Shame is a brute beast, especially when you know you’ve really done wrong, and you’ve really hurt someone.  Peter had shame.

Jesus was his very best friend.  Jesus had believed in him even when he was a dreadful, sinful man.  Not only did Jesus see past his sin, he saw what he could be.  Could Peter have possibly been honored any more?

Yet when Jesus needed him most, his very best friend, he betrayed him.  At his death.  In his darkest hour.  Not once.  Not twice.  But three times.

The wound was real.

And now Jesus was dead.  Dead, dead.  As in there was no way to make it right with him or to apologize and be restored.  The very last thing Jesus knew of him was betrayal.

Yes, two other times people had seen Jesus alive.  Could it even be true?  That a man could rise from the dead?  And if so, was Jesus avoiding him?

It was a heavy burden.  And the only thing Peter could do was just go back to the life he had known before–the business of fishing.  It was broken times.

But then, out of nowhere, Jesus appears on the shore.

When Peter realized it was him, the large fish and the full nets of fish and all the wealth in the world that this might have brought didn’t matter.  What mattered was his friend–Jesus.

At this point he could have been absolutely overcome with shame.  He could have hid.  But instead, he put his outer garment back on and jumped in the water, swimming and splashing through the water to get to Jesus.

It was Jesus.

After they had a glorious fish lunch and reunion, Jesus took Peter aside.  In the same way that Peter had denied Jesus three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him.

It was painful.  Peter knew what he was referencing.  And it hurt.

Jesus’ words?

• Feed my lambs.
• Take care of my sheep.
• Feed my sheep.

Yes, Jesus was confronting him about his betrayal.  But this wounded act was not the centerpiece.  He was both provoking the disobedience but even moreso, he was commissioning Peter.

Jesus was not going to let Peter be defined by his betrayal and sin, instead, this was a redemptive moment where Peter was being forgiven, and given great purpose.  Huge purpose.  One of the greatest purposes–caring for people that Jesus loved.

Instead of disqualifying him for his sin, Jesus set him up for a lifetime of service.

• Peter could have drowned in his shame.
• Others might have forever held his betrayal against him.
• His wrongdoing could have crippled him for life.

On the other hand, Jesus could have said that he couldn’t trust him.  He had failed in the critical hour.  But Jesus did not do this.  He actually did the opposite–He sought him out.

• In Mark, Jesus said to go tell the disciples, “and Peter” that he had risen from the dead (Mark 16:7)
• In Luke, we read that Jesus had appeared to Peter in a special way previous to the 12 (Luke 22:34; 1 Cor 15:5)
• In John, Jesus intentional took Peter aside to restore him (John 21)

Jesus sought him out.  Jesus forgave him.  But moreso, Jesus sent Peter out.

Perhaps for the first time, he was actually qualified.  His failure had brought a needed humility.

It did not mean he didn’t have growth yet needed.  We see this when his jealousy of John was on full display.  But Jesus loved him even in his brokenness.

It’s really a beautiful truth.  One in which we do well to dwell upon.

Jesus confronts our sin, but in his forgiveness, he also unshackles our shame.