Bible Study - Broken (1) - A Fresh Start - John 18:15-18, 25-27; 21:15-19 - July 23, 2017

Bible Study – Broken (1) – A Fresh Start – July 23, 2017

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Broken Vessels: How GOD Uses Imperfect People.”

Our focus scripture is John 18:15-18, 25-27; 21:15-19.

We fall; JESUS restores.

All Christians are sinners saved by GOD’S grace.

The Bible is clear as we read in:

Romans 3:10: 10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; (No human can be good enough or obedient enough to become righteous before GOD through his or her effort. That is why all humans need to place their faith in JESUS.”)

Romans 9:21 - 21 Or has the potter no right over His clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?

2 Corinthians 4:7 - 7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

All humans are vessels of clay and GOD has placed the treasure of faith in HIS only Son, JESUS, in all to represent HIM to the world.

Do you recall 1 Corinthians 3:16 - 16 Don't you know that you are God's sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

Christians sin and when we do, we are to confess, repent, and GOD cleanses and restores as we read in 1 John 1:9 - 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

GOD has placed the Holy Spirit in every Christian, a vessel of clay (our earth suit/human body), to represent HIM to the world and those in need of salvation.

First, the indwelling Holy Spirit is every Christian’s assurance and guarantee as we read in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22:

21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,

22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

And in 2 Corinthians 5:5:

5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

And in Ephesians 1:13-14:

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

How do Christians know they are GOD’S children consider Romans 8:16:

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

WOW! GOD loves us. How do we know that? JESUS, GOD’S only SON gave HIS life just for you and for me.

There are times when we may think GOD has abandoned us but HE promised that HE will never leave us or forsake us, even when we sin.

Let’s consider the Apostle Peter. Often, we think we have it all figured out and when our thoughts don’t match reality, we become discouraged. Let’s look through the eyes and mind of Peter when JESUS was arrested and treated harshly.

Peter was convinced that JESUS was the promised Messiah and that HE was truly GOD’S Son with all the rights, privileges and power of GOD. Peter thought that JESUS would be an earthly king. Often, GOD has to crush our fantasies in order to reveal truth. Let’s explore!

JESUS had been arrested in the garden. Peter was ready and willing to fight and die for JESUS. He proved this when he cut off the ear of the priest’s servant, Malchus, as recorded in John 18:10-11:

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

JESUS instructed Peter to put his sword back into its sheath. Peter, likely thought, “What? I thought YOU were ready to establish your kingdom upon earth!” Did disappointment in JESUS begin to consume Peter? Did Peter think, “JESUS must have a plan in mind, so I will stick close to HIM because I am ready to fight for HIM.” Let’s follow along with Peter, the other disciple (who is John), and JESUS.

Let’s read John 18:15-18, 25-27:

John 18:15-18:

Peter Denies Jesus

15 Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard.

The other disciple is generally considered to be the Apostle John, who was acquainted with the high priest. We are not sure how John was acquainted with the high priest but he was.

16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

The Apostle Peter was temporally kept at bay until the Apostle John vouched for him.

17 Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, "You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" "I am not!" he said.

First denial.

Often a negative question results in a negative reply as it does in this instance. We do not know Peter’s rationale for his reply but he wanted to stay close to JESUS.

18 Now the slaves and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

A charcoal fire produces heat without large flames and burning embers flying into the air. Such a fire results in those trying to warm themselves clustering together.

John 18:25-27:

Peter Denies Jesus Twice More

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "You aren't one of His disciples too, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!"

Second denial.

26 One of the high priest's slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you with Him in the garden?"

27 Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.

Third denial and the rooster crowed.

The rooster crowing is one thing but what penetrated the heart of Peter? 

Let’s read Luke 22:61-62:

61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Peter was brokenhearted. Did Peter remember the words of JESUS in Luke 22:31-34?

31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

JESUS was crucified, buried, resurrected and remained upon earth for 40 days. 

JESUS’ passion was complete but HE had not ascended into Heaven. Let’s read our second set of scripture.

Peter was brokenhearted over denying that HE knew JESUS. JESUS knew Peter’s heart and Peter’s potential; just as JESUS knows our hearts and our potential.

JESUS met with all HIS disciples except Judas, who had killed himself. JESUS had prepared breakfast for them. After they had eaten, JESUS needed for Peter to face the issue of him denying JESUS the night of HIS trial. JESUS wanted HIS disciples to put all of the events of HIS passion into perspective because GOD had kept matters hidden until the exact moment, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Let’s read John 21:15-19:

Jesus' Threefold Restoration of Peter

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love (agape – deep, self-giving love) Me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know (oida - perceive) that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

When JESUS and HIS disciples had finished breakfast, JESUS spoke to Peter.

“These” were likely boats, fishing nets, etc. if “these” is considered a neuter gender pronoun. However, if “these” is considered masculine gender pronoun, then “these” could have referred to the other disciples who were present.

After Peter’s response, JESUS’ response acknowledged the restoration and confidence HE had in Peter to minister to the young (lambs) who are seeking salvation. Those very precious to HIM and GOD, HIS Father.

16 A second time He asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" "Yes, Lord," he said to Him, "You know that I love You." "Shepherd My sheep," He told him.

JESUS called him “Simon” taking him back to the time when they first met and JESUS gave Peter the name of “rock.”  Again, JESUS asked Peter “Simon, son of John, do you love ME with deep devotion and with a love that demands nothing in exchange, which is agape or spelled agapao.

Again, JESUS encouraged Peter, after his response, to minister to all who are seeking truth. To shepherd is to guide and watch over. He was to keep a watchful eye over those who know the truth to keep them from wandering and following false doctrines.

17 He asked him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, "Do you love Me?" He said, "Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You." "Feed My sheep," Jesus said.

The first “know” is the Greek word “oida” which means “perceived knowledge” and the second “know” is “ginosho” which means “observed or factual knowledge.” The third time JESUS posed the question to Peter; JESUS asked him “Peter, do you love (phileo) ME tenderly as a friend?” Peter’s response was “LORD, you know from past experience that I love YOU tenderly like a best friend because I was willing to fight for YOU. I stuck with YOU when the others abandoned YOU, except John.”

And for the third time, after Peter’s confession of loving JESUS tenderly as a friend, JESUS instructed him to “feed” or “minister to” those who seek truth and desire a relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

Peter felt unworthy to minister after his denial of JESUS but JESUS assured him that he was now ready to obediently serve. 

Often, after the darkest times in our lives, when we see our humanness and we have failed Spiritually or physically, we are ready to serve while keeping a close eye upon ourselves. We realize that we are vulnerable and we may have false notions about Spiritual matters. We may have to stump our toes before we discover that we are Spiritually or physically vulnerable. It hurts but if we learn and repent, then we are ready to obediently serve and go to the next level of obedient service.  

18 "I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don't want to go."

JESUS encouraged Peter with these words. Peter would go on to obediently serve HIM into his golden years.

19 He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, "Follow Me!"

JESUS ended HIS discussion with Peter with the command “Follow ME.”

JESUS is not interested in condemning but in getting us to face the issues in our lives that prevent us from having an intimate, personal, loving relationship with HIM. Christians must obediently “follow HIM” in order to really get to know (through experience) HIM and not to just know (perception, notions) about HIM. We will stumble but JESUS leads us to learn from our stumbles and urges us to repent and keep on keeping on.  

JESUS is in the business of forgiveness and restoration, when we ask HIM. 

JESUS knows our hearts and what we are capable of doing when we commit our lives to obedient service. Why not ask HIM right now to take you as you are and to mold you into HIS plans and purpose for your life.

We must deal with the issues that block our obedient service to our LORD. Lay them onto life’s table and ask JESUS to sort them out for you.

JESUS, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, may ask us questions to get us to face issues that hinder us from effective, obedient service.

Is there something in your life that keeps you from obediently serving the LORD JESUS? If so, confess it and ask JESUS to forgive you and to restore your relationship with HIM and to fellowship with you.

We have but one life to live. What is in the past is just that, in the past. We live in the present and we take a step, we step toward the future and eternity. Only what we obediently do for JESUS will last.

There may be someone who has had issues with someone who has died before he or she got the matter settled. Write a note to that person expressing your desire to settle the matter. Then burn it. Consider that matter closed and move on.

Here I am LORD as I am, take my life and make of it what pleases YOU!

Blessings!!!