FEED MY SHEEP
Key Verse:
JOHN 21:15-17
15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16. Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17. The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
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Matthew 16:
15. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17. Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 16:
21. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go…be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
Matthew 26:
33. Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."
Luke 22:
33. But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
John 18:
10. Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.
Simon Peter. President of the Jesus fan club. He’s Jesus’ biggest fan. A fanatic in the finest sense of the word. If Jesus had been a football team, Peter would have been the one the camera man always manages to find…naked from the waist up in 20 degree weather with "JESUS" plastered in red or blue across his chest…his face checkered with the sign of the fish…a huge foam Cross or the hand making the sign of "number one" with "Jesus –The only way to Heaven" on it. Maybe even an enormous poster : Messiah Rules!.
Jesus has been on a winning streak. Peter is proud to be a fan.
There were some close games.
Like the one that ended in sudden death overtime. Lazarus experienced a sudden death. And over-time, when Jesus finally got there – he’d been dead 4 days. Panic struck the crowd. It seemed the terror of the grave had won. But Jesus, in championship form, dug deep and defeated Death.
But overall, Jesus had had a pretty successful season. No one doubted the Messiah ruled when He overcame natural law multiplying 2 fish and 5 loaves into a feast for 5,000.
Peter was there for every event. Front row seat.
Time after time Jesus met the best and most intimidating the world had to offer: Sickness, Blindness, Leprosy… Most times, Jesus never even broke a sweat.
The most talked about matches usually pitted Jesus against one team or another of the religious leaders. These high scoring competitors dominated the league until Jesus came on the scene.
Whenever people would talk about one of these upsets, Peter was proud to say, "I was there. I watched it as it happened."
Peter sold his half of the fishing business... Hocked his boat… Traded his nets so he’d be free to follow Jesus.
But Jesus knows something about Peter. We hear it in Luke 22:
31. "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
32. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Peter is a fair weather fan.
Peter is a palm branch waver shouting Hosanna in the streets of Jerusalem.
Jesus is moving into the playoffs. He knows His record is about to be stained.
Hear the foreboding in his tone as He says to His disciples just a few verses further down:
35. Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.
36. He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
Very soon – there is the Garden of Gethsemane…Jesus is arrested…Standing before the Sanhedrin…accused of treachery—accused of threatening to destroy the Temple in Jerusalem.
And when Jesus is no longer the favorite. When Jesus becomes the laughing stock…the butt of jokes…the spit on.. the despised…
His offense seems to be shut down.
His lack of defense even surprises his opponents.
They seem to run right over Him –scoring again and again and again in the arena of public opinion.
Where is Jesus’ number one fan?
"Hey, aren’t you one of those Jesus’ fans?"
No! What are you talking about?"
"Yes, I’m sure I saw you in the stands—on the sidelines—in the locker room with Jesus!"
"No! You’re nuts!"
"What’s that on your cheek? Those traces of Jesus’ colors in your hair! You are a fan! Isn’t that your van with the Galilean license plates?"
"No! No! No! You’re crazy! That loser?? Who wants to be identified with him? May lightning strike me if I ever followed Jesus! I’d rather be soaked with Tuna scent and trapped in a house full of cats that be a Jesus fan! Jesus is a dud… a washout… a failure…And I’d be one too if I followed Him!
Luke 22:
60. Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.
61. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.
Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."
62. And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Jesus comes back to win the championship. He defeats death and hell in an earthshaking victory that stuns the world.
But Peter is not seen in the locker room….or on the sideline… or in the stands.
JOHN 21:15-17
15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16. Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
We can’t see the change in Peter or know fully the power of what is being said here unless we see it in its original language.
You see, Jesus says, Peter do you love me…Peter do you love me above all things…do you love me with passion…beyond reason…with all your heart…
The Greek word here is Agapao. It means infatuation.
Now, what a minute Pastor Rich! We’ve heard of agape love! That’s the word for love used by the New Testament church! That’s the word used to describe how Christians love one another! That can’t be right! Infatuation? Christian love must be more substantial stuff.
Agape was a very general word for the Greeks. It is elusive. It’s hard to put a strict definition to it. Which is ironic because that is exactly the kind of love it is meant to describe. With what can I compare it?
20,000 screaming girls charging the stage at a Beatles concert…or for Elvis Presley…
50 people dead in a home where they have all committed ritualistic suicide for some false doctrine of despair…following the lead of some charismatic egomaniac.
A young girl professing her never ending love for a guy she just met standing at the school locker next to her own.
It is used to describe fanatical affection without cause or reason. The early church used it because they could find no other word to describe how Christians were so devoted, so committed, so sacrificing for some other that they had just met or never even seen— simply because of Jesus. The love of Christ—the love that is like Christ makes no earthly sense—it will enable you to love the unlovable—like Mother Theresa washing the bodies of lepers, holding them, singing them to sleep in their agony…It empowers us to know heart ache for those we don’t know who have lost their home to flood or fire…who need food or clothes or the funds to build a church or school. It fills us full of love for anyone and everyone who truly calls Jesus Lord of their life and makes us weep for those who don’t know saving grace. It’s a nonsensical love. A love that crosses racial and ethnic lines. A love that knows no color, no economic scale, no gender, no barriers at all. A flamboyant, altruistic love that defies explanation even by those who have it and know it and call only answer with one whispered word…Jesus…Jesus….
