Forty days that changed a life 6.
John 21: 07/03/05
We are continuing our study on the series forty days that changed a life. Forty days is mentioned in the Bible 22 times. We have had 5 messages already in our series. This morning is our 6th sermon in this series.
You know the Bible says that Jesus spent 40 days on the earth after His resurrection before He went back to heaven. There was 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension. From His ascension to the day of Pentecost, there was ten more days. Pentecost means 50, so from the time of His resurrection to the day of Pentecost was 50 days.
What you read in these verses of the book of John is how that Jesus convinced the disciples that He was alive and rose from the dead. Then we see how that Jesus comforted the disciples about the resurrection. Then we see that He commissioned the disciples to go and do the work of an evangelist.
Now there was a short time from the resurrection of Jesus till He was to meet them in Galilee. He had instructed them to tell Peter and the disciples I will meet them in Galilee. Now why did He say to tell Peter? I believe it was because the last time Peter saw the Lord was when the roster crowed three times after Peter had denied knowing the Lord. Peter must have thought Jesus will have nothing to do with me after the way I acted. Jesus wanted Peter to know that He had not forgotten him. He would want to encourage Peter to keep up the good fight.
What you also find in this chapter is that the disciples got impatient waiting for the Lord. So one day maybe they were talking about what they might do for the day. Peter said I am going fishing. The other disciples said we will go with you. So they go fishing as they did in the old life before they met Jesus. So they fished all night. The next morning they heard a voice say, “Children do you have any meat?” It’s always embarrassing to the fishermen to answer as these men had to answer, no we have caught nothing. Jesus said cast your nets on the other side of the boat. You have been fishing on the wrong side of the boat. When they cast their nets on the other side of the boat, they had so many fish they were having trouble hauling them in. John said boys; you know who that is standing on the bank? It is Jesus, and at that Peter jumped in the water swam to the shore where Jesus was standing. Jesus was fixing breakfast for them and there they had a time of fellowship with the Lord.
While they were there, Jesus said to Peter in verse 15, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” Peter said yes Lord you know that I love you. Jesus said feed my lambs. Then Jesus said to him the second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? Peter said yes Lord; you know that I love you. Jesus said feed my sheep. Then Jesus said unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? Peter was sad that Jesus asked him the third time if he loved him. But you remember how many times Peter denied knowing the Lord? That is right; three times. Peter said Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you. Jesus said feed my sheep.
Now I want you to see that Jesus is talking about our relationship with Him. You notice in the very start that our love for Jesus must be preeminent.
Jesus said to Peter, do you love me more than these? I guess the question would be more than what? When we think about it what was around them at the time of the questioning? There were the other disciples. There were the fish. There was the sea. Jesus has every right to ask us that question this morning. Do you love me more than friends, family and fishing, or making a living? Am I number one.
The reason Jesus has the right to ask us that question is because of what we read in His Word. In this same book, in the 3rd chapter verse 16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who so ever believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ In while I was yet a sinner, Christ Jesus died for me and I have never gotten over it. Someone loves me enough that He was willing to give His life for me. He died the death that I should have died. Our love for Him must be preeminent.
But I want you to see something else in our text this morning and that is our love for Jesus must be proof.
Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Each time Peter said yes and each time Jesus said feed my lambs and feed my sheep. Peter, if you love me then you be obedient to My call for your life. Don’t just tell me you love me but prove it by loving the saints and the sinners of the world. Let your friends and family know that you love me because you are doing my will for your life.
You know the half brother of Jesus had something to say about words and their relationship with works. James says you say you have faith; prove it by your works.
Finally, I want you to see our love for Jesus must be personal. Our love for our Lord is to be preeminent, and proved in our works and deeds and also personal.
The other disciples were there at the time Jesus and Peter were talking but Jesus asks Peter if he loved Him. He did not ask Peter if John loved Him but do you love me.
History tells us that Peter died as a martyr of his Christian witness. Peter gave his life witnessing and feeding the sheep.
Forty days Jesus spent with the disciples after His resurrection made them ready to build God’s Kingdom. When we spend time with God and His Word, we are interested in His Kingdom. We want all people to know there is a God who loves them just as they are. There is the Son of God waiting for all sinners to come and trust Him in faith to be saved. Do you know Jesus?
