Revision as of 15:52, 27 March 2019

John 21:15-25, Focus on the Mission

The gospel of John began with a Theological Prologue in which we were introduced to The Word, the creator, sustainer, and solution to the problem of sin. Here at the end of the Gospel of John we see how the ministers of God are now incorporated into the mission of God.

Setting the Stage

• What had Peter and the other disciples attempted to do in John 21:1-3?

• How did Peter respond to Christ in John 21:7-8?

• What did Christ do for His disciples in John 21:13?

• What has Christ done for you over the last couple of months to demonstrate that He is still working in your life today?

Complete Devotion

• How many terms of endearment can you come up with at your table? If someone at your table knows another language ask them how to translate the word "love" into that language.

• What question does Jesus ask three times in John 21:15-17?

In the text below John 21:15-17 is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible. However, I have replaced the word love with the greek words from the original language. What do you notice (besides the fact that it looks funny)?

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

• Do you think you are ever guilty of pledging love to Christ but not fully loving Christ the way you should?

The Cost of Devotion

• According to John 21:18-19, what would devotion to Christ cost Peter? (you can compare this with 2 Peter 1:12-15 if you wish.)

• Assign each person at you table on of the following passages. What do these passages teach about the cost of devotion?
  • Matthew 10:22
  • Matthew 5:11
  • Acts 9:16
  • Matthew 10:39

• How has God been working to show you that even if your devotion to Him cost you your life, it would be worth it?

The Focus of Devotion

• What distracted Peter from his complete devotion to Christ according to John 21:20-21?

• How did Jesus respond to Peter's distraction in John 21:22?

In verse 23 I see strong support for the verbal plenary inspiration of God's Word. Specifically, every detail matters and we need to pay attention to what was actually said in the Word of God as opposed to reading our own viewpoint into God's Word.

• How has God been using His Word in your life to focus your attention on Him?

Concluding Thoughts

In verses 25 I see a strong indication that we do not know everything. According to Mark Bailey, the the gospels only give us a total of 52 days in the life of Christ. Moreover, Chapters 12 through 20 of John only give us a window into 7 days of Christ's life. What does this mean, Christ did a whole lot more, but God, in His word has not chosen to reveal those aspects of Christ's life to act of us. What we had is what we need, the perfect Word of God that is sufficient for each of us, "for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.^[1]"

• What will you do over the next three months to focus on God?

1. ↑ 2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV