Sermon Tone Analysis

The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls       On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia                          Text from John 21:15-23                                  Easter I              1.

From Jn. 21:2 we know that there were seven of Jesus'       disciples at the Sea of Galilee when Jesus appeared to them.

This is the third appearance of Jesus to His disciples after       His resurrection.

The first is at Jn. 20:19 and the second at       20:26.

The seven had gone to Galilee to fish.              2.

Peter said to Jesus at Jn. 13:37: "I will lay down my life       for you."

At Mt. 26:33 he says to Jesus: "If all will be       offended in you, I will never be offended."

Mk. 14:31 informs       us: "And he (Peter) said vehemently: 'If I must suffer with       you, I will never deny You'."

When he realized his sin after       denying Jesus three times he went out and wept bitterly.

Evidently the Lord forgave him then.

Jesus made a special       appearance to Peter after resurrection.

I Cor.

15:5.

Evidently at that time He restored Peter to his Apostleship.

3.

In vs. 15 of our text Jesus asks: "Simon, son of Jonah, do       you love Me _more than these_?"

Peter had claimed at Mt.       26:33 that Jesus meant more to him than the other disciples       did.

No wonder Jesus asked: "Do you love me _more_ than       these?"

Peter had wrongly trusted in his own strength.

Now he       is about to confess his weakness.

Peter did not answer the       question on "more than these".

He was embarrassed and ashamed       of himself.

4.

Three times Jesus asks: "Do you love Me?" Peter never       answers Jesus directly.

Three times Peter calls Him "Lord".

He now regards Jesus as his Savior and Master.

Furthermore,       the third time Peter says: "You know _all things_.

He appeals       to Jesus' omniscience.

It's as if he says: "Why do you ask       me?

You already know it."

The third time Jesus asked the       question Peter was grieved.

True repentance can be very       painful.

Very often when children are corrected they weep.

It       is painful for them.

Confession of guilt is a painful thing.

It hurts me to confess my sins but it is so very necessary.

Heb.

12:11 says: "No chastening, at the moment, seems to be       joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceable fruit       of righteousness for those who are exercised by chastening."              5.

Three times Jesus calls him by his original name "Simon,       son of Jonah."

Jesus reminds him of what he was originally       before He gave him the name "Peter" which means "Rock".

Before Simon could again become the Rock he had to see and       confess his sinful nature and sins.

What makes a Christian       and especially a Christian teacher like a Rock?

Not he       himself because he is a lost and condemned sinner.

Absolution, forgiveness of sins, makes us strong, rocklike.

Jesus once said: "Without Me you can do nothing."

Jn. 15:5.

Natural man thinks he can do everything.

He thinks that he       does not need Jesus.

But we must learn that we are lost       creatures and can do nothing.

But when we confess our sins       and believe the promises of Jesus we can begin doing the       Lord's will.

6.

Three time Jesus tells Simon to feed and tend His lambs       and sheep.

He entrusts His little ones and His adults to the       Apostles and teachers.

But first we must be sure that we love       Him.

We must be fully devoted to Him, not to our own       interests.

7.

Jesus says "_My_ lambs, _my_ sheep, _my_ sheep."

They       belong to Him.

He said at Jn. 10:27: " _My_ sheep hear _my_       voice and they follow _Me_ and _I_ give them eternal life and       they will never perish and no one will snatch them from _My_       hand."

At Acts 20:28 St. Paul told the elders of Ephesus:       "Guard yourselves and all the flock over which the Holy       Spirit has made you overseers.

Be shepherds of the church of       God, which he bought with His own blood."

Peter said at I       Pet.

5:2-4: "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you,       serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not       for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those       entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when       the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive thy crown of       glory that does not fade away."

8.

Twice Jesus says: "You follow Me", vss.

19 and 22. Peter       is not to be concerned about John's future.

Just follow       Jesus.

When Peter was young he did his own will.

But as an       Apostle he was to do only the Lord's will.

Eusebius says that       Peter was crucified head downward.

Additional Notes                       The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls       On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia                          Text from John 21:15-23                                   Easter I              1.

Twice in this text Jesus says to Peter: "You follow Me."

This thought occurs at least seventeen times more in the       Gospels.

2.

In the Gospel of John it occurs also at 1:37 and 43 and at       10:27; 12:26; and 13:36.

At 1:37 the two disciples followed       because of what Jesus said .

At 1:43 Jesus tells Philip to       become His disciple.

At 10:27 Jesus says that His sheep       follow Him because of what He says.

At 12:26 Jesus says       people follow Him by serving Him.

And at 13:36 Jesus promises       Simon Peter that, though Peter could not follow now, he would       follow later.

3.

At Mt. 4:19 Jesus promises Peter and Andrew that if they       follow Jesus He would make them fishers of men.

That idea is       repeated at Mk. 1:17 and Lk.

5:10 and 11.              4.

At Mt. 9:9 Jesus says to Matthew, the tax-collector:       "Follow Me" and he followed him.

This is repeated at Mk. 2:14       and Lk. 5:27.              5.

At.

Mt. 8:22 Jesus tells a man: "Follow Me and let the       dead bury the dead."

This does not mean that burial is       sinful.

It meant that burial is a necessity.

Corpses must be       buried or they will contaminate the living.

But burial is not       a means of grace.

It is not commanded by God.

It is simply a       necessity.

Jesus means: "More important than burial is the       preaching of the Gospel."

A similar thought occurs at Lk.       9:59 and 60.              6.

At Mt. 16:24 Jesus says: "If anyone wishes to come after       Me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."

The same occurs at Mk.8:34 and Lk.

9:23.

To deny one's self       means to deny our own righteousness, repent and believe only       in the righteousness of Christ.

When a person does this he       will take up his own cross, whatever that may be, and follow       Jesus daily.

Each person must bear his own cross for Jesus       just as Jesus bore the cross to pay for the sins of the       world.

7.

At Mt. 19:21 Jesus told the rich young man: "If you wish       to be perfect go and sell your possessions and give to the       poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow       Me."

This is repeated at Mk. 10:21 and Lk.

18:22.

Jesus is       not saying that poverty is a virtue.

Nor is He condemning       ownership of property.

When the rich young man heard what       Jesus said he was grieved and left Jesus because his money       and property meant more to him than to believe in the       righteousness of Jesus.

The person who believes in Jesus       considers his relationship to Jesus to be the most precious       thing he has.

8.

Vss.