You can watch the video version of this message at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmixfGTdIR4&list=UU2uVf_qAtdS2GR2tMKigzKA&index=1&feature=plcp
It is interesting to note that at least seven of the twelve
disciples that Jesus called were fishermen.
Why fishermen? For one, they do
not quit! They know how to take orders
and they know how to work together. Were
they wrong in returning to their vocation of fishing? Most would argue, yes, as they lost sense of
their vision and purpose. It would
appear that they had lost their sense of mission and vision and went back to
their former vocation. They had been out
fishing all night and had caught absolutely nothing.
It was Jesus who took control of the situation and brought
them back to their real calling. Thanks
to Jesus they make a miraculous catch of 153 fish and they recognize very quickly
that this is not an ordinary situation.
Peter in his typical impulsive fashion can’t wait for the
boat to return to shore so he jumps in the water, does 100 yard freestyle and
arrives on the scene first!
There are three strong invitations in the book of John:
1. Come and
see 1:39
2. Come and
drink 7:37
3. Come and
dine (have breakfast!) 21:12
Peter and Jesus have already met privately as seen in Luke
24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5 and most likely dealt with his sin of denial in that
place. This time together was to reinstate Peter to a place of ministry. Remember that this is happening around a fire
with all the other disciples present and listening in on the conversation. The imagery that Jesus uses with Peter is to
feed His lambs (young believers) and feed His sheep (mature believers).
In John
21, Jesus challenges Peter 3x with the question, “Do you love me”
Why did
Jesus ask Peter 3x that very question?
Some have simply said that it was in response to the 3 denials that
Peter made when he was asked if he knew Jesus prior to his crucifixion. It was quite a scene, he was so adamant he
didn’t know Jesus that he swore to really get everyone’s attention.
So, who
was running with Peter when he made those denials of Jesus? You’re a failure,
you are certainly not the rock, this is who you really are!
However,
I believe Jesus did something really significant when He asked Peter the
question, ‘do you love me?’ He was
calling Peter back out of his old life and restoring to Him a place of
ministry. He was in effect saying, “your
sin, your failure, your wounding doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”
In the
first two times Jesus asks the question, do you love me he is referring to this
“agape” love. He was in essence asking
Him to love sacrificially.
“Simon,
son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” v15a
He
first called him out on his boldness. It
was Peter who said, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” Mark 14:29; and after
Jesus gave his command to “love one another” in John 13:35, it was Peter who
said “I will lay down my life for you.”
“Yes
Lord, “ he said, “you know that I love you” v15b
Peter
responds with a love of fondness; phileo love, not a love greater than all
others.
Again,
Jesus asks do you truly love me and Peter pleads to the Lord’s omniscience,
“you know that I love you.”
However,
the last time Jesus asks Peter do you love me, the word here is ‘phileo’ – the
love of friendship. He is calling Peter
back to relationship. This is the
brotherly/friendship type of love.
Jesus
makes “the ask.” Take care of my
sheep. We are all called to take care of
each other, to hold others in greater esteem than ourselves.
This is
the kind of love I believe God is calling us to, we are called to the highest
standard of love, but God is also calling us to relationship with Himself and
with each other.
What is the message?
You may have failed the LORD miserably, but He still loves you and wants
you to show and express that same grace with others. The most important thing we can do is love
Jesus because if we really love Jesus and experience His love for us, we will
have the capacity to love one another!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmixfGTdIR4&list=UU2uVf_qAtdS2GR2tMKigzKA&index=1&feature=plcp