Friday, June 07, 2013,
7:15 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song “Not
Be Silent” in my mind this morning. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I
read John 21 (NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021&version=NIV
Haven’t you any fish?
Jesus, died and resurrected, appeared for the third time to
his disciples who had gone fishing at night. Jesus stood on the shore and
called out to the disciples, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they
responded. So, he told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat
and there they would find some. They did what he said, and they were unable to
haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
I love this story! I find it so encouraging. Jesus sees what
we don’t see. He sees where the “fish” are. Early on in Jesus’ ministry, when
he was calling his disciples to follow him, he told Peter and Andrew to follow
him and he would send them out to “fish” for people. Before he left this earth,
he told his disciples that when the Holy Spirit came upon them in power that
they would be his witnesses throughout the earth. He also commanded them to go
and to make disciples (followers) of Christ of all nations, baptizing them and
teaching them to obey everything he commanded. This is what it means to fish
for people, i.e. to be witnesses for Jesus Christ and his gospel, and to lead
others to be followers of Jesus Christ, too. So, if we don’t know where to
fish, we ask the Lord. He’ll show us where the fish are. The big haul will then
be when Jesus Christ comes back for his bride and all the “fish” are gathered
in.
The disciples then realized the one who had called out to
them was the Lord, so they went ashore. Jesus told them to bring some of the
fish they had caught. He cooked breakfast for them, and they ate.
More Than These?
When
they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you
love me more than these?”
“Yes,
Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus
said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again
Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He
answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus
said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The
third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter
was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said,
“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus
said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed
yourself and went where you wanted; but 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 go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would
glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Jesus asked Peter if he loved him “more than these.” It is
not real clear what the “these” referred to, but we can speculate what they
might be, based upon the passage itself. Perhaps the “these” was speaking of
the fish, for Peter was a fisherman by trade, and he appeared to enjoy fishing,
though I am certain it had its ups and downs like any occupation. The “these”
also could have been referring to the other disciples, some of whom were fellow
fishermen who had also become his close friends and companions. Whatever the “these”
referred to, the message is clear. Jesus wanted Peter to love him above all
else, to follow him wherever he lead him, to do what he told him to do, and to
be willing to die for Christ.
I believe the Lord Jesus is asking this question of all of
his followers today: “Do you love me more than these?” For each of us, the “these”
can vary, depending upon what else we “love.” For those of us in America, even
among the poor, the “these” can include TVs, TV shows and/or movies, video
games, smart phones, IPads (tablets), computers, houses, cars (autos), guns,
musical instruments, stereo equipment, sports, careers, appearances, talent,
giftedness, intelligence, education, our own bodies, our reputations,
acceptance, friends, relationships, church edifices, church structure
(programs, traditions & religious practices), people we idolize and/or
follow after, our “heroes,” culture, and the list goes on. Whatever it is we
love and give our hearts, emotions, passion, desire, time, affection and
attention to in this life, Jesus is saying, “Do you love me more than these?”
Will we love him above all else, and will we be willing to leave it all behind
to follow him wherever he would lead us?
Do you love me?
When Jesus asked Peter the first two times, “Do you love me?”
the Greek word he used was “agape.” This type of love is God-like in that it is
self-sacrificial, selfless and unconditional. In other words, it puts others
above ourselves, and loves no matter if we are loved in return or not. Jesus
loved us while we were yet sinners, and he willingly gave his life up for us so
we could go free. This kind of love is not based in how we feel, but it shows
love even when our emotions are not there. It loves even when we are hated in
return. And, it is the kind of love that puts Jesus above all else, and is
willing to give up all the “these” in order to follow him in obedience. He said
that whoever has his commands and keeps them is the one who loves him. He/she
will be loved by the Father, Jesus will love the individual, too, and he will
show himself to that person. And, the Father and the Son will make their home
with that follower of Christ (see John 14; cf. 1 John; Luke 9:23-25).
