[The following is a manuscript of my sermon delivered on Homecoming Sunday morning, the 10th of September, 2017. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Jesus was arrested and hauled off to face the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman governor. When challenged, Simon Peter three times denied even knowing Jesus, let alone being a follower. At their last meal together, mere hours before the arrest, Peter had sworn he would never deny his Master! But just as Jesus foretold, the former fisherman did exactly that.
The realization of what he had done broke Peter’s heart. But Jesus had great compassion for Peter. After His resurrection from death but before ascending back into heaven, Jesus kindly restored Peter. He gave the rock of His church a chance to atone and regain the role and position Christ intended for him all along.
Listen and follow along as I read from the Gospel account of the beloved Apostle John, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible, from chapter 21 verses 15 through 19…
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
--John 21:15-19 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, You are a God of second chances. Just as Your Son Jesus gave Peter the chance to atone and repent of his sin and be restored, You offer us the same opportunity time after time. Speak to us now through Your Holy Spirit directly into our hearts, that we might better understand how merciful You are. Give us greater insight into Your will for each of us as Jesus showed Peter. Imprint Your message on our hearts that we, like Peter, might go confidently into the world to do the work Jesus assigned us. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
I read of a circus in England many years ago that was run by a very greedy owner. One of his most prized attractions was an elephant named Bozo. Bozo was very popular, especially among the children who liked to crowd around his pen and toss him peanuts. One day, though, Bozo's personality abruptly changed. He attacked his trainer and tried to charge at the children around his pen. The owner decided Bozo would have to be destroyed, but because he was greedy, he planned a dramatic public execution that he could sell tickets to.
On the day of the execution, a firing squad stood before a sold-out crowd facing Bozo. Just as the owner was about to give the order to "Fire!", a small man shouted "Wait!" from the audience. He walked up to the owner and asked permission to go in and simply talk to the elephant, that there was no need to kill him. The owner thought the man crazy, but figured more drama would be good for future ticket sales so he agreed to let the man try if he would first sign a release stating he would not hold the circus responsible for any harm that may befall him. The man signed the release and entered the cage, as a hushed crowd watched.
Bozo lifted his head and roared and appeared ready to charge at the man, who simply spoke quietly to the huge animal. Those seated nearby who could hear could not understand the words, as if the man were speaking a foreign language. Bozo lifted his head again, but this time only a plaintive whimper was heard. The man walked over to the beast, still quietly speaking. Bozo lowered his head and gently wrapped his trunk around the man in a loving hug.
After a few more minutes the man left the cage, to thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd. He walked over to the owner and said, "Sir, this is an Indian elephant, and none of you speak the language he grew up hearing, Hindustani. I spoke to him in that tongue and he calmed. For you see, he was simply homesick - he just needed the sounds of home." With that, the man turned and walked off. The owner looked down at the release form in his hands and saw the signature: Rudyard Kipling.
Have you ever been homesick? Have you been away so long that the pull of home and hearth makes you do unusual things?
My mother was feeling homesick, and now she has finally gone home, to the home we all long to return to. And when we do get home, what a homecoming that will be.
Today we celebrate an earthly version of our heavenly homecoming, as the Pilgrim family gathers once again. We joyfully welcome those who have been away from the church home for a while, and we long for those unable to join us. Homecoming - a time for family, for love, and usually for a big meal. We'll have all that today, and then tonight we will put out a call and a prayer for revival.
And we need spiritual revival, not so much here in the family of Pilgrim but all across our world in general. Too many people don't understand this, they don't think they can be revived, they don't know how our Lord works. They don't realize that they can be restored, and then personal revival can truly set in. Jesus will restore us, if we would only let Him.
Three times Peter denied being with Jesus. He was afraid the authorities would learn he was part of Jesus' group and would arrest him as well. Peter, the man who Christ sanctified to be the very foundation of His church, denied even knowing Him when faced with possible persecution. And yet, Jesus forgave him.
