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[Announcer] (0:00 - 0:18) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.

Our topic is: "How Do I Reconnect With God?" Here's Rick, Jonathan, and Julie.

[Rick] (0:20 - 0:30) Welcome, everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Jonathan, my co-host for over twenty-five years. Julie, a long-time contributor, is also with us.

Jonathan, what's our theme scripture for this episode?

[Jonathan] (0:30 - 0:43) 1 Peter 1:13: "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

[Rick] (0:44 - 1:28) Many Christians have had the disheartening experience of feeling like they've lost their connection with God. There you were, going along through life's experiences, and something happens. Whether it's one big change or many little things over time, you wake up one day and realize that God seems far away.

Now what? Is it over? How do you find your way back to that precious connection that you lost?

A good way to understand what to do to find your way back is to observe some of the experiences of the Apostle Peter. We all know how he denied Jesus on that day of his crucifixion. What we don't often think about is how he got to that point and what it took to draw him back into God's favor.

[Julie] (1:28 - 1:54) Peter was actually drawn to follow Jesus three different times. On that third occasion, Jesus had been preaching to a crowd from Peter's boat, and after preaching, he instructed Peter to cast their nets to try for one more catch. They were skeptical, but they cast the nets.

It was so great, this catch of fish, that it almost sunk the boat. Peter knew that Jesus was drawing him, and we're dropping in the middle of the account in Luke 5:8-11:

[Jonathan] (1:54 - 2:30) "But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!" This showed Peter's awareness of his own imperfections and his reverence for Jesus. Continuing: "For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;

and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.

When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him."

[Julie] (2:30 - 2:49) You think of all the miracles that Peter witnessed of Jesus, and perhaps this miracle of the fish is the one that had the greatest impact on him. Not only was it a demonstration of Jesus' power, but it was a big turning point in Peter's life, because it's at this point that he makes this commitment--a full commitment--to follow Jesus.

[Rick] (2:49 - 3:00) This miracle was really directly focused at Peter. He's in the boat with him. Peter did follow Jesus, though he had not yet learned how much he would have to change.

[Jonathan] (3:00 - 3:14) Throughout Jesus' ministry, Peter was a leader of sorts. He was bold and impetuous. He knew Jesus would change the world, but he had no idea how he would do it or what would be required of him.

[Julie] (3:14 - 3:30) We think of us. When we follow Jesus, do we really know what's coming? Do we have preconceived ideas of what discipleship will look like? Do we expect it to be a life without problems of any kind, like maybe there's some special protective cross-shaped bubble wrap?

[Rick] (3:30 - 4:07) Don't think so. That's an important question though, because oftentimes we think, yeah, this is good, because what you're deciding to dedicate yourself to is something good and something big and something full of grace and God's love. It's like, what could be better than that?

You're right, what could be better than that? However, there's more to it. Let's expand this a little bit further.

Just before going to Gethsemane--so now we're going to the end of Jesus' ministry; we were at the beginning, now we're going to the end-- remember what Peter said to Jesus about standing by his side?

Let's look at that in Matthew 26:31-35:

[Jonathan] (4:08 - 4:38) "Then Jesus said to them, You will all fall away because of me this night... But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee. But Peter said to him, Even though all may fall away because of you, I will never fall away.

Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said to him, Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you. All the disciples said the same thing too."

[Julie] (4:38 - 5:16) We see in this Bible Commentary from William Barclay, it says: "We see the confidence of Jesus. Always Jesus saw beyond the cross. He was every bit as certain of the glory as he was of the suffering...

Further, this shows us something about Peter. Surely his fault is clear; overconfidence in himself. He knew that he loved Jesus--

that was never in doubt-- and he thought that all by himself he could face any situation that might arise. We shall be safe only when we replace the competence which boasts by the humility which knows its weakness and which depends not on itself but the help of Christ."

[Jonathan] (5:16 - 5:34) As Jesus' disciples, do we ever hold on to pride-driven self-confidence that sets us up for failure? Peter faced this, Judas faced this, and, of course, Lucifer, later known as Satan, is the ultimate example of destructive pride.

[Rick] (5:35 - 6:24) We're looking at Peter's reaction, and it's a genuine reaction. He really believes that he will stand by Jesus because of who Jesus is and what Jesus has meant to him. He just doesn't understand the magnitude of the reality of the statement.

He's going to have to learn that, and he will. He will learn that, and it's going to be a devastating lesson, which incidentally will lead to incredibly powerful growth.

Let's talk about the devastation first, because this is how Peter got there. Remember, Peter did deny Jesus three times. These denials were spoken during the heat of the persecution of Jesus by the Jews before he was later turned over to Pilate.

This is early, early in the morning of his crucifixion, and we're going to drop in on this account, and this is where Peter denies him. Matthew 26:69-70:

[Jonathan] (6:25 - 6:38) "Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, You too were with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied it before them all, saying, I do not know what you are talking about."

[Julie] (6:38 - 6:46) It said Peter was sitting outside the courtyard. That's the courtyard of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled after Jesus was arrested.

