Word of Salvation – Vol. 24 No. 43 – July 1978
Second Chance
Sermon by Rev. J. F. H. Vanderbom, B.D. on John 21:18-23
Scripture reading: Matthew 16:13-28
Psalter Hymnal: 198:1, 2; 428; 459; 463
Congregation,
For a Christian there is still such a lot to learn!
The Christian Church could well be called the school of the Risen Lord! Here we may come to learn of Him! On Sunday He calls us together because it is His pleasure to teach us the way of the new life. And the Risen Lord wants to teach us, because He wants you and me to LIVE the new life!
You know, the Lord gives much attention and time to us. It is safe to say that nobody is so convinced of our need of further teaching as the Master Himself! Yet it may surprise you that you never hear Him speak of hopeless cases. In spite of all our past failures and doubts, He accepts us in endless patience, just like He was willing to accept that blundering Simon Peter. He accepts us, and knowing what we are, He takes time for each of us! So He did with Simon Peter, as He spoke to him about the Second Chance! For the second time in his life, Simon receives the call: Follow Me!
We may well wonder how much Peter still had to learn? Jesus explains that in the accompanying words:
FIRSTLY: To follow Jesus does NOT mean “help yourself”; “when you were younger, you could gird yourself, and you could walk where you liked…!” and…
SECONDLY: To follow does mean “be led”, “when you are old, another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go…!”
1. You see, in our text we read of Simon’s second calling.
It strikes us that the place was still the same: at the Lake of Galilee. The disciple was the same: we all know Simon Peter by now! And the Master, is He still the same? Yes, and No! Simon Peter must have been aware of one astounding difference! The disciple who was called again had shown himself a desperate failure. And the Master Who calls is the Risen Lord, Who has conquered death and has brought life and immortality to light! He is ready to go to the Father. Yet, even now the Lord of glory takes time to walk on the Galilean beach, and, for the second time, He calls that fisherman, that failure. You could say that a congratulation would be in place here. What a privilege, what a promotion for Peter, after his failures… to be called again to be a follower on the road of the New Life!
At the same time however, we hear a very serious note. Our text contains a solemn warning: Amen, amen (truly, truly) when you were young, you could gird yourself and walk where you would. Jesus speaks as the Divine Psychologist. Isn’t it remarkable how accurately His words portray Simon Peter’s character and his way of life in the past? It is true and we have no doubt that Simon was a disciple. He was called to follow Jesus. If we would have asked him, he would have told us that he didn’t want anything more than this!
But the question was: HOW did Peter follow the Master? And the answer: By always running a few steps ahead! You see Peter walking on water, in order to meet Jesus… but the water was far too deep, because he lost sight of Jesus, and had only an eye for himself. You hear him interfering on the mountain with Moses and Elijah, where he proposes to build a permanent, glorious dwelling up there.
You see him in the Garden, drawing a sword to kill, and so to defend the Lord! Yes, even on this very morning, Peter had cast himself out of the boat into the sea again he wanted to be first! Simon was the believer who could still help and gird himself so very well! Don’t you think that these words tell us exactly what was wrong with Peter, and why it went wrong?
Someone has made the observation that in his earlier years Peter had hardly been able to mention or confess the Name of Jesus without advertising himself! Again, there is no doubt that Peter truly loved the Lord Jesus Christ. But it was always the kind of love where the old self takes the central place: “Lord, I will lay down my life for You!” And: “If they would all leave You, I won’t!”
There had only been one exception, as far as we know. Once, on the day of his public profession of faith, he had for one moment broken loose from his ego: “To Whom shall we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life, You are the Christ, the Son of God!” But a few moments later it went wrong again. When Jesus began to explain His sufferings and sacrifice, Peter seemed to have forgotten all that he had confessed, and he stood up to rebuke the Lord. “No, Lord!” he said. And Jesus had called him Satan! The follower always knew better than the Leader! When he was younger, he helped himself and walked where he liked to go!
Worst of all is this: We can be quite sure that Peter himself did not ever realize what was wrong with him. Peter didn’t even know that he was as he was!! Just like so many Christians today who don’t even seem to understand how much there is still to be learned by the follower of Christ!
It has been suggested that Peter’s sin would be the special sin or weakness of young people in particular. It cannot be denied that young people are prone to this temptation of going first. When you are young you wish to find out for yourself. You like to help yourself and to have things your own way. But who would dare to declare that older Christians cannot be stubborn any more?! It is not only the young who like to have things their way, rather than be completely guided and ruled by the Spirit of Jesus!
The message of the Lord Jesus Christ is a message for young and old. As the Divine Psychologist he declared to Peter, and through him to the whole church, that there is only the One Way of life. There is no hope of truly losing one’s self, of truly getting rid of the old man (even when you are young!) unless that self has been crucified with Christ on the Cross! This has happened to Simon Peter. What a shame, what a blow to his arrogant pride, when of all people it was he who denied the Master three times! He didn’t want the gospel of Jesus and Him crucified!
