True Commitment

TEXT: John 13:36-38; 21:15-17

TOPIC: True Commitment

Pastor Bobby Earls, Northgate Baptist Church, Florence, SC

Sunday morning, September 19, 2021

The Bible records for us several penetrating conversations between our Lord Jesus and His disciple Peter. Today I want you to hear two of the most revealing questions Jesus asked Peter. They are questions that probe, penetrate and expose True Commitment.

(Read the biblical passages and freely comment on each as you read through the passages.)

John 13:36-38 (NKJV)

36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 37Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

John 21:15-17

15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

The first question Jesus asks Peter has to do with loyalty.

I. TRUE COMMITMENT AND THE REALITY OF LOYALTY, John 13:36-38, 36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 37Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake?Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

Did you hear the question? “Will you lay down your life for My sake?”

It is a question of loyalty.

A. The Background, John 13:31-35

31So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32“If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33“Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

· Judas had left the Upper Room

· Jesus remains with the other disciples

· He tells them that He will be leaving them, v. 33

· Then He gives them a new commandment, v. 34

that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Then comes the interchange between Peter and Jesus.

B. The Interchange, John 13:36-38

36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 37Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake?Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

C. The Problems – notice the problems revealed in this conversation

1. Peter did not want to accept the words of His Lord.

2. Peter thought too highly of himself. (He did take off Malchus’ servant’s ear!)

3. Peter made claims and promises he was unable to keep.

Application: I don’t know about you, but I find myself identifying far too closely with Peter!

D. The Lessons

1. Jesus knows us. And He understands us; our weaknesses and limitations.

2. Jesus sees us as we are and as we can be.

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;

Peter denied Jesus initially but would later lay down his life on an inverted cross in Rome.

3. Jesus asks, “Will we demonstrate true commitment?”

He asks us the same question, “Will you lay down your life for me?”

T/S--The second question Jesus asks Peter is found in John 21, and it involves the reality of our love for Jesus.

II. TRUE COMMITMENT AND THE REALITY OF LOVE, John 21:15-17, 15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, sonof Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

A. The Background

· Jesus has been arrested, crucified, buried and raised from the dead on the third day.

· Jesus has appeared to many of His disciples, including Peter.

· Then He appears to Peter and four other disciples on the coast of the Sea of Galilee.

B. The Interchange

Jesus asks, Do you love (GK: agapas) me more than these?

Peter responds, You know that I love (GK: phileo) you.

Jesus commissions Peter to Feed my lambs.

A second time, Jesus asks, Do you love (truly love) me? (GK: agapas)

Peter again responds, You know that I love (GK: philo or phileo) you.

Then Jesus told him, Feed my sheep.

For the third time Jesus ask Peter Do you love me? (GK: phileis)

Peter reaffirms for the third time his love for the Lord. (GK: philo)

Jesus says again, Feed my sheep.

C. The Lessons

1. Jesus gives us a second chance. Jesus works with us where we are.

2. Jesus expects us to love Him supremely. More than these could refer to the other disciples’ love for Jesus or perhaps Peter’s vocation as a fisherman, or even his possessions, boats and nets.

3. Our love for Jesus is the only motive for true commitment.

Jesus asks us the same questions repeatedly. Do we love Him more than these? We are called to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Matthew 22:37

Love for friends, family, job, possessions or pleasures should never count for more than our love for our Lord!!!

Conclusion: As I close this message this morning, I am going to ask you three questions that will test the true commitment of your love for Jesus as well.

Will you commit to pray for your church daily?

Will you commit to serve willingly through your church?

Will you commit to give regularly to support the church’s ministry?