It is this "love" word of the sports fan who follows a team or a player with unmerited and relentless devotion though they never see a dime of the billions made and spent in the professional ranks…though they may have been blown off a dozen times by a celebrity too busy to sign an autograph…though the money spent on tickets in one year could buy a new car…though neither the team nor the player have reciprocated in any way the appreciation and devotion showered on them…the fan sits in the stands or in the armchair following the careers…the stats… the history…the roster changes and trades… Agape. Infatuated devotion without explanation. This is the word Jesus uses to ask Peter – Do you love me? Do you love me more than these? This one was at Golgotha…That one went to pray…The rest went to hide, but they never denied knowing me…Peter, do you love me more than these?
And Peter answers, "Yes, Lord, You know I’m fond of you."
But Jesus asks again, "Peter, are you sold out, completely devoted, senselessly filled with passion and excitement for who I am and what I do and where I’ve been and where I’m going? Where’s the zeal, Peter? Where’s the fan I once knew—don’t you love me anymore, Peter?"
Peter says, "You know I’m your friend."
This is not a cop out. There’s no sadness in this passage. On the contrary - the heart of Jesus is leaping and singing. Peter has matured in his faith.
Peter is the patron saint for every child or teen who got caught up in the emotional fervor of a Summer Camp or an Acquire the Fire conference. For anyone who has gotten saved at least 20 times as a teen– at least once at a every revival and sometimes twice if it went more than a week.
Peter is the hero of all those who tried to surf into heaven on the wave of spiritual passion and fell head first into the sand when the wave lost its power.
It’s easy to be a follower of Jesus when the crowd of thousands chants Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…
But when you’re the only one shouting "Jesus" back at home or at school or around the lunch table at work… It’s easier to say, "Jesus, who?"
You have failed—failed God, failed to stand up for what you said you believed… Drowning now in a flood of failure…or a pool of pity.
Jesus says:
I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
What have you done, Simon, except take a surfboard where you needed a submarine?
Are you ready for a deeper faith? Are you ready to love me with more than your heart? Love me with your mind. Love me with all your sensibilities. Love me because you know me – not just the things I’ve done – but me, the person. Love me with your feet on the ground so that you’re not blown around by every wind of change…every wind of doctrine…every change in the weather.
Jesus asks Peter a third time.
But this time He says
"Peter, are you fond of me?
Are you a devoted friend to me?
Do you love me like a brother?
When the wave of passion is pulled back by the low tide of reality--- only a few remain. Only those who have a true devotion can be seen. Peter was one of those.
He is hurt because Jesus asked him a third time.
He is hurt because he hears how pitiful and shallow his words sound.
His response is a beautiful prayer of repentance and spiritual affection.
"Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Look in my heart Lord. I can’t hide anything from you. You know me better than I even know myself. How was I to know that where I thought I was the strongest, I was the weakest? How was I to know that my imagination was stronger than my courage? How was I to know that faith couldn’t be found in hype and passion, but is the residue that’s left behind when all the other washes away? But I know it now.
All that I can say to you in honest confession, is that I am devoted to you. I am fond of you. I love you like a brother.
Peter was thinking that being fond of Jesus paled in comparison to the passion he had before.
Here’s the reality, Lord. I can’t commit more than this. I really put my foot in my mouth. I can’t exaggerate anymore. I’m not the powerhouse fan I used to be.
Jesus thinks that is just fine.
It is an honest answer.
Even though it’s not enough for dynamic, type A, take the bull by the horns, big thinking, big talking Peter—
It’s more than enough for Jesus.
Peter, if you’re my friend, feed my sheep. He offered it to Peter all three times. But Peter couldn’t accept it.
Peter was trapped into thinking that just showing up wasn’t good enough. Peter thought that a true disciple chops off enemies ears, and battles to the death, and sees all through great visions, and has spiritual depth in all supernatural matters…
Peter are you fond of me?
Lord, you need a general…
Peter, will you be a foot soldier?
Lord, you need great teachers
Peter, will you show up for class?
Lord, you need exciting, beautiful people with passion and energy…
Peter, will you be there?
It’s enough, Peter, to come as you are…all that you are and no more…Will you love me with your mind, not just your heart?
Do you love me?
Feed my sheep.
My church. My people. The legacy I’m leaving behind. The most precious thing I have Peter, and I want you to take care of it.
Are you fond of me?
Feed my sheep.
Devotion leads to duty because spiritual grandstanding has no foundation. Jesus loves you when your on an emotional, spiritual high – but He can use you when you’ve let out all the hot air. Good intentions and religious boasting led the Apostle to write, "Pride cometh before a fall."
For all we know, Peter may have coined the phrase!
Brotherly love implies that we love out of an intimacy that only family can share. A maturing faith loves the Lord because we know Him, not because of all He can do or has done for us.
When failure has pressed all the fluff from your faith, that’s when commission comes.
Look at all the things you’ve done or that you’re doing for God in your own strength, of your own volition, because you’re just that good – nobody loves Jesus like you do! No one is going to make fun of Jesus while I’m around! To death or prison or darkest Africa I’ll follow you!
Then Jesus says, I don’t need you in Africa, I need you next door – and suddenly you don’t know Him.
Then Jesus says, I don’t want you to give those who take my name in vain a bloody nose, but I would like you to tell them why my name means so much to you… Suddenly, we’ve never known him.
If you love me, feed my sheep.
It’s time to come down from the stands –stop being His fan and become His friend.
