The Wanderer's Return
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
The question of waxing lukewarm is one which is prominent before the minds of the churches. There are none, so far as we know, who believe it is impossible for a believer to wander away from God. There are many who realize to their sorrow that a large percentage of church members have wandered away. To say that all of these are saved would certainly be wrong. To say that none are saved would be just as erroneous. Christians may, and do wander.
1. To wander from God is possible, but not necessary. The Lord Jesus Christ has made all provision for a victorious and overcoming Christian life. Temptations come to us from three viewpoints. They come from the flesh; they come from the world; they come from the devil.
If we walk in the Spirit we are told that we will not fulfill the works of the flesh. We are also told that with the shield of faith we may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. So far as the world is concerned, the Book tells us, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
In all things we may be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. It was Charles H. Spurgeon who said something like this: "If Jesus Christ died to save us from the penalty of sin, and then left us as dupes to the power and dominion of sin, then His was a puerile salvation."
God has told us in just so many words that "Sin shall not have dominion over you." Let the wanderer therefore cease to condone his wanderings. There are too many who excuse their sins. Some we fear are even proud of their evil ways.
2. Wandering from God is not only possible, but it is probable. It is probable because people are trying to meet the issues of life in their own strength. It is probable because sin still holds a certain sway in the unyielded life. It is probable because the world is fascinating, beautifully draped and decked, and many believers have never left its portals behind them. They are doing what Pharaoh wanted Moses and the Children of Israel to do: to serve him in his land. Or they are doing another thing Pharaoh said: "Go not too far away."
3. The heart of Jesus Christ toward the deserter. Here is a vital consideration. When a believer wanders from his Lord, does the Lord scratch his name off the Book of Life? Does He cast him off forever? Quite the contrary is true.
In the Book of Ezekiel, the Lord distinctively teaches that He is against the shepherds of Israel because His sheep wandered away from the fold and were scattered upon the face of the earth and none did seek after them.
In the case of Peter, we have a very striking message as to Christ's attitude toward one who, step by step, left Him and went away. "We trust that as the story of Peter's restoration is brought out, we will discover first of all the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ toward those who wander; and secondly, the methods of the Lord Jesus Christ in seeking to reclaim the stumbling, fallen brother. We think of Peter sometimes as a "model" deserter. If so, Christ is a model Restorer to those who fall away. There was not one moment from the time that Christ first rebuked Peter when He said, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice," until Peter's restoration was fully adjusted, that the Lord did not yearn after His own.
We must remember that the love of God is an everlasting love. When Jesus Christ first called Peter He said unto him, "Thou art Simon * * thou shalt be [a rock]." The Lord spoke knowing all about the day when Peter would curse and swear. Christ thus took Peter for better, not for worse.
So does the Lord take every one of us. He says, "No man is able to pluck you out of My hand." Our Lord is able to save unto the "completion" those who come unto God by Him. That completed work of grace may demand much of chastisement, but God will bring His trusting children back again.
I. I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE (Luke 22:31-32)
Before Peter wandered the Lord said unto him, "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not."
1. Peter's defection was foreseen by the Lord. It was for this cause that the Lord forewarned Peter. He let Peter know that Satan had been making request that he might prove him. The Lord has told us the same thing. It is written, "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
There is not one of us who is not subject to the winds that blow, to the rains which fall, and to the floods which come. All of us are beset of the enemy of our souls. Paul wrote of Satan these words: "We are not ignorant of his devices."
2. The Lord; told Peter that He had prayed for him. Here was Peter's security. Christ prays for us; He ever liveth to make intercession for us. In this statement of our Lord He puts Himself over against the wiles of the devil. He said unto Peter: "Satan hath," then He said, "I have." He did not tell Peter what to do. He said that He was doing it. What comfort in these words! Satan is stronger than we. We dare not go forth to meet him in our own strength, but the Lord will meet him for us; we can go forth and meet him in the Name of the Lord.
3. Christ's objective in His prayer for Peter. Christ did not desire that Satan should not tempt Peter. He did, however, desire two things: (1) That Peter's faith might not fail. (2) That Peter, when converted, might strengthen his brethren. The Lord saw that Peter's sifting would prove beneficial. Peter needed just the sifting that God was permitting.
Christ said that Satan would sift him as wheat. When wheat is sifted it is the chaff that is thrown away, not the wheat. This is seen, also, in the fact that the Lord said, "When thou are converted," that is, "When thou art changed," or "When thou are sifted and hast turned, strengthen then thy brethren," How could Peter have strengthened the saints unless he himself had been sifted and purified?
II. THE LORD LOOKED ON PETER (Luke 22:61)
It was just after Peter had cursed and sworn, saying that he knew not the man, that the Lord turned and looked on Peter. What we want to do is to consider the part which that look had in Peter's restoration.
1. The look considered. Will each of us try to imagine the scene: Peter cursing, the Lord looking. Perhaps, it would be easier for us to paint the face of Peter when he cursed and swore, than to paint the eyes and countenance of Christ as He looked on Peter.
