Redemption means… something bought with a price, gaining ownership or possession of something in exchange for payment. It is purchasing us from bondage, slavery of sin, and setting us free
This is what Jesus did on the cross…the idea behind Jesus words “It is finished” is “paid in full”
While we consciously ascent to that understanding…when we blow it, we can beat ourselves up and worse feel as if we are impotent to do anything for the Kingdom because of our sin.
I think it is important for us to look at the way Jesus looks at a heart broken by their sin….he likes to redeem us, daily, setting us free!
John 21 :1-5
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
Jesus pursued Peter to help set him free…why didn’t he do it sooner? Jesus knows when we are ready to listen, when we are ready to receive truth. Don’t give up too easily on people, they may need a little time to be ready to come into freedom, bondage can become a comfortable friend, it is safe because it is familiar.
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
Jesus shows up in Galilee exactly where he told them to go, and says, “lads, young men” have you caught anything? Remember Luke 5 when Peter was just Simon, same thing happened!
8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
The last time we saw Peter by a charcoal fire, he was denying the Lord, this time the Lord is using the fire as a place to meet Peter.
10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
What better way to rebuild a relationship than to have a meal together and talk
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.
” None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.” Why would this be written except that Jesus doesn’t look the same since his crucifixion….nearly every time Jesus is seen after His resurrection, he is not recognized I believe Isaiah 50:6 and 52:14 tell us why
Isaiah 50:6
I offered my back to those who beat me
and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not hide my face
from mockery and spitting.
Isaiah 52:14
But many were amazed when they saw him.
His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human,
and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Revelation 5 tell us he bears those scars even in heaven as a reminder to us of his great love for us
Before we get into this next part, do you remember Peter denied the Lord three times the morning before his crucifixion.
14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
The Greek says something different than our English….
Jesus says “Simon do you unconditionally love me more than the disciples?”….Simon says, “Lord I love you like a friend”….Jesus says, “nurture my young ones!”
“Simon do you unconditionally love me?”…Simon says, “you know I love you like a brother!” “Then pastor my more mature family”
Jesus is always looking to free us, to redeem us, to help us realize we are truly loved and free…
Jesus meets him at his place of hurt and woundedness…”Simon do you love me like a brother?” Simon says, Lord you know where I am you know all about me, you see my heart and my love and I just can’t get there but “I do love you as a brother”…. Give life to all of the family
Did you see the way Jesus helps us?
- He met Peter taking him back for a fresh start
- He met him in his pain and limited understanding so he could be open to receiving his healing…he didn’t force Peter to get to where he needed to be right now but met him at the most mature place he could reach
- He gave Peter vision for the call on his life despite his failures…the gifts and callings of God can not be taken back….He believes in us even when we fail and reminds us we still have a job to do don’t stay broken, know the price has been paid and we have things to do
What about you? What is missing from your life? What people should you be impacting? What community? What joy are you missing? What victories because of guilt, shame, failure? You are redeemed…Do the call! Change the world? Don’t be afraid…the price has been paid in full!