Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
These are the pastors actual sermon notes. Depending on time, the Holy Spirit, and how thing go in the church service the actual sermon may vary.
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah,[b] do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah,[d] do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
INTRO
- peter doesnt get this question asked of him 3 times because he doesn’t understand. Its actualy quite significant that Jesus asks him 3 times.
- The Number 3 is a “good” number in the Bible. Lots of numbers have symbolism in the Bible. 40, 7, 12,3,
- Jesus rose on the 3rd day, Jonah comes out of the whale on the 3rd day, Saul gets his eyesight on the 3rd day, 3 is a great number
- But- Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times before Jesus was Crucified
- and in this moment- Jesus offers peter a 3 strikes you’re back in redemption and forgiveness
- Jesus gives him 3 chances to repent and return to Jesus
- This story shows the redmptive power of Jesus- that even when Peter denied him 3 times, Jesus restored him to place of prominence and influence
- Jesus wants to know if Peter loves him- 3 times he asks- these 3 loves are different than our love, Jesus says, do you agape me and Peter says I phileo you
- Jesus is asking do you have a deep selfless love for me and peter answers I’m your friend!
- Who do you love?
Here’s the operative verse of this whole discourse- “do you love Me more than these?”
Of course Peters response is “of course I love you”
seems natural- if you’re standing in front of Jesus and he asks you if you love him, of course you’ll say yes- who wouldnt?
When Jesus asks Peter if he loves him- its not just an affection, a devotion, a liking
its an utter and complete devotion kind of love- one that goes much deeper than just a word
Jesus is saying- if you love me you have to love me
More than yourself- Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
more than your family Matthew 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Hate them actually– Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
Jesus is asking Peter- do you love me more than anything
More than your friends, more than your job of fishing, more than your family, more than your hobbies, even more than yourself?
Its a hard question
We might “say” we love Jesus with our words- but if we look at our lives- does this love come out in the way we live?
Ask yourself that question today- What do I love more than Jesus?
It is my time? My comfort? My Reputation? My Thoughts? My Money? My Attitude?
Folks- this following of Jesus is an all encompassing decision to follow Jesus
Its not a half hearted attempt to appease God so we can go on living our lives
I love my food, my addictions, my house, my car, my activities, my sleep, my phone, my internet, my TV, my yard, my kids sports, my job, my spouse, my coffee more than Jesus
do you love your recreation more than Jesus? camping, boating, rving, atving, snowmobiling, shooting, hiking, etc?
Some people love their sin more than they love Jesus some people actually love sin!
Psalm 52:3 You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness
Most Christians dont have to learn to love- they have to learn to love the right things!
- Do you have evidence of love?
We’ve become a society that has taken this “who am I to judge” or “dont judge lest ye be judged” mentality
It probably wasn’t started by Christians- it was started by people that didn’t like their lives being called into question
Now- I’ll be the first to say- you shouldn’t going around judging other people or thier Christianity- you have to leave that part to God-
But you CAN look at your own life and see- is there any evidence to support the claim?
thats what we’re supposed to do-
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
Jesus asks Peter 3 times! After he has denied him 3 times- Peters life wasn’t showing the faith and he professed!
Love is the mark of a True believer
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
we’re supposed to love God more than anything
Ask yourself- Is there something I love more than God?
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him
God promises eternal life to those who LOVE HIM
Paul even went so far as to that people that Don’t love Jesus are cursed-
1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!
You have to ask yourself- Do I love Jesus? Or do I simply pay him lip service?
Peter was really good at Lip service-
John 13:36-37 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
And then he denied him 3 times
3.How do we determine if we have the love of God in our hearts?
- are you trying please God or man?
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
Right now, when I watch people and how they live- they care more about what people think about them than what God thinks about them
If we have the love of God in our hearts- how we live is going to be a life that is pleasing to HIM
what you DO with your daily life is an indication of WHO you’re trying to please
Listen- I know when you start talking about DOING people will say- You’re becoming works based and not grace based
Works that try to EARN salvation are unto nothing- you can’t DO anything to be saved
But here’s an honest question- if your life hasn’t changed in how you act, speak, work, and serve, how deep did that grace get into your heart?
People in the Bible Followed Jesus and Paul after they became believers- they didn’t just sit where they were and did what they did and say “man that was awesome- now I’m good”
- Are you being obdedient?
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments
if you have a love for God- you’ll do what he commands
its quite easy to find out- read your Bible and do what it says- follow the scripture
People say- I dont want rules- Christianity isn’t rules- I want relationship
And I agree- but every relationship has rules- either written or implied
My wife and I have rules that we have spoken about- and if we break them- we’re saying that we dont love each other- we dont say “I love you and that means that we can live however we want and do whatever we want” that doesn’t even make sense
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
What God asks us to do isn’t burdensome- its the natural response of a person who loves another person
People have kids and take care of them. Feed them, clothe them, provide for them
If someone didn’t do this- you would say that they didn’t love them
Following natural dictates of relationships isn’t following rules- its being human
2 john 6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
we’re supposed to walk in it
Follow the scriptures- do what they say- apply them to your life
They are for your benefit-
- Fall in love with Jesus
how?
- Realize you need a savior
John 21 and Luke 5 both share stories of Peter fishing. They are not the same story- they are two seperate events. They do have some similarities. But here’s what I love about Peter in
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
Peter had, and continued to have a reality of his sinfulness- he knew he was no good
Luke 18:9-14 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
I need Jesus- I need him to save me from my sin- to save me from myself
I need his presence in my life to be able to live-
I know my propensity for sin- I know my ability to fall into disrepair. I need a savior!
- Worship Him
For thousands of years- the people of God have always sang audible songs of worship towards the heavens to worship God
He is worthy of our worship– he desires it and welcomes it-
True worship that is worshipping him in spirit and in truth because of who he is!
A great worship song will spur your heart towards heaven as you listen to its words