[Jonathan] (6:47 - 7:12) It simply started with a lie-- "I do not know what you are talking about." In the heat of the moment, do we ever deny the truth that we know?

Maybe we lie to ourselves saying, well, what I'm doing isn't THAT bad. It's still better than what so-and-so is doing over there. God accepts me as I am.

By planting ourselves in mediocrity, we never spiritually mature.

[Julie] (7:12 - 7:30) That's a really good point. Some practical lessons from this first denial: Fear can overpower our conviction. Second: Small compromises lead to bigger failures.

Peter's small lie here would set the stage for the more shocking and emphatic denials that would come next.

[Rick] (7:30 - 7:56) The other thing we think about is Peter's probably not expecting anybody to recognize him. It's really early in the morning. He's sitting there and he's quiet and all of a sudden it springs on him and his gut reaction--

the interesting thing is his gut reaction is usually, I'll stand by you, I'll be with you. He steps up.

But this time he steps back. He steps back into this lie. He had begun walking down a path of spiritual damage and he would continue down that path. Let's go to Matthew 26:71-72:

[Jonathan] (7:57 - 8:00) "When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant–girl saw him and said to those who were there, This man was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied it with an oath, I do not know the man."

[Rick] (8:13 - 8:40) Now the lie has a promise attached. He denies it with an oath.

He is saying unequivocally, positively, I do not know him! Whatever started in Peter's mind, when this servant-individual points him out and says, he was with him, Peter jumps on this with great, great passion to actually deny what's happening here.

[Jonathan] (8:40 - 8:57) Rick and Julie, the second denial was stronger than the first. Again, small compromises can lead to bigger failures. Do we ever "double-down" on our own way of seeing things?

Do we protect and defend what is fleshly over spiritual?

[Rick] (8:58 - 9:12) This is important because we're looking at Peter and it's really easy to look at Peter and say, Look at that, look at that! But the whole point, Jonathan, like you just said is, how about me? How about me?

Come on now, be honest. Do I ever go down that kind of road?

[Julie] (9:12 - 10:12) So far, I mean, this is just a little servant girl. These are really "nobodies" that are pointing this out. In Peter's defense, this sudden turn of events--the betrayal, the arrest, the trial--it left him disoriented.

His expectations of Jesus as the Messiah didn't align with what was actually happening in front of his own eyes. Some practical lessons from this second denial: Fear can escalate quickly into desperation and even panic. We make bad decisions when we panic.

Peter felt cornered. He's been confronted now multiple times by different people, servant girls, but now it's in front of others. This repeated questioning increases his anxiety and he's feeling more and more pressure.

Self-preservation overpowered his commitment to truth. If he hadn't denied Jesus, he would probably have been arrested. He would have been interrogated--

that's not going to be good-- or even executed alongside of Jesus. There's a lot going on in his head in those few seconds.

[Rick] (10:12 - 10:20) There is. But again, the introduction to all of this is, Jesus flat out told him, you're going to deny me sometimes.

[Julie] (10:20 - 10:21) Never!

[Rick] (10:21 - 10:52) Right. That's what brought that response along with the rest of the disciples. Now you're put into the heat of the battle and it's overwhelming.

That first mistake is bad enough. The second mistake is done with great intention. We're seeing this blossom into something really, really, really horrible.

Next--it doesn't end there-- next, Peter walked headlong into the depths of self-destructive despair with this third denial. Matthew 26:73-75:

[Jonathan] (10:52 - 11:16) "A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away. Then he began to curse and swear, I do not know the man!

And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly."

[Rick] (11:16 - 11:58) You have the culmination of this exposure to his own weakness. His weakness is not just exposed to himself, his weakness is exposed to everybody around him.

The lie and the promise were now sealed with cursing and with swearing. He is emphatic. He's adamant.

No, no, no! This is Peter. This is the one who's always stepping out, stepping up, being in front. In his fear and insecurity,

Peter had just walked away from his suffering Lord. He had just given up his small opportunity to be an encouragement. He had left it behind.

[Jonathan] (11:59 - 12:24) Some practical lessons for the third denial: Fear can push us to extreme actions we never imagined. The rooster crowing fulfilled the prophecy from Matthew 26:34.

God's word is always true-- even if we don't believe it. In our insecurity and suffering, do we ever walk away from our Lord Jesus and thereby cut our connection with God as well?

[Rick] (12:25 - 12:38) That's a very, very probing, difficult, powerful question that maybe, at points in time, especially if we have turned away and we're in difficulty, we may not want to face, but it's important to look it in the eye.

[Julie] (12:38 - 12:44) Speaking of looking in the eye, doesn't the verse continue that Jesus looked at Peter when this happened?

[Rick] (12:44 - 12:44) Yes.

[Julie] (12:44 - 13:29) What does that feel like? I have Moments With the Savior by Ken Geyer, one of my favorite devotional books, to feel the other side of this. I just wanted to have a quick quote:

"Be hard on him if you like. Talk about how self-confident he was. Talk about how impulsive he was.

