Restoration in Progress
(John 21:1-25)
Here is the bulletin insert I wrote to accompany the sermon (it has useful info); sermon outline follows it.
(Note: the Greek letters will probably not come through properly):
Peter’s Restoration
(John 21:1-25)
When Jesus confronted Peter with the question, "Do you love me?" three times, the obvious implication is that Jesus is undoing Peter’s triple denial of Jesus during the wee hours of Good Friday morning. The greatly respected Bible scholar, Leon Morris, writes:
"In a most instructive incident, Jesus talks with Peter by the lake, asking three times whether that disciple loves him… Discussions often center on the fact that twice Jesus uses the verb agapao (αγαπαο) in his question, to be met each time by Peter’s use of phileo (φιλεο) in his answer. Then in the third question Jesus uses Peter’s word and the apostle retains it in his reply. But the significant thing is surely not so much the variation in the verb, but the fact that Jesus is speaking about love at all. Peter’s position in the apostolic band must have been at least dubious in light of his threefold denial of Jesus. This incident, in which Peter three times affirms his love for his Lord in the presence of the other apostles, must be seen as a reinstatement…." (Testaments of Love, Eerdmans, 1981, pp. 180-181).
Jesus asks Peter two times, "Do you ’agapao’ me? and Peter answers, "Yes, I ’phileo’ you," until, on the third time, Jesus asks, "Do you ’phileo’ me?" and Peter responds the same way as the other two times, "Yes, I ’phileo’ you."
I agree with Morris that the main concept is reinstatement, not the Greek words. But the fact that the words vary as they do is significant. Was Peter being stubborn? What was happening here?
What no one seems to take into account is that Jesus and Peter never spoke in Greek. They never actually used the words "phileo" or "agapao." We must remember that, though the authors of Scripture were inspired, they were translating the word of Jesus from Hebrew/Aramaic into Greek (unlike the epistles, Acts, and Revelation, which were in Greek to begin with). The detective work begins when we try to go from Greek back into Hebrew.
Despite all the claims to the contrary, the Greek word "agapao" (or the noun form "agape") was a commonly used word for love, especially the verb form. In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament book of Genesis, Jacob is said to "agapao" Esau’s stew. Much like our English word for love, agape love can refer to anything on the spectrum between the idea of really liking someone or something all the way to sacrificial selfless love.
The Hebrew word Jesus could have used was "ahebh." Some think that this is the word from which the Greek word "agape" originated. Generally speaking, this word can be used for all kinds of love.
Although we cannot be sure, Peter may have answered with the Hebrew word "Hesedh," which means a steadfast love, a deep, lasting affection that is based on relationship. This word is often used of God’s faithful love for those under His covenant, but can also mean mercy or goodwill.
If my theory is correct, Jesus may have been asking, "Peter, do you love me?" and Peter responded, "Yes, Lord. I love you steadfastly, based on our relationship." This would be especially meaningful since Peter had not been steadfast during his time of denial. When Jesus finally uses Peter’s word, He was acknowledging that Peter was restored.
OUTLINE FOLLOWS*******************
1. I-19
2. People nowadays resort to the courts because our society is no longer relational; we try to force others to conform to a pattern rather than express goodwill through relationship.
3. Additionally, people who are isolated and not connected to others rarely have their ways challenged. As a result, they can become pretty weird.
4. The Body of Christ is of crucial importance to the individual Christian because some forms of spiritual maturity are less likely to occur outside the realm of Christian relationships.
MAIN IDEA: Change and confrontation are most effective in the context of Relationship! If you really want to influence people for the Kingdom of God, you must connect to them relationally. As the old saying goes, "nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care." And part of caring is helping others to grow.
TS--------- Let’s note how Jesus is able to develop Peter – and deeply confront him – in the context of relationship.
I. Confrontation in the Context of Relationship
A. Socializing with the Apostles
1. About two weeks since the appearance to doubting Thomas
2. Five apostles went fishing at night
3. No catch
4. Early morning, they see someone at the shore
5. He inquires; they respond; he suggest they throw net on right of boat
6. A load of fish that would normally break the net
7. John recognizes it is Jesus
8. Peter gets his clothes together, jumps into the water and swims to shore
9. Others begin rowing; come to shore; Jesus has hot coals ready
10. They dragged the net to shore: the number 153 was forever etched in their minds (record)
11. Jesus gave them bread and some fish he cooked
B. Jesus Confronts Peter
1. Restoration begins with facing the wrong we have done…Peter needed to get his denial of Christ behind Him
2. Jesus asks, do you TRULY love me MORE THAN THESE
---this was a painful statement; the first question confronts Peter with the statement he made in Matt. 26:33
