There’s a question Pastor Brent Befus posed at the start of this sermon that stopped me cold: Does our society judge Christians by what we do more than by what we say we believe?
It’s a fair point. People aren’t just listening to our talk about generosity, unity, humility, and love — they’re watching how we live. And when we fail to love the way Christ calls us to, we don’t just fail ourselves — we misrepresent the God we claim to follow.
Being Known for Love
In John 13, Jesus gathers His disciples for their last meal together before His arrest. He’s just finished washing their feet — a stunning act of servant leadership. Then He drops something profound on them:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
— John 13:34-35
This was Jesus’ calling card for His followers. Not a doctrinal statement. Not a behavior code. Love — the kind that costs something, the kind that mirrors His own sacrificial love on the cross.
But here’s where it gets real. The story that unpacks this command most dramatically in all of Scripture is Peter’s restoration in John 21.
Peter’s Three Denials, Jesus’ Three Questions
If you’ve been around church much, you know Peter’s story. The loudmouth disciple who confessed Jesus as the Messiah — then hours later denied even knowing Him three times. He cursed. He swore. He wanted out.
After the resurrection, Jesus seeks Peter out. They share breakfast on the beach, and Jesus asks Him three times: “Do you love me?”
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
— John 21:15
“Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
— John 21:16
“Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time. “Lord, you know all things,” he said. “You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
— John 21:17
Three denials. Three questions. Three calls to shepherd God’s people. Jesus wasn’t rubbing it in — He was giving Peter something he desperately needed: an opportunity to reconfess his love and be restored to leadership.
Three Things Jesus Shows Us in This Story
1. Jesus sees us even with our mistakes. Peter had blown it. Big time. Yet Jesus didn’t overlook Peter’s failure — He addressed it directly, face to face, over breakfast. Jesus loves us enough to name our sin rather than pretend it didn’t happen.
2. Jesus forgives us. This seems obvious, but it’s worth sitting with. Peter’s perfection wasn’t based on his performance — it was based on what Christ had already done. When we stumble, we don’t earn back our standing; we receive Christ’s righteousness as a gift. God doesn’t hold our failures against us — He points us back to the cross.
3. Jesus restores us. This is the most stunning part. Not only does Jesus welcome Peter back — He puts him back in leadership. Peter goes on to become a central figure in the early church. God specializes in taking broken, failed people and using them for monumental tasks.
So What Does This Mean for Us?
Pastor Brent closed the message with a challenge that applies whether we’re dealing with our own failures or the failures of others:
1. Address the elephant in the room. We all have those situations — the big mistake, the broken trust, the hurt that’s been sitting unspoken for too long. Jesus modeled the courage to name the problem rather than avoid it.
2. Offer forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 says we are to be “kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also forgave you.” That’s not a suggestion — it’s the mark of a follower of Jesus. We forgive even when the offense is big.
3. Pursue reconciliation and restoration. This is where it gets costly. Reconciliation takes both parties. It demands humility, grace, and a willingness to work toward mending what’s broken. It’s God’s heartbeat — not just that we’d let go of offense, but that we’d bring people back into community.
That’s what the world is watching for. Not perfect Christians — forgiven ones. People who have tasted the same grace Peter received and are learning to extend it to everyone around them.
Scripture References
- John 13:34-35 — The new command to love one another
- John 21:15-17 — Jesus restores Peter
- Ephesians 4:32 — Forgiveness as a lifestyle
- Psalm 150 — Praise the Lord