Loving Jesus

May 24, 2015

John 21:15-23

How do you feel after you know you’ve failed the Lord? (You know you have failed. I know I have… many times). So, how does it make you feel? Embarrassed? Ashamed? Worthless? Regret? Discouraged? Dejected?

Peter may have felt some of these things… He boasted he would lay down his life for Jesus (John 13:37), yet he fled when Jesus was arrested. He bragged, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” (Mt. 26:33): but he flatly denied he knew Jesus…three times. Later, instead of waiting for Jesus at Galilee, he went back to his old life as a fisherman. Yes, Peter failed… more than once and was grieved and convicted by it.

But failure isn’t final with the Lord. When Jesus confronts Peter to show him his failure, it didn’t mean He was through with Peter. This confrontation was a defining moment in Peter’s life. He was never the same afterwards.

I. Loving Jesus will be DECLARED (vs. 15-17).

A. Jesus was RECLAIMING Peter. He was not chastening Peter.

Jesus did not ask Peter—“Why did you deny Me?” “How many souls have you won to Me?” “How much money have you given to missions?” “How many chapters of God’s Word have you read?” “How often do you pray?”

Jesus simply asked, “Lovest thou Me?” THAT is the issue! [When was the last time you bowed before the Lord just to tell Him you love Him?]

1. Jesus was not asking for information (cf. John 2:24-25). Jesus knew Peter loved Him. Peter never stopped loving Jesus, although it didn’t always look like he loved Him.

A married couple who sincerely love each other may have an occasional “spat.” Peter got upset with the Lord about his sword (Mt. 26:52), but he never stopped loving.

2. Jesus knew how Peter would answer. The question was asked to prepare Peter for Jesus’ command, “Feed my lambs.”

B. Jesus was RESTORING Peter (Gal. 6:1). Jesus used Peter’s answer to restore him into the ministry. Jesus still wanted to use Peter.

II. Loving Jesus will be DOMINANT (v. 15).

“MORE than these…” Was He referring to the other disciples (cf. Mt. 26:33)? Or, did Jesus point to the 153 fish in the nets? [“Peter do you love Me more than you love to fish?”]

It really doesn’t matter. What mattered was Jesus wanted Peter to love Him more than anything else in his life!

The first and great commandment is to love God; the second is love your neighbor (Mt. 22:37, 39). Keep them in that order. You cannot properly love your neighbor if you do not love God.