Blog - From Disappointed to Restored
Have you ever been utterly disappointed in an outcome, or a season, or people, or yourself? Peter the disciple seemed to be living an exciting, enlightening, and transformational 3 years with Jesus. Then he denied Jesus and was crushed with disappointment in himself. He may have felt like he could never go back to ministry. His Lord was gone and he had nowhere left to go except for his former job as a fisherman.
John 21 AMPC
21 After this, Jesus let Himself be seen and revealed [Himself] again to the disciples, at the Sea of Tiberias. And He did it in this way:
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, called the Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, also the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples.
3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing! They said to him, And we are coming with you! So they went out and got into the boat, and throughout that night they caught nothing.
4 Morning was already breaking when Jesus came to the beach and stood there. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 So Jesus said to them, Boys (children), you do not have any meat (fish), do you? [Have you caught anything to eat along with your bread?] They answered Him, No!
6 And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find [some]. So they cast the net, and now they were not able to haul it in for such a big catch (mass, quantity) of fish [was in it].
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Simon Peter, hearing him say that it was the Lord, put (girded) on his upper garment (his fisherman’s coat, his outer tunic)—for he was stripped [for work]—and sprang into the sea..
Oh, the joy in the disciples of seeing their Lord again. Peter, in his characteristic boldness, leapt into the water to get to Jesus. The miracle proved that it was indeed Him.
8 And the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from shore, only some hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
9 When they got out on land (the beach), they saw a fire of coals there and fish lying on it [cooking], and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153 of them; and [though] there were so many of them, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, Come [and] have breakfast. But none of the disciples ventured or dared to ask Him, Who are You? because they [well] knew that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so also [with] the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus revealed Himself (appeared, was manifest) to the disciples after He had risen from the dead.
Imagine the atmosphere at that meal. The risen Christ appears, creates a miracle, and feeds them again. This wasn’t just a sentimental visit, as Jesus always has divine purpose in all He does. He was there to restore Peter as a disciple and leader in the soon-to-be formed church. Peter had denied Him three times. Jesus gave him the opportunity to speak his love to Jesus three times.
15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
16 Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep.
17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.
Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Him unconditionally (agape love). Peter’s pride had been broken and humility had made him realize he was not as strong or as faithful as he could have been. He had boasted of perfect love for Jesus. Each time as he answers, he says to Jesus, I love you like a brother (fileo love). He knew not to boast again. Jesus responds to him each time with an assignment – feed my lambs, tend My sheep, feed my sheep.
18 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go.
19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And after this, He said to him, Follow Me!
20 But Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following—the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper and had said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?
21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man?
22 Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me!
23 So word went out among the brethren that this disciple was not going to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but, If I want him to stay (survive, live) till I come, what is that to you?
24 It is this same disciple who is bearing witness to these things and who has recorded (written) them; and we [well] know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.
Peter knew by receiving his assignment that there would be ultimately difficult and sacrificial. He would indeed give up his life for the Lord. And also for the others, instructions on how to fulfill God’s will in their lives. Every word from the mouth of Jesus came to pass. Jesus remained their friend, and would soon ascend to heaven and send the Holy Spirit to them to dwell within them. Peter and the others were deeply disappointed, and then fully restored by the Lord.
Q: When have you been deeply disappointed in something or even yourself?
Q: How has God restored you, or how can you seek Him for restoration?
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the example of Peter being disappointed, humbled, and directed back to relationship with You for kingdom purposes. We thank you that You have good plans for us and that You are always accessible. Help us in our disappointments and mindsets. Heal our hurts. Show us how to reconnect with You and how to take the next steps. You are good. Heal us Lord, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
John 21 AMPC
21 After this, Jesus let Himself be seen and revealed [Himself] again to the disciples, at the Sea of Tiberias. And He did it in this way:
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, called the Twin, and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, also the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples.
3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing! They said to him, And we are coming with you! So they went out and got into the boat, and throughout that night they caught nothing.
4 Morning was already breaking when Jesus came to the beach and stood there. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 So Jesus said to them, Boys (children), you do not have any meat (fish), do you? [Have you caught anything to eat along with your bread?] They answered Him, No!
6 And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find [some]. So they cast the net, and now they were not able to haul it in for such a big catch (mass, quantity) of fish [was in it].
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Simon Peter, hearing him say that it was the Lord, put (girded) on his upper garment (his fisherman’s coat, his outer tunic)—for he was stripped [for work]—and sprang into the sea..
Oh, the joy in the disciples of seeing their Lord again. Peter, in his characteristic boldness, leapt into the water to get to Jesus. The miracle proved that it was indeed Him.
8 And the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from shore, only some hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
9 When they got out on land (the beach), they saw a fire of coals there and fish lying on it [cooking], and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153 of them; and [though] there were so many of them, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, Come [and] have breakfast. But none of the disciples ventured or dared to ask Him, Who are You? because they [well] knew that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so also [with] the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus revealed Himself (appeared, was manifest) to the disciples after He had risen from the dead.
Imagine the atmosphere at that meal. The risen Christ appears, creates a miracle, and feeds them again. This wasn’t just a sentimental visit, as Jesus always has divine purpose in all He does. He was there to restore Peter as a disciple and leader in the soon-to-be formed church. Peter had denied Him three times. Jesus gave him the opportunity to speak his love to Jesus three times.
15 When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
16 Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep.
17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.
Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Him unconditionally (agape love). Peter’s pride had been broken and humility had made him realize he was not as strong or as faithful as he could have been. He had boasted of perfect love for Jesus. Each time as he answers, he says to Jesus, I love you like a brother (fileo love). He knew not to boast again. Jesus responds to him each time with an assignment – feed my lambs, tend My sheep, feed my sheep.
18 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go.
19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And after this, He said to him, Follow Me!
20 But Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following—the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper and had said, Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?
21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this man?
22 Jesus said to him, If I want him to stay (survive, live) until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of yours?] You follow Me!
23 So word went out among the brethren that this disciple was not going to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but, If I want him to stay (survive, live) till I come, what is that to you?
24 It is this same disciple who is bearing witness to these things and who has recorded (written) them; and we [well] know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.
Peter knew by receiving his assignment that there would be ultimately difficult and sacrificial. He would indeed give up his life for the Lord. And also for the others, instructions on how to fulfill God’s will in their lives. Every word from the mouth of Jesus came to pass. Jesus remained their friend, and would soon ascend to heaven and send the Holy Spirit to them to dwell within them. Peter and the others were deeply disappointed, and then fully restored by the Lord.
Q: When have you been deeply disappointed in something or even yourself?
Q: How has God restored you, or how can you seek Him for restoration?
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the example of Peter being disappointed, humbled, and directed back to relationship with You for kingdom purposes. We thank you that You have good plans for us and that You are always accessible. Help us in our disappointments and mindsets. Heal our hurts. Show us how to reconnect with You and how to take the next steps. You are good. Heal us Lord, in the name of Jesus. Amen.