Introduction

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to this gathering where we seek to find nourishment for our souls in the Word of God. We find ourselves today in the comforting presence of the Lord, ready to open our hearts to His timeless wisdom. Today, we find ourselves at the feet of the Good Shepherd, ready to listen, ready to learn, ready to be led. Today, we find ourselves drawn into the profound narrative of John 21:15-19, a passage that speaks volumes about our call to serve, our call to submit, and our call to find sustenance in surrender.

It is in this passage that we encounter the risen Christ, a loving Savior who turns to Peter, a man who had denied Him thrice, with an invitation to love, to serve, to surrender. Let us listen to these words with open hearts: "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.' Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.' The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.' Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, 'Follow me.'"

In this passage, we find that our Savior is not looking for grand gestures or eloquent words. He is looking for hearts that are willing to serve, hearts that are willing to submit, hearts that find their sustenance in surrender. Isn't it true that we are often like Peter, eager to proclaim our love for the Lord, yet hesitant when it comes to laying down our lives for His sheep?

As we consider these truths, I am reminded of the words of the great preacher J.I. Packer, who once said, "The Christian's life in all its aspects...is supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it. So apart from him, not only will there be no lively believers and no lively congregations, there will be no believers and no congregations at all." This, dear brothers and sisters, is the heart of our message today. We are called to serve, not out of obligation, but out of love for our Savior who served us first.

Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we reflect on Your call to serve, to submit, and to find sustenance in surrender, may our hearts be open and receptive. May Your Spirit guide us into all truth, and may Your love compel us to live out these truths in our daily lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Sacrificing Self for Service

The narrative of John 21:15-19 presents us with a profound truth - the call to serve is a call to surrender. It is a call to lay down our lives for the sake of others, just as Christ laid down His life for us. This is not an easy call to answer. It requires us to let go of our own desires, our own ambitions, our own plans, and instead, to embrace the plans that God has for us.

This is the essence of service - it is not about us, but about those we are called to serve. It is about putting aside our own interests and focusing on the interests of others. This is what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

In the passage, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. Each time, Peter affirms his love for Jesus. And each time, Jesus responds with a call to service - "Feed my lambs," "Take care of my sheep," "Feed my sheep." These are not just instructions for Peter, but for all of us who claim to love Jesus. Our love for Jesus is not measured by our words, but by our actions. It is not measured by our professions, but by our service.

The first aspect of service that we see in this passage is the aspect of responsibility. When Jesus tells Peter to feed His lambs and take care of His sheep, He is entrusting Peter with a great responsibility. He is entrusting him with the care of His flock, His people. This is a responsibility that requires commitment, dedication, and sacrifice. It is a responsibility that we cannot take lightly, for it is a responsibility given to us by the Lord Himself.

The second aspect of service that we see in this passage is the aspect of love. The call to serve is a call to love. It is a call to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the greatest commandment, and it is the foundation of all service. Without love, our service is meaningless. Without love, our service is empty. Without love, our service is in vain.

The third aspect of service that we see in this passage is the aspect of obedience. When Jesus tells Peter to follow Him, He is calling him to a life of obedience. He is calling him to walk in His footsteps, to live according to His teachings, to obey His commands. This is not an easy call to answer. It requires us to surrender our will to the will of God. It requires us to submit our desires to the desires of God.

The fourth aspect of service that we see in this passage is the aspect of sacrifice. The call to serve is a call to sacrifice. It is a call to die to ourselves, to our selfishness, to our pride, so that we can live for others, for their benefit, for their blessing. This is the ultimate expression of love, the ultimate act of service.

Submission to the Savior

As we continue to meditate on this passage, we find ourselves face to face with the reality of submission ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO