John – Believe in Jesus and live!!
Part 12
“ Feed my Sheep”
Jack and I and several other guys were at the Canton Horse sale a few days ago.
As we were eating lunch
And looking over the horses and tack
Jack and I began talking about places we have been and places we would like to go
As the conversation continued the topic of someone you trust taking care of your animals came up
You see a lot of us like to travel
But ‘If you have animals
You know it is hard to leave for any length of time
Without knowing for sure
I mean for sure!
That whoever you have asked to care for your critters
Is going to care for your critters
As owners and care takers of these animals that God has trusted us with
We can only leave home
Without worry or even a bit of fear
When we know for sure
That we can trust the one who is taking care of the animals
Today we are going to finish our study of John
Textually
Next week we will wrap it all up and see where we have been
And where we are headed
And then we are going back to the Old Testament to the book of Exodus
It has been my prayer since the beginning of this study of John’s gospel
To show you
Just as John wrote to show the world
Why we should believe
And also to show what God has for those that do believe
Over the last couple of weeks
We preached on the crucifixion of our Savior Jesus Christ
I cried
You cried
As we took a graphic
Hard
Look at just what level of sacrifice that Jesus was willing to endure for us
Last week we read and preached about the despair
The fear
And
The doubt that had stormed in after Jesus had been killed
We talked about the utter despair that his followers must have felt as they looked into that empty tomb
Their friend
Their teacher
Their mentor
Their savior
Had been killed
And
That was terrible
Awful
Horrible
But looking into that empty hole
Thinking someone had stolen his body
Was
Gut wrenching
But then
First Mary
Then all the boys except Thomas
And then all the boys including Thomas
Got a wakeup call
Jesus was alive!
He was alive!
They did not understand how
I’m not sure they really cared how
They just cared that he was!
He was standing with them
Talking to them
Thomas touched him
Jesus looked them in the eyes
He was Alive!
Today we pick back up for the ending of John
Jesus has once again gone off
The boys have not seen him in a while
They believe he is alive
They believe he rose from the dead
They are beginning to get a better understanding of the prophesy that has been fulfilled
I love how Chuck put it last week in our bible study
The fulfilling of the Old Testament Prophesies was like Jesus saying
I told you so
See -----
God’s word said it would happen
And it has happened----
Let me read for you from John 21
Verses 1-14
Then I will continue to the meat of today’s study
John 21:1-14
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.[a] This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),[b] Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows,[c] have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards[d] from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
Some of Jesus ‘disciples
Peter and John
James and Thomas
Nathanael also called Bartholomew
And two others
Had tried to return to the life they knew before they encountered Jesus
They for 3 years had followed Jesus
Ate with Jesus
Slept with Jesus
Walked with Jesus
Talked with Jesus
They had been taught and mentored by \ and even corrected
By this man Jesus
They had left the lives they knew
Left their old jobs
Left their nets behind
And
Followed Jesus
They had been all in
And
then they watched Jesus die
They watched as he was buried
They experienced the joy of his resurrection
But now they were alone again
They were not sure what to do next
I can see a scene from Forrest Gump in my mind
Forrest in running through the dessert
He has been running for a long time
And many people had followed him
Then
Forrest stopped
He turned around
Looked at the crowd
And
He said
I’m kind of tired
I think I’ll Go home now
And He started walking back the way he had come
The people who were following had no idea what to do
That’s it?
What do we do know they asked
What are we supposed to do now?
That is what the disciples were asking
What are we supposed to do now?
They did not receive a clear answer
Or they did not understand
So they tried to go back to what they knew
Fishing
Notice it says they were not catching any fish
So even in trying to go back to their old life
They were not having much success
Because without Jesus they were lost
But that brings us to Peter and the meat of our lesson for today
Look with me again in verses 6-7
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
John recognized Jesus first
But it was Peter that once again
Jumped out of the boat
This time he did not walk one single step on the water just sank
But he swam or walked on the bottom just as fast and hard as he could
So he could get to Jesus just as fast as he could
When he got to shore He had left so quickly that he had to back track a bit
In order to help the others with the great haul of fish
The miraculous catch it is called
And then Jesus and the boys had breakfast
I can see them
Around the fire
Coffee on the boil
Wood smoke curling in the early morning light
The smell of breakfast frying in a pan
Tired eyes and weary muscles from a long nights work
But
I also see a goofy grin on each ones face
“He’s here they are thinking”
Right here with us
Everything is right again
At first
The conversation starts out light
Just small talk about eating and fishing
Then Jesus focuses on Peter
Let’s read verses 15-17
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?[e]”
“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 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
In order to get a real grasp on the significance of this passage of scripture
We must go back to the day Jesus was arrested
Peter had told Jesus
Even if everyone else runs off
I will give my life for you
And Jesus says
Really
Really Peter
Really?