Talk about how he was always shooting off his mouth. And how he needed a good sifting. Go ahead. But before you do, remember that the other disciples had already deserted Jesus.

Peter and John alone followed him that terrifying night. True, Peter followed him at a distance. But still he followed... And it's true, he failed Jesus. But he failed in a courtyard where the others dared not set foot.

And he failed not under normal pressure, but under the heavy winnow of Satan."

[Rick] (13:29 - 13:53) That's a big failure. That's a big pressure. That's a lot of pieces that you have to deal with.

We look at this and we realize how devastating this is on all counts. Yes, there's tons and tons of pressure, but this is devastating nevertheless. For Peter and for us, this self-imposed separation from God and our Lord Jesus, it's a devastating condition to be in.

[Jonathan] (13:54 - 14:01) Psalm 34:18: "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

[Julie] (14:02 - 14:37) Because even though it's devastating, it doesn't have to be permanent! We remember that this was pre-Pentecost. It's before Peter received the holy spirit.

He's still a new immature Christian at this point. Like we said, he's being tested in extreme circumstances, but it brought him to the point of remorse and then repentance. His denial was driven by fear and weakness rather than dishonesty like we saw in Judas.

We'll see now how, with Jesus's compassion and his guidance, his failure didn't stop him from reconnecting with God through Jesus.

[Rick] (14:37 - 15:28) That reconnection process was not a snap of the fingers, an easy thing. He had to find his way back. When the scripture tells us that he went out and wept bitterly, you realize that he's looking at himself and his heart is torn to pieces by what he has done.

You've got this difficulty and this separation. The reason we're using the Apostle Peter and these examples, folks, is that maybe we have had that kind of experience. Maybe we find ourselves weeping bitterly at our distance from where we once were and we're stuck and we're feeling that overwhelming despair.

The whole point of this conversation is to put it into a perspective by watching what happens with Peter and what Peter does. We want to be focusing on Repairing and Restoring Our Severed Spiritual Connections:

[Jonathan] (15:28 - 15:51) As with the Apostle Peter, any alienation we may experience from God and Jesus always has some roots in our own hearts, minds, and actions. Knowing this is the first step in accepting the fact that God is always ready for us to return to Him if we are truly repentant and desirous of seeking His will again through Christ.

[Rick] (15:52 - 16:19) You have to look at yourself and say, I'm a mess. In that mess, the core thought there: God is always willing and ready for us to come back. We have to find a way to get to meet His willingness and readiness.

It's actually comforting to know that one as strong in faith as the Apostle Peter had such hard experiences as he was learning how to follow Christ.

[Jonathan] (16:20 - 16:27) What did Peter need to do in order to bring himself back to a space where he could accept God's love and Jesus' forgiveness?

[Rick] (16:28 - 17:09) This is an important question. We, of course, know that Peter DID overcome his sinful and earthly reactions and character to become a foundation pillar of the true church. To uncover the principles of his growth, we need to look at something Peter wrote in his first epistle many, many years later.

His words--many years later--show us a simple pathway back when we ourselves falter. As we're about to read these scriptures, I can't help but think that maybe Peter's own experience, was behind part of the writing of these particular scriptures. Let's look at 1 Peter 1:13-16:

[Jonathan] (17:09 - 17:43) "Therefore (a little context--meaning, because you've been called to such a high and privileged calling), prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit,

fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts or desires which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

[Julie] (17:44 - 18:12) Peter said, "prepare your minds for action." Action is going to be key here because after Pentecost, Peter was bold in his preaching. He taught with clarity and a deep understanding of God's plan.

He took a central role in the leadership in the early church. He was still impulsive, but his love for Jesus was now refined and strengthened by having the holy spirit. Having the holy spirit doesn't erase our personality traits, but it redirects them for God's purposes.

This is what happened to Peter.

[Rick] (18:12 - 18:51) This is important. This is the FIRST REPAIRING AND RESTORING POINT: PREPARE YOUR MIND FOR ACTION!

Notice the first repairing point isn't "take action." It's "prepare your mind for action." Why?

Because we've gone off and in order to go back, we have to set our minds into that direction. We've got to understand this, and we're going to look at the Apostle Peter's experiences.

Think about how broken in heart and mind Peter must have been that day and the days that followed Jesus' crucifixion. All hope would have absolutely seem to have been lost, and he likely blamed himself in so many ways.

[Jonathan] (18:52 - 19:13) Not only did he deny even knowing Jesus three times, but maybe he was beating himself up over not paying attention to Judas. If only he could have stopped the series of events leading up to Jesus' death, maybe his friend and teacher would still be here. We learn from this that self-blame can be devastating and paralyzing.

[Julie] (19:14 - 19:27) What if he didn't deny Jesus? What if he would have stood up to the servant-girl and then stood up at each level escalating? Would it have helped?

Would it have saved his friend from death? Could he have spoken out? What I could have done, but didn't.

