SEP 17

John 21:15-17
Memorise Galatians 6:1
“Jesus… saith unto him, Follow me.”

After the Lord Jesus Christ had appeared graciously to Thomas, the disciples left Jerusalem and returned to Galilee. This trip was according to the message given to the ladies on the morning of His resurrection (Mark 16:7), that the disciples and Peter were to meet Christ at Galilee.

While the disciples and Peter were there, they decided to return to their old occupation and go fishing in the Sea of Galilee. After fishing without success for a whole night, they returned to find Jesus waiting for them on the shore. It was in this quiet and tranquil morning beside the beautiful lakeshore that Jesus held an intimate conversation with Peter. Jesus’ words to Peter “lovest thou me” underlines the truth that Jesus wanted to impart to Peter – that true service must begin with a love for Christ. Here Jesus is our perfect example of how to restore those who repent. Peter had just failed His Master when he denied Him thrice before His resurrection. Now that he had seen his risen Lord, he was repentant. But he still felt unworthy to be a disciple of Christ. Jesus, who knew all things, knew that Peter needed the encouragement as well as a demonstration of forgiveness to restore him. This demonstration is seen in the fact that Jesus commissioned him to feed the lambs and sheep of God’s flock. This incident was intended to teach us Peter’s complete restoration to a position of apostolic authority after his three fold denial. Our Lord is our supreme example of always being ready to restore those who are repentant. Three times Peter had denied Jesus; three times Peter now affirms his love for his Lord, and three times Jesus commissions Peter to care for the flock of God.

Dear teen, just as others may have hurt or offended you, do remember that you too may have also inadvertently hurt others before. In this imperfect world of ours, all of us have experienced and cause offence from or upon others. If you have hurt a dear friend, have you felt the joys of friendship restored? Conversely, it is very painful to be cast out and have relationships broken because of a foolish mistake we have made, perhaps in making an insensitive remark or action. Learn from Peter to be truly repentant and learn from our Lord to be magnanimous to forgive and restore. As God restores, may we also know that it is all of God’s grace to help us to resolve difficult issues in our various relationships.

Thought: The love of Christ constraints us to follow Him all the way.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank You for Your magnificent example of forgiving and restoring. May we learn to be as gracious and kind as Thee.