Yet, Peter responded all three times, and Jesus asked the
third time using the word “phileo,” which is a human kind of love, which is based
more in emotion, is more conditional in nature, and is more of an affectionate
and friendship kind of love that is based more in the one being loved rather
than in the one doing the loving. This kind of love will fail us. God’s love
will never fail. Peter appeared very willing to express this kind of love to
Jesus, but perhaps he just didn’t yet feel he was prepared to say that he had
that kind of agape love for the Lord. And, possibly this is because he had
failed the Lord so miserably when he denied him three times, just as Jesus said
he would. Prior to that Peter had declared his undying devotion to the Lord,
strongly protesting that he would ever desert or deny his Lord, and
passionately proclaiming that he would literally die for his Lord. So, maybe
Peter was a little reluctant to make such a strong declaration of love, because
he didn’t want to fail again. I know I’ve been there before. Perhaps you have,
too.
Yet, Jesus loved Peter so much, he was willing to accept,
for now, Peter’s declaration of natural, human and emotional love for his Lord.
Feed My Sheep
Peter’s declaration of human and emotional love for his Lord
was a starting point, nonetheless, upon which to build. If Peter truly loved
his Lord, he was to demonstrate that love by feeding the Lord’s sheep. Scripture
often uses the terms “sheep” and “lambs” to describe Jesus’ followers. And,
Jesus wasn’t asking Peter to literally feed with food his followers, though
that certainly was not excluded, but he was asking him to teach his words to
his followers, and to disciple, nurture, and to bring to spiritual maturity
those whom the Lord would place under his care.
The Lord Jesus was leaving the earth. And, he was passing
the baton, so to speak, to Peter and to the other disciples, too. I believe he
was mainly focusing on Peter here, because he was showing Peter the extent of
his love for him, and how now, even after Peter’s gross failure, the Lord was
restoring him, and he still planned to use him greatly. Awesome! I have been
the recipient of such love and grace from my Lord, and I can’t express
adequately enough what a difference that has made in my life. I am doing what I
am doing today because he restored me, too, and he gave me the opportunity once
again to be his servant and witness for the sake of the gospel of Christ.
Yet, the main focus of Jesus’ message to Peter here was that
if Peter loved his Lord, he was to show his love by spiritually feeding the
Lord’s followers. Love for God is demonstrated by what we do. Jesus is not interested
in lip service only. If we say we love God, but we continue in willful sin, we
are liars. If we say we love God, and yet hate our fellow humans, we are liars.
If we say we are in fellowship with the Lord, and yet we continue in a
lifestyle of sin, we are liars. And, if we say we love God but we do not do
what he commands, then we are liars, and we do not live by the truth (see 1
John).
So, if we love Jesus, we will love him “more than these,”
being willing to leave our sins and our “other loves” behind in order to follow
him where he leads, putting him and his will for our lives above all else, and
we will obey his commands and his teachings. And, we will be his witnesses for
the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we will lead others to follow Jesus, too.
Not Be Silent /
An Original Work / December 3, 2012
Based off Psalm 30
O Lord my God, I’ll
exalt You.
I called for help, and
You healed me.
O Lord my God, You
brought me from
the grave. You spared
me from hell.
Sing to the Lord, you
saints of His;
Praise His holy name
today.
Weeping may remain for
a night;
Joy at break of day. Our
debt He did pay!
O Lord my God, I said,
“I will
Ne’er be shaken.” Secure,
I felt.
O Lord my God, You
forgave me.
Confident I stand in
You.
When I could not see Your
face
I was dismayed. I
called to You.
O Lord, You are my
help. You were
merciful to me; By
Your grace set free!
O Lord my God, I’m so
thankful for
Salvation through my
Jesus.
You turned wailing into
dancing;
Clothed me with Your
joy today,
That my heart may sing
To You
and not be silent. Praise
Your name.
O Lord my God, I will
give You
thanks forevermore. My
Lord, I adore!
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