Consecration and Love

Consecration and Love John 21:15- 17

Jesus told his disciples to wait for Him after his resurrection and so as to not be idle these seven decided one day at Peter’s suggestion to go fishing. They went to probably their favorite fishing spot as the Sea of Tiberias is where most of their water adventures took place. The Sea of Tiberias which is actually a large lake is the source of fresh water for the whole country. The sea is also known as the Sea of Galilee, and the Sea of Gennesaret. It lies along the Tiberias shore, and is where Jesus calmed the stormy sea in Matthew 8 and where He walked on the water in Matthew 14. This is the third appearance of Christ to his disciples, and is again filled with Christ giving last minute instructions and corrections to His disciples. The story is how they fished all night and caught no fish, early in the morning as the first rays of the sun crept over the Eastern horizon and the mist was rising over the water they heard a voice and saw a figure, “Children have you any meat?” This question is asked with a negative answer expected. You might read this question like this, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" NIV Then asking them to cast on the right side their nets was filled with fish nearly to point of breaking. It was at this point the wheels began turning in John’s mind, it dawned on Him who was standing in the shadows calling out to them. When Peter heard this he jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. Following him were the others and the boat full of fish. What I always found ironic is when they made it to shore, Jesus already had a fire going, and fish to eat. Then came the famous command, “Come and Dine.” After they had eaten Jesus pulled Peter aside and began to talk to him, in pretty plain words. We find in this discussion a question and answer session. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him, one time with the added phrase “more than these,” which could be interpreted into three different question, 1. Do you love me more than you love these disciples? 2. Do you love me more than your boat, nets and fish? 3. Do you love me more than these other disciples love me? Which one did Christ refer to really isn’t that clear and wasn’t of the most importance at this time. There are three main types of love in the Greek two of them are used in this conversation. Jesus begins, “Peter do you agape (unconditional love) { "with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father" AMP}” Peter responds – “Yes Lord, I Phileo you” Brother Love ("I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend" AMP) This was repeated another time then Jesus turns Peter’s answer back on him in the form of a question, “Peter do you Phileo me?” This time Peter was grieved perhaps because Jesus asked him three times, perhaps that Jesus could see his heart, but mostly because it seems Jesus touched a sensitive spot in Peter’s heart. God knows how to get right to the point. It was at a warm fire in the dusky morning that these questions were asked perhaps reminding Peter of that awful night around a fire warming his hands where some other questions were asked and there the man who said he’d never leave Christ, he’d give his life for him if need be, denied him not once, not twice, but three times. I think the application we can see here is Christ was getting Peter to the place where he could commit or consecrate everything to God. Basically Jesus is asking Peter, “Will you give up all for me?”

I. Love Consecrates

A. Separation shows love 1. Loving God, we must leave behind all he asks us to, knowing it is for our good. 2. One has said, “It’s not what we separate ourselves from, it’s who we separate ourselves to.”

B. Service shows love 1. Follow Me 2. Feed my Lambs – Take care of these (What a responsibility to place on one who had been so bold in his retreat, yet Jesus knew what Peter would be like after Pentecost)

C. Sacrifice shows love 1. Give up your life for me Peter 2. Give up thinking about what others are doing just follow me.

II. Love Cooperates A. Answer is “YES, LORD” B. Be an Isaac

III. Love Compensates

A. Day of Pentecost B. Death of Peter

1. History tells us that Peter was hung upside down on a cross and died (his choice of method) 2. Like to Imagine Peter as death took over and there for the first time he gazed upon the place he had prepared to go to for so long the thought might have occurd to him, “Was it worth it”