He Willingly Restores
Ever since I started reading the Bible as a new Christian, Simon Peter has been the character I’ve identified with the most. When he is first introduced, he is impulsive and reactionary. He does the wrong things but rationalizes that they are for the right reasons. His first instincts are to control and fix problems with his own strength and intelligence. It’s almost comical that Jesus renames Simon to Peter. Jesus chose him to be the rock on which his church would be built. And he did this well before Peter displayed any real and lasting changes in behavior. In fact, Peter kept wrestling with the Simon within for the duration of Jesus’s entire earthly ministry.
The more I come to understand Jesus, the more I’ve realized the timing of Peter’s name change had nothing to do with where he actually was in his spiritual development, but everything to do with where Jesus knew he would eventually be. Jesus saw the Peter beneath the Simon exterior. And believe it or not, the same goes for us. Jesus doesn’t see our worldly exteriors, the ones we try so hard to polish and pass off as worthy. He sees our hearts, and that’s what he is trying to work on, to bring to the surface.
Most of us know the story of Peter denying Jesus three times before the rooster crowed at the crucifixion. But there’s another story that didn’t stick out to me until after multiple readings through the New Testament:
After breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” (John 21: 15-17)
This was after the crucifixion but before Jesus ascended into heaven. Jesus had Peter repeat “Yes, I love you” three times, not because he wanted to hear it or even because he was unsure. Jesus had Peter repeat it to fully restore Peter for his three denials. Even after all that Jesus had been through, even after he warned Peter, and even after he experienced the desertion of his friends, Jesus willingly restored Peter.
And after that experience, Peter left Simon behind for good and stepped fully into who Jesus knew he could be. He became the model disciple which all other followers of Christ should try to be like.
I used to think I identified with Peter because of the Simon that was within. I wasn’t perfect, and I knew I never could be, so I looked to Simon as almost God’s condoning of my imperfections. Jesus picked Simon despite his flaws, so I shouldn’t worry if my Simon stayed on the surface most of the time.
But after years of pursuing a relationship with Jesus, I’ve realized that he was slowly restoring me. I identified with Simon because there was a Peter within me too, I just needed to truly get to know Jesus for my Peter to emerge.
And he doesn’t just do it for Peter or for me. He willingly restores us all. God won’t make us do anything. He will guide us. He will walk beside us. He will even unlock and open the door. But he won’t force us through it.
We live our lives with free will and the ability to make our own decisions, right or wrong. Jesus sacrificed himself so that we could have the Holy Spirit with us, helping us take the right path. It was only once the Holy Spirit was within him that Peter was able to finally shed the Simon.
When I was new to faith, I thought following Jesus was about being perfect and making the right choices. Not only that, I assumed I’d always want to do the right thing and that it would be so easy.
But, I now know that’s not how it works. No matter what you’ve done or the choices you’ve made, Jesus doesn’t give up on you. If he was willing to restore Peter after that devastating abandonment, there’s nothing you’ve done that he won’t willingly restore in you.
He might make you even out the wrongs as he did with Peter, but he will never write you off. The only thing he can’t restore is unmade moves.
was a mental health therapist in the school system before becoming the full-time chaos coordinator for her family (aka stay-at-home mom). She and her husband have three young kids. Jess started writing in hopes that by sharing her stories and lessons learned, she can help others learn “the easy way.”
Photograph © Tim Wildsmith, used with permission
