Lovest Thou Me?

LOVEST THOU ME?

JOHN 21:15-17

Let me ask you a question this morning. What do you love most of all? If we would be honest, we would have several answers.

One might say, I LOVE MONEY. I am going to get all of it I can. But you need to remember, the Bible says, THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

Another might say, I LOVE GOOD HEALTH. I am going to keep my body in tiptop shape for the Bible says, this body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. But may I remind you, the Bible also says, IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MAN ONCE TO DIE.

Another might say, I LOVE POPULARITY. I’ll do anything to rise in the social world. But again, the Bible says, A MAN’S PRIDE SHALL BRING HIM LOW.

Another might say, I LOVE MY-SELF. I am going to look out for number one. But again the Bible says, HE THAT TRUSTED IN HIS OWN HEART IS A FOOL.

Our chief love should be JESUS CHRIST. For in Him is all blessing, all that we need.

In this passage that I have read, Jesus asked Peter, not once, but three times, did he love Him. He was saying to him, if you really love me, go out and give me the best of your life.

Peter did that. There would be no more denial, no more profanity, no more failing to pray, no more pride. Until the day he died, the Lord had all of him, his life, his talent, his all.

I-NOTICE THE PERSON WHO ASKED THE QUESTION: 15A

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?

Lets notice something about His character in this story

A-HE IS A KNOWING SAVIOUR: 15B

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.

The one who asked the question already had the answer. He was not asking the question to get information, for Peter said, thou knowest. He was doing it to teach Peter a lesson.

Peter knew that Jesus knew all thing for he remembered that Jesus had said, he would fail and when he did, it must have amazed Peter. But it didn’t Jesus, for he knew the future.

Three great characteristic of our Lord is that of ALL POWER, ALL PRESENCE, AND ALL KNOWLEDGE.

A son asked his father after a church service, does God know everything? The father replied why do you ask such a question? The son said, well I just wondered because the preacher was so long in his his prayer telling God everything. I just figured maybe God didn’t know.

The Greeks would throw parties at their temples and they would be so wicked that they would cover up the eyes of their gods so they couldn’t see what was gong on. (as they could?)

But one can’t do that unto our Lord, for He has all knowledge, he knows our good and our evil. This should stir our hearts to greater purity in our lives.

I remember one time when I was a boy, I was out in the backyard playing with a neighbor’s boy. He had made me mad and I was just getting ready to give him a whipping when I heard a tapping on the window. I looked up and it was my mother, she had saw the whole thing. Of course, I changed my intentions and was nice to the boy.

B-HE IS A KIND SAVIOUR:

He is not beating Peter with a rod for his failures but He is caring for him, talking with him, being kind to him.

Bro. Cecil Sewell, a preacher friend told me the story about a man who had served in WWII. But after the war he disappeared, he was never found until much later when he was dying in a hospital in California. He had lived a life of sin while away from his family. When his mother and kin went to visit him, he begin to say how sorrow he was, but his mother said, I didn’t come to get on you, I came to let you know I love you.

When Queen Victoria first came to the throne many of the court officials came to wish her well. Among the number was an old man who was a little lame, and in his excitement he partly stumbled up the steps. The queen sprang forward and helped him; she forgot for a moment that she was Queen, and only thought how youth might help old age.

Our King Jesus showed us ultimate kindness as He walked this planet. You and I should follow in his example, especially showing kindness to those who have fallen away from the Lord.