“Do You Really, Really Love Jesus?”
We continue in our series on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus.
INTRODUCTION: (My thanks to Tom Lawson for the introduction idea)
I love my wife, Harriet … Do you believe that I love her?
o There are times that I don’t enjoy being with her … but I love her.
o There are times that I don’t want to talk to her … but I love her.
o I might go for days without talking to her … but I love her.
o When I DO talk to her, it’s usually because I want to ask her for something … or maybe for a few seconds before each meal … but I love her.
o When I do talk to her, I find my mind wandering, thinking about other things … but I love her.
o She’s not a part of my everyday life … I think about her more on Sunday mornings than any other time of the week.
o I meet with other husbands, and we sing songs about our wives … I’ll even talk publicly to the rest of the husbands for about 30 minutes about how much I love her.
o She writes me love letters … but I don’t read them very often … but I love my wife.
o I give her a little pocket change every week … as long as it doesn’t cut too deeply into how much I want to spend on myself … but I love my wife.
o I just don’t care to have very much to do with her … and make her a part of my life.
o BUT … I love my wife.
NOW … how many of you, from what I have just said, would say that I love my wife?
Let’s TRANSLATE that into our relationship with the Lord Jesus.
After all, we are called the “bride of Christ”, aren’t we?
We SAY that we love Jesus … it’s EASY to SAY, isn’t it?
BUT … if we treated our WIVES like we treat Jesus … we wouldn’t be married very long, would we?
OR … if we were married, it wouldn’t be a very HAPPY marriage, would it?
TEXT – Jesus had just met His Disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (last Sun. AM message).
They had fished all night & caught nothing … Jesus told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat.
When they did, they caught all the fish they could handle.
Jesus met them on the shore and had breakfast ready for them.
After breakfast, Jesus confronts Peter publicly before the rest of the Disciples.
READ TEXT – John 21:15-17
NOTICE what Jesus asks Peter 3 times … “Do you love Me?”
WHY 3 TIMES?
When Peter was confronted with the opportunity to demonstrate his love for Jesus, he denied knowing Jesus 3 times.
A 3-fold denial demanded a 3-fold confession.
It was around a fire of coals that Peter denied Jesus 3 times and lost his ministry.
It is now around a fire of coals that Jesus restores Peter to the ministry.
Let’s think about how Peter must have felt during these few weeks after denying Jesus.
The night before Jesus was crucified Peter told Jesus (Mt. 26:33) – “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”
John 13:37 says that on that same night Peter said to Jesus – “I am ready to die for You.”
Peter loved Jesus … he had no intention of letting Jesus down.
This is the same Peter that walked on water to get to where Jesus was.
The same Peter who said (Mk. 10:28) – “Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee.”
The same Peter who cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest to defend Jesus.
The same Peter who followed Jesus into the courtyard (where were the other Disciples?).
The same Peter who dove into the water to be the 1st to meet Jesus on shore (21:7).
Peter LOVED Jesus … BUT … Peter had also FAILED Jesus.
Right now, that’s all that was on Peter’s mind.
“What must Jesus think of me? Will Jesus ever forgive me? I really blew it! I’m a total failure!”
HAVE YOU EVER FELT THIS WAY?
Have you ever failed Jesus?
Do you feel that Jesus could never love you again … after all you have done to fail Him?
Peter had made some pretty bold statements about how much he loved Jesus.
BUT … when it came down to “crunch time” … he bombed out … he let Jesus down.
Jesus needs to RESTORE Peter back into fellowship with Him.
That’s what Jesus wants to do for you.
In spite of all our failures, denials, times of disappointing Jesus, breaking His heart, rejecting His love to us … Jesus want to restore us back into His fellowship.
LISTEN to how Jesus does this: 21:15a
“Simon, son of Jonah” – Jesus doesn’t call him “Peter” … the “Rock”.
Jesus has great plans for Peter … Jesus wants to restore him so he can become the leader in the new Church.
Jesus wants Peter to become the “Rock” again … and be strong in faith & courage.
BUT … right now … Jesus goes back to calling him “Simon” … until his ministry is restored, and he finds his strength in Christ.
“than these” – than WHAT? Lots of SPECULATION.
1.- “these THINGS … FISH, NETS and BOATS” – i.e., “Do you love Me more than fishing?”
Jesus is very serious about SACRIFICING ourselves for Him.
He said in Lk. 18:29-30 – “I assure you, that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life …”
Look at how seriously Jesus takes following Him … Luke 14:25-27 – all turn
“hate” is a term of comparison … comparing your love to Christ with your love for the things of the world.
EX.: A Piper Cub airplane is “fast” … BUT … not in COMPARISON to a Concord Jet.
Luke 14:33
Jesus is asking Peter … “Do you love me more than THINGS?”
Let’s take Peter out of the picture for just a minute.
Jesus is now focusing on YOU … and He asks YOU the same question … “Do you love Me more than you love THINGS?”
Are there any THINGS that you love more than Jesus?
What THINGS are you putting ahead of Jesus in your life?
Your JOB … your MONEY … your “TOYS” … your PLEASURE … your TIME?
Do you love Jesus more than these THINGS?
2.- “these PEOPLE … the other Disciples” … i.e., “Do you love Me more than you love these other Disciples?”
“Peter, you once TOLD Me that you did … that THEY might all forsake Me, but YOU never would.”
“Peter … do you really love me more than THEY do … do you really love Me more than you love them?”
Let’s take Peter out of the picture for just a minute.
Jesus is now focusing on YOU … and He asks YOU the same question … “Do you love Me more than you love OTHER PEOPLE?
Is there anybody in your life that you love more than Jesus?
