Love, Do You Know The Real Meaning? by Ed Pruitt
John 21:15-21:17
Love, Do You Know The Real Meaning?
Sunday January 4, 2004
John 21:15-17
I want to start out this morning tell all of you that I love my wife Lisa!
Do you believe that I love her?
There are times that I don’t really enjoy being with her,
But I love her.
There are times that I don’t really want to talk to her,
But I love her.
I might go for days without talking to her,
But I love her.
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.
When I do talk to her, I find my mind wandering, thinking about other things,
But I love her.
She’s not always a part of my everyday life, I think about her more on Sunday mornings than any other time of the week.
But I love her.
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 45 minutes about how much I love her.
She writes me love letters, but I don’t read them very often,
But I love my wife.
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.
I just don’t care to have very much to do with her, and make her a part of my life.
But, I love my wife.
NOW, how many of you, from what I have just said, would say that I love my wife?
Now, let’s translate that into our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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, and lets not make this one sided, if women treated husbands like they treated 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?
I am going to give you a short version of the first fourteen verses of John chapter 21 and that will lead us into our text this morning.
Now, Jesus had just met His Disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
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.
Now, let’s read, John 21:15-17
15 After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Yes, Lord, Peter replied, you know I love you.
Then feed my lambs, Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Yes, Lord, Peter said, you know I love you.
Then take care of my sheep, Jesus said.
17 Once more he asked him, Simon son of John, do you love me?
Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.
Jesus said, Then feed my sheep.
Notice what Jesus asks Peter three times.
Do you love Me?
Why three times?
Because, when Peter was confronted with the opportunity to demonstrate his love for Jesus, he denied knowing Jesus three times!
A three-fold denial demanded a three-fold confession.
It was around a fire of coals that Peter denied Jesus three 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 according to scripture, Matthew 26:33-35
33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”
34 “Peter,” Jesus replied, “the truth is, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.
John 13:37-38
37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I am ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? No, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
Peter loved Jesus, he had no intention of letting Him down!
This is the same Peter that walked on water to get to where Jesus was!
The same Peter who said Mark 10:28
28 Then Peter began to mention all that he and the other disciples had left behind. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
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 first to meet Jesus on shore, the scripture tells us, John 21:7
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and swam ashore.
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 wants to restore us back into His fellowship.
LISTEN to how Jesus does this:
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 and 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 here!
These THINGS, FISH, NETS and BOATS.
Do you love Me more than fishing?
Jesus is very serious about Sacrificing ourselves for Him.
He said in Luke. 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 14:26-35
26 “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
27 And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills?
29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh at you!
30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and ran out of money before it was finished!’
31 “Or what king would ever dream of going to war without first sitting down with his counselors and discussing whether his army of ten thousand is strong enough to defeat the twenty thousand soldiers who are marching against him?
32 If he is not able, then while the enemy is still far away, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace.
33 So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.
34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?
35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for fertilizer. It is thrown away. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!”
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!
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?
“these PEOPLE … the other Disciples”, “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!
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.
Were talking AGAPE love here!
Peter, do you REALLY, REALLY love Me?”
Do you love me with 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 in, John 21:15
15 After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
Love you, the kind of love that Peter was using here was PHILEO or brotherly love.
“Yes, Lord, You know that I love 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.
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.
Let’s compare “agape” and “phileo” love.
Phileo love is a brotherly love type of love.
I love my dog, I love my horse, I love Pizza.
AGAPE love is an intense, urgent, totally committed love.
I love you so much that I am willing to die for you, 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 the brag!
Jesus has a REPLY to Peter’s RESPONSE in the last part of that verse, John 21:15
15 After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
“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!”
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 My lambs” … NOW … “Shepherd My sheep.”
Jesus has a ministry for Peter … “Tend My sheep.”
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.
See, God knows our life from the end to the beginning.
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.
“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 three times … I want you to tell Me three times that you love Me.”
By this time, Peter is “grieved”.
NOT BECAUSE Jesus asked him three 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 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.”
Jesus is asking each one of us here this morning,
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 Sunday School, 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 morning.
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!
Become doers and not just hearers!
Are you giving your all to Jesus this morning?
Let’s bow our heads.