3. Peter says, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you (steadfastly)…”; Jesus responds: Feed my lambs”
4. Christ asks a shorter question: Do you truly love me? Peter: Yes; you know I do…
5. Jesus: take care of my sheep
6. The third question: Do you love me (steadfastly)?
7. Peter is hurt that Jesus is asking this the third time, responds same way; possibly more intense love here in mind (see bulletin insert)
8. Jesus says, “Feed my sheep”
(1) Was Christ being cruel, or did He want Peter to confront the wrong He did rather than sweep it under the carpet?
(2) Triple denial of Christ countered by a triple affirmation
(3) Credibility before the others established….
(4) Missing element: Christ had previously appeared to Peter PRIVATELY…we do not know what they talked about then; this might be “closure” on his entire episode of denial
C. The Discussion about Personal Futures (read 18-23)
1. The disciples had a problem of competitiveness….rather than competing against themselves, they competed amongst themselves…
2. Jesus had three favorites, the inner circle, Peter, James, and John; of the three, Peter and John were His favorites
(1) James would be the first apostle Martyred (Acts 12:1-2)
(2) Peter would be the church’s first spokesman, opening up the Gospel to the Jews, Samaritans, and finally the gentiles…
(3) John, the Apostle of love, would be the last remaining Apostle and finish the canon of Scripture by authoring Revelation; of the original apostles, He wrote more of the New Testament than the rest of them put together…John, I, II, III John and Revelation.
3. Again, Christ is confronting outspoken Peter about this….
---competitiveness in sports can be good; competing w/ourselves can be good, but competitiveness in the Kingdom of God can make for strained relationships and a judgmental, condemning attitude….
---so Jesus must tame down Peter’s strong personality and direct it in a controlled fashion toward useful ministry…
Change and confrontation are most effective in the context of Relationship! If you really want to influence people for the Kingdom of God, you must connect to them relationally. As the old saying goes, "nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care." And part of caring is helping others to grow.
II. If Others Are to Help Us Grow, We Must Be In A Position Where We Respect Their Motives and Advice, and that Requires Relationship
1. Everyone needs individuals who will look out for them, offer advice, and point out wrongs…
(1) As a pastor, I not only answer to the board, but I have a wife, personal friends, and fellow ministers who are willing to point out what I need to see
(2) I also have critics, folks who do not know me, do not hold convictions like ours, and really do not care about my well-being; they may offer valid criticisms, but I do not trust them
2. This is why God has set up the church as a family
(1) the "household of God"
(2) this is why church should not simply be an assembly of people gathered for worship; we are, instead, to share some of our lives together, to know each other, pray for one another, etc.
(3) Note with me the real meaning of Hebrews 10:25ff
3. Deep Christians need others to challenge them, encourage them, correct them, or spur them on to serving the Lord in deeper ways…
4. It makes complete sense that we view serving the Lord as fulfilling and exciting; though we are all too busy and too stressed, we need to contemplate WHAT A JOY IT IS TO SERVE THE LORD BY SERVING THE CHURCH FAMILY as we are gifted!
(1) we can love people in practical ways…a phone call…meal…project
(2) if you have the gift of teaching, you know what a joy it is to teach!
(3) you can become a truly international person by getting involved in missions;
add excitement to your life by witnessing; stimulate your minute with the depths of Biblical theology; deepen your heart and compassion by visiting someone in the hospital, nursing home, or someone going through times of stress; one widow who used to help with the quintuplets
5. But we need one another to help us change. So we need to look for opportunities to encourage others, instruct others, show compassion to others; and a church family is a great place for this to happen!
6. Building relationships comes naturally to some of us; to others, it is anything but natural. Programs result in contrived and forced relationships. When our Jesus series is over, we’ll begin a series about that very subject: Developing Relationships and Life Skills. But for now, my advice is simple: become a participator. Make the effort to get involved.
7. Peter grew because He knew Jesus, trusted Jesus, and was therefore open to Jesus’ correction. That is the same dynamic we need if the Body of Christ is make a dent in this business of personal and spiritual growth!
Change and confrontation are most effective in the context of Relationship! If you really want to influence people for the Kingdom of God, you must connect to them relationally. As the old saying goes, "nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care." And part of caring is helping others
