Reading: John chapter 21 verses 15-25.
SERMON OUTLINE:
• A Challenge (vs 15-18).
• An Insight (vs 19a)
• A Distraction (red herring) (vs 21-24)
• A Boast (vs 25)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Mel Blanc is a voice you will all know,
• But a name you will probably not.
• He has been called, “The man of 1,000 voices”
• Some of them you will instantly recognise.
• ‘Woody Woodpecker, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Sylvester & Tweety Pie’
• On the Warner Brothers cartoons, it is Mel Blanc who does the voice at the very end.
• Of the cartoon; “That’s all folks!”
• On his gravestone, just under the Star of David (he was Jewish),
• Is the inscription, “That’s all folks!”
• TRANSITION: Many people view life that way,
• When you are dead, you are dead - “That’s all folks!”
• The Easter period is a reminder that ‘death is not the end”
• There is more to follow!
• The disciples (and especially Peter) needed reminding,
• “That’s NOT all folks!”
• With Jesus there is a new beginning.
Note: Everything that happens in this passage for Peter is meant to be ‘Déjà vu!’
• Déjà vu is a French loanword,
• It is used for when a person has done something,
• Or feels like they have experienced the same feelings or event before.
• (a): In verse 6: Peter and the disciples have an amazing catch of fish – miracle.
• Was meant to remind Peter of his first encounter with Jesus (Luke chapter 5).
• When almost the exact same thing happened.
• (b): In verse 9 the fire of burning coals, BBQ on the beach:
• Was to remind Peter of his denial around another fire in High Priest’s court
• (John chapter 18 verse 18)
• (c): The location – the sea of Galilee was to remind him of so many past experiences,
• It was a place of miracles.
• e.g., Feeding the crowd of over 5,000 people.
• e.g., Jesus standing up and stilling a raging storm with just a simple command
• TRANSITION:
• Everything that happens in this passage for Peter is meant to be ‘Déjà vu!’
• It is meant to trigger memories and experiences in the mind and heart of Peter,
• From his past.
• The idea is not to bring guilt and depression but rather forgiveness and a new beginning.
(1). A Challenge (vs 15-18).
Ill:
• Four types of questions.
• Trivial questions – who won the FA cup in 1987 (answer: Coventry City).
• Important questions – e.g., are you allergic to anything
• Opinion based questions – what is your favourite colour? – Many answers.
• Factual questions e.g. How many seconds in a minute? (Answer: 60)
• TRANSITION: Jesus is going to ask Simon Peter three questions,
• The answer he gives to these questions are going to shape the rest of his life.
Note:
• Jesus will restore Simon Peter from a story of failure to a story of success,
• He does that by way of three simple but heart-piercing question:
• Remember when Jesus was arrested in the gospels,
• 3 times Peter had denied Jesus publicly,
• And now Jesus gives him 3 opportunities to confess him publicly.
Note
• When Jesus called Simon Peter to be his disciple he changed his name,
• His old name, ‘Simon’ and Jesus gave him a new name ‘Peter’.
• Question: How would you feel if someone did that to you?
• e.g., Andrew……no, more like a Charles.
• e.g., Richard……no, more like an Edward.
• e.g., Jamie……no, more like a Boris!
• Jesus met Simon and said, “No! From now on Simon’
• And for the next three years that is what everybody called him.
• Until now! When Jesus quite deliberately uses his old name “Simon, son of John”.
• With the old name Simon, Jesus takes Simon Peter way back
• To the very start of their relationship.
• When they were strangers and Simon did not know Jesus.
Ill:
• We go to see a doctor when we need healing, when something is wrong,
• But a doctor cannot diagnose and help us until he/she has discovered the problem.
• Once the doctor knows what is wrong,
• He/she will share that with the patient, and they can then take the next course of actions.
• TRANSITION: That is what Jesus does here for Simon Peter,
• The issue in question is Peter’s love for Jesus.
• Three times he denied and failed Jesus and therefore he has broken that relationship.
• So, Jesus takes him back to the beginning and asks him three questions,
• Three questions that will change his attitude and his future.
Question #1:
• The first question Jesus asks is: “Do you love Me more than these?”
