Reflection.

Do you like to look in the mirror? What thoughts come through your mind as you see your reflection? What are you looking for? Is it recognition of a youthful smile, smooth skin, no wrinkles? Sometimes when I look in the mirror I spot a small piece of broccoli in my teeth, or bags under my eyes. But what I’m hoping to note is that my face is clean shaven, my hair is in fine array (no bed head), and a smile is on my face to flaunt that I’m excited for the day.

Do we like to see ourselves as we are? Do we like the blunt reality of our mien? Sometimes we do: when the findings are colorful and supportive! But there is a posture of “uncomfortable” when, what you behold, does not coordinate with what you hope to observe. “Is that really me? Do those wrinkles line up with my age? Is my appearance what others truly discern?”

Most things we are going to witness in the mirror do not bother us. We’ve grown accustomed to our appearance. But there are certain things that we may not want pointed out: those things that shred our understanding of self. It literally hurts to hear that something is wrong with our character. Or that our personality is flawed and dangerous. Jesus meets with the disciples at the sea of Galilee for such bold faced shredding of the sinful nature.

The resurrection meeting for this week’s lesson highlights the apostle Peter. He is facing his flaws in the mirror of Jesus’ questioning. Then Jesus calls him to a higher understanding of himself which comes from Jesus’ resurrection power. 

Scripture states, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4, ESV). 

As we experience Peter's pain, the reality about his nature, the scars on his character, and his betrayal of Jesus, we also must sympathetically look at our own flaws and negative character traits. This is not fun! This is not a picnic. This is not something any of us are willingly excited to search, but we must go down this path. As we experience our brokenness and also meet Jesus' faithful forgiveness we can unravel the fatal complexity of our sinfulness and explore the beauty of what Romans 6:4 calls, “newness of life.” 

Let’s walk through this experience with Peter and try not to be too hard on him. Let’s recognize that this as it is: written for our own benefit. Here is a quick prayer as we approach the mirror:  “Holy Spirit, help us to benefit from this study of Peter. Amen.”

“Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing” (John 21:2-3, ESV).

Notice this subtle hint of Peter’s condition: “I am going fishing.” This is what Peter knows so well. This is something Peter has done since he was old enough to walk. This had been Peter’s career but Jesus interrupted it with a job offer: fish for people; make disciples; change the world. Now he’s going to return to the old way of life.

And here is Peter’s fatal flaw. There is that one thing that a disciple dare never do: Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. He turned his back on Jesus. How have I walked in Peter’s shoes? Where have I acted in a way that would be equated with denying Jesus? Have I tried to actively or passively hide my Christian convictions? Satan prods me to that end. Keep the Jesus part of life as a very low profile - subtle and dull rather than passionate and committed. I’ve done that. What is your version of denying Jesus? Could it be that you deny Jesus by seeking other solutions, or see life through the world’s perspective rather than a biblical one? There are dozens if not hundreds of ways that we walk and talk as Peter did when he denied Jesus. The key is being willing to humbly grasp that denial for what it is: bold and hurtful sin.

Jesus shows up while Peter returns to his old pattern of life, “Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off” (John 21:4-8).

Peter goes back to what he knows, but Jesus won’t let him walk away from his issues without facing them. Notice Jesus’ approach. He does the same basic thing that first called Peter into discipleship. That in itself was a recall of Peter’s arrogance, thinking he knew fishing better than Jesus (Luke 5:1-11).

Now Jesus is using this same technique to reopen Peter’s file and Peter’s failings but also Peter’s future, “When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead” (John 21:9-14, ESV).

This is such a significant event that John mentions that there were 153 fish. That was a miracle. But the net didn’t break according to John, a fisherman like Peter. It’s another miracle. Jesus is setting the stage for a very necessary confrontation; he is garnering attention to some very important details. 

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, 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.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.’ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’” (John 21:15-19).

Three times Jesus confronts Peter with his denial. Why? Three times Peter had denied Jesus. Peter had to be confronted head on that this stubborn and arrogant attitude would get him nowhere as a disciple. He absolutely must see this. Jesus is making Peter squirm by showing him the dark side of his heart. Peter is arrogant in his denial of his faults because it is really, really hard to look at such faults when they are your own. He must own up to it. But when he does, notice that Jesus calls him back onto the team! This is amazing.

What does that tell each of us? It tells us that the painful truth about our flaws NEEDS to be seen and felt. But this is the step forward. Do you and I hate what we see so much that we want Jesus to erase that part of us? Are we capable of calling that part of us “evil?” It is a difficult step because it's so much easier to laugh it off, ignore it or deny it.

As Jesus painfully forces Peter to see his flaws, he also draws on the pain he suffered for Peter and now pronounces a new start: “Come Follow Me!” This seems like redundancy when Peter already feels bad for what he did.  But like Peter, we all need to smell the rotten nature of our denial, betrayal, our slap Jesus in the face sinfulness SO THAT Jesus can take us, in grace, to the next step: forgiven and raised with Him to live in newness of life. Now Peter’s ready.

Are you? See your sin. Take a long whiff of it’s stench and don’t downplay how filthy it is. See it in the way that God sees it but ALSO see that it is erased for you by Jesus’ sacrifice and Jesus’ resurrection now assures that you have a rightful place on the team, making disciples, encouraging others to go through the same cleansing process. God bless you as you look in the mirror. Don’t be afraid of what you see. Don’t deny it’s acrid smell. And don’t forget that Jesus is making the most powerful grace based call by inviting you to newness of life in Him.

Blessings to you all in Christ Jesus, our crucified and RISEN Lord.