I don’t think so
As a matter of fact
Before the rooster crows
You will deny me 3 times
And we know back in chapter 18 he did just that
“I don’t know him” he cried
He even cussed a little when someone called him on his lie
And then the rooster crowed
And
Then
With that cock a doodle doo
Peter felt the full weight of what he had done
Matthew 26:75
Says
75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
He remembered what he had done
And
He wept bitterly
Guys he bawled- sobbed
Cried his eyes out
To make things worse
Luke 22:61 says
At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Jesus looked at Peter
Looked at him
Right at him
Jesus knows
He must have thought
He knows what I have done
The shame that Peter must have felt
“I told him I would stick with him”
“I told him I would die for him’
And I flat chickened out Just like that rooster that just crowed
Guys
Listen
This was most likely the lowest moment of Peter’s life
And this moment in time
Could have defined the rest of his life for him
I know people who have ruined their lives with drugs and booze trying to cover much smaller things than what Peter just did
He had left Jesus high and dry
Oh the shame
Oh the guilt
Just imagine how he must have felt
I think crushed
Broken
Busted emotionally
Would be just a few fitting descriptions
And now back on the beach
Jesus strikes up a conversation with Peter
Verse 15-17
5 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?[e]”
“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 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
Peter must have been confused
He had just jumped out of a boat and ran to Jesus
Could he not see the love?
Could he not feel the love?
Peter do you love me, more than these -- your brothers
You know I do Jesus
Peter, do you love me
Yes Jesus you know I do
But
Peter do you love me?
Yes
Yes
Yes Lord
I love you
You know I love you
On the night of Jesus’ arrest
3 times Peter denied Jesus
And now three times
Jesus says to him ---do you love me?
What he is doing is restoring Peter
Guys
Peter was broken
He was busted
He had made a bad decision
A wrong choice
And the choice could have been devastating
But Jesus in his infinite mercy
In his infinite wisdom
In his infinite grace
In His amazing grace
Says
Peter
Do you love me?
If you do feed my sheep
And
Jesus forgives him
He places his feet back on the path of righteousness
And prepares Peter for what he has for him in the future
Feed my sheep he says
Take care of my babies
Let me ask you a question
Who do you let tend your herds
Feed your cows, horses and mules’
Who do you let fed the dogs and cats
Someone you trust
Or someone you don’t?
Jesus restores Peter
Jesus shows Peter that he trusts him
And in doing so shows us that we too can be restored
And that we too can regain his trust
We all like Judas have betrayed Christ
Before you became a Christian you were living in open hostility to God and his word
But
But
Jesus
In a huge show of love on the cross
Restored us
Those of us who have accepted his sacrifice have been healed
We like Peter have denied Jesus
At some time in our Christian walk we have put someone or something else ahead of him
Failed to follow him
Failed to obey him
But Jesus Christ
With amazing grace
Restored us
Forgave us
We once hung our heads in shame
Hid from the truth
Praying that Jesus would not look at us
But he has and he did
And when he did
He said
Do you love me?
Do you love me?
Then obey me
And feed my sheep
You see
That’s our job
All believers
All who have been restored?
Feed my sheep- Jesus says
What does this mean?
Tell them about Jesus
Teach them about Jesus
Show them Jesus
Live like Jesus
Love like Jesus
Let those in our lives and in the world see the love and the light of Jesus
Let them drink in the joy of our lives though Jesus
Feed them so that they might come to believe
Feed them with love so they will come to the light
Feed them so they too can be redeemed
You see
It is only by belief that we are saved
It is only by belief that we are forgiven
It is only by belief that we are restored
It is only by belief that we are Redeemed
And it is only by belief that we are blessed
Belief
Believe in Jesus and live!!
Close from the heart
Pray
