Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / John
John 21:15-25 03/25/07
Title: ‘Do You Love Me?’ Text: John 21:15-25
Introduction: What is it that motivates you? What is it that gets you out of bed each morning to go about your day? When most people are asked these questions they respond one of several ways:
· I do it for my family.
· I do it to see my friends.
· I do it to pay my bills.
· I do it to keep myself occupied (a favorite of those retired)
Here’s another question. ‘Would you do for Gold what you would do for God?’ What does this mean?
· Would you attend Mid-Week Prayer & Praise, if you were paid for it?
· Would you be more likely to share your faith with others if you were financially compensated for your efforts?
· Would you serve as a teacher or on a committee, if the trustees here at CBC put you on the payroll?
Explanation: If these questions disturb you, it’s because they call for a reluctant ‘yes.’ We’re human and Christians aren’t above being motivated by money.
Jesus, in our very familiar text this morning, reminds Peter that service to him must be motivated by something other than financial gain. What kind of motivation is Jesus looking for? Let’s see.
Transition: Open your Bibles to John 21:15 (pg. 830 in the Bibles under the chair in front of you). It’s here we’ll find that which motivates our commitment to Jesus, more than gold.
I. John 21:15-17 ‘Do you love me?’
Read: John 21:15-17
I realize that your Bible may title this section ‘Jesus Reinstates Peter’ but I don’t think that’s correct. Jesus had already spent time after his resurrection with his disciples; he has assured them all of his peace and love for them …including Peter.
No, I don’t think Jesus is reinstating or restoring Peter here. I do, however, think he is using Peter’s past, to cause him to evaluate his motivation for his future. Let me explain.
Clearly, this passage is a parallel to the scene of Peter’s three-time denial of Jesus in the courtyard of the high priest. Several of the details are similar.
· Both took place beside a fire.
· Both refer to Peter as ‘Simon Peter’ making note of the natural man, the one we all can identify with.
· Both involve a three-fold statement. Three times Peter was asked if he knew Jesus and three time he is asked if he loves Jesus.
But I believe that’s where the similarities end. Peter is not being rebuked in our text, he’s not being restored or reinstated as a disciple. Peter is being prepared for what is to come, he’s being asked by Jesus… ‘What is it that really motivates you, Peter?’ Let’s look at that a bit more closely.
Jesus asked ‘Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ Of the three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, I think this is the most significant, because it hits at the heart of the matter before him.
· Jesus’ prediction that Peter would deny him three times came in the midst of his boasting that even if all the disciples denied Jesus, he certainly would not.
Peter was claiming a higher level of devotion to Jesus than the others. Here, I believe Jesus is simply asking Peter to
re-evaluate his boastful claim, in light of his recent past actions.
Peter does…he confirms his love for Jesus but he would not go as far as to say he loved Jesus more than the other disciples…that’s called spiritual growth!
Jesus asked ‘Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ I don’t think Peter’s lesson was limited to the ‘more than these’ just representing the other disciples.
· I think Jesus meant the fish. With the help of Jesus, they had just caught 153 fish when they were unable to catch anything on their own.
Jesus was asking Peter, do you love be because of what I do for you? Do you love me because of the blessings you experience?
I realize it’s hard sometimes to separate who
God IS from what God DOES for us.
I realize we do love him for what he DOES but if he never did anything for us again…
apart from salvation, would we still love him? That’s the question Jesus is asking.
Jesus asked ‘Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ One more lesson.
· ‘More than these’… more than your job, your nets, your boats….more than material things and that which you think gives you security in life.
Peter, do you love me enough to leave all these things to follow me?
Peter’s answer…Yes! Three times Jesus asked and three times Peter said yes…I love you Jesus.
Be aware that Jesus still challenges us still today to evaluate our motivations to follow him.
________ Do you love me more than these?
________Do you love me more than these?
________Do you love me more than these?
The Psalmist wrote ‘With my whole heart have I sought thee…’
Does your whole heart belong to Jesus? Is it your love for him that motivates you everyday to follow him?
Think about this: Peter wanted to prove his love for Jesus
· by boasting about it,
· by arguing with the other disciples about it,
· by being the first to draw his sword in the Garden to protect Jesus,
· and by being the first disciple to swim to shore to greet Jesus.
