Does He Need to Ask?

John 21:15-19

Today we are finishing the encounter of the resurrected Jesus with the Disciples on the seashore.  Actually the second part of this event is one of the most well known.  This is the conversation between Jesus and Peter.  There are some general points to make about this text before we dig into it too deep.

First, note that Jesus addresses Peter as “Simon, son of John.”  This is important because if we remember it is in Matthew 16 when Simon proclaims Jesus as the Messiah that Jesus says, “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”

The act of changing his name, is reminiscent of some of the Old Testament people who also had name changes at pivotal points in their lives, like Abram who became Abraham, Jacob to Israel, and Saria to Sarah.  Simon became Peter when he showed his understanding of who Jesus really was.  This was a real boost to Peter – he would be the Rock on which the church would be built!!  Yet here they are on the seashore and Jesus is questioning him…calling him his old name, Simon.  This should be a reality check for Simon Peter.  What had he done?  Well, I am sure he was reminded at some point of the night of Jesus arrest, when he denied even knowing who Jesus was….not once, not twice but three times.

This takes us to the next point…this encounter is what scholars call Simon’s reinstatement as the Rock.  In Jesus’ questions we hear him ask Simon to restate his love three times.

So what does this say to us?  What is the point we need to address for ourselves in this conversation?  There are 4 insights I have gleaned that I would like to share.

1. More than these.

In the first question Jesus asks Simon, he says, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  There are three main theories on this.

Does he love Jesus more than he loves the disciples?

Does he love Jesus more than the other disciples love Jesus?

Does he love Jesus more than the boats, nets and fish that have been his comfort and livelihood for years?

I am not sure which one was meant for Peter, but I know which one Jesus was asking me the other day.  As I was preparing to write today’s sermon, I wanted to go somewhere I could just write and not be interrupted, you know like the river bank but instead I was led to Mohawk Commons.  I know, you are probably thinking, like I did, why go to a busy and loud parking lot with all the cars and people milling about.  As I pulled in to the parking lot I was looking at Bed Bath and Beyond, Maurices, and Target and thought these are some of my favorite places to just walk around and shop.  I realized, shopping is my equivalent to the disciples fishing.  Shopping is something I enjoy and can do without thinking too much about.  As I was thinking about that, I heard “Karen, do you love me more than these?”  Ah-hah!  I got it!  There I was with the things of the earth that are enticing and Jesus wanted to know, did I love Him more than all that.

Is there something you really love in your life?  Maybe it is your job?  Maybe it is your car, boat, camper, sports team or money?  Whatever it is Jesus is asking us, just as he did Simon, “Do you love me more than these?”

2. Do you love ME?

I had just begun to write some of this down as I was sitting in my car, when my phone started to ring.  It was my sister, JoAnn.  I had not talked with her in a couple of days and I really wanted to talk to her about something, but as I reached to answer the phone, I felt Jesus ask me, “Do you love ME?”  You see I was supposed to be writing a message and listening to him.  If I had answered that call, in a sense, I would have been putting Jesus on hold for my sister.  I would have been making someone more important than Jesus.  I didn’t answer it but instead answered Jesus, “Yes, I do.”

Our families and friends are very important to us but Jesus wants to be first in our lives.  He wants us to take time for Him and yet we are always running and busy and having other conversations.  Do we truly love Him and put Him first?

3. Do YOU love me?

As I continued to write and think about these questions to Peter, I came to the third time Jesus asked him, “Do you love me?”  I thought well, this is simply the third time in order for Peter to be reinstated but then I read what came after “Feed my sheep.”  Jesus told Peter that He was going to be accepting a horrific future.   The description of how he would eventually be “led to where he did not want to go” is a reference to Peter’s death on a cross just like Jesus.  As I read this, the last question became “Do YOU love me? Think before you answer because it isn’t going to be easy on you.”  When we proclaim our love of Jesus we are saying we are willing to face the ridicule and tension with this world.  We may not be facing martyrdom but there are those in other countries who are.  Although there are or will be times when we will have to decide if we will stand up for Jesus and proclaim our faith or just keep silent and walk away.  Jesus is asking Peter, “Do YOU love me – that much?”

These three questions all sound the same but there is so much behind each of them that we must hear.

After each question Jesus offers a direction:

4. Feed His lambs, care for His sheep, and feed His sheep?

These directions are all about the Good Shepherd’s flock.  He is leaving His sheep, God’s people, in the care of Peter and all those who are to come that truly proclaim their love for Jesus.

We are to feed the little ones the Word of God, caring for them as they grow and continue to feed them even as they are fully mature.

Jesus final direction was “Follow Me.”  Peter and all of us are to follow the example of Jesus – whom we love.  If we truly love and follow Jesus we will continue to feed and care for all His people.

As I was growing up, my Mom taught all of us girls not just by directing us with her words but by being an example of how to live.  As we grew up and made our choices and acted in certain ways we were in a sense expressing our love for Mom.

Jesus taught his disciples and us by walking along side them, teaching with his words and actions.  If Jesus is watching our every move and hearing our words….can He see our love for Him or does He have to ask us, “Do You Love Me?”