[Rick] (19:27 - 20:14) There's always that thought, especially when we've strayed away. I woulda, I shoulda, I coulda, I mighta... you have all of the doubts.

Peter is swimming. He's drowning in all of these doubts at this point. You've got these few days, the day of the crucifixion, and then we've got resurrection Sunday.

On that Sunday morning, when the angel appeared to the women at the tomb, the message would be very, very different than Peter's thoughts would have been leading up to this message. He is drowning in doubt and despair and just feeling like everything is lost. Here's the message--

pay close attention to the details-- the message that the angel gives to the women who visit the tomb. Mark 16:6-7:

[Jonathan] (20:14 - 20:34) "And he said to them, Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen;

he is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, he is going ahead of you to Galilee;

there you will see him, just as he told you."

[Julie] (20:34 - 20:59) I'd never seen this before-- "...tell his disciples AND Peter..." This tells us a few things.

First, Peter's not with the other disciples. He's probably so devastated at denying the master that he isolated himself. Second--so beautiful--

Jesus didn't want Peter to be so overcome with discouragement that he would give up. Failure didn't disqualify Peter from reconnecting.

[Rick] (20:59 - 21:36) It didn't. But Peter didn't know that yet. Peter didn't know.

The angel knew. The angel gives the message. Now the message has to go to Peter.

In the scriptures we're told that Mary Magdalene immediately went to find Peter. Here, when she goes to find Peter, he is in a place of absolute devastation. Here is where we will find Peter begin to be ready to take action.

Take notice of what happens in these next verses when Mary goes to find Peter. John 20:2-3, 6-8:

[Jonathan] (21:37 - 22:21) "So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved (meaning John, who always humbly refers to himself in this way), and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb... (John outran Peter and arrived first)

And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings...and the face-cloth...rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered,

and he saw and believed." Peter immediately sprang into action. He NEEDED to see what was happening.

[Rick] (22:21 - 23:38) He did. He gets up and this is action. Now he doesn't know what he's going to find.

He was told something and he has to go see for himself. This is key because he has to see for himself. He's running.

He's older than John. John outruns him. John gets to the tomb and actually looks in ahead of time and waits.

Simon Peter gets there and the scripture says, and he goes right in. This is the Peter that we know and love. He goes right in.

He observes what's there. The face cloth rolled up by itself, the linen wrappings...and no Jesus. All of what was wrapping him up was there, but there was no Jesus.

Now several things: This was an important first step for him because he took action. He went and he saw, but he didn't believe.

The scripture tells us specifically that when John came in after Peter, he saw, he observed, and he believed. Peter still has doubt. You're saying, Oh, here he goes again.

No, no, no, no, no! Give it time. This was the first action.

He's preparing his mind. He's preparing himself to be able to receive, but he's got to go through the steps. That's what's happening here.

Peter's heart was revealed because he ran to the tomb. He wasn't ready quite yet, but he took that first action.

[Julie] (23:39 - 24:23) What about us? What about when we're alienated from God? Do we still believe that He is faithful, even if we haven't been faithful?

Do we recall maybe how many times He took Israel back after they would stray from His Law and His way? Do we still hold the scriptures and their promises as sacred? It's like, what can we cling to something even small?

Do we review the assurances that are given to us? There are so many promises given to Jesus' followers. Isaiah 42:3 says: "A bruised reed

He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice."

Psalm 147:3 says: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

[Jonathan] (24:23 - 24:32) Rick, you often talk about taking small steps. How do we move forward when we're down and feel far away from God?

[Rick] (24:33 - 25:29) Prepare your mind for action. You may not be able to do anything, but we can certainly always look into our hearts and minds and say okay, this is a not a good situation that I'm in. I'm in despair.

I'm discouraged at whatever has gone wrong. It's a tragedy. It's a trauma. I've got to get my mind around doing and finding how to cope with this.

That's the preparation. That's the first small step. It's a mental thing.

It's a decision. We make a decision so that we can move forward. That decision needs to be based on faith.

God's waiting. Just like those two scriptures, Isaiah 42:3 and Psalm 147:3 that Julie just read. He is there.

We need to prepare our minds to be in line with where He is. Faith REQUIRES action. Get up and do something.

Let's look at James 2:18-22:

[Jonathan] (25:29 - 26:03) "But someone may well say, You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one. You do well;

the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected..."

[Rick] (26:03 - 26:39) We may not be in this position of being ready for the works, but when we prepare our mind for action, we're opening the door to be able to take the action. We've got to do it inside of our heart and mind first. That's what the Apostle Peter did.

He gets up and he's running to the tomb and he sees, he doesn't believe yet, but it's good because he started. That's the point. He started on the road that he needed to go down so that he could find his faith and strength in the Lord.

Let's again review Repairing and Restoring Our Severed Spiritual Connections:

[Jonathan] (26:39 - 27:06) For Peter, running to the tomb was the beginning of his reclaiming an active and vibrant faith. This action did not solve the problem; instead, it opened the door for the problem to be solved.

