son of John,
do you love me? Peter answered as honestly as he could, Yes, Lord,
you know I love you. Jesus then gave Peter a charge.
If you love me, then ten to my sheep. Jesus
asked the same question three times, and each time Peter answered,
(27:27):
Jesus commissioned him with something tend to my sheep, Feed
my lambs, feed my sheep. Jesus allowed Peter the chance
to declare his love for him. Then he commissioned Peter
with a beautiful calling to tend to the flock of God.
There is no restoration without dealing with the past, but
(27:48):
there is also no restoration without a dream for the future.
Jesus led Peter through a process of healing by forgiving
him of his past and commissioning him for his future.
Jesus have the heart of a shepherd. Before calling Peter
to be a shepherd, he tended to him with gentleness
and love. In our next episode, Jesus will commission the
(28:09):
rest of his disciples. His time on earth is coming
to an end, as is our series on the life
of Jesus. Join us next time for our twenty third
and final episode. Go therefore, thanks again for listening. For
more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and wisdom to last a lifetime,
go to pray dot com. And to expand your heroes
(28:30):
in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith
devotional at Tonyevans dot org Forward slash Heroes. Please write
a review and let me know how Jesus and this
podcast have impacted your life. God bless
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon, Peter, Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He
said unto him, yea Lord, thou knowest that I love
thee He saith unto him, feed my lambs look twenty
one fifteen. Thank you, Jesus, that you use broken people
(00:27):
to do mighty things. As I look at the life
of Thomas, he represents the areas in my life where
I have doubt and fear. He represents the areas in
my life where I begin to question whether or not
the promises will come to pass in my life. However,
(00:47):
through Thomas, I also see the goodness of the Lord,
and that you are not taken back or angered by
my moments of doubt, but instead you feel compassion and
provide ways for me to lay hold of and to
put my hands on the truth of your word. Through Peter,
(01:09):
I see that you give me many chances to regain
my position and my honor within your kingdom, And like Peter,
I will not miss my opportunity to proclaim your goodness
and your love to the entire world. With each opportunity
of open doors that you bring me, I realize it
(01:30):
is you asking if I love you enough to walk
through them and give you glory in all that I do,
And to that I say yes. I say that I
am ready to represent you, Jesus with all of my heart.
I realize that my time has come. I realize that
(01:52):
the days of being afraid are gone. And I realize
and I realize I am ready for what's next in Jesus' name. Amen.
Stay tuned to immerse yourself in the Greatest Stories Ever
Told from pray dot COM's podcast, Heroes in the Bible.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evan je host for Heroes in
the Bible Jesus. If you've been enjoying this series, please
write a review and let me know how this podcast
has impacted your life. Welcome to the greatest story ever told.
It is a story of a shepherd's heart for his sheep,
a father's love for his children, and a hero's triumph
over death and darkness. This is a story that continues
(02:39):
to shape and mold the world around us, bringing the
divine heart of God right into the hearts of you
and me. This episode is Jesus's final act of healing
on Earth. He spent a great deal of time during
his ministry, healing the sick, lame, and blind. He cleansed
lepers and closed up a woman's bleeding. He even brought
(03:00):
people back from the dead. But this healing is special,
unlike any other we have seen before. Beside a fire
on the sandy coast of the sea, Jesus is going
to restore a broken heart. This episode will take us
back to the beginning, where the seas of Galilee gently
bobed Peter's boat up and down. Simular sights, sounds, and
(03:21):
smells were into the story to remind us of a
more innocent time. Peter is about to be taken on
a journey back to the past so he can move
on to the future. Our prelude today once again brings
us back to King David, only this story takes place
before he ruled over anything but a sheep pasture. Before
David slew giants and defeated armies, he was a lowly shepherd.
(03:44):
Beside the tall swaying grass and underneath the shade of
a cypress tree, David strummed the sweet melody for the Lord.
His words soothed billions of hearts like Peter's lost and
alone needing to be brought back to the heart of
their good shepherd. I pray this episode restores your heart
as well. Here is episode twenty two, Do You Love Me.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Praylude Chapter twenty two. David sat in the tall grasp,
looking down at the sheep grazing below the hill. He
sat with his back against a cypress tree, strumming his arm.
The melody was soft and filled with emotion. The sweet
(04:34):
melody seemed to make the grass dance slowly. As the
sun set behind them, the sheep began to fall asleep.
