"Higher Love"
John 21:1-25
John 21:15 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.
INTRODUCTION: Let me introduce my message today a comment about the events of this past week. Most of you, like me, were taken aback at the decisions handed down by the SCOTUS in the past few days. With the exception of one major cable network almost all the national media have hailed these decisions as victories for the gay community and so-called equal rights. I could spend some time today speaking specifically to this issue but I believe that there is something larger at stake that needs to be addressed. I believe the day is coming, (maybe not in my lifetime), when Christians will be called upon to make a confession of their faith, to take a stand for what they believe and that those of us who believe strongly that things like adultery, homosexuality, gay marriage and other similar behaviors are morally and Scripturally wrong, will face ostracism, shunning, and other social and personal consequences. Some of you are hearing this and thinking, that this will never happen but how many of us would have ever thought that in the space of just a few short years we would be having this discussion at all? If this does happen and you are asked to confess what you believe, how will you respond? Will it be a declaration of faith or a denial?
Cassie Bernall: A young Christian who stood firm
When Cassie Bernall so boldly proclaimed her faith in Jesus Christ, her God didn't save her. The words that came out of her mouth cost her life, and people are asking why a young girl would put herself in harm's way for a religious belief? Even if she did believe in Jesus, why didn't she lie about it? All she had to do was shut her mouth and she could have walked away still breathing. Didn't she think of her family, of her friends, of herself? So many of us walk away from this tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, with many unanswered questions. However, one thing is clear: The two young killers had a bone to pick with some of their classmates, namely, athletes, minorities and Christians. Yes, Christians. Authorities in Colorado have clearly established that the two alleged killers were anti-jock and anti-minority, but only in the last few days has the nation really considered that they were anti-Christian, even anti-faith. Undoubtedly, many have died because of their profession of faith, but rarely is martyrdom displayed so clearly as it was at Columbine High School. Pressed with the questions, many Christians would say that they would die for their faith, but few are taken to task on this issue. On April 20, Cassie Bernall was taken to task. When the gunman asked her if she believed in Jesus, she without hesitation replied that she did. The gunman did not like her response, so he shot and killed her. We cringe because we do not understand this predicament. Shouldn't God protect those who have placed their faith in Him? If God really does exist, why would He allow His child to suffer like this? This is a legitimate question. To find an answer, we would have to ask Cassie's grieving family and friends. They would tell you that Cassie is now in the arms of her heavenly Father because He wants her there. The task that He had placed her on Earth to accomplish was complete even though from our perspective we think it was cut short. If Cassie were given another opportunity to reply to the gunman she would not change her response because she now understands that God is holding her more closely in heaven because she held so closely to Him on Earth. Her act of courage was not in vain because the world saw the beauty of her faith and the glory of her God.
Kent Del Housaye - Director of Public Relations Phoenix Seminary www.phoenixseminary.edu Scottsdale, AZ
I. Peter's Declarations
a. Significant profession
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
b. Sincere profession
Matthew 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
c. Singular profession
Matthew 26:35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee...
II. Peter's Denials
Luke 22:54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
a. The signs of his denial
There are at least two clues to what is about to happen that we find in Luke's account. First, in verse 54 we find that "...Peter followed afar off..." and second in verse 55 "...Peter sat down among them..." Both of these clauses are very revealing. Both indicate that Peter was having a problem living up to his previous declarations of loyalty and love for the Lord. Several things come to mind here.
1. He hoped to get close enough "...to see the end..." Matthew 26:58 but not too close!
2. He mixed himself in a group of servants so that he would not "stand out." This is the herd principle at work.
b. The stress that precipitated his denial
Luke 22:57 And he denied him, saying, woman, I know him not.
Startled at the maid's positive assertion, and knowing not how to clear himself any other way, roundly, and at once, denied that Jesus was his master; or that he was a disciple of his; or that he knew anything of him, or had any acquaintance with him: and thus he that had said he would die with him, rather than deny him, is frighten at a servant maid, and denies him upon the first attack upon him. John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Luke 22:58 After a little while another (meta brachu heteros).
Matthew 26:71 makes it after Peter had gone out into the porch and mentions a maid as speaking as does Mark 14:69, while here the "other" (heteros) is a man (masculine gender). It is almost impossible to co-ordinate the three denials in the four accounts unless we conceive of several joining in when one led off. This time Peter's denial is very blunt, "I am not." Robertson's Word Pictures
Luke 22:60 And Peter said, man, I know not what thou sayest,..
Suggesting, that he was so far from being a follower of Jesus, or a disciple of his, and from having any personal acquaintance with him, that he did not know what he was talking of, or at least could not understand what he meant by this harangue, or by talking after this manner about him; and then began to curse and swear, and wish the most dreadful things to befall him, if he knew anything of Jesus of Nazareth: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
c. The statements of his denial
Notice from the narrative of Peter's denial that as more stress was applied his denials escalated! They became increasingly vehement and forceful! It is my firmly held belief that many of these opinion polls that indicate a change in peoples beliefs concerning their acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle may include many professing Christians who just don't want the hassle associated with taking a firm stand on this issue! They prefer to "switch than fight."
III. Peter's Devotion
John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
Again, the Scripture is very revealing. Peter has personally seen Jesus at least two times prior to this occasion "...after that he was risen from the dead..." but he decides to "...go fishing..." instead. All we can ask is "what is your problem Peter?" The problem is revealed in the dialog between Peter and Jesus in our text:
a. The test of Scripture
An exposition of this passage teaches us Jesus uses a different word for love in His questions than Peter uses in his responses. Jesus uses Greek agape while Peter uses Greek phileo. The former is a sacrificial love while the latter could be described as fondness for or liking. The difference between the two is radical!
b. The test of service
After each response Jesus instructs Peter to "...feed my sheep/lambs..." The fact that Peter had returned to his former occupation of fishing and that he was not "...fishing for men..." is proof that something was wrong with his concept of love.
c. The test of sacrifice
John 21:18 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.
Conclusion: This section closes with Jesus stating prophetically that the day would come when Peter would give his life to "...glorify God..." verse 19b. The question facing you and I this morning is, given the same kind of pressure as Peter or a Cassie Bernall how would we respond? Would you be willing to die for what you believe? Do you love Jesus more than anything else in this world? Are you serving Him, for if we love Him we will serve Him?
ILL - This text is the story, from around 160 AD, of the martyrdom of Polycarp, the Bishop of the church in Smyrna, a city in Asia Minor (modern Izmir in Turkey) devoted to Roman worship. The account is in the form of a letter from eye-witnesses to other churches in the area. It is the earliest chronicle of a martyrdom outside the New Testament.
Polycarp was an old man, at least 86 (see part 10), and probably the last surviving person to have known an apostle, having been a disciple of St. John. At his arrest and trial the Roman proconsul challenged him to recant his faith and swear allegiance to the State or face death he replied;
"86 years have I have served him," Polycarp declared, "and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?"
Polycarp was bound and placed at the stake. When his body failed to burn he was stabbed to death with a dagger.
