Do You Love Me?

Introduction

Today is somewhat of a bittersweet day for me……

today we finalize our study on the Book of John

Bittersweet because……while I am looking forward to where we will go from here…

I have really enjoyed……for the first time for me……

working our way through the entirety of one of the Gospels

Of the last 51 weeks……44 of those have been spent in the Gospel of John

In those 44 weeks we have seen:

7 “I AM” statements of Jesus

I AM the bread of life I AM the light of the world I AM the door I AM the good shepherd I AM the resurrection and the life I AM the way…the truth…and the life I AM the true vine 7 miracles……OR 7 signs

feeding of the 5000 healing at the Pool of Bethesda raising of Lazarus from the dead we spent 9 weeks in the Farewell Discourse AND……we have seen the death……burial……and resurrection of Jesus

This is just a small list of the things we have seen in John…

with a reminder that John carefully selected the events, miracles, and teachings he included in his Gospel… for the purpose that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ…the Son of God…

and that by believing we may have life in His name

Last week…we began the 21st and final chapter of this Gospel…

and we found the disciples in a boat……on the Sea of Galilee……doing what they were good at……fishing

They were fishing because the one who stood out as a leader in the group……Peter…

went……and the rest followed

If you remember……one of the last things we read of Peter……besides his presence at the empty tomb after Jesus’ resurrection…

is his presence at Jesus’ trial

John 18:15–18 ESV

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.