What action am I taking that will help me realign myself with the faithfulness of God? Even if I don't have faith in myself, I can have faith in God!

[Rick] (27:07 - 27:38) That is the big point. It's interesting that God had faith in Peter, and that's why his name was mentioned by the angels at the tomb. Peter didn't see it.

Peter didn't understand it, but God knew. Peter just needed to be drawn to God's faith in him. Again, we can be encouraged by the fact that Peter worked on his issues, but they weren't solved after taking just one step.

Peter, just like us, had to stick with it!

[Jonathan] (27:39 - 27:48) The importance of taking action, no matter how small it may be, cannot be overstated. After this initial action, what comes next?

[Rick] (27:48 - 28:27) Action is movement. The point is to move ourselves toward God through Jesus, again, after a period when we were hiding from Him. Once we engage in moving towards God, He will make Himself known to us.

With Peter, this occurred in the appearances of God's resurrected son, Jesus. What we're going to do with our lesson is we will remain focused on that first day of Jesus' resurrection. Let's go back to 1 Peter 1:13. This is the verse that we're focusing on with the three steps to help us understand what to do, and this is Peter writing at a much later time when he's absolutely mature in Christ.

[Jonathan] (28:28 - 28:38) "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

[Rick] (28:38 - 29:21) We talked about preparing our minds for action. Now it's about keeping sober in spirit, fixing our hope completely on the grace that comes to us. Our SECOND REPAIRING AND RESTORING POINT

(the first one, prepare your mind for action): BE SERIOUS AND REVERENT AS YOU BEGIN TO REFOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON GOD’S GRACE THROUGH JESUS IN YOUR LIFE. LOOK FOR GOD’S LEADING AND LOOK FOR HIS INSTRUCTION.

We can do that. We can say, Well, I'm looking for God's leadings. I'm looking for His instruction.

What more do you want from me? Peter started this out by saying, be sober in spirit. Be serious, and be reverent as we look. That's where we need to go.

[Julie] (29:22 - 30:19) One important reminder for us is that God allows our trials to reveal our need for Him. Just as Peter experienced failures, our struggles can help prepare us to recognize God's presence and guidance. Our friend Howie in New Zealand was just telling me the story of a friend of his who had a horrible experience as a child.

It was still affecting her as an adult. Why hadn't God stopped it from happening? Why me?

All the feelings. He asked her to really meditate and write down just one or two positive things that came out of this experience that wouldn't have happened otherwise, as horrific as it was. She gave it a lot of prayerful thought.

She came back with--he was amazed--a full list, including things like she feels she's a better mother to her son. She's more compassionate to those who have suffered. Reframing the experience is helping her find her footing.

[Rick] (30:19 - 31:03) That's exactly what we're going to watch Peter do. He needs to reframe the bitter disappointment and failure that went before to see it as a stepping stone. It does not surprise me that she, in a spiritual sense, went through and found all of those positive things, because that's the reason for our trials.

It's really an important step to reframe. It helps us to reconnect. That's part of this whole process, to put it all in order. Let's go back to that first day of Jesus' resurrection.

On that day, Peter was present for two appearances of Jesus. The possibility that he was one of the two on the road to Emmaus would have given him a very strong exposure to the new reality that the crucifixion had brought.

[Jonathan] (31:03 - 31:34) If I can clarify that, Luke 24:13-35 tells of the resurrected Jesus appearing to two disciples traveling to Emmaus after Jesus died. One is identified as Cleopas, but the other is not named. We know, according to Luke 24:34, that Jesus also appeared specifically to Peter around this same time

so it's possible Peter was this second disciple. We have more on this in the bonus material of this week's CQ Rewind Show Notes.

[Rick] (31:35 - 32:00) That's important. The point is that Peter was appeared to by Jesus. This is how we want to build the seriousness and this reverence as we are beginning to attempt to refocus our attention.

Let's look at how Jesus did this on the road to Emmaus. Remember how he taught those two on that road? It is fascinating and it is inspirational.

Let's just take a few verses from that to remind us of that context. Luke 24:27-33:

[Jonathan] (32:00 - 32:03) "Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, he explained to them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures. And they approached the village where they were going...So he went in to stay with them. When he had reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, he began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to one another, Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us on the road, while he was explaining the Scriptures to us? And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem..."

[Julie] (32:40 - 32:58) Peter was so broken after the denials that it makes sense that Jesus would have had to have appeared to him in a dramatic way. Nothing else is recorded like that. He also would have been with Jesus intimately enough to be able to pick up on that subtle way that Jesus broke bread.

Maybe he was the other disciple on the road.

[Jonathan] (32:58 - 33:02) "Our hearts burning within us..." does sound like Peter's zeal.

[Rick] (33:02 - 34:10) You're right, you're right. Whatever it was--because we really don't know-- the power of the gospel truth to reset our troubled minds, it's immeasurable.