Not only that, our Lord gave Peter the chance of restoration, to be united once again with Him and to do as He commands. Three times, Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love Me?" Three times, Peter responded, "Yes, Lord, You know I love You." Three times, Jesus commanded, "Feed my sheep." Three times - once for each time Peter denied Jesus. And we know Peter did as commanded, and was restored to his rightful place in God's eyes.
How does restoration begin? First by understanding what we did wrong, and then repenting of it. Peter himself tells us what we need to do, as he preached in the temple after Pentecost. The Apostle Luke recorded Peter's words for us, in his Book of Acts, chapter 3, verses 18 through 21…
Repent, so that a refreshing may come, a restoring of God's Holy Spirit within us. For the time is coming when Jesus will return to restore all things, the time foretold since the very beginning of the world. The Apostle Paul understood this as well, and carried it one step further based on Peter's own response to Jesus' command. In his letter to the Romans, chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, Paul instructs us…
We are to make of ourselves a living sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed Himself once for all time so we no longer need to offer up blood sacrifices to God to atone for our sins. But we can offer ourselves daily as a living sacrifice.
How do we do that? By doing just as Jesus commanded Peter - we feed His lambs, we tend His sheep. We allow Him to restore us by refreshing God's Holy Spirit within us.
Restoration leads to revival, and restoration begins by doing as Jesus commands us and making of ourselves a living sacrifice to His service. And it all hinges on the last thing Jesus said to Peter in our scripture reading this morning: "Follow Me."
To properly feed our Lord's lambs, to tend His sheep, we must follow Him. And if we follow Jesus and His teachings, our service in His name will be righteous and good in God's eyes. We will be restored, we will be revived, and some sweet day, when we are finally called home and can join that great homecoming in heaven, God will welcome us with open arms and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Until that time, ward off the effects of homesickness by listening to our native language that Jesus speaks, and follow His voice and His commands. Feed His sheep, follow Him, and be restored.
In the blessed name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You show us Your love in so many ways. You provide so much beauty all around us just for our enjoyment. But most of all, You showed Your love by giving us Your own Son Jesus, that through Him we might be restored and saved. Thank You, Father, for loving us that much. Thank You for having mercy on us and restoring us to a place of righteousness in Your eyes by our repentance and acceptance of Your Son. Please help us remain ever true and steadfast to You.
Please hear us now, Father, as we silently speak to You straight from our hearts, thanking You for Your grace and mercy, repenting of our disobedience and sin, and seeking Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, even though he denied You when it truly mattered, You gave Peter a chance to redeem himself. You clearly showed him Your love and compassion and told him what he needed to do for his full restoration. And Jesus, You give us the same chance. Help us, please, to remember that we deny You too when we don’t do as You command. We deny You to others when we do not act very much like Christians, when we don’t follow Your example, when we don’t share Your Good News, when we don’t love others as You love us. Restore us, Lord, that we might be fully revived by God’s Holy Spirit to go into the world once again, renewed and strengthened to make disciples and spread Your Gospel.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
I read of a circus in England many years ago that was run by a very greedy owner. One of his most prized attractions was an elephant named Bozo. Bozo was very popular, especially among the children who liked to crowd around his pen and toss him peanuts. One day, though, Bozo's personality abruptly changed. He attacked his trainer and tried to charge at the children around his pen. The owner decided Bozo would have to be destroyed, but because he was greedy, he planned a dramatic public execution that he could sell tickets to.
On the day of the execution, a firing squad stood before a sold-out crowd facing Bozo. Just as the owner was about to give the order to "Fire!", a small man shouted "Wait!" from the audience. He walked up to the owner and asked permission to go in and simply talk to the elephant, that there was no need to kill him. The owner thought the man crazy, but figured more drama would be good for future ticket sales so he agreed to let the man try if he would first sign a release stating he would not hold the circus responsible for any harm that may befall him. The man signed the release and entered the cage, as a hushed crowd watched.
Bozo lifted his head and roared and appeared ready to charge at the man, who simply spoke quietly to the huge animal. Those seated nearby who could hear could not understand the words, as if the man were speaking a foreign language. Bozo lifted his head again, but this time only a plaintive whimper was heard. The man walked over to the beast, still quietly speaking. Bozo lowered his head and gently wrapped his trunk around the man in a loving hug.