WHO are you putting ahead of Jesus in your life?
Is it YOURSELF … your WIFE, HUSBAND … your CHILDREN … your PARENTS?
Is there anyone in your life that you love more than Jesus?
NOW … I realize … that you love them DIFFERENTLY than you love Jesus … you’re supposed to.
BUT … if there’s anyone in your life that is taking away your love for Jesus … THEN … you love them more than you love Him.
“lovest” – GK. - AGAPE … “Peter, do you REALLY, REALLY love Me?” … a TOTAL COMMITMENT love … a love that’s willing to SACRIFICE for Jesus … “Do you love Me with all your heart?”
That’s what “agape” love is … to REALLY, REALLY, REALLY love Jesus.
Look at Peter’s RESPONSE – 21:15b
“love” – GK. – PHILEO … “Yes, Lord, You know that I’m really fond of You.”
That’s a pretty NON-COMMITTAL response, isn’t it?
That’s not what Jesus is asking Peter … if Peter LIKED Him.
Jesus is asking Peter if he REALLY, REALLY loved Him … enough to forsake everything and everyone to follow Him.
ILL. – When you were dating, did you ever want a real relationship with someone … and they told you, “Let’s just be friends!” … it hurt, didn’t it?
That’s what Peter is telling Jesus here.
There’s a difference between AGAPE and PHILEO love.
ILL. – Compare “agape” & “phileo” love … My son in the car on vacation … “I have to go to the bathroom” (phileo) … “I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY have to go to the bathroom!” (agape) … AGAPE love is an intense, urgent, committed love.
Peter can’t commit himself to that kind of love … not right now.
He’s afraid of saying that he REALLY, REALLY loves Jesus … and then failing Him … like he did before.
Peter’s not about to brag about loving Jesus … and then fail to live up to it.
Jesus has a REPLY to Peter’s RESPONSE … 21:15c – “Feed my lambs.”
“Peter, I can understand your reluctance to totally commit to Me right now. But, I still have a ministry for you. Until you can totally commit to Me, I’ll give you a ministry … go and feed my baby lambs … you can do it … because you love Me.”
Maybe you’re not a spiritual giant … like the Apostle Paul.
Maybe you can’t go out and start churches … become a Preacher, Missionary …
BUT … Jesus has a ministry for you … “Feed My lambs”.
You can still work in V.B.S. … teach a S.S. Class … sing in the choir … visit the sick … encourage the discouraged … minister to God’s flock.
Jesus is telling you: “If you say that you LOVE Me … PROVE IT! … Get busy!”
21:16
Jesus asks Peter the same question the SECOND time … ONLY … this time Jesus leaves off “more than these”.
Jesus doesn’t want Peter to think about any COMPARISONS here.
He just wants Peter to consider the question … “Do you love ME?”
“Peter, forget about your love for THINGS … your love for OTHERS … your love COMPARED to how the other Disciples love me … Peter, look at Me … do you REALLY, REALLY love ME?”
Peter’s REPLY is the same … “Yes, Lord, you know that I like you a lot … I’m very fond of You … I think the world of You.”
Peter’s bragging days are over … he’s not about to commit himself to anything he thinks he can’t live up to.
NOTICE the RESPONSE of Jesus … a little different than the first time.
“Feed (BOSKO) My lambs” … NOW … “Shepherd (POIMAINO) My sheep.”
Jesus has a ministry for Peter … “Tend My sheep.” … i.e., NOT ONLY … TEACH (“feed”) the young Christians (“lambs”) … BUT … TEND (“feed”) the older Christians (sheep”).
Jesus has more confidence in Peter, than Peter has in himself.
NEVERTHELESS, Jesus doesn’t condemn Peter for his lack of total commitment.
Jesus sees Peter’s heart … and He knows that Peter’s ministry will grow along with his love for Jesus.
21:17
“lovest” – Jesus uses Peter’s word for “love” – PHILEO
“Peter, do you really think very highly of Me?”
Jesus comes down to Peter’s confession of his love for Jesus.
Jesus started at the highest plateau of “love” … and now He descends to Peter’s level of “love”.
Jesus is saying: “Peter, I’m going to meet you where you’re at. I realize that your love for Me will grow … but, right now, I need you to tell Me that you love Me. You denied Me 3 times … I want you to tell Me 3 times that you love Me.”
By this time, Peter is “grieved”.
NOT BECAUSE Jesus asked him 3 times … but because Jesus had to come down to Peter’s level of confession.
Peter’s still not prepared to climb up to the level that Jesus wants him … but he’s willing to admit without reservation that he has a deep love and admiration for Jesus.
Jesus now RESPONDS to Peter … “Feed (BOSKO) My sheep.”
“Peter, I’ve got a ministry for you … TO: TEACH the young Christians … TEACH the mature Christians … LEAD the mature Christians into ministry.”
CONCLUSION:
Jesus is asking each 1 of us here this AM … “Do you LOVE ME?”
NOT: Do you go to church … read your Bible … pray to Me … believe the Bible.
BUT: “Do you REALLY, REALLY love Me?”
This is the chief question in your Christian life today.
Everything else is secondary … teaching S.S., choir, Church attendance, tithing …
This question GRIEVED Peter … and it’s MEANT to.
It’s meant to search out your heart … to get you to evaluate your heart … to tear away all the façade and layers of pretense.
Jesus isn’t giving you a sugar pill … He’s giving you some bitter tasting medicine.
It will HURT, as you look deep within your heart.
BUT … Jesus is asking YOU this question this AM … He’s singling You out.
“Do you REALLY, REALLY love Me?”
THEN … “If you do … or even if you haven’t come that far … PROVE IT!”
STAND - PRAYER
