If you would, please stand as we say together our memory Scripture for this quarter:
Matthew 6:31-33
“Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
And our memory refresher Scripture is …
1 Peter 3:15
“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Please open your Bibles to John 21:15-25
In the Bible we see many facets of Jesus.
We see Jesus worshiping the Father and often in prayer
We see Jesus at the temple or in a synagogue on the Sabbath
We see Jesus weeping
We see Jesus teaching
We see Jesus experiencing compassion
We see Jesus debating
We see Jesus angry
We see Jesus as a prophet
We see Jesus as the coming King and judge of all
But today let’s take a look at what I call the Gentle Jesus
And, with that in mind, let’s go ahead and read John 21:15-25
In the past few weeks we have taken a look at loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and how that is the path to a holy life.
We also looked at Agape love, which means to love unselfishly to the point of sacrifice versus self love which was the problem in the church in Corinth in the Bible and a great problem in many of the churches around the world.
And, today we read in this passage Jesus asking three repetitive questions about Peter’s love for Him and what Peter’s responses were.
In an English translation of the Bible we see that the word “love” is used seven different times. But in the original Greek there are two distinctly different words being used here for love.
Two times the Greek word Agapao or Agape is used which means to love unselfishly to the point of sacrifice.
Five times the Greek word Phileo is used which means a deep affection for, as for a friend.
We have already read the passage from the NIV translation, now let’s hear it with phrases substituted for the Greek words for love …
John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you have an unselfish love for Me to the point of sacrifice more your love for these others?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I have a deep affection for You, as for a friend.”
Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love have an unselfish love for Me to the point of sacrifice?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I have a deep affection for You, as for a friend.”
Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”
17 The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you have a deep affection for Me, as for a friend?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you have a deep affection for Me, as for a friend?”
He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I have a deep affection for You, as for a friend.”
Jesus said, “Feed My sheep. - What an amazing passage, right?
I remember as a youth, reading this and thinking about how Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times and now Jesus was letting make up for the denials with three confessions of his love for Jesus.
Later on, probably in my teen years, I heard about the Greek meanings of the words being translated as love and I remember thinking, “There goes Peter, blowing it again!”
But my mind is changing about this and I’m thinking, “Is this just the Gentle Jesus rephrasing the question so that Peter in his weakness can get the answer right?”
You see, our fallible brother Peter had a habit of overstating his position!
In Matthew chapter 26 Judas has gone to betray Jesus to the Jews. The last supper has been completed and they are on their way to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus will spend time in agonizing prayer, be betrayed into the hands of sinners and be arrested.
In Matthew 26:31-35 Jesus says to them …
“This very night you will all fall away on account of Me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times.”
But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Sometimes I try to imagine the images that would keep flashing through Peter’s mind as he would try to sleep after Jesus’ crucifixion.
Over and over would he see himself saying, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You!”
And then over and over would he see himself saying, “I don’t know the Man!” and then the rooster crowing and Jesus turning to look directly at him?
What torment!
Peter was right when he said to Jesus, “Lord, You know all things …”
Gentle Jesus DID know that Peter could not confess, “Yes, I love you unselfishly to the point of sacrifice” at that time.
So, the third time Gentle Jesus changes the question from, “Do you love Me unselfishly to the point of sacrifice?” to, “Do you have a deep affection for Me as for a friend?”
Gentle Jesus knew that Peter could answer that question accurately and truthfully.
Gentle Jesus also knew that Peter would eventually come to where he could and would love Jesus unselfishly to the point of sacrifice.
How do we know that?
The very next thing Jesus says is a prophecy of Peter’s future when He says …
John 21:18-19
“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 (Jesus) said to him, ‘Follow me!’”
Gentle Jesus is telling Peter two things here.
1) Peter will be at least imprisoned in the future for following Jesus.
2) Jesus is re-inviting Peter to be His disciple just like He did when He called Peter the first time along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus is saying, “Peter, some hard times are coming that will determine if you love Me to the point of sacrificing your own life or if you just have a deep affection for Me.”
The same thing is guaranteed to happen to any follower of Jesus Christ.
Illustration:
Most likely we who are Christians in America will not be put to death for the cause of Christ.
For us it will most likely be much more subtle; something like being looked down upon or mocked because you prefer to worship the Lord on a Sunday morning instead of going to the beach or golfing or even sleeping in.
Or, it might be something like being a Christian school teacher in the NY public school system. And, just suppose that one of the books you are required to read to your class is “Heather Has Two Mommies”. It’s a real book, by the way and it’s not about a divorced and remarried couple with two husbands and two wives. It’s about a child being reared by a lesbian couple.
At the same time you know that in the current public school system there is plenty of tolerance for homosexuality and very little tolerance for Biblical Christian morals.
So, you have two choices.
a. Read the book as instructed.
b. Refuse to read the book because it attempts to normalize a life of sin and stand a good chance of being fired and black-listed.
The first choice of “read the book as instructed” says to Jesus, “I have affection for You but I do not love You unselfishly to the point of sacrifice.”
The second choice of refusing to read the book because it attempts to normalize a life of sin says to Jesus, “I love You unselfishly to the point of possibly sacrificing my career as a teacher and I trust in You to care for me if I do lose my job.”
You see, we will at some time be given the same question as Peter was given in one or more of the circumstances in our lives.
(End of Illustration)
Perhaps we have failed Jesus just like Peter did. Perhaps we have failed Jesus miserably and we can see no possible way to be redeemed. But what are Jesus next words to Peter? “Follow Me.”
2) Jesus is re-inviting Peter to be His disciple just like He did when He called Peter the first time along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus said to Peter, “Follow Me.” And, if you have failed Jesus, some might say, “It’s OK. Don’t worry about it.” But that’s not right either.
Jesus knows such things happen. That’s why he shed His blood and died for your sins and for mine. So, that in spite of the tragedy of our rebellious sinful acts we can repent and turn to Jesus and hear Him say, “Follow Me” and we can start all over again.
And, then we can make the true confession to Jesus of, “Yes, Jesus, I do love you with unselfish love to the point of sacrifice.”
We know that from the tragedy of Peter disowning Jesus three times, he went on to become one of the leading apostle missionaries of his time.
Why? Because Jesus is a Gentle Savior who was willing to pursue Peter until he could make the good confession.
We also have a Gentle Jesus who desires for you to be saved and for you to live a holy life more than you could possibly imagine.
If you are far away from the Lord today because of the rebellion of sin turn to Him today while He is still the Gentle Jesus, the loving Father of the prodigal son waiting for you to come home with open arms.
The day will come when Jesus returns as the King of glory and the judge of all and the opportunity to respond to the Gentle Jesus will be no more. Don’t wait.
(Final thoughts and prayer)