After a few more minutes the man left the cage, to thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd. He walked over to the owner and said, "Sir, this is an Indian elephant, and none of you speak the language he grew up hearing, Hindustani. I spoke to him in that tongue and he calmed. For you see, he was simply homesick - he just needed the sounds of home." With that, the man turned and walked off. The owner looked down at the release form in his hands and saw the signature: Rudyard Kipling.
Have you ever been homesick? Have you been away so long that the pull of home and hearth makes you do unusual things?
My mother was feeling homesick, and now she has finally gone home, to the home we all long to return to. And when we do get home, what a homecoming that will be.
Today we celebrate an earthly version of our heavenly homecoming, as the Pilgrim family gathers once again. We joyfully welcome those who have been away from the church home for a while, and we long for those unable to join us. Homecoming - a time for family, for love, and usually for a big meal. We'll have all that today, and then tonight we will put out a call and a prayer for revival.
And we need spiritual revival, not so much here in the family of Pilgrim but all across our world in general. Too many people don't understand this, they don't think they can be revived, they don't know how our Lord works. They don't realize that they can be restored, and then personal revival can truly set in. Jesus will restore us, if we would only let Him.
Three times Peter denied being with Jesus. He was afraid the authorities would learn he was part of Jesus' group and would arrest him as well. Peter, the man who Christ sanctified to be the very foundation of His church, denied even knowing Him when faced with possible persecution. And yet, Jesus forgave him.
Not only that, our Lord gave Peter the chance of restoration, to be united once again with Him and to do as He commands. Three times, Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love Me?" Three times, Peter responded, "Yes, Lord, You know I love You." Three times, Jesus commanded, "Feed my sheep." Three times - once for each time Peter denied Jesus. And we know Peter did as commanded, and was restored to his rightful place in God's eyes.
How does restoration begin? First by understanding what we did wrong, and then repenting of it. Peter himself tells us what we need to do, as he preached in the temple after Pentecost. The Apostle Luke recorded Peter's words for us, in his Book of Acts, chapter 3, verses 18 through 21…
18 “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
--Acts 3:18-21 (NKJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
--Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
How do we do that? By doing just as Jesus commanded Peter - we feed His lambs, we tend His sheep. We allow Him to restore us by refreshing God's Holy Spirit within us.
Restoration leads to revival, and restoration begins by doing as Jesus commands us and making of ourselves a living sacrifice to His service. And it all hinges on the last thing Jesus said to Peter in our scripture reading this morning: "Follow Me."
To properly feed our Lord's lambs, to tend His sheep, we must follow Him. And if we follow Jesus and His teachings, our service in His name will be righteous and good in God's eyes. We will be restored, we will be revived, and some sweet day, when we are finally called home and can join that great homecoming in heaven, God will welcome us with open arms and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Until that time, ward off the effects of homesickness by listening to our native language that Jesus speaks, and follow His voice and His commands. Feed His sheep, follow Him, and be restored.
In the blessed name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You show us Your love in so many ways. You provide so much beauty all around us just for our enjoyment. But most of all, You showed Your love by giving us Your own Son Jesus, that through Him we might be restored and saved. Thank You, Father, for loving us that much. Thank You for having mercy on us and restoring us to a place of righteousness in Your eyes by our repentance and acceptance of Your Son. Please help us remain ever true and steadfast to You.
Please hear us now, Father, as we silently speak to You straight from our hearts, thanking You for Your grace and mercy, repenting of our disobedience and sin, and seeking Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, even though he denied You when it truly mattered, You gave Peter a chance to redeem himself. You clearly showed him Your love and compassion and told him what he needed to do for his full restoration. And Jesus, You give us the same chance. Help us, please, to remember that we deny You too when we don’t do as You command. We deny You to others when we do not act very much like Christians, when we don’t follow Your example, when we don’t share Your Good News, when we don’t love others as You love us. Restore us, Lord, that we might be fully revived by God’s Holy Spirit to go into the world once again, renewed and strengthened to make disciples and spread Your Gospel.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
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