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This is the manuscript of the sermon delivered at Christ Church on April 11, 2021.
John 21:15 NIV When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Exactly what did Jesus mean by the question, “Do you love me more than these?” Three suggestions have been made as to what He meant;
Do you love me more than your fellow disciples do?
Do you love me more than you love other people?
Do you love me more than these 'things' that are near you?
To see a video of the entire service click this link https://youtu.be/vBwyvsIji7Q
Scripture:
John 21:1-17 NIV Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 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.
Text:
John 21:15 NIV When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Introduction
The Sea of Galilee is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Even today you can board a ship at Tiberias, take the short trip to Capernaum, and feel that you are living in biblical times.
The angel had promised on the resurrection morning that Jesus would meet his disciples in Galilee.
Matthew 28:5-10 NIV The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Our scripture reading this morning is proof that promise had been fulfilled, at least for seven of the disciples, who had been fishing all night without success until Jesus came.
John 21:1-6 NIV Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
As always, Jesus had provided everything needed. He had told his disciples where to cast their nets for fish, had prepared a fire of coals on which to cook the fish, and, from some source, and had some bread.
John 21:10-14 NIV Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
The first is recorded in
John 20:19-20 NIV On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
John 20:26-27 NIV A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Yes He appeared to the two on the road to Emasus but I’m talking about appearances to the main group of disciples including the apostles.
Anyway at this appearance, Jesus focused the “after breakfast” conversation on one thing. In one sense, he was speaking to all the group even though he directed his words to Simon Peter. Exactly what did Jesus mean by the question, “Do you love me more than these?” Three suggestions have been made as to what He meant;
Do you love me more than your fellow disciples do?
Do you love me more than you love other people?
Do you love me more than these ‘things’ that are near you?
Let’s look at each one of these.
I. “Do you love me more than your fellow disciples do?”
A short time before Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, Simon Peter had boasted that his loyalty was greater than that of his peers. As they went out to the Mount of Olives after that last supper in the upper room, Jesus said to the group,
Matthew 26:31 NIV …. “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
As usual Peter was the first to respond
Matthew 26:33 NIV Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
Perhaps Peter did not mean to boast but was wanting to assure the Savior of his loyalty. But that’s not the way it came across! Without realizing what he was saying, Peter was letting the others know that even though their faith may be weak, he would never fail to trust his Master completely and serve him without compromise or disloyalty.
Well we know today what happened and Jesus knew then.
Matthew 26:34 NIV “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
We all know how as recorded in Matthew 26:69-75 NIV Peter did in fact deny Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed
The for us today is, How strong is your love when compared to or contrasted with the love of other Christians?
Let me start by saying that we are not in competition with our fellow Christians as to who is the best servant of Jesus. Such an attitude is entirely unchristian if it causes us to develop a critical spirit toward others and a comparison of faults and virtues. This can make us almost like the Pharisees.
Luke 18:9-14 NIV To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
However, the question is worth asking! Are you only a nominal Christian, a Christian in name only? Or are you known among your friends as one whose loyalty to Jesus is far above the minimal standard?
Almost every church has at least two groups of people. First, there are those who merely belong. Perhaps they are saved, but they are not showing by their fruit any evidence of a deep love for Jesus. They more or less hang on for the ride but cannot be depended on to witness or serve in any effective way. On the other hand, there is the nucleus that bears the load. Ask yourself which group are you in?
II. The second suggestion as to what Jesus meant is “Do you love me more than you love other people?”
There were six others with Jesus and Peter. What about Peter's love for Jesus as compared with his love for his fellow friends, his fellow disciples?
Peter was pretty obviously a man of influence, because he was the one Jesus chose to be the leader of the Twelve. That influence was also demonstratedthe day he told his friends he was going fishing and they went with him.
John 21:1-3 NIV Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Peter probably enjoyed his leadership of the group. This was after Jesus' crucifixion and they may have become disillusioned. They probably had not seen Jesus since his second appearance when he had revealed himself to Thomas in such an expressive way.
They may not have seen Jesus since then and were wondering “what now?”
Peter’s decision to go fishing may have been more than getting away for a few hours; he may have been ready to return to his old occupation as a fisherman. Now Jesus came and showed Peter once again his divinity and his desire for Peter to be a part of his redemptive plan. But first Jesus needed to be sure that Peter loved him more than he loved his friends, to the point that even if his friends deserted him, he would still be determined to follow Jesus.
This raises some questions for us too.
What do you love the most? The applause of the crowd or the approval of the Savior?
Will peer pressure cause you to compromise your faith?
Is there a price tag on your dedication?
Here's an example. Suppose you are out and struggling whether or not to laugh at a joke making fun of someone. You watch others that you thought to be strong Christians laughing. You realize that you have to make a decision about joining the crowd. Then you pick a person that you respect and decide to do what that person does. That person doesn't laugh so you don't. But suppose the person does laugh would this be an excuse for you?
We must love Jesus more than we love anyone else. And we must never allow another person come between us and our Savior.
III. Here’s the third suggestion as to the meaning of Jesus' question to Peter; “Do you love me more than these ‘things’ that are near you?”
The most likely interpretation of our text is that Jesus pointed to the fishing nets and other equipment laying around as he asked Peter, “Do you love me more than these?”
The real test of a Christian is when he or she is confronted with the matter of personal priorities. The problem of “things” and making a living is always with us!
Let me emphasize that nowhere does the Bible condemn anyone for striving to earn a living to provide the necessities of life for themselves and their family. It's only when this gets out of hand and becomes top priority does it become wrong. Paul said
1 Timothy 5:8 NIV Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The Bible warns us, however, about majoring on the material things of life.
Matthew 6:19-21 NIV “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
One of our greatest spiritual needs today is, in the words of a modern writer, “to defy the tyranny of the tangible.” In other words we must resist being controlled by material things or the desire for them.
What are the “real things” in life? Are they those things that can be seen and handled?
No! These things can fade away in a moment. But you cannot tear away the spiritual truths or concepts behind them. You can burn a book, but you can’t burn an idea. You can destroy a bridge, but you can’t destroy the concept of a bridge. We need to be liberated from the enslaving power of things!
What do you love the most? Things or spiritual principles? Answer that question realistically and you will get an honest evaluation of yourself as a Christian.
For example here's the contrast between Abraham and Lot.
Genesis 13:5-13 NIV Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord .
Abraham was the kind of man who, if his business interfered with his religion, gave up his business,
Genesis 13:8-9 NIV So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
On the other hand Lot was the kind of man who, if his religion interfered with his business, gave up his religion.
Genesis 13:10-13 NIV Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord , like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord .
Do you love Jesus more than the “things” that are constantly around you in daily living, all your stuff.
Conclusion
We need to look at ourselves realistically and face honestly the question of our love for Jesus. After all has been said and done, the true motivation for service to Jesus is love. If we love, we serve. If we do not love, we do not serve. If we are not serving, it is because we do not love Jesus enough.
Matthew 20:20-28 NIV Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The answer for more dedication on the part of Christians is for each of us to have a greater devotion to the living Savior and love more.
John 21:15-17 NIV When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 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.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for letting us work with you to share your joy with the world. Help us not take for granted the gift it is to share you gospel to the nations, and to our neighbors. Help us have eyes to see the needs around us and to respond to those needs in joy and hope. Thank you so much Lord for your love and care over us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Sermon Audio
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