New Grace

Pastor Tom Messer takes us to the shores of the Sea of Tiberias where we encounter one of the most transformative stories in Scripture—Peter's restoration after his devastating failure. Through John 21, we discover that our failures don't have to define us or disqualify us from God's purposes. Peter, who denied Jesus three times, found himself returning to his old life of fishing, believing perhaps that his calling was over. But Jesus meets him right there in his disappointment and discouragement, demonstrating that God specializes in new beginnings. The contrast between Peter's two fishing experiences reveals a profound truth: when Jesus first called Peter, he fell down saying 'depart from me, for I am a sinful man,' but after his failure and restoration, Peter couldn't get to Jesus fast enough—jumping out of the boat and swimming to shore. This shift illustrates the difference between a fallen identity built on what we achieve versus a gospel identity based on what we receive. Our worth isn't determined by our best days or our worst days, but by our relationship with Jesus. The empty nets that became full, the fire with fish already prepared on shore, and Jesus's three-fold question 'do you love me?'—all point to a God who doesn't need our perfection but invites us into intimacy despite our brokenness. This is the God of Regenesis, the God of starting over, who uses our failures as platforms for greater usefulness and deeper intimacy with Him.