For Peter, either hearing these teachings in person or hearing about them afterwards, either way, would have strongly built on the foundation of his initial action of running to the empty tomb. Remember, he took action...still didn't believe. Now you're faced with either hearing directly or a recounting of, this is what Jesus was saying--the real, real life--

this is the confirmation of the reality. It's interesting that, the fact that Peter gets up and goes to the tomb, and it's showing us that he did something positive. He was in a place where, when you are broken, nothing positive wants to enter your mind,

but his instincts and his love for the Lord overwhelmed him, and he was incredibly blessed. This is part of that blessing. Then seeing Jesus suddenly appear inside the locked room where he was with the other disciples would have further confirmed the reality.

It did scare them to death. Luke 24:36:

[Jonathan] (34:11 - 34:34) "While they were telling these things, he himself stood in their midst and said to them, Peace be to you." Here's something interesting; there are bookends to this experience.

Jesus said, "My peace I give unto you" on the night of his betrayal at the last supper. And "peace be unto you" were his words when he first met the disciples together after his resurrection.

[Rick] (34:34 - 35:43) Essentially, Jesus said the night before his crucifixion, I am giving you my peace. He comes back to them and says, I'm here with that peace. He just shows the comprehensiveness of the power that God has given him through all of this turmoil.

These disciples, and Peter is there--all were recipients of this. Peter had acted. He had run to the tomb.

Even though he was full of doubt, he still ran to the tomb. His actions were met with direct responses from the risen Lord Jesus: "Peace be unto you."

He's hearing him say that. The truth had been revealed in spite of his own broken life! Jonathan and Julie, part of me thinks that the truth was revealed to him because of his own broken life. Because he was so broken, because he was so devastated,

these things meant so much more. They really could take root. Of course, we know what the Apostle Peter became later on.

This is a truly beautiful, beautiful unfolding of the small steps necessary to be able to reconnect after we've lost our way.

[Julie] (35:43 - 36:19) If we're in a position where we are disconnected, we ask ourselves: Have the actions we've taken to help reestablish our faith awakened our ability to see the goodness and grace of what we've been called to in spite of our doubts? Maybe like Howie's friend, it means purposefully reframing our experience. Maybe like Peter, it's taking that next right small step towards the light and hope.

Prayer, reading scripture or devotionals, fellowshipping with other Christians-- there are a lot of positive and intentional steps that we can take to start just inching our way back to God.

[Rick] (36:19 - 36:31) That's important. We are inching our way back. It's not cured.

It's not a miracle. It's the small steps of trying to find that which is precious that we may have lost. Let's look at 2 Corinthians 4:7:

[Jonathan] (36:32 - 36:35) "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves..." Just like Peter, we are given clarity to combat both our intellectual and emotional doubts. The reality is, our lacks and inconsistencies are for the purpose of giving honor to God!

[Julie] (36:59 - 37:11) That's why we have these experiences, so that God can be honored through them. He calls those of us with these difficulties and these challenges and sometimes these traumatic things so that His honor can shine through us.

[Rick] (37:11 - 37:36) That was the point with the Apostle Peter. That's why we're focusing on him, because he's a very dramatic example of losing his way and being shown how to find his way back. You notice he didn't figure out how to find his way back.

He's responding to what he's being shown. The key is he's responding to what he's being shown. Let's go down to the next verse,

2 Corinthians 4:8-9:

[Jonathan] (37:36 - 37:47) "...we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken;

struck down, but not destroyed..."

[Rick] (37:47 - 38:32) You see the power of this. Yes, life is hard. Things can happen.

Perplexed, but there's no despair. Persecuted, struck down, but not destroyed. This is part of the Christian experience.

If we lose our way, we can be assured that the way back will be made evident once we prepare our minds for action, once we become serious and reverent and look for what's being put before us. Though our doubts and self-imposed isolation can push us off track, reverently focusing on our Lord Jesus can keep us from utter despair.

Why? Well, let's read further. 2 Corinthians 4:10-11:

[Jonathan] (38:32 - 39:31) "...always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our own mortal flesh." This scripture really hits home.

Yesterday at our Bible study, I was talking to our friend Carmela, and Carm is turning 102 today. She told me that this scriptural concept has been a focus for her. Her body is failing, but her spirit is strong.

To keep herself connected to God, she has a laser-like focus on our Savior, Jesus, the son of God, and his sacrifice. She told me that what we are going through is nothing in comparison to his life experience.

[Rick] (39:32 - 39:57) Dear Sister Carmela, she--I can't even begin to tell you--I've known her for my entire life and she has been one of those rock-solid, focused individuals that always puts the Lord first. What a great example. The point of this verse, is that the brokenness of our lives can bring glory to God.

That's what Peter had to learn. That's what we have to learn.

[Julie] (39:58 - 40:47) These scriptures, 2 Corinthians 4:7-11, I just wanted to read it from the Phillips (J.B. Phillips New Testament) translation. It says this: "This priceless treasure we hold, so to speak, in a common earthenware jar—to show that the splendid power of it belongs to God and not to us. We are handicapped on all sides, but we are never frustrated;

we are puzzled, but never in despair. We are persecuted, but we never have to stand it alone; we may be knocked down, but we are never knocked out!

Every day we experience something of the death of our Lord Jesus, so that we may also know the power of the life of Jesus in these bodies of ours. Yes, we who are living are always being exposed to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be plainly seen in our mortal lives." That's our Sister Carm!

[Rick] (40:48 - 41:08) The point of those verses is there's no room for both to coexist nicely together. We have to replace the earthly life with the spiritual life because that's where we are going. That's what we are called to do.

Again, let's go back to Repairing and Restoring Our Severed Spiritual Connections:

[Jonathan] (41:09 - 41:32) Peter's initial actions of running to the empty tomb challenged his own despair. This small act of seeking the truth beyond the cloudy confines of his own heart and mind gave Jesus the opportunity to respond. Are we drawing hope, strength, and energy from Peter's experience as we face our own journey back to God's grace?

[Rick] (41:33 - 41:51) Notice Peter's not changing anything, but he's positioning himself to be the recipient of the changes that God wants him to have through Christ. Changing our state of mind is never easy, as easy as we'd like it to be. After taking a first step, we then need to commit to the next step.

[Jonathan] (41:51 - 42:00) Peter was plainly shown the glory of the risen Lord Jesus. As his doubts diminished, what would now be required of him?

[Rick] (42:00 - 42:34) To be a true disciple of Christ means that we are blessed with God's grace. We're also required to live in accordance with that grace. As Jesus' own human life showed, this is not an easy or necessarily comfortable task. Before his ascension to God, Jesus would clearly show Peter what would be required of him.

We've been looking at Peter finding a way to claw his way back, not because he's creating the way, but because he's following the things that are put in front of him. Let's go back to 1 Peter 1:14-16 to get our third point:

[Jonathan] (42:34 - 42:39) "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts (or desires) which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

[Rick] (42:56 - 43:59) We're looking at this THIRD REPAIRING AND RESTORING POINT.

We had the taking action, preparing your mind to take action. We had the reverence and the seriousness of looking at the grace that's given to us. And now this Third Point: EMBRACE THE FORGIVENESS AND GRACE WE ARE GIVEN AND INTENTIONALLY WORK AT LIVING A CHANGED LIFE AS A RESULT.

It's one thing to say, Okay, I'm working my way back. It's another thing to embrace the grace and forgiveness, because without doing that, we're going to remain in doubt. We need to go beyond that.

Let's look at the Apostle Peter and how that was fed to him as well. Now, Peter was firmly on the road back to true service and devotion to God through Christ, but still needed more. Recovering from the depth of his fall would take time.

You know what else it would take? Many small steps. Peter's greatest healing would come from Jesus' appearance to the disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

[Julie] (43:59 - 44:40) This is another beautiful bookend in Peter's life. We don't have time to read the account that you're talking about, Rick, in John 21:1-14, but remember, we started with that miraculous catch of fish in Luke 5, where Peter fell at Jesus' feet because he felt unworthy.

This is when he left everything to follow Jesus. Now, Peter failed his friend, had no idea what to do, so he went back to fishing. This time, the resurrected Jesus stood on the shore, called out to Peter and the other disciples, and again, a miracle of fish was provided.

They joyfully recognize him, and Jesus pulls Peter over to the side for a private conversation.

[Jonathan] (44:41 - 45:07) Jesus would now demonstrate his confidence in Peter's potential. We need to revisit our own potential and God's past and present providences in our lives! Regularly noting the ways God has worked in our life can help shift our focus from what's lacking to the abundant blessings we've received.

Consider keeping a Gratitude Journal or naming your blessings out loud.

[Rick] (45:07 - 45:22) If we've strayed away, there's lots of pieces that we can put in place in our small steps back. Let's look at the interchange between Jesus and Peter by the Sea of Galilee. Let's go to John 21:15:

[Jonathan] (45:23 - 45:36) "So 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, Tend my lambs."

[Rick] (45:36 - 46:27) When Jesus says, "Do you love me?" he asked him, do you have that benevolent, selfless love for me, that agape, that's the Greek word love. Then Peter's answer is, "Yes...you know that I love you," but this is brotherly love. It's a different kind.

It is, I've got your back, you've got mine, versus the selfless kind. Peter is responding with what he believes that he can handle. Jesus is asking him for the highest level.

Here's the mission, because Jesus says to him, okay, "tend my lambs," the young, the immature sheep of Jesus' flock. Jesus would only give this mission to one who could be trusted. This is what you are called for, "tend my lambs."

You've got this initial instruction, the question, do you selflessly love me? Peter's answer, yes, I brotherly love you. Let's go to the next verse, John 21:16:

[Jonathan] (46:27 - 46:38) "He said to him again 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, Shepherd my sheep."

[Rick] (46:39 - 47:30) Exact same question, exact same answer. Do you selflessly love me? Yes, I brotherly love you.