2. However, we know that by the grace of God there was a turning point in Peter’s life. In a few hours time, young and arrogant Peter grew into an old man. That happened on the day of the crucifixion, the day of Peter’s denial! Peter’s pride was broken. The rock-man was crushed, His old self was crucified with Christ. The Lord gave him a second chance! Yes, Peter’s youth is renewed. At the Lake of Galilee he gets his second calling, another chance to follow Jesus. You hear the thrill when Peter writes in his letter: “Born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is unfading and imperishable.” “For He doesn’t deal with us according to our sins.”
My sin O, the bliss of this glorious thought,
my sin – not in part, but the whole –
Was nailed to the cross and I bear it no more!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Back to school, says Jesus. ‘When you were younger, you could help yourself…. but now….!” Yes, now I wonder! Imagine, if you would have that glorious chance of starting your life all over again, what would you do? Would we do any better with the remainder of our lives? Would we have learnt much? As far as Peter and his future were concerned, we read that Jesus hadn’t even left the decision to Peter himself. He tells him how He is going to make the best of Peter’s new life. Peter may follow Him, but not as in the past: “You’ll stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” Peter’s future will be a future of suffering. His mission and life will be tied up with cross-bearing and suffering with Christ, in order to also be glorified with Christ!
We know how these words of Jesus have been fulfilled, very literally, in the way in which Peter, under Nero, was led to his execution, when he was crucified in Rome. The disciple is not greater than the Master. It is good for a disciple to be like his Master!
This was a marvellous perspective. We have used the word ‘promotion’. Jesus gives His full confidence to His pupil Simon Peter. Peter himself must have realized the great honour bestowed upon him: Jesus counted him worthy to do the very thing that Peter had always wanted to do; to give his very life for the Master! “Jesus said this, to show by what death Peter was to glorify Him!” Peter’s heart must have been thrilled. Later, in his letter he will comment: “For this is grace, to suffer for Him!” And no wonder. Is there any one in church today, who has never felt that fervent passion to do something, or to suffer, to show his love for Him Who has so exceedingly loved us?!
Yet we may wonder! Has Peter really learnt his lesson?
To follow Jesus, to really follow seems to be such a difficult art. The next verse is revealing. It will make you think again. What happens? Jesus said to Peter: Now follow Me! I imagine that immediately after Jesus had finished His serious talk to Peter, He stood up. And Peter stood up. There was also the other disciple, John, who stood up. Peter turning around saw that the other disciple whom Jesus loved was also following, he couldn’t help asking Jesus: “Lord, and what is Your plan for this man?”
Nobody can tell what made Peter ask this question. Was it simple curiosity? Or was there real concern? Was there a genuine interest and love involved? Nobody knows. But regardless of what kind of thoughts there may have been in Peter’s heart, we read that the Lord Jesus did not appreciate Peter’s question at all. In Jesus’ reply there is a strong rebuke. He scorns him. “Jesus said to him: ‘If it is My will that he remains until I come again, what does that matter to you? You must follow Me!’
Brothers and sisters, have you seen the point? In the church that is, in the school of Jesus we have no time for curiosity. We are not meant to be spectators, onlookers. Even if Jesus would allow others to live the longest and happiest lives, and I would be called to suffer hardship and an early death, then… that is none of my business.
Jesus says to Peter: You simply must learn from now on to follow Me. And not to look to the right or to the left! This is the point which none of us may miss. After Jesus has spoken to us about sin, and salvation (how wonderful) and service (yes, we are still called to a glorious service…) we must not talk about others, but meditate and concentrate on that marvellous plan of His grace with ourselves!
It goes without saying that the wellbeing and the future of your neighbour is a very inspiring and interesting subject. But there is one subject which is far more important: what are you going to do, Peter, with your Risen Lord’s glorious claims upon your life?! This is the point which none of us may miss. Remember that in this hour we have listened to the very last word which Jesus, before He left the earth, addressed to His apostle Peter, who would be a future leader of the Church: Peter, mind your own business, be concerned with your calling and election without curiosity about others! Follow Me! And remember the Cross. Forget things that lie behind, or people, right and left. Prepare yourself for the things that lie ahead!
O, there are so many unanswered questions that draw our attention away. Things in the world are so unevenly divided. It looks like some Christians have all the prosperity whereas others have to cop the lot. If I had to decide, or you, we would give a much bigger task to that big brother with his comfortable way of life and we would relieve the burdens of that lonely mother.
But you are not God, and Peter was not a Pope. We are not meant to live as spectators and onlookers, we must all learn to live for God.
It won’t help you to ask questions. We must pray: make me a true follower, Lord! Let it be glory for me, when I must also suffer a little while, just like You, my Master and my Redeemer, Who suffered for this world.
O give us grace to follow the Lamb, wherever He will lead. To suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him!
And hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes!
AMEN.