Loving Jesus
John 21:15-17
February 13, 2005
Morning Service
Introduction
As Valentine’s Day approaches I just want to make one thing clear - I love my wife
• There are times when I don’t enjoy being with her - but I love her
• There are times when I don’t want to talk to her - but I love her
• There are times when I go for days without talking to her - but I love her
• The times that I do talk with her are only when I want something from her, want to ask about something specific or when I feel guilty - but I love her
• There are times when she is not a part of my everyday life I just put on a good show on Sunday morning - but I love her
• There are times I get together with other people and tell them how much I love my wife but I never tell her - but I love her
• There are times when she tries to talk with me but I just ignore her most of the time - but I love her
• There are times when I just don’t have much to do with her - but I love her
After listening to what I just said, how many of you would say I love my wife?
The truth is that I do not treat Elizabeth this way, at least not always. The truth is also that if we are honest with ourselves this is the way we treat Jesus a great deal of the time.
Could people be able to tell that you love Jesus by the way you live your life? Can people see a life that is filled with loving Jesus?
C.S. Lewis nails the true nature of the issue of loving Jesus when he said: On the whole, Christ’s love for us is a much safer subject to think about than our love for Him.
This morning, I want to closely examine a subject that might not be the easiest to approach but one that I think is vital for us. Do you really love Jesus?
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.
Basic Background for the scene
Peter had failed Jesus miserably. Peter literally cursed the name of Jesus to try to save his own neck. He denied that he even knew who Jesus was. Peter had failed after he boasted about how much he would sacrifice for Jesus. The point is Peter had failed. Jesus shows us something vital to our walk with Him here; failure is never final. There was still much that peter was going to accomplish for Christ and he needed to realize that fact.
You can relate to where Peter is at this moment because you have been there too.
• The time when you failed to keep your mouth shut and said something you shouldn’t
• The time when the sin you wish you could take back comes back to haunt you
• The time when you promised Jesus things would be different only to go right back to living that old life
• The time when you knew you were supposed to obey that still small voice but chose not to
You can relate to Peter because whether you want to admit it or not you have failed just as badly and more often than he did. You can relate to Peter because you’ve had the same feelings of going back to the old life because it was comfortable. You can relate because you have felt like your days of doing something great for God were done. Anyone ever felt that way?
Jesus brings Peter back on track
Jesus does something before He ever speaks to Peter on the shore. Jesus gives Him a vivid reminder of where he had been and where he needed to go. Earlier in chapter 21 there is a miraculous catch of fish. This is not an accident but rather an intentional reminder to Peter. In Luke, the day Peter decides to follow Jesus there is a miraculous catch of fish. Jesus is reminding Peter of the calling that he was given.
Jesus gives you some of the same types of reminders doesn’t He?
• Remember the day when you gave your heart to Him
• Remember the day that the Holy Spirit filled your life
• Remember the day that you experienced the wonder of being lost in God’s presence for the first time
When Peter and the others arrive on the shore Jesus has a fire with bread and fish waiting for breakfast. This is no ordinary fire because it is fueled by charcoal. Big deal a charcoal fire isn’t earth shattering. This same Greek word of fire is used only one other time in the entire New Testament and it is in John 18:18.
It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
It was around this charcoal fire that Peter would deny knowing Jesus and it was around this fire that Peter would fail His Lord. Jesus uses a charcoal fire here to remind Peter of His failure but not to ridicule him but to redeem him.
Jesus allows us to remember these types of things as well, not to ridicule but to redeem
• Remember the day of your greatest failure - Through Christ it is forgiven
• Remember the day of your greatest heartache - through Christ it is healed
• Remember the day of your greatest defeat - through Christ it becomes a victory
Jesus does all of this to set the stage to ask Peter an important question: Do you truly love me more than these?
What is Jesus talking about here?
1. Jesus could have been speaking about the level of Peter’s love
Jesus wanted to see if Peter loved Him more than any of the other disciples loved him. This does not seem to fit.
2. Jesus could have been speaking about the level of Peter’s loyalty
Jesus wanted to see if Peter loved Him more than he loved the other disciples. This too does not seem to fit the situation.
3. Jesus could have been speaking of the level of Peter’s commitment
Jesus was talking about the fish on the fire. Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Him more than his old life. There was a serious problem going on here. Peter knew he had failed and was ready to go back to his old life.
Peter was wallowing in his own personal failure and Jesus was trying to snap him out of it. Jesus shifts the focus of Peter not to his work or service, not to his discipleship or abilities but rather Jesus turns the focus to love. Why is Jesus so concerned about the subject of love?
• Love creates community
• Love prompts obedience
• Love provides motivation
• Love transforms character
• Love provides purpose
• Love stabilizes relationships
• Love compels concern
Love is the power that makes life worth living and gives us the ability to persevere through any hardship that we could ever face.
The Qualities of Love - Four Primary Greek terms
1. Eros
Meaning - Love that comes from sexual desire
Never used in the New testament
2. Storge
Meaning - love that describes the nature of a family
Used to describe the love of a parent for a child
3. Phileo
Meaning - love that comes from a close personal friendship
Used in the New testament to describe brotherly love
Philidelphia - The city of brotherly love
4. Agape
Meaning - love that comes from whole of one’s being and is a matter of personal choice
Used to describe the love that God has for us and how we are to love one another as believers
As the conversation between Peter and Jesus takes place we don’t see much going on. Jesus asks do you love me and Peter responds yes I love you. We lose something of this conversation in English.
Jesus asks with the word agape and Peter responds with phileo. So essentially the conversation went something like this: Peter do you love me with every ounce of your being? Peter says Lord you know I love you like a brother.
How often do we do the same thing? How often do we return the love that Christ gives to us with something far less meaningful?
The final time that Jesus asks Peter He uses the word phileo. Jesus does not lower His standards or lower His expectations but rather He lowers Himself to Peter’s level to reveal the depth of love he had for Peter. Jesus came down to the level of human love for Peter and the truth is that he comes down to the human level of love for you as well.
Jesus came to this earth as the creator but lived as a citizen. Jesus came to the earth as the master but lived as a man. Jesus came to the earth as a king but lived in kinship with His people. Jesus lowered Himself to our level so that we might be able to reach His.
Conclusion
Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me."
Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that your’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him." With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!" And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting "as if." For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing. When she didn’t return, Crane called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?"
"Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him." Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds.
J. Allan Petersen.
How do we live out a life of love for Jesus? Just do it. Live each and every day with the intent to love Jesus the best you can. The power of the agape love is the fact that it is a matter of choice. Each day make the choice that you are going to live to love Jesus and you will find that the power of His love will flow into your life.
Jesus is asking you this morning: do you love me with every ounce of your being? What will your response be? How will you respond to the call of Jesus?