• But notice the word “these” isn’t identified,
Two possibilities as to what the Lord meant:
(1).
• It could mean more than “these fish, these boats and nets,”
• Referring to his occupation and his first love - fishing.
(2). It could also mean “these men,” referring to the other disciples.
• Is Jesus referring Peter back.
• To his statement in Matthew chapter 26 verse 33:
• When he boasted and said:
• “Even if all the other disciples fall away on account of you, I never will.”
• So, Jesus asks him.
• “Do you still claim to have a deeper love for me than these others”.
Answer #1:
• Peter acknowledges his love for Jesus in 15.
• With a double emphasis in his answer, ““Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
• And in response to his answer.
• Jesus gives him a commission: “Feed my lambs.”
Question #2:
• Notice: this time when Jesus repeats the question,
• He deliberately drops the phrase; “More than these.”
• This takes the pressure off,
• He does not have to compare or measure his answer, just be honest,
Answer #2:
• Simon Peter says, ““Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
• His answer is short and honest.
• And once again.
• His reply draws a commission from Jesus: “Take care of my sheep.”
Question #3:
• For a third time Jesus says to Peter, “Simon’s son of John, do you love me?”:
• I often say, “Repetition is a good teacher”
• Jesus uses repetition here to drive the message home.
Answer #3:
• Peter does not try to be clever, he simply says,
• “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”.
• I might be able to fool other people, but I cannot fool you – you read the heart!
• And so, for a third time.
• Jesus commissions Peter: “Feed my sheep”.
Notice: 3 Question and 3 answers:
• In these three responses from Simon Peter.
• It is as if the memory of his three denials is wiped away,
• We might say, ‘The slate is now wiped clean’ or “The USB stick has been formatted.”
• And as a result, three times Peter is commissioned by Jesus,
• To ‘feed his sheep’ - the restoration is complete.
Ill:
• A number of years ago,
• An angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam.
• When he reached Rembrandt’s famous painting ‘Nightwatch.’
• He took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped.
• A short time later, a distraught, hostile man
• Slipped into St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome,
• He pulled out a hammer which he had smuggled in.
• And with the hammer he began to smash Michelangelo’s beautiful sculpture ‘The Pieta’.
• Two cherished works of art were severely damaged.
• But what did officials do?
• Throw them out and forget about them?
• Absolutely not!
• Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision,
• They made every effort to restore the treasures.
• TRANSITION: By His sovereign grace,
• God the master restorer can bring good out of our failures – for his glory!
Quote: Charles Stanley says that forgiveness involves three elements.
• (1). An injury.
• A wrong is committed. Pain, hurt, suffering or guilt is experienced.
• (2). A debt resulting from the injury.
• There is a consequence that is always detrimental and puts someone into a deficit state of some kind. Physical pain, mental anguish, guilt.
• (3). A cancellation of the debt.
• By the one offended.
Transition:
• (1). An injury:
• You and I who have offended God by our sin,
• (2). A debt resulting from the injury.
• The consequences of that sin are judgement and separation.
• (3). A cancellation of the debt.
• The word forgiveness in the bible literally means to dismiss, pardon or release.
• In Jesus Christ there is forgiveness of sins!
Ill:
• Funeral service on Wednesday.
• The lady who died had asked for the hymn, “There is a green hill far away.”
“There is a green hill far away,
without a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified,
who died to save us all?
We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear.
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.
He died that we might be forgiv'n,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heav'n,
saved by his precious blood.
There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin.
he only could unlock the gate
of heav'n, and let us in.
O dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.”
• TRANSITION: With words/poetry like that,
• It is not hard to share the gospel sensitively and accurately with those present!
(2). An Insight (vs 18-19a).
“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 he said to him, “Follow me!”
Ill:
• At a nursing home:
• A group of Senior Citizens were sitting around talking about their ailments:
• "My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee," said one.
• "Yes, I know. My cataracts are so bad I can't even see my coffee," replied another.
• "I can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck," said a third,
• To which several nodded weakly in agreement.
• "My blood pressure pills make me dizzy,".... another went on.
