Jesus, the God-man: Gospel of John
“Saved to Serve”
John 21:15-25
Introduction: Several years ago I taught a drama class for a home school group. One of the things I taught them is the actor always needed to know his motivation in a scene. In other words, “Why am I doing what I am doing?” Otherwise a person will act as if they are just performing an action or going through the motions with no reason.
This is an important question for us to consider as Christians too. “Why am I saved?” What is my motivation? Is it just so I can go to heaven? If so, why am I still here? Why didn’t I disappear at the moment of conversion? Jesus will help us to discover the answer to that question of motivation as He restores Peter and reminds him and by extension to us as well that we are “saved to serve”.
1. Love is demonstrated by action. (vv. 15-17)
Breakfast is over. It’s time for an important conversation.
“Simon, son of Jonah” – This is a formal address. He is referring to him by his old name and not his new name. Peter meant “rock”, but he had not acted like one recently. Didn’t you always know you were in trouble when your parent called you by your full name?
v. 15 – “Do you love Me more than these?” These what?
Fish? Do you love Me more than you do fishing for fish? Valid question. He did stop waiting so he could fish.
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4
Other disciples? Do you love Me more than friends? Great question! Do you love Me more than friends or family?
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26
Do you still think that you love Me more than these men do like you originally thought?
Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Matthew 26:33
I think the last one is probably correct. That was the beginning of Peter’s downfall, but I think a combination of all of these are good too.
Do you love Me more than friends, family, hobbies, job, sports, and even self?
“If you love Me then feed My lambs.” In other words, if you love Me then demonstrate it by action, not just words. Talk is cheap. Show it!
Note they are Jesus’ lambs. These were the youngest, weakest, and most vulnerable. Children or new believers.
Jesus is the Chief Shepherd. We are undershepherds.
Peter continues this thought in 1 Peter 5.
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-4
v. 16 – Same question. Same response. This time Jesus tells him to tend (lead or govern) His sheep. Not lambs this time.
v. 17 – Peter is grieved because Jesus had asked him the third time. Why? It was a reminder of his denial of Jesus. He had denied three times and now Jesus had asked three times. There is grace and forgiveness for every denial.
Peter appeals to Jesus’ deity and omniscience and tells Him, “Look in my heart and see that I love you. I don’t know if I can love you sacrificially so I am not going to boast and say that I do, but I do love you like a friend.”
“Okay then show it by action and feed My sheep.”
"Jesus Christ asks each one of us, not for obedience primarily, not for repentance, not for vows, not for conduct, but for a heart; and that being given, all the rest will follow." –Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture: John
Does He have your heart? Do you love Jesus as a friend? Then demonstrate it by serving Him. Put it into action. Minister and care for His sheep.
Repentance leads to a renewal of His call. He had not been written off.
2. There is a price for following Jesus. (vv. 18-19)
“Most assuredly” - verily, verily, truly, truly. - PAY ATTENTION, Peter!
“When you were younger, you took care of yourself and did whatever you wanted, but when you get old you will stretch out your hands, be tied up, and you will go where you do not want.”
v. 19 - Herein is a promise or a prophecy that Peter would get old and then he would die for Jesus.
“You will die for Me, Peter.” IN the end Peter would indeed love Him sacrificially!
Historians tell us that Peter would watch his wife be crucified and then he too was crucified (hands were stretched out), but by his choice upside down since he did not think himself worthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus. He would not just die but would glorify Jesus in it!
Note the wording in v. 19: “by what death he would glorify God”. WOW!
Our lives should bring glory to God, but so can our deaths!
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
With those words still hanging in the air – “Follow Me.”
There is a price for following and for Peter it would be death and yet the call is the same as the first day they met – “follow Me.”
Jesus looks at us and says the same thing. There is a price, but still I want you to follow Me.” Will you do it?
But I might… Yes, you might but “follow ME!”
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? Luke 9:23-25
3. Follow Jesus without distractions. (vv. 20-25)
Peter immediately slips to acting like Peter again and us!
He turns around and sees John and asks, “But what about him?”
“That’s My business, Peter. If I want him to remain until I return, what does that matter? YOU follow Me!”
The “YOU” is emphatic. Do not turn to the left or the right, follow Me!
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. Joshua 1:7
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
Don’t be distracted by others and their calling. Follow Jesus! It is not our business to worry about what others are doing for the cause of Christ. We are supposed to be focused on what WE are doing.
v. 23 – A rumor starts among disciples that John would not die. Don’t be distracted by rumors or crazy talk either. Follow Jesus!
John explains that Jesus did not say what they thought he had said and restates Jesus’ words for the record.
v. 24 – John puts His stamp of approval and seal of authenticity on this book. He confirms that what he wrote is true and that there are many other things that Jesus said and did. If all of these were written down it would fill every library in the world.
If Christ fills eternity then it would be a simple matter to fill a planet!
--Rob Salvato, pastor, Calvary Chapel, Vista, CA
BUT what he has written was important for us to know in order to have salvation.
Conclusion: That which would fill all the libraries in the world, Jesus has written on our hearts and lives and sent us forth as a living testament of what He has done in our lives as He has forgiven and transformed us into new creations.
You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 2 Corinthians 3:2
Demonstrate your love for Jesus by actively serving others.
Follow Jesus even at the cost of your own life and ambitions.
Don’t be distracted by what others are either doing or not doing or even the strange things they may say. YOU follow Jesus.
After all, we are “saved to serve”.