As night came, David sang to the sheep below. The
Lord is my shepherd. I shall want for nothing else
(04:54):
but him. He makes me lie down in lush pastures,
and he leads me beside peaceful waters.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
He restores my soul.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
David's strumming was methodical. Its sound was like sweet incense
rising up to the Lord. David continued to sing into
the night.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, there is no evil I will fear, for
you are with me. Your rod and shepherd's staff comfort me.
(05:49):
You prepare a table before me, in the presence of
my enemies. You anointed me with oil, and my cup
overflows with your blessing. All the sheep had fallen asleep,
and David played with unwavering faith to the God of
(06:10):
his heart. He looked at the stars and breathed in deeply.
With a final note, David raised his voice to the
heavens and sang, Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me
all my life, and I will dwell in the House
(06:31):
of the Lord forever.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
Amen.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
David knew that the heart of God was like a
shepherd for his sheep, and the quiet and stillness of
night David connected to his Lord. Yet David did not
know that his song to the Lord was prophetic. In
his song, David sang of a greater shepherd that would
(06:59):
rise and lead his sheep to still waters. He would
restore their weary souls and lead them in paths of righteousness.
This shepherd would lay his life down for his sheep,
and through him they would dwell in the House of
the Lord forever. Chapter twenty two, Do you love me regret?
(07:29):
This was the sickness that consumed Peter day and night.
It was like a knot in his stomach that could
not be untied. The memories of denying Jesus flashed in
his mind like a nightmare. Although Jesus was alive, he
did not have the courage to speak to him when
(07:52):
he first appeared. How could I possibly face Jesus after
what I did, Peter thought to himself. A gentle wind
came in from the Sea of Tiberius. Peter sat on
a ledge overlooking the waters. The sun was setting, creating
a burnt hue over the glassy horizon. It was perfect
(08:17):
sailing weather. An evening was the perfect time to fish.
Peter breathed in deeply. He had conceded to the reality
he would never be anything more than a fisherman. His
dreams of proclaiming the Kingdom of God had shattered the
night he sat by the fire and denied Jesus to
(08:38):
a little girl. Even if Jesus is alive, he doesn't
want to use me, Peter thought. A few yards away
sat Nathaniel, Thomas, James, and John. Peter stood to his
feet and began walking towards the shore. Where are you going,
John shouted. Peter didn't look back. He waved his hand
(09:01):
and yelled fishing, and continued down the rocks towards his boat.
The four others joined him. As the sun set over
the gleaming sea, the Disciples set sail. The four other
men laughed into the night, sharing stories of Jesus's ministry
and dreaming about the future. Peter remained silent, staring at
(09:25):
the stars above. He threw his nets over the side
of the boat and waited nothing. For a few weeks.
Now Peter had barely caught anything. I can't even fish,
Peter whispered, what's the point? He rested his head against
the mast. The four others were casting nets on their
(09:46):
sides of the boat as well. Together they casted, tugged,
and recasted. However, none of them were able to catch anything.
What do you think Jesus will do now that he
has returned, James asked the others. Maybe he will show
himself at the temple. Could you imagine the look on
Caiaphas's face, John chuckled. The rest of them laughed. They
(10:09):
speculated throughout the night, wondering when Jesus would show himself again.
It all still seemed like a dream.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
All I know is that I will follow him.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
To the end. Thomas said, I'm done doubting.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
He has proven to be faithful, so I will be
faithful in return.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Thomas's words felt like a knife in Peter's side. It
was too dark for the others to see tears streaming
down his face. The boat rocked up and down, and
the disciples continued their vain attempts at catching fish. Peter
remembered the first time he witnessed the graciousness of Jesus.
(10:53):
He had fished all night and caught nothing, Yet Jesus
wanted to go out for a catch. Anyways. Peter obeyed,
and that day they caught more fish than the boat
could handle. Peter remembered the feeling of shame he felt
in Jesus's presence. He was a lowly fisherman. What right
(11:14):
did he have to stand before the son of God?
Yet even so, Jesus accepted him and gave him purpose.
Peter closed his eyes and allowed the boat to gently
rock him to sleep. The sound of creaking wood and
splashing water was a familiar lullaby. That night, Peter dreamt
(11:38):
of Jesus. He remembered the smile on his face when
he hurled in the last catch He remembered the flashes
of Jesus's glory on the Mountain of Transfiguration. In Peter's
heart of hearts. He longed to be restored to Jesus's
side once again, but there was still far too much
(11:59):
shame and captive. Dawn was breaking and Peter awoke to
the gulls flying overhead. The morning light was ascending over
the east side of the sea, breaking up the morning fog.
Peter rose to his feet and checked the nets. Still
no fish. He ran his fingers through his hair, tying
(12:21):
it back into a knot. Peter rolled up his sleeves
and brought the nets back into the boat. The oir
the disciples woke up shortly after and began to row
back to shore. Just one hundred yards away from the beach,
Thomas could see a figure waving at them. The sun
was behind him, making it impossible to see his face.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
My children, the voice shouted, did you catch any fish?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
No, sir, We toiled into the night and caught nothing.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
The tides must not have been on our side, James
shouted back.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
Try again. The strained replied, cast your nets on the
right side of the boat.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
I think you may find some.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
James rolled his eyes. They were tired and discouraged from
a night of no fish. However, perhaps the tide had
shifted in their favor, so the disciples took their nets
and cast it on the right side of the boat.
The water was flat and still. The disciples waited in
(13:26):
silence for something to happen. A few moments passed and
Peter was growing frustrated. Just as he was about to
grab the nets to pull them back in, he could
hear the sound of tugging rope. The men stood back,
and the nets stiffened and pulled against the side of
the boat. The vessel began to lean towards the right,
(13:49):
and the men leapt for the nets, trying to tug
them back in. Fish filled the nets to the brim.
There were so many that the disciples could not even
pull them in. James and Nathaniel were laughing. Thomas stood
over them with his hands on his head in disbelief. However,
John was peering at the shore. As the sun rose
(14:11):
slightly higher, he could see the figure standing in the distance.
John's jaw fell to the ground. He stood to his
feet and smiled ear to ear. He pointed to the
horizon and shouted, it's him, it's the Lord. Peter released
his grip on the net and looked out. Standing near
the water was Jesus. He wore his familiar grin and
(14:36):
waved towards the boat. Peter's heart stopped. He remembered the
time Jesus stood on the waters and called out to Peter.
He remembered how his gaze left Jesus and he sank
to the bottom of the ocean. That is what he
did beside the fire the night Jesus was taken. He
(14:57):
took his eyes off Jesus. That is why he denied
him three times. Peter understood now it wasn't perseverance or
skill that would save him. It was fixing his gaze
solely on Jesus. Without another second of thinking, Peter dove
head first into the water. Peter remained underneath for a
(15:19):
moment with his eyes closed, having flashbacks of drowning before
Jesus rescued him. He opened his eyes and saw the
sun peeking through the top of the water. Peter's heart
beat swiftly and he swam ashore. His large arms chopped
through the water and his legs kicked with vigor. He
couldn't wait for the boat to be dark. He had
(15:42):
to see Jesus. Peter finally made his way to the beach.
His clothes were soaked, and it turned out the boat
had beat him to the shore. Peter scanned the beach
for Jesus. He was sitting by a charcoal fire, waiting
for the disciples to bring in the fish. Peter ran
to the boat and hauled the net off the boat.
(16:04):
Panting with water dripping from his clothes, Peter ran to
where Jesus was sitting. He dropped the fish beside him
and paused. Peter looked at that fire. He had seen
that dark charcoal before. It had a special scent that
brought back many memories. The charcoal Jesus used to start
(16:27):
the fire was unique. It was the same charcoal used
for the fires beside the temple where Peter denied Jesus.
Peter stood over the fire for a long moment. His
clothes were sopping wet and dripped on to the sand below.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
Will you sit with me and enjoy some breakfast, Peter.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Jesus asked. Peter looked Jesus in the eye and nodded.
All the disciples sat down and ate. However, Peter just
stared at Jesus, looking for the right words to say.
They finished eating silently by the fire. The sun was
now high in the sky, yet Peter was still shivering
(17:11):
from the damp clothes draped on his back. He was
lost in thought, staring blankly at the fire. Jesus looked
up from across the coals and said.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
Simon, son of John.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Peter looked up. It had been a long time since
Jesus called him Simon. Jesus looked deeply into the fisherman's
eyes and asked, do you love me? Peter met Christ's gaze,
the flickering flames reflected in his eyes. Yes, Lord, you
know that I love you, Peter answered. Jesus nodded and
(17:45):
poked the charcoal with a stick.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Then feed my lamps, he replied.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
The black smoke rose high into the air. Peter hated
the smell of it. It reminded him of his sins.
