Love, Do You Know The Real Meaning

Love, Do You Know The Real Meaning? by Ed Pruitt

John 21:15-21:17

Love, Do You Know The Real Meaning?

Sunday January 4, 2004

John 21:15-17

I want to start out this morning tell all of you that I love my wife Lisa!

Do you believe that I love her?

There are times that I don’t really enjoy being with her,

But I love her.

There are times that I don’t really want to talk to her,

But I love her.

I might go for days without talking to her,

But I love her.

When I do talk to her, it’s usually because I want to ask her for something, or maybe for a few seconds before each meal,

But I love her.

When I do talk to her, I find my mind wandering, thinking about other things,

But I love her.

She’s not always a part of my everyday life, I think about her more on Sunday mornings than any other time of the week.

But I love her.

I meet with other husbands, and we sing songs about our wives

I’ll even talk publicly to the rest of the husbands for about 45 minutes about how much I love her.

She writes me love letters, but I don’t read them very often,

But I love my wife.

I give her a little pocket change every week, as long as it doesn’t cut too deeply into how much I want to spend on myself,

But I love my wife.

I just don’t care to have very much to do with her, and make her a part of my life.

But, I love my wife.

NOW, how many of you, from what I have just said, would say that I love my wife?

Now, let’s translate that into our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

After all, we are called the bride of Christ, aren’t we?

We SAY that we love Jesus, it’s EASY to SAY, isn’t it?

BUT, if we treated our WIVES like we treat Jesus, and lets not make this one sided, if women treated husbands like they treated Jesus we wouldn’t be married very long, would we?

OR, if we were married, it wouldn’t be a very HAPPY marriage, would it?

I am going to give you a short version of the first fourteen verses of John chapter 21 and that will lead us into our text this morning.

Now, Jesus had just met His Disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

They had fished all night & caught nothing, Jesus told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat.

When they did, they caught all the fish they could handle.

Jesus met them on the shore and had breakfast ready for them.

After breakfast, Jesus confronts Peter publicly before the rest of the Disciples.

Now, let’s read, John 21:15-17

15 After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Yes, Lord, Peter replied, you know I love you.

Then feed my lambs, Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Yes, Lord, Peter said, you know I love you.

Then take care of my sheep, Jesus said.

17 Once more he asked him, Simon son of John, do you love me?

Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.

Jesus said, Then feed my sheep.

Notice what Jesus asks Peter three times.

Do you love Me?

Why three times?

Because, when Peter was confronted with the opportunity to demonstrate his love for Jesus, he denied knowing Jesus three times!

A three-fold denial demanded a three-fold confession.

It was around a fire of coals that Peter denied Jesus three times and lost his ministry.

It is now around a fire of coals that Jesus restores Peter to the ministry.

Let’s think about how Peter must have felt during these few weeks after denying Jesus.

The night before Jesus was crucified Peter told Jesus according to scripture, Matthew 26:33-35

33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”

34 “Peter,” Jesus replied, “the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

John 13:37-38

37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I am ready to die for you.”

38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? No, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.

Peter loved Jesus, he had no intention of letting Him down!

This is the same Peter that walked on water to get to where Jesus was!