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Outline: Grace on the Pathway of Discipleship
1.
Peter’s Denial: The Back Story (John 13:36-38;
18:15-18, 25-27)
2.
Peter’s Restoration: The Tenderness of Jesus
(John 21:15-19)
3.
A Disciple’s Gospel Framework
Summary: Every disciple experiences failure on the
pathway of becoming more like Jesus.
What do we do when we fail? The story of Peter’s failure and restoration
illustrates the importance of grace
on the pathway of discipleship. Peter,
the leader among the twelve disciples, experienced massive failure when he
denied his Master three times. The
lingering guilt and shame and regret made it difficult to get back up. But restoration,
not failure would be the final
word for Peter. Jesus, in an act
of great tenderness, restored Peter thoroughly. Jesus proved to be the lifter of his head (cf. Psalm 3:3). There was one thing that stood between
Peter’s failure and his subsequent restoration—the Cross of Christ. This is the
gospel framework: in the wake of our failures, we must remember that the Cross
of Christ makes it possible for us to get back up when we fall.
Key points:
- Disciples, even the most zealous and loyal among them, experience sin and failure on the pathway of becoming more like Jesus. Peter is a case-in-point.
- Disciples know what it’s like to experience the pain of lingering shame and guilt that make it difficult to get back up after a failure.
- Jesus is tender toward his followers and is very intentional about thoroughly restoring them.
- Disciples can and should get back up after they fall. This is the only way to honor the gospel, the wonderful provision that Jesus made for us when he died and rose again.
Discussion Questions:
- Reflect on how Peter must have felt after failing his Master. In what ways can you empathize with Peter’s experience?
- What does the parallel between Peter’s three-fold denial and Jesus three-fold question/commission (21:15-17) teach us about the thoroughness with which he restores his disciples?
- According to John 21:15-17, 18-19, what ways would Peter continue to demonstrate his love for Jesus? What are the tangible ways that you can show your love for Jesus even though Jesus is not physically present?
A Gospel Framework: Reasons to Get Back Up
When We Fall:
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because there is no record of your guilt, for it has been nailed to the cross.
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because there is no trace of scarlet stains because the fabric of your soul has been washed as while as snow.
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because your sin have been scattered in the wind as far as the East is from the West. Jesus told them where to go when he stretched out his arms on the cross!
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because when your sin is confessed the only thing that holds you down is an invisible weight…the real weight was laid upon the back of the One at Calvary.
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because the tomb is empty.
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because you have an Advocate with the Father.
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because you have a merciful High Priest.
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because it has never been about your righteousness but about the righteousness of Jesus Christ and his white robe has been draped around you.
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because your God never ceases to be for those who are glued to his Son by faith.
- Beloved, when you fall, get back up because getting up in faith is the only way to honor God when you fall down in failure.
- Honor the blood. Honor the empty tomb. Get back up and bask in the brightness of God’s grace that perpetually shines on pilgrims finding their way along the narrow road of discipleship.
