God calls us to be disciples of Jesus, building community through
service and fellowship and sharing the love of Christ with all.
“The United Methodist Church of Westford is an open and welcoming community of Christian
Faith. Without any exceptions, we welcome anyone who seeks to love and to serve God.” Learn More
Peter was a runaway disciple. He had followed Jesus closely, walking in his footsteps with boldness and devotion. But when the unthinkable happened—when Jesus was arrested without resistance—Peter was shaken. Overwhelmed by fear and confusion, he ran. The one he called Savior now seemed powerless, and in that moment, Peter stepped away from the place where he had once stood as a faithful follower.
Time passed, and Jesus rose from the dead. But Peter—the one who had once run away from discipleship—couldn’t quite find his way back. He returned to what he knew: fishing. The shame of his denial, the weight of failure, had pushed him out of the circle he once belonged to. But the Risen Christ didn’t leave him there.
On the shore, Jesus met Peter not with judgment, but with breakfast. He cooked a simple meal over a charcoal fire—the same kind of fire Peter had once stood beside when he denied knowing Jesus. Breakfast alone might not have been enough to restore a broken friendship, so Jesus spoke. “Feed my sheep.” Still, a task wasn’t enough without grace. So Jesus added, with tenderness and power, “Follow me.”
No matter how many times Peter had failed, the final word from Jesus was not condemnation, but a calling: "Feed my sheep. Follow me." And that made all the difference. In that moment, Peter’s failure was not the end of his story; it was the beginning of a new chapter—one marked by grace and redemption. Jesus didn’t merely restore Peter to his old role; He redefined his purpose and gave him a future full of hope.
This Sunday, as we reflect on Peter’s restoration, we are reminded that no matter how many times we stumble, Jesus’ calling for us remains the same: “Feed my sheep. Follow me.” It is a calling of grace—a call to keep moving forward, a call to trust that with Christ, failure is never final. As we step into this week, may we hear that same invitation to follow and serve, knowing that Jesus’ love and mercy are always greater than our mistakes.