Jesus says now, Okay, "shepherd my sheep." This is bigger than just simply feeding and tending. This is shepherding.

This is taking a larger responsibility. The mission here is the more mature sheep who need guidance and direction. Sheep need constant help.

If you've ever seen sheep left to their own, they're a mess. They need constant help. He's asking Peter, take that role.

Jesus would only give this mission to one who has taken on a new vocation and a new direction. He's looking at Peter--even though he's still clawing his way back--he's looking at the potential that Peter has and he's saying, You "shepherd my sheep."

There's one more piece to this, John 21:17:

[Jonathan] (47:30 - 47:47) "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 all things;

you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Tend my sheep."

[Rick] (47:48 - 49:12) Jesus says it a third time, but he says it differently. When he says, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" This is not the selfless love.

He's challenging Peter's brotherly love. He's saying, do you brotherly love me? Peter's grieved because, I already told you twice.

He says, Yes, "you know I love you." And Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He's putting Peter into a position of expanding his whole life into a way that he never could have seen before.

The mission here; "tend my sheep," tend the weak sheep, the weak in faith who are to be fed and to be cared for. Who would Jesus give this mission to? He'd give that mission to somebody who can understand weakness, who can give what's necessary to overcome it because they've been there.

We've just seen how Peter has been there. The brotherly love is such an important thing. Yes, you need to use everything, every part of you to be able to do the mission I'm giving you.

Peter would here begin to embrace the forgiveness and grace given to him. He would begin to see that from Jesus' perspective, his heart and potential were bigger than his failure. Jesus saw it, and Peter could now begin to see that his heart and his potential, through the eyes of Jesus, were bigger than his failure.

Peter just needed the faith in Jesus' judgment to believe it.

[Julie] (49:12 - 49:56) I have a quote from Moments with the Savior: "After the meal, Jesus takes Peter aside. What he says is remarkable. What he doesn't say is even more so.

He doesn't say: 'Some friend you turned out to be... I'm really disappointed in you... You let me down...

You're all talk... Coward... You call yourself a disciple?' Instead, he asks simply, 'Do you love me?'

He asks three times, once for each denial. Not to rub it in, but to give Peter an opportunity to openly confess his love, something Peter desperately needs to verbalize... But Jesus is not there to inflict pain; he is there to relieve it...

'Feed my sheep, Peter.' Jesus's way of saying, 'I still believe in you... I still think you're the right man for the job.' "

[Rick] (49:57 - 50:51) You've got Peter being drawn back to his harmony with God's will through Jesus. He's being drawn. What he's doing is he's following the drawing of the Father through Christ so that he can get there.

Folks, this is a signal for us. Look at the circumstances so we ourselves can be drawn back, okay? So we can be put in place.

Look, we're not given such massive responsibility. We are responsible instead to passionately cling to the changed life that we've been given, no matter what kind of self-imposed alienation that we may have carried. We're not Peter, thank goodness.

We're not the Apostle Peter, but we have this passionate responsibility to cling to what we are to become each individually as part of that body of Christ. Jonathan, let's go to Philippians 3:12:16:

[Jonathan] (50:52 - 51:35) "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect (mature or complete), have this attitude;

and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by the same standard to which we have attained."

[Rick] (51:36 - 52:06) Here's where we need to really focus on forgetting those things which are behind, stretching forth toward those things which are before, pressing toward the goal of the prize of the high calling, pressing forward. Peter was about to learn all of this. This is the learning experience.

This is what he was developing and he needed to be shown step by step. Let's take heart in the fact that he needed to be shown, he was shown, and he would learn. Finally, Repairing and Restoring Our Severed Spiritual Connections:

[Jonathan] (52:07 - 52:30) If we love God and truly want to follow Christ in spite of our missteps and failures, then let us follow the Apostle Peter's example. Let us begin with taking positive steps towards reestablishing our faith, be serious and reverent as we reset our minds and embrace the forgiveness and grace that God has called us to.

[Rick] (52:30 - 53:43) There's those three things: taking action, taking those positive steps, being serious and reverent as we reset our minds, and embracing the forgiveness and grace that God's called us to. Psalms 34:15, 17-18 says: "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry...The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of their troubles.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." That is the God that when we have walked away, when we have gotten lost, when we have made mistakes, when we have just gone in the wrong direction...that's the God that's waiting on the other side for us to simply stop, turn, reset our attention, and begin taking those little steps back toward our Father in heaven who loves us with all of His heart. Let's do what the Apostle Peter did.

Think about it. Folks, we love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com.

Coming up in our next episode, "How Can I Cope With Depression?"

Final Notes: copyright @2025 Christian Questions. In addition to this transcript, we provide comprehensive CQ Rewind Show Notes for every episode. They include every scripture quoted during the podcast, as well as graphics, illustrations and bonus material. Click the "CQ Rewind Show Notes" button near the audio player or sign up to receive these weekly at ChristianQuestions.com. This transcript was created using artificial intelligence. While we believe it to be accurate, we apologize for any errors that may exist.