Second Chances

A HIGHER HOPE – SEPTEMBER

SECOND CHANCES

In a recent article in the Christian Education Matters Journal, (CEM 11, 2023) Pam O’Dea wrote about a situation when she shared God’s grace with one of her students.  Pam, a Principal with the St Phillips Group of Schools, met with a student who had ‘crossed the line’. Her intention for the meeting was to ‘encourage him to take the opportunity to start afresh and find the gold that God had put within him.” (O’Dea, 2023, p. 9).

She offered a solution which both acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but also gave him hope of a second chance based on a change to that particular behaviour. The student accepted the offer – changed his behaviour, started afresh and found the gold that God had put within him. He took the second chance, learning more about God, His grace and his faith.

Just like Jesus offered to Peter?

“Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will,” said Peter, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Matt 26:33)

“I tell you Peter, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times,” Jesus. (Matt 26:34)

Peter didn’t believe this could happen.
And then it did.
There was a trial and then a crucifixion.

It would have been a series of excruciatingly painful events that changed Peter’s world. Even before the rooster crowed, every time he was accused of knowing Jesus and denying it, he would have despaired. It is very hard to imagine ourselves in this situation, yet we are often thrust into situations like this.

But back to Peter.

After Jesus’ resurrection, there were a number of times where Jesus appeared to the disciples. Simon Peter was present each time but the hardest and possibly the most challenging and transformative time for him was on the third occasion, after a night of unproductive fishing. Jesus called to Peter from the shoreline and told him to let his nets down again. Just as it was in the beginning, when Simon met Jesus for the first time, the catch was over-full, the nets bulging. That had been the first time Simon realized who Jesus really was.

This time, as soon as he recognised Jesus, he jumped out of his boat to run towards his Lord and Saviour. Jesus already had a fire going and asked for some of the fish that had just been caught. He invited them, “Come and have breakfast.” He took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish.” (John 21:12,13)

It was the conversation after breakfast that challenged and transformed Peter. For Jesus to ask him, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?”(John 21:15) was very difficult for him; not because he didn’t love Jesus but because this highlighted his denials.  We dare not accuse Peter of denials and failings, for we probably are aware of times when we ourselves have failed to share and show Jesus to others.

Simon was asked this question, “Do you truly love me?” not just once, but three times, the same number of times he denied Jesus leading up to the crucifixion. How hard was that for him? I’m sure we can feel his sadness, shame, guilt and despair. The situation was in the past. He couldn’t do anything to change it.

But that is when everything changed for him. Jesus didn’t lecture him on his failings or warn him about denying him again in the future. No, Jesus lived out the principles He had been teaching the disciples for the past three years. He acknowledged, forgave, restored and commissioned Peter. It is the same grace He shows us as He gives us second chances.

It is the same grace He expects us to share in our relationships – with friends, family and school colleagues and community. As teachers, educators, and school personnel in our Christian Schools, we have opportunities to show God’s grace to our students and their families, in a way that communicates His love.

“Grace is the pathway to hope, and when we as educators, can provide this pathway for our students, then we release them to explore the pathway that God has prepared for them, a path that leads to life.” (O’Dea, 2023, p. 10)

Just as Jesus demonstrated this with Peter, may we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), in ever growing gratitude to God for His grace, sharing this pathway to hope with our school communities.

References

O’Dea, P. (CEM 11, Summer 2023), A Second Chance, Christian Education Matters Journal (CEM), The Excellence Centre. https://www.theexcellencecentre.org/tec/cem/

https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/simon-peter