A Committed Christian
Notes
Transcript
“A pastor came home one day to find his daughter arguing with her friends in the bedroom. From the front hallway he could hear them yelling and calling each other names, so he quickly made his way up the stairs.“ ‘What’s going on in here?’ he asked as he entered the room.“His five-year-old looked up at him and smiled. ‘It’s okay, Daddy. We’re just playing church!’ ”
This follows the miraculous catch of fish and Jesus feeding the disciples at the fire. After this breakfast in v. 9, Jesus was going to give some final instruction for Peter regarding his service to follow. Christ would make it very plain to Peter that he had more to do and great future responsibility.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
1. Understands Christian Service
1. Understands Christian Service
vv. 15-17
Christ begins this conversation with Peter by asking him three times, “Lovest thou me?” It appears that the reason for the three questions was to counter Peter’s three denials.
Bishop Ryle says,
“I cannot for a moment doubt that our Lord asked Peter this remarkable question three times in order to remind him that he had denied Him thrice… the very grief which Peter felt at being thrice asked about his love, was intended to do him good. It was meant to remind him that if he was grieved to be asked thrice, “Lovest thou me?” how much more must his Master have been grieved when he thrice denied him.”
A. Loving the Saviour
A. Loving the Saviour
This threefold question regarding Peter’s love for Christ. Christ starts where all people need to start in their service to Him. It’s not love for the ministry, the church, the sheep, or serving…it’s love for Christ. Nothing else can make up for a lack of love for Christ.
That love is the primary qualification is well-attested to throughout Scripture.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Pink says, “Our work is so laborious, the appreciation is often so small, the response so discouraging, the criticism so harsh, the attacks of Satan so fierce that only the love of Christ can constrain to such a work.”
Many Christian servants would do well to be reminded of this – why do you serve in the nursery? Teach a class? Serve as an usher? In music? In media?
B. The Depth of This Love
B. The Depth of This Love
Now we’re going to examine this question and Peter’s responses in a bit more detail.
The Object of Love – more than these.
What are the these – food, fish, fishing? Actually that is not very likely and doesn’t give great significance to the questioning. Clearly Peter loved Christ more than food or fishing – he had abandoned his venture of fishing. We never see a conflict in Peter’s life over serving Christ and the things of this world – some do battle with this, but not Peter.
The these are these other disciples. Remember what Peter had boasted of – though all men deny thee, I never will. He boasted before that He loved Christ more than the other disciples.
33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
So Christ is asking him a question that continues from the upper room and through his denials – do you love me more than these disciples love me?
Well what is Christ leading to?
C. Humbling Ourselves
C. Humbling Ourselves
In v. 17 Peter appeals to Christ’s knowledge – he wasn’t going to boast anymore – he left up to Christ to decide that.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Not only is his humility seen in giving that over to the wisdom of Christ, but also in the word usage. Jesus uses the word agape love and Peter responds with phileo love (brotherly, strong affection). Phileo is not weak at all, but not as strong as agape. The usage of phileo shows that Peter wasn’t going to boast anymore, and finally the third time, Christ uses phileo as well.
8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
Peter is an example of how something that is a good quality could be a source of pride – should we love Jesus? With all our heart, soul, and mind? Compare to others?
2. Understands Christian Devotion
2. Understands Christian Devotion
vv. 15-17, 19, 22
Christ didn’t just address Peter’s love, but the intent he had for Peter’s service - he wanted Peter to be:
A. Devoted to God’s People
A. Devoted to God’s People
This was Christ’s simple command. John 14:15 – if ye love me, keep my commandments, so if Peter loves Christ, he would follow these instructions.
1. The Owner of the Flock.
Notice it was ‘my’ sheep. The flock belongs to Christ – some pastors can forget this – its not my church, it’s his church. It’s not technically our church, it’s his church.
2. The Members of the Flock.
Lambs – baby sheep. Sheep – adults. Both need the Word! Now think about this for a minute – who eats more, babies or adults? We tend to think that seasoned and mature saints need less preaching and teaching – actually it’s the opposite
3. The Feeding of the Flock.
The first and third ‘feed’ is a different Greek word than the second ‘feed’. The first and third simply mean to feed, to pasture, to nourish.
The second means to rule, to discipline to guide. The pastor has both responsibilities to feed and to administer, supervise, govern.
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
We note Peter’s instruction in I Peter 5:1-3
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
feeding and taking the oversight – and noting also it says here – ‘God’s heritage.’
B. Devoted to God’s Path
B. Devoted to God’s Path
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
In vv. 19 and 22 Christ told Peter to follow him. Peter was to love the Lord and serve the Lord. Ultimately, service in the ministry is service to Christ. We are not to be menpleasers
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Following Christ shows that we must be submissive, steadfast (continuous), and sacrifice in order to follow him.
3. Understands Christian Faithfulness
3. Understands Christian Faithfulness
vv.18-23
** Here we see that Christ tells Peter about his death.
A. Don’t Give Up
A. Don’t Give Up
Peter would ‘glorify God’ in the end…a faithful servant until death. Butler says, “Many people want to die like the righteous, but they don’t want to live like the righteous.”
John Wesley once said, “Our people die well.” The saints’ when they approach death are holy and God-honoring.
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
What a great encouragement from Christ for Peter to know that he could and would be faithful to the end.
We also get a glimpse at the method of his death – it appears that this is speaking of crucifixion – at a minimum it is a violent death. Tradition says that Peter was crucified upside down – but whether or not that is true is unimportant.
The point here is that just because you’re faithful to Christ, it doesn’t mean you’ll have honor in this world or among men. His faithfulness would end in a binding and an execution – martyrdom.
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
So much for the prosperity gospel – ultimately our prosperity is in heaven, not here on earth.
Your faithful service will likely not be recognized here, but it will be in heaven.
B. Don’t Be Distracted
B. Don’t Be Distracted
vv. 20-22
And for a moment, Peter gets distracted again. Christ had told Peter what to do, had predicted his future, and now Peter is concerned about John.
Notice he was ‘turning about’ from the Lord to look at John – looking at others will just distract you from following Christ – concentrate on your duty, your tasks. Just be concerned about what Christ told you to do.
This was a question that was irrelevant to Peter. This is just a ‘carnal curiosity’ about nothing.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
Jesus’ answer – it’s none of your business.
CONCLUSION
Jesus’ interaction with Peter here is a great lesson on restoration. But it’s good to see what Jesus restores him to - service, devotion to Christ, and faithfulness to the end.