Would you paint Christ's face with scorn upon His lips, and a frown upon His face? Do you think that the look of the Lord Jesus Christ was the look of condemnation, and criticism? Let us think of it from another viewpoint.
Was the look of the Lord Jesus a look of love? of pathos, mingled with pity? Was the look the expression of Christ's tender compassion?
2. Peter's reaction considered. Perhaps, the best way to discover the "look" which Christ gave to Peter, is to discover the response of Peter to that look. Did Peter resent what Christ had done? Certainly, if the Lord had looked upon Peter with reproach and with ironic condemnation Peter was just in the mood to resent it. Yet, Peter went out and wept bitterly. The look must have been one of love, for it is love that breaks the heart. Have we not been taught that we must overcome evil with good? Carping criticism never got us anywhere. Sarcastic looks never lifted a soul up into the light.
The church needs to learn the message of Christ's look upon Peter. When the sheep has wandered, has slipped and broken its leg, the shepherd will not cuff it; he will tenderly rescue it and bind its wounds. The man on the Jericho road did not need to be criticized; he needed some one to pour in oil and wine, some one to bind up his wounds, some one to place him on a beast, some one to take him to an inn.
III. TELL HIS DISCIPLES AND PETER (Mark 16:7)
1. Peter's tears. Three sad and bitter days had passed upon Peter's head. After he had cursed, and the Lord had looked upon him, Christ went forth to Pilate's judgment hall, on to the whipping post, on to the hill of Calvary.
It was on the Cross that Jesus died. At the foot of that Cross, and about it, there stood many acquaintances, and many friends of our Lord. Among them was John, the beloved disciple; Mary, the mother of Jesus; and Peter.
2. Peter discomforted. Peter, still weeping, crestfallen, heartbroken, stood apart beholding the dying of the Lord. We remember how he said that he was an eye-witness of Christ's sufferings.
From that Cross Christ spoke to the thief, saying, "To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise." From that Cross Christ said, John, "thy mother." "Woman, * * thy son." However, from that Cross there was not one word for Peter. When the last loud cry had come from the lips of the dying Saviour, and He had yielded up His spirit, Peter turned away without a word of consolation.
Why was this? It was because the Lord knew that Peter must suffer for his unfaithfulness. It is an evil thing, and bitter, when we forsake the Lord, our God, and turn to our own way. Christ, in justice to Peter and Peter's future, could not too rapidly pass over his sins.
3. Peter's joy. Three days followed with Peter dwelling in a total eclipse. To him those were days of self-condemnation and of deepest repentance. One of the most remarkable statements of the Bible is that which we now consider, the angel knowing both the heart of Jesus, and the sin of Peter, said, "Go * *, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him."
Did you ever dash, by train, from the darkness of a tunnel into the blazing light of the noonday sun? So did Peter dash that morning. He had thought himself excommunicated, disowned; he had felt that he had lost his bishopric. Now, with the words "and Peter" before him, new hope touched his spirit. In after years he wrote: We were "begotten * * unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
IV. THE LORD HATH APPEARED TO SIMON (Luke 24:34)
When Peter received the message from his Lord he was indeed rejoiced. In the meanwhile he had rushed out to the tomb, and had gone in, had seen the linen clothes lying, and the napkin folded by itself at the head of the tomb. He, with John, had seen and believed. This, and the word from the angel, brought joy unspeakable and full of glory into the heart of the Apostle. He wanted to be alone, and he went off somewhere to pour out his prayer of confession, his effulgence of joy before God. It was there, when he was isolated and alone that the Lord appeared to him.
1. We have here suggested the all-seeing eye of Christ. The Lord did not make inquiry as to where He might find Peter. He simply appeared where Peter was, appeared unheralded, and unannounced. We take it, therefore, that the Lord, in His omniscience, had followed Peter every step of the way, and had read every thought of the Apostle during the three days of his sorrow.
2. It is significant that the Lord appeared to Simon. Simon was his name "in the flesh." It was to the Peter who had failed his Lord, to the one who had followed afar, who had warmed himself at the enemies' fire, cursed and swore, it was even unto him that the Lord appeared.
3. What happened there? The Bible does not tell us. The Lord let the curtain drop over that sacred scene. We can easily imagine Peter's exultant cry as he saw the Lord standing by his side. We can hear his confession as he acknowledged all that he had done, and made bare unto the Lord the agony of those three fateful days and nights. We can also imagine the words of the Master as He spoke unto Peter His forgiveness, and assured him of His love.
V. LOVEST THOU ME MORE THAN THESE? (John 21:15)
The Lord did not need to ask Peter if he loved Him more than he loved his fish. Long since had Peter left his fish and his all to follow his Lord. When the Lord spoke to Peter and said, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?" He must have meant, "Lovest thou Me more than the other Apostles love Me?"
1. Getting back to the place from whence he had fallen. Peter's first downward step had been his boastful claim to superiority over the other disciples. Christ had said, "All ye shall be offended because of Me." Peter had replied, "Though all shall be offended, yet will not I." He had in this not only boasted of his own prowess, but he had discounted the fidelity of the others. Peter had lifted himself to a pedestal above the other Eleven. Now, after his folly had been fully revealed, and he had learned of his own weakness, the Lord quickly asked him, "Simon, lovest thou Me more than these?" "Art thou better than John, James Thomas, Bartholomew, Thaddaeus, and the rest?"
