You're Out — Kevin Johnson

Three strikes and you're out. That's the rule. I was really bad at baseball, so I learned that rule well. Sometimes that's how we think life works, except that we give ourselves fewer chances. We think one wrong choice can be so bad that it sidelines us for life.

The Apostle Peter was a guy who lived with Jesus. He got to see everything firsthand. He saw Jesus preach, teach, and heal people with his own eyes. Peter became convinced that Jesus really was the Messiah - the Savior of God's people sent from God Himself. Peter saw so much in his time with Jesus that he was convinced there was no where else for him to go – in his mind, he was sticking with Jesus forever.

But things took a turn. Jesus started talking a lot more about His death, and Peter started getting nervous.

Deep down, Peter thought it would never happen. But it did. Jesus was arrested, and Peter watched his life fall apart. They were praying in a garden when the men came for Jesus. And Jesus just gave himself up – they were obviously there for harm, why would He just go with them without a fight? Peter tries to fight the men, but Jesus is content to go with them peacefully. Look at what happens next in John 18:15-17:

“Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter stood outside the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, 'You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?' He said, 'I am not.'"

Peter, a guy who felt like he would follow Jesus to death is now backing away from the story. He looks up and his leader, Jesus, is arrested and taken away. Peter is lost. He goes on to deny Jesus three times. He doesn’t know what to do. He wavers, and he falters. He says, “I don’t know that man.”

The story continues with Jesus being crucified and buried. The movement is over. And the disciples see it. They hide and retreat because they're afraid they might be arrested next. But three days after his death, Jesus comes back to life!

How do you think that made Peter feel? The last thing he had done was deny even knowing Jesus. Peter had to wonder how Jesus would respond. Jesus appears to the disciples while they are fishing. After they eat breakfast, Jesus and Peter have a conversation on the beach. Look at John 21:15-17:

“When they 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.'”

This moment in Peter’s life is closely linked with the previous moment of denial. Just as Peter denied Christ three times, Jesus invited Him back into the story three times. But what does Jesus ask Peter over and over? He doesn’t say, “Peter, are you going to do it again?” “Peter, are you going to mess up again?” “Peter, are you going to get it right this time?” No. Jesus simply asks Peter, “Do you love me?” This is what Jesus wants to know. This is where it starts.

This is the beginning of discipleship. Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" But then what does he tell Peter to do each time? Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep. What he’s showing Peter is that this is the application of loving Jesus: we’re tending to people. The natural overflow of loving Jesus is caring for others with the love of Jesus. We share what Christ has done for us. If you are a disciple, you make disciples. But it’s not a task that you grit your teeth to make happen. Jesus is showing a simple connection: Love me? Feed my sheep.

We may count ourselves out of what God is doing because of our previous mistakes. But Jesus continues to invite us into the story of God with the simple question, "Do you love me?"