He could still hear the echoes of the rooster's call
in his mind.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Jesus asked again. This time Peter paused before answering. He
considered the question. Did he truly love Jesus. If so,
then why did he fall asleep when Jesus wanted him
to pray? If he loved him, then why did he
deny him three times? Peter sighed and thought deeply. He
(18:30):
raised his head and looked at Jesus. Although his actions
did not fully express it, Peter knew the answer. Yes, Lord,
you know that I love you. Jesus's gaze did not
leave Peters.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
If you love me, tend to my sheep, he answered.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
The tension was thick enough to run a blade through
the Other disciples merely watched and listened silently as Jesus
asked Peter a third time. This time, Jesus's tone was
serious and filled with intensity.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
Simon, son of John, do you love me?
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Peter fell to his knees. Jesus had now asked three times,
the same amount of times he denied him. He placed
his hands in his face and wept. The rest of
the disciples listened to the sound of his sobs and
the crackling of the fire. Peter looked up to see
Jesus's compassionate smile. Peter wiped his tears and nodded his head. Lord,
(19:38):
you know all things, You know my heart, and you
know my mind. You have searched me and known me.
You know that I love you. Jesus nodded and stood
to his feet. He knelt down to Peter and placed
his hand on his shoulder. Jesus held it firmly and said,
then feed my sheep. In that moment, Peter felt the
(20:03):
full weight of grace fall upon him like a tidal wave.
He breathed in deep and felt the burden of shame
melt away. He embraced Jesus and wept on his shoulder.
Jesus had restored Peter, although he denied him, there would
be no condemnation for those who loved him. Peter's heart
(20:28):
was filled with the spirit of God. He had finally
realized why Jesus died on that cross. His sins were
heavy like an anchor on his soul, Yet Jesus was
able to take it upon himself so Peter would not
have to. Peter was now empowered to run without the
(20:49):
burden of shame. Jesus helped Peter to his feet and
took him alone to the water. Together they walked and
spoke as friends. The two of them stopped and looked
out on the water. They watched as the gulls doove
head first into the water to snatch up fish. Still
(21:09):
looking out, Jesus spoke to Peter, saying, when you.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
Were young, you were used to doing as you pleased.
You dressed yourself and walked wherever you wanted. You followed
your own desires, Peter. Yet now you no longer have
that freedom. You are called by me. That means you
will be taken where you do not wish to go.
You will be carried out as I was. Will you
(21:34):
still follow me?
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Peter turned to look at Jesus. He would no longer
deny him. He nodded, ready to receive whatever death awaited
him because of Jesus. Peter turned back to the fire.
John and the other disciples were still eating and talking
amongst themselves. What about John, Peter asked, what is his faith?
(21:59):
Jesus looked back at John. His young smile was infectious.
Jesus grinned and patted Peter on the back.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
My plans for John, and under your concern, he may
remain until I return once again. Yet that is not
for you to know. You follow me and the gifts
and callings I have given you, Peter.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Peter nodded, John and Peter would both suffer for the
sake of Christ. Peter would march up a hill with
his own cross and hang upside down. John would be
exiled to rot away on an island. Yet before these
things would happen, they would see the world forever changed
(22:39):
by the power of God's spirit. They will be called
as shepherds to tend Jesus's sheep. Together they would witness
and usher in the beginning of Christ's church. These lowly
fishermen from the back country of Galilee would be used
to usher in the glory of God himself. Yet it
(23:02):
all began with following the good shepherd Jesus.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
We were taken back to where it all began. For
Peter before his name was Peter, before he even knew Jesus,
just rocking on a boat with his head against the mask.
Frustrated after a night of no fish, Peter was attempting
to return to his old life. The shamey experience caused
him to return to what was comfortable and familiar. When
you and I experience pain and shame, and we have
(23:33):
no one to blame but ourselves, we tend to shrink
back and retreat to old habits. We find comfort in
our old lifestyles, relationships, and sins that gave us security,
even though we hated who we were during that time
of our lives. It's a human universal to slip back
into old habits when things get tough. Something about us
wants to burrow back into sin when we sense danger
(23:55):
or discomfort. For Peter, it was shame that led him
back to the fishing boat. While the other men dreamed
about their futures with Jesus, Peter was still reeling from
the past. Shame is paralyzing. When we define ourselves based
on our past mistakes, we keep ourselves from stepping forward.