2. Demanding a public confession. In that sequestered spot where the Lord had appeared to Simon He had, beyond a doubt, forgiven him. Peter now must be restored, not only to his Lord, but to his rightful heritage among those who had followed with him during three blessed years.
We, who have sinned publicly, and in the sight of men, must confess and be restored publicly in the sight of men. Peter's response to the Lord was simple, and yet most illuminating. He said unto Him, "Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee." He did not say, "I love Thee less than the other disciples." Neither did he say, "I love Thee more than the others." He just said, "I love Thee." Jesus had said "more than these." When we get back to God we are not after superiority over our brethren.
VI. FEED MY LAMBS (John 21:15-17 last clauses)
Peter was not only forgiven, and not only restored to his place among the Eleven, but he was given back his work. We have often heard of the story of the bird of the broken pinion, and how it never soared as high again. However, the author of that hymn has recently changed it to read, "he soared as high again."
To Peter, the one who warmed himself at the enemies' fire, Christ said, "Feed My lambs." To Peter, the one who cursed and swore, and had denied his Lord, Jesus said, "Feed My sheep."
With what power did Peter preach the Word at Pentecost, the man who had denied his Lord before a maid, as he stood, afterward, and faced the leaders of the Sanhedrin, plainly said, "Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" the Lord. When Peter and John were threatened by the council, Peter was not slow to say, "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
The fearful had become the fearless; the weak had become the strong. The deserter had become the defender of the faith. The expression of our Lord, "Feed My lambs" and "Feed My sheep" placed Peter in the role of a shepherd.
The Lord seemed to be saying to Peter, "Now, that thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Three times Peter had denied his Lord; three times the Lord had laid upon him the feeding of His lambs and His sheep.
VII. FOLLOW THOU ME (John 21:22)
After Peter was restored to the Lord, and to his work, the Lord outlined, in brief, the deeper cause of discipleship that would fall upon him.
1. He spoke of the days of Peter's youth. He said, "When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest." In these words there was a suggestion of Peter's self-asserted and headstrong impetuosity. Peter, however, now had lost that boastful spirit. He had, as it were, taken his own hands off the reins and turned himself over to Christ.
2. He spoke of the days of Peter's old age. He said, "When thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not." "This spake He signifying by what death he should glorify God." Profane history tells us that Peter died by crucifixion. This is, at least, in line with what Christ said, "Thou shalt stretch forth thy hands."
3. He gave the command: "Follow Me." It was after Christ laid before Peter the cause of his obedience that He said, "Follow Me." The Lord did not suggest a rosy future, with flowery beds of ease. He plainly told Peter that sorrow, death, and martyrdom awaited him. Then He said unto him, "Follow Me."
Peter did not say, "I would pity myself, I would spare myself, Lord." He did, however, turn to John, and then he said to Jesus, "What shall this man do?" The Lord gave Peter a gentle rebuke, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me."
In the Christian life we must never walk by comparison. We must not do something because some one else does it. Our standard must not be what will John do, or what will anyone do. We must ask, "What does Christ tell me to do?" We thank God that from that day henceforth Peter followed his Lord. We do not assert that he did not make any mistakes. We do assert that he went the full length with Christ.
One of the Bible's most beautiful pictures is the statement that Christ made to the disciples: "Ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Perhaps, even more beautiful than this is a statement that was revealed unto John after Peter had doubtless suffered martyrdom. The statement was, "And the walls of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb,"
Thus, through all eternity, there shall be kept before the gaze of all Heaven, the names of the men who left ail and followed Christ. It might be added that Judas lost his bishopric, but another was chosen by God to take his place.
AN ILLUSTRATION
BILLY SUNDAY'S CONVERSION
The story of "Billy" Sunday's conversion is told by him as follows, taken from one of his sermons in the "Philadelphia North American":
One time, twenty-nine years ago, I walked down a street in Chicago in company with some ball-players who were famous in this world, and we went into a saloon. It was Sunday afternoon and we 'tanked' up. We walked on down the street to a vacant lot and sat down on the curbing. Across the street a company of men and women were playing on instruments horns, flutes, and trombones and the others were singing the gospel hymns that I used to hear my mother sing back in the log cabin in Iowa, and back in the old Methodist church where I used to go to Sunday School. And God painted on the canvas of ray recollection and memory a vivid picture of the scenes of other days and other faces. I sobbed and sobbed, and a young man stepped out and said, 'We are going down to the Pacific Garden Mission. Won't you come down with us? I am sure you will enjoy it.' I arose and said, 'Good-by, boys,' and turned my back on them. Some of them laughed and some of them mocked me. * * I went to the mission, liked it, and went again and again. Then one dark and stormy night. I groped my way, out of darkness into the arms of Jesus Christ, and I fell on my knees and cried, 'God be merciful to me, a sinner!'