But Jesus wanted to teach Peter that love for him is proved by faithful service…better yet, love for Jesus is what motivates faithful service to Jesus…remember Jesus questioned his love and each time told him to serve… ‘Feed my lambs’, ‘Take care of my sheep’ ‘Feed my sheep’
Transition: Jesus was happy with Peter’s responses, but he needed to take Peter a little further on his journey of faith.
II. John 21:18-19a
‘Do you love me…even if…?’
Read: John 21:18-19a
Jesus told Peter that his love for him would bring about his death. And not just any death, Peter would be crucified when he was older. BUT, his death would bring glory to God.
Jesus was taking Peter’s love to the next level. ‘Peter, do you love me…even if you’re going to die a painful death because of it?’
What about you? Will you love Jesus even if…
· you lose your job,
· your home,
· your family,
· even if serving him means having to give up something…your time, your finances, your comfort?
Do you love Jesus, even if…? While it’s not written, I believe Peter thought about it and said to himself…yes, even if that happens, I will still love you.
Transition: Peter passed the test. Then Jesus gave him his next assignment.
III. John 21:19b ‘If you love me, follow me!’
Read: John 21:19b
A little Greek lesson. The words ‘follow me’ are in the present imperative. Which literally means ‘Keep following me’.
Love always involves responsibility and sacrifice…those of you who are married, those who have children…am I right? Love always involves responsibility and sacrifice.
‘Follow Me’ means responsibility and sacrifice but too many Christians today don’t fully comprehend the command or are obedient to it..
· Jesus, I will follow you, as long as it’s not too hard.
· Jesus, I will follow you, as long as I can still do whatever I want.
· Jesus, I will follow you, as long as it doesn’t cost me too much of my time or other resources.
What happened to Philippians 1:21 ‘For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.’?
What happened to Matthew 22:37-38 ‘Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.’
If you respond to the words ‘Follow Me’ like many Christians do, then it’s not love for Jesus which motivates your life.
Jesus is talking about commitment
· To serve him
· To worship him
· To be obedient to him
And if it’s anything other than love for Jesus that motivates your commitment, you won’t be consistent in your walk with Jesus and that will affect the whole of your life.
Love for Jesus can’t be passive, it must be active. It’s best displayed in consistent, continuous acts of loving service… even if it’s not an easy path.
Transition: I think Peter was beginning to get it, but then got sidetracked, as he often did.
IV. John 21:20-23 ‘If you love me, don’t compare yourself to others.’
Read: John 21:20-23
This really shouldn’t be very tough to understand. Jesus was putting a lot responsibility and expected a lot of sacrifice from Peter. He turned and saw John and said…
‘what about him, what’s he gotta do? Shouldn’t he and everyone else share in these responsibilities and sacrifices?
Here Jesus does rebuke Peter by telling him not to worry about anyone else but himself.
It’s easy for us to criticize Peter for his foolish words. But aren’t we often guilty as well?
· Sometimes competition within the local church motivates our service.
· Sometimes we compare ourselves with other Christians in spiritual growth, ministry opportunities and position in the church.
· Sometimes others are asked to do things and we aren’t.
God’s Word to us is the same as it was to Peter…don’t worry about everyone else, you, just love and follow me. I think we all need reminding of that sometimes.
Transition: Well, we’ve come to the end of the book of John. Let’s see how John finishes it.
V. John 21:24-25 ‘Closing comments’
Read: John 21:24-25
John ends by saying that his book does not contain all that Jesus did. I believe it’s because John knew the work of Jesus continues even after his death, resurrection and ascension.
And he says, what I have included, is the truth, you can place your eternity on it. And I hope you have.
Conclusion
Our text this morning is the ‘Great Commission;’ in the Book of John. While different than the one found in Matthew, the main thing is still the main thing.
· Matthew stresses the authority of Jesus to command his disciples, then and now, to follow him.
· John focuses on our love for Jesus and the privilege we have to show our love by following him.
What a fitting end to the Book of John. John doesn’t emphasize the Christian’s duty to follow Jesus (which is true) but instead he focuses on the Christian’s love, as the chief motivation for sacrificial service to Jesus.
Are we ready to make a commitment like that? I believe God is touching many hearts with a need to renew their commitment to God by re-evaluating their motivation to serve him.
What happens when we are motivated by love for Jesus?
· Love for Jesus creates community
· Love for Jesus prompts obedience
· Love for Jesus provides motivation
· Love for Jesus transforms character
· Love for Jesus gives purpose
· Love for Jesus stabilizes relationships
· Love for Jesus…never gives up.
Jesus is asking you this morning
‘Do you love me?’