We chain ourselves to our sins as self punishment. We
(24:16):
put ourselves in a prison of our own insecurity because
we think we deserve it. That is what Peter was
doing this whole time. He thought his sins disqualified him
from the love and favor of God. Have you done
this to yourself? Are you unable to forgive yourself and
move on from what you've done? Peter was in the
same boat, no pun intended. He gave up on his
(24:36):
dreams and put himself on time out. But Jesus was
on the shore ready to bring him back in. Jesus
first got Peter's attention through fishing. Do you remember episode
six when Jesus caused his boat to overflow with fish?
We shouldn't leave, Simon, Peter said, it's hopeless. He stood
up to begin unwrapping the sails. Then as Simon stood up,
(24:58):
he heard a slight tight of the rope behind him.
Simon froze. His eyes widened as he looked back slowly.
The nets were tightening at a fast pace, so fast
that if Simon did not act quickly, they would break.
He dole for the nets as they were being dragged
off the side of the boat. Andrew and Jesus leaped
(25:18):
forward to help him. Together they dragged the net out
of the water. As they pulled, Simon could see thousands
of fish being drawn into the boat. The three of
them laughed as they continued to bring in fish. Peter
yelled for James and John to come close to them
so they could draw more in. The men were screaming
with delight. Both the boats were filled with fish. It
(25:39):
was the most joy Simon had felt in years, Yet
his smile quickly faded as the other men cheered. Simon
looked at Jesus. His eyes began to water. He fell
to his knees depart from me. Lord Simon said he
felt so much shame for the life he had been living.
He had so much bitterness and anger within him. He
felt unworthy to be in the presence of Jesus. I
(26:01):
am a sinful man, O Lord, I am not worthy. Sometimes,
in order to realize our future, we have to face
our past. We have to revisit parts of our lives
we would rather forget. There are wounds that have not healed,
sins you have not repented of, and mistakes you haven't
learned from. Peter's past flashed before his eyes the first
(26:21):
time Jesus captured his heart, the moment he walked on
water and sank, and the transfiguration raced in his mind.
All those moments came back to Peter like a whirlwind.
He needed to deal with them, or else he would drown.
Jesus took Peter on a journey in order to restore
Peter and empower him for the future. He made him
face his past. Jesus invited Peter to sit down with
(26:44):
him by the fire. This was the second time Scripture
mentioned the charcoal fire. It was the same type of
coals that warmed Peter when he denied Jesus. The smell
of the fire brought back old memories, emotions, and images
from that dreadful Nightesus was lovingly making Peter face his shame.
With the memories of his betrayal fresh in his mind.
(27:05):
Peter was asked a simple question, Simon, son of John,
do you love me? Peter answered as honestly as he could, Yes, Lord,
you know I love you. Jesus then gave Peter a charge.
If you love me, then ten to my sheep. Jesus
asked the same question three times, and each time Peter answered,
(27:27):
Jesus commissioned him with something tend to my sheep, Feed
my lambs, feed my sheep. Jesus allowed Peter the chance
to declare his love for him. Then he commissioned Peter
with a beautiful calling to tend to the flock of God.
There is no restoration without dealing with the past, but
(27:48):
there is also no restoration without a dream for the future.
Jesus led Peter through a process of healing by forgiving
him of his past and commissioning him for his future.
Jesus have the heart of a shepherd. Before calling Peter
to be a shepherd, he tended to him with gentleness
and love. In our next episode, Jesus will commission the
(28:09):
rest of his disciples. His time on earth is coming
to an end, as is our series on the life
of Jesus. Join us next time for our twenty third
and final episode. Go therefore, thanks again for listening. For
more inspiring stories, daily prayers, and wisdom to last a lifetime,
go to pray dot com. And to expand your heroes
(28:30):
in the Bible journey, download the Heroes of the Faith
devotional at Tonyevans dot org Forward slash Heroes. Please write
a review and let me know how Jesus and this
podcast have impacted your life. God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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