Restored by the Redeemer

John 21:15-25

Do you love me more than these?

More than who?

More than the other disciples

More than anyone

Two more times: do you love me?

Peter had publicly declared his boldness for Jesus

John 13:37- Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Peter publicly denied Jesus 3 times (John 18)

Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him 3 times

Peter declares his love for Jesus by humbly appealing to Jesus’ knowledge of all things

Peter is being restored

This is a public display of grace and mercy

His blood was shed that Peter might be forgiven and restored to Jesus and his fellow disciples

The grace of Jesus is enough to restore all who have failed

We are also in need of Jesus’ restoring grace

We sin against Him

We sometimes are ashamed to associate ourselves with Jesus to others boldly

We can sometimes sin against God in such a way that we also cause hurt in the church

His blood was shed for your forgiveness and restoration

To be restored to Himself

To be restored to one another

Feed my sheep

Peter is being recommissioned

Peter’s restoration happens through his recommission

It is not as though Jesus simply told Peter that he is forgiven

He calls Peter to feed His sheep instead

This is saying “I don’t only forgive you, I will use you for the good of my people

What is Peter being summoned to do?

He is being called upon to proclaim the Good News of Jesus

He is being called upon to teach the truth of Jesus

He is being called upon to shepherd the sheep of Jesus

He is being summoned to lead the redeemed people Jesus bought with His own blood

This is amazing!

Peter’s love will be proven by His obedience

If he will not feed Jesus’ sheep, then his professed love is only lip service

Peter obeys

1 Peter 5:1-4- So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Our obedience to Christ's commands shows our love for Him

John 14:15- If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

It is a fearful thing to profess love for Jesus while rebelling against what He has said

And yet isn’t this attitude rampant in the church?

Brothers, the internal of your heart for Christ ought to be producing outward faithfulness to Him

The kind of death He would die

He will give his life for the one he formerly denied

There is a cost to following Jesus

Luke 14:25-33- Bible

What about this man?

Peter wants to know what the end of John’s life will look like

He is in essence saying “Will he at least share the same fate as me?”

What is that to you?

Why does it matter if he stays alive until I return?

Jesus’ point is that it matters very little what death the others will die. What matters is that Peter will follow Jesus even to death if it is His purpose

Spend your life for the sake of Christ

He is so worthy

He is so worth it

Follow me

Jesus gives Peter all the grace he needs to respond in obedience

He never calls anyone to do what He does not first empower them to do

He always gives us His power by His Spirit

Acts 1:8- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The Scripture and the Spirit give us all that we need

2 Peter 1:3- His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence

Let us follow Him

May you go where He leads you

May you do what He leads you to do

And now he says to you: Do you love me? Follow me.

A radical prayer: Lord, what would you have me do? Here I am, so use me as you wish.

C.T. Studd- Only One Life

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say, ”Thy will be done;”

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say “twas worth it all;”

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,

If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee