I invite you

YOU ARE INVITED

JOHN 21:15-25

Read and pray

INTRO: PRAY AND READ SCRIPTURE

It’s only been a few days since The Cross. Simon Peter has cursed, he’s sworn, he’s denied that he even knew the Lord. He’s gone off and wept bitterly when the rooster crowed. The disciples have heard that the women saw Him and that He was resurrected! Peter ran and saw that indeed the tomb was empty. Later on, Jesus appears to him and the others. They have seen the risen Lord, talked with him and ate with him. These guys are still in a bit of a fog you can say. With all the events that has occurred over the last several weeks, man they are perplexed, confused, and excited and all kinds of emotions are going through them. There comfort zone. Tired of sitting around Peter, the leader. Says “I’m going fishing” I’m going back to what I know, to my old way of life and the others followed him. So these commercial fishermen set out to go fishing on the Sea of Galilee, where they know the waters like the back of their hands. Where they have caught untold number of fish in their lives, and they catch nothing. When you read the account in the original Greek, the implication is that God directed the fish not to go in the nets. So, all night long they’ve been fishing and catch nothing. Like a lot fishing trips I’ve been on! Can you imagine how Simon Peter feels? He’s denied the Lord, he’s failed as a disciple and now he can’t even fish anymore. He’s tired, he’s wet, he’s hungry and discouraged and ashamed.

It’s early in the morning and they see someone on shore. It’s about a hundred yards to the shoreline and they’re just far enough way to not be able to tell who it was. This fellow hollers out “Children, have you any food?” That word children is interesting. It’s a little child an infant or toddler. Not as John addressed those in his epistles. But a little bitty kid. Then He tells them to cast their nets on the right side. You know they haven’t caught anything and maybe this guy can see something we can’t, it’s not going to hurt so they cast their net. There’s so many fish they can’t haul it in! John says “Peter, it’s The Lord!” Now Peter does something interesting. He puts his fishing coat ON and jumps in! Now why would he do that? It’s going to slow you down and hinder your swimming. Anyway, he goes and beats the others there and Jesus is waiting on them with a meal ready! He tells them come and dine and can you imagine how amazing that was?! Sunrise breakfast on the shores of beautiful Galilee with Jesus! The perfect setting to talk to Peter. To restore him

Notice how Jesus doesn’t sugar coat or dilly dally around. He gets right to the heart of the matter. “Simon, son of Jonas, loves though me?” That question was thrown like a spear straight to Peters heart.

KNOW HIS LOVE. Vs 15-17

Jesus didn’t ask about Peter’s doctrine.

Jesus didn’t say Simon Peter, do you believe my doctrine? You can be just as sound doctrinally as anyone and still not love Jesus. You can split a theological hair in six ways and still not love Jesus! I’m not saying it’s not important to have doctrine. Sound doctrine of the word of God is vital, but it’s no substitute for loving Jesus. As a matter of fact if we love him, we will believe His Word!

He didn’t ask Do you repent of your sins?

He said Simon Peter do you love me? Why? Because if I love Him I will repent of my sins. You can’t repent of your sins without loving Him! He didn’t say “Simon do you have faith in me”? We ought to have faith in Jesus just as we ought to repent of our sins and believe the gospel. He didn’t ask Peter that! If we love Him we will put our faith in Him, we will trust Him. There are some here today who trust Him in a sense, who don’t really and truly love Jesus

He didn’t ask Are you keeping my commandments?

Why? Because if we live Him we will keep His commandments.

He didn’t ask about peters profession of faith.

Simon had already said “You are the Christ, the Son of The Living God.” You can make all the profession of faith you want and still not love Jesus. He said Do you love me? You can know all about Jesus and still not love Him. Listen you can know all about Jesus, you can know the facts about Him. I’m not asking if you are a card-carrying Christian, I want to know Do you love Jesus?

Jesus didn’t ask about Peter’s position in the church.

Peter was an Apostle, in fact he was a leader, one of the original twelve disciples. He had more position than any of us could ever imagine. Jesus didn’t care, Do you love me? Peter experienced a lot of amazing, incredible things because of his position. Jesus didn’t ask about his experiences of being an Apostle.

You may have had some incredible experience at revivals, conferences, amazing services at church. The question isn’t about amazing experiences it isn’t about if you’re a member of a church or what position you have in the church. The question is Do you love Jesus?

Jesus didn’t ask how he performed.

Peter knew about performance. He’s walked on water, hauled in a bunch of fish, witnessed and performed miracles. He did a lot in the name of Jesus. Yet Jesus asked him Do you love me?

You know what’s amazing about all this, not only Should we love Jesus, but we CAN love Jesus. When we love Jesus we will serve him. We will become more like Him. We will start to follow him. Do you love Jesus?

Do you love Him? You’ve never accepted Him as Lord and savior, you can today. You know why He kept asking Peter Do you love me? Because Jesus loved him! He loves you! Even with alll your failures, all your problems all your sin. He loves you. He proved that on the cross! Do you love Him?

Know HIS FAITHFULNESS. Vs18-19

He was faithful to Peter when Peter wasn’t faithful to Him. He was with Peter the whole time and He will never leave or forsake him or you. He told peter “You are going to die for me. They are going to lead you away and crucify you for my sake. FOLLOW ME. That’s a hard word right there. Im going to be crucified and persecuted!? Yeah you are Peter. But im with you. im faithful! I will be you every step of the way. John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”” But where was He when my Spouse died? My child died? My parents? Where was He when I lost everything? My health? My job? HE WAS THERE! He was there b/c he is faithful! His word is truth! He IS Truth! And you can know and experience His faithfulness today. Will you? will you let Him come into your life? And know he is faithful to save, faithful to forgive. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

I INVITE YOU TO COME TO HIM.

Jesus is waiting for you to give Him an answer? Do you love me? Will you accept my invitation to you? let me come in? or do you love the things of this world more than the one who laid His life down for you?

Matthew 11:16-25 6 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:

‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not [a]lament.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a [b]winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her [c]children.”

Woe to the Impenitent Cities

20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who[d] are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: