Peter, Do you Love Me?
John 21:15-19 • Sermon • Submitted
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“When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” (, CEB)
(Prayer)
The Great Commission given to the church by Jesus Christ before his ascension is found in : “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (, NIV84)
That Great Commission is considered the marching orders for the church of Jesus Christ and each one of us are responsible to ensure the church fulfills that commission. That doesn’t mean that each one of us is necessarily responsible to preach, teach and to baptise; but it does mean that whatever the specific calling is we receive from God, our fulfilling of that call should ultimately help the church fulfill that mission. There is a difference between the mission of the church and the calling God gives to each of his children.
There is a difference between the mission of the church and the calling God gives to each of his children.
The reason I began by reading the words of Jesus to Simon, son of John is because I believe when Jesus was speaking to Peter, he was giving him a specific calling as his part in helping the church to fulfill its global mission. God was calling Peter to be a leader in the church. And there is a great deal we can learn by study his life.
Am I making sense? We all have a part to play in the Great Commission.
Peter before His Calling
Peter before His Calling
I can only imagine what Peter must have felt like as Jesus questioned him over and over about his love. You can sense his frustration as you read John’s account. In fact, in verse 17 John said Peter was hurt or saddened by Jesus’ questions. But, the way I see it, Peter was blessed to have been picked by Jesus to follow him at all.
Peter was such an impetuous fellow. Always putting his foot in his mouth, always acting without considering the consequences of his actions. I am afraid that if I was choosing people to train for leadership, I might not have considered Peter at all.
It was Peter who, when seeing Jesus walking on water, stepped out of the boat, only to begin sinking when he took his eyes off Jesus.
It was Peter who reprimanded Jesus when he spoke of his need to die and was reprimanded himself by Jesus for having the things of men in mind and not the things of God.
And it was Peter that swore to Jesus that everyone else fell away, he never would. He even told the Lord, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” ()
Of course we all know what happen after Jesus was arrested and stood before Caiaphas, the high priest. Peter denied the Lord three times before the rooster crowed even once.
That was no doubt the reason Jesus questioned Peter three times about his love. How could Jesus pick such a misfit to be one of the pillars of the church? How could Jesus change his name from Simon to Peter, which meant rock, and told him it was upon that rock that Jesus was build his church?
It was because Jesus didn’t look upon the outward appearances of men, but looked at their heart. He looked not at what they were, but what they could become through the power of God.
Jesus knew that with all his flaws, Peter loved him and wanted more than anything to serve him and make him happy. Peter wanted to learn, more than once asking Jesus to explain his parables. Jesus knew Peter’s heart, and that is the same way God looks at us today.
And that is the same way God looks at you today.
Peter as Leader in the Church
Peter as Leader in the Church
So as we look in the book of Acts, we find that Peter became the first leader in the church. Even before the day of Pentecost, Peter began fulfilling his calling to be a leader in the church.
In the first chapter of Acts, it was Peter that gathered the disciples together to select a replacement for Judas. I am not so sure it was what God intended, but they selected Matthias after a time of prayer and casting lots. We don’t hear about Matthias any more and Paul claimed to be the last apostle, but Peter was beginning to be a leader.
In the second chapter of Acts, it was Peter who preached the first Gospel message on the day of Pentecost. And Peter’s gift of evangelism became very evident, with some 3000 souls being save that day.
In , we find Peter preaching boldly before the Sanhedrin in the face of great opposition. He and John were arrested but on the next day stood before the high priest and preached Christ crucified and raised from the dead. After being commanded to stop preaching such a message, replied by saying, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”” (, NRSV)
And in we find Peter sharing the Gospel with Cornelius and his family and they came to the Lord and through Peter the Gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit was opened up to the Gentiles.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There is so much more we could consider about Peter and the change that took place in him through Jesus, but from what we have just seen this morning, we learn God can take the most unlikely of people and through the power of the Holy Spirit, fulfill his calling in them.
As we consider the various individuals in the Book of Acts that became leaders in the church, you will certainly see characteristics in their lives, challenges and victories that are much like yours. God can use you as leaders in the church as well.
You may say to yourself, “Not me! I could never do something like that!” And by your own power and ability, you may be right. But with God, nothing is impossible. And if we will open up our hearts and minds to the power of the Holy Spirit and the will of God, you would be amazed at what God Can do.
Jesus died and was raised to life that you might not only be saved, but that you might become everything God intends you to be! Let God be God!