• "I guess that's the price we pay for getting old,"
• Winced an old man as he slowly shook his head.
• Then there was a short moment of silence..........
• 'Well, it's not that bad," said one woman cheerfully. "At least we can all still drive."
• TRANSITION: Peter being led and dressed has nothing to do with old age.
• The description of being dressed and led, with outstretched hands,
• Is a poetic foreshadowing of crucifixion, the way Peter would die?
• The following verse (#19) confirms this.
• “Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.”
Ill:
• Church tradition indicates Peter was crucified,
• And asked to be hung upside down out of respect for Christ's similar death.
• TRANSITION:
• Death by crucifixion might seem like a terrible fate,
• It also implies something very positive and reassuring to Peter.
• Peter could be encouraged that next time he is in the ‘pressure cooker’ of life,
• His faith will not fail him – he will remain faithful!
• That doesn't mean Peter would be perfect (Galatians chapter 2 verses 11–14).
• It does mean his passionate desire to serve Jesus would define the rest of his life.
(3). A distraction (vs 21-24).
“When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumour spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.”
Ill:
• You’ve probably heard the expression "red herring."
• This term was coined from a method of training hunting dogs to follow the scent of their prey.
• Once the dogs were following the proper scent,
• Their trainers would drag red herrings (a stinky fish) across their paths.
• Initially, the dogs would be diverted by the scent of the herring.
• They had to be trained to ignore that scent,
• And instead stay focused on the scent of their prey.
• TRANSITION: So, a "red herring" is something that is introduced,
• Which diverts our attention from what we should be pursuing?
• Jesus has just told Peter three times to go and feed his sheep,
• He has also told him the type of death he was going to die,
• Which was not pleasant and would cause most of us to be full of fear.
• You would think Peter would have enough on his mind in these verses.
• As he thinks through his own situation,
• Rather than worry about someone else.
• And yet Peter is distracted or becomes preoccupied with another disciple.
• He sees John sitting nearby and he ask Jesus a question, “Lord what about this man?”
• Maybe he wants to know if John is going to have to die for the gospel also?
• Are they all martyrs together or has he got a raw deal?
Notice how Jesus answers the question in verse 22,
“If it is my will that he remains until I come what is that to you? You follow me!”
• What Jesus is saying is simple and to the point:
• He tells Peter to, “Mind his own business”,
• Because Gods will for John is between God and John.
• And Gods will for Peter is between Peter and God.
• So, get on with your own calling and ministry,
• And let others get on with theirs.
Application:
• This morning does not be concerned about the person next to you,
• Or in front of you or behind you!
• They will answer to God for what they did with Jesus,
• And you will answer to God as to what you do with Jesus.
• We are all responsible for our own choices!
• So, choose wisely!
Ill:
• The story of the two thieves on the cross who died with Jesus comes to mind.
• Quote:
• “One thief was saved, in order that no one need despair,
• One thief was lost in order that no-one dare presume”.
• TRANSITION:
• We are all responsible for our own choices! So, choose wisely!
(4). A Boast (vs 25).
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
• These final verses in John’s gospel are a kind of ‘p.s.’
• Similar to what you would find at the end of a letter.
• John has already concluded his gospel in chapter 20 verses 30-31.
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Now when John wrote these final words of his gospel,
• He was just trying to say that Jesus did a whole, whole, whole, whole, whole, whole,
• Bunch of miracles and amazing feats that were not even recorded.
• He never intended to imply that he had any idea how many miracles Jesus performed,
• But he wanted to make it a point for people to realize,
• That Jesus was doing amazing things every single day, whether in public or in private.
Ill:
• Let me focus on the greatest miracle of Jesus!
• His death & resurrection!
• The apostle Paul said, “This was of first importance.”
• (1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 3-4)
• The apostle Paul also said,
• “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
• (Galatians chapter 6 verse 14)
Ill:
• A visual hand-held illustration explaining the cross and salvation.
SERMON OUTLINE:
• A Challenge (vs 15-18).
• An Insight (vs 19a)
• A Distraction (red herring) (vs 21-24)
• A Boast (vs 25)
SERMON BODY:
