HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
John 21:15-25
We are going to spend a little more time looking at how Jesus
continued teaching his disciples after his resurrection. Last week we saw how
Jesus dealt with Thomas’ unbelief and what that means to us today. In the verses
we read this morning, Jesus is talking to Peter. If you remember, Peter was the
most confident and outgoing of the disciples. Peter was the one that when Jesus
stayed behind on the shore to pray, the disciples got in a boat to go to the
other side of the lake. Peter and the disciples saw Jesus’ walking on the water
and Peter boldly said, “Can I come out of the boat and walk with you?” Jesus
said, “Yes, come on.” We all know what happened. Peter looked back at the
disciples on the boat and with a little arrogance in his voice said, “Look at
me, I am walking on water!” But then when he looked around and saw the waves
and thought about what he was doing he again said, “I am walking on water. I
cannot walk on water.” He then began to sink.
To Peter’s credit he was never lacking in confidence. When
Jesus was sharing the Last Supper with the disciples, Jesus told them, “One of
you will betray me.” Peter immediately said, “Not me. No, no, I will never
betray you. I will die for you if need be.” Then came the ultimate humiliation
for Peter when they were sitting around the table eating the Last Supper, Peter
had said to Jesus, “I will always stand beside you, no matter what.” To which
Jesus told Peter, “Before the sun rises tomorrow, you will deny me three times.”
Of course, Peter again said, “Never, I would never do that!” Of course, we know
what happened. Then when they all went out to the garden after the Passover
meal and the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter grabbed a sword and struck
one of the soldiers at which Jesus scolded him. Clearly Peter did not realize
this was part of the plan that Jesus was to be arrested, beaten and ultimately
hung on a cross to die.
Peter was always in the middle of everything. To his credit,
he always tried to do what he thought was the right thing. In John 18:15 -27,
we see what Jesus had said about Peter came true. Before we look at what we
read this morning, early on Jesus made one very important pronouncement. In
Matthew 16, verse 18 Jesus said, “This is Peter or Petra (which means rock),
upon this rock I will build my church.” In spite of all of Peter’s ups and
downs, Jesus knew Peter was the disciple who would be key in getting the church
going after Jesus’ ascension.
Now let us look at what we read this morning. Jesus and the
disciples had just finished eating when Jesus turned to Peter and very
deliberately asked, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than
these?” To which Peter answered, “You
know I love you.” Jesus then said, “Feed my lambs.” Then a second time Jesus
asked, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?” Again, Peter answered, “Lord
you know that I love you.” This time Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” Yet a
third time Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And we see by now
Peter’s feelings have been hurt by Jesus repeatedly questioning whether he
loved Jesus. Peter said, “You know all things. You know that I love you.” To
which Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
Jesus also made what was in fact a prediction of what would
be in Peter’s future when he said, “When you are old, you will stretch out your
hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to
do.” What Jesus was making reference to was the way Peter would die. Peter also
would be crucified. After Jesus had said all these things to Peter, he said one
more thing, “Follow me.”
Why did Jesus ask Peter three times if he loved him? I
believe it was to cancel out the three times Peter had denied Jesus as he was
being taken away to be crucified. As I was reading this, I tried to put myself
in Peter’s place. The fact is while Peter knew he had messed up badly the night
Jesus had been arrested by denying Jesus, he thought Jesus was taking things a
bit too far. By the third time Jesus had asked if Peter loved him, Peter could
not help himself acknowledging that Jesus is God. He said, “You know
everything. You know I love you.”
Have you ever messed up before with your mom or dad, brother
or sister, husband or wife, your boss or co-worker or even your children by
saying you can count on me and then something happened and you did not do what
you said you would do? Then some time later you are wanting to make up for your
earlier mistake by really coming through and that person, in their own way,
questions you. “Are you sure you are going to do it this time?” You, of course,
are saying, “Yes, you can count on me.” Then they say again, “Are you sure? I
will be counting on you.” You more emphatically say, “Yes I will do it.” One
more time they say, “Are you sure?” By now you are disappointed and maybe a
little mad at the constant question to the point you are about to say, “Fine!
Do it yourself or get someone else.” Have you ever had something like this happen?
Jesus knew Peter realized what a terrible mistake he had made,
but Jesus wanted Peter to get fired up, in a good way, convincing himself, I
will never make that mistake again. Jesus, I will be there for you now and
forever. What Jesus was doing with Peter reminds me a little bit of a hearing
aid commercial that is on television. I do not know if you have seen it or not,
but on this commercial, there is has a son saying to his father, “I love you
dad.” The dad says, “What?” Again, the son says to the dad, “I said I love
you.” To which the dad responds, “I heard you the first time. I just wanted to
hear it again.” This is what Jesus was doing with Peter. He not only wanted to
hear Peter say it to him, Jesus also wanted Peter to hear himself say it repeatedly.
When we make mistakes with loved ones or co-workers,
sometimes it takes a while before we will be trusted again. We have to show
them over and over again we can be trusted. The Lord realizes we will make
mistakes, commit sins from time to time. God does not expect perfection. God
simply wants honesty. God wants us to not only be honest with him, but we also
need to be honest with ourselves. With Peter, Jesus was preparing him for what
was about to happen. Again, Peter was going to be possibly the most important
person in the early Church. After each response Peter gave to Jesus, Jesus said
first, “Feed my lambs.” Then, “Take care of my sheep.” Finally, “Feed my
sheep.” Jesus is letting Peter know there is a world waiting for the message
you are going to share. I trust you to accomplish what I am calling you to do.
Jesus is saying the same thing to you and me today. He knows we will make
mistakes and sin. However, what we are called to do is own up to those sins and
learn from them. We are now the ones to keep God’s message of love, mercy,
grace and salvation alive. Our message title is, “How would we feel?” When we
mess up, whether it is with a person or the Holy Spirit that reminds us of that
sin, how do we react? None of us like to be scolded, but when we do deserve it,
do we learn from our sin or do we try to say, “It wasn’t that bad.” God can and
will use us if we are willing to take our medicine and learn. What would you or
I do? Maybe more accurately, what have we done? God loves us just like he loved
Peter and did not give up on him. Thank God He never gives up on us.
Larry
Announcements:
Bible Study 9:30 Tuesday
Executive Committee decided that as long as we are
in our seats and socially distanced in the sanctuary, we may remove our masks,
if we are comfortable doing so. If we get up or want to sing with the hymns,
masks must go back on. We are grateful for the care everyone has taken to help
prevent the spread of the virus.
May 9 Mothers’ Day
May 12 Board Meeting
Please place your offering in the plates at the back
of the sanctuary. Thank you for your continued giving!
Extra masks are at the back of the sanctuary.
Donation Box: Camp Emmanuel
First Sundays: food donations for food banks
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
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in Your Prayers
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