Revision as of 19:05, 20 November 2019

Objectives

Cognitive Objectives

• Students will understand that Jesus called on his disciples to devote themselves completely to him.

Affective Objectives

Materials

John 21:15-25, Table Handout

Main Body

• The gospel of John begins with a Theological Prologue in which we are 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

• Peter, and several of the other disciples have just finished fishing through the night. After catching nothing, Jesus calls to them from the shore and asks them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. The results are miraculous but what is even more surprising is that Jesus has already prepared breakfast over a charcoal fire on the shore. Jesus has demonstrated that even now, He will continue to provide for His disciples. The call to follow Jesus is not an empty call to blind devotion, but a call to follow the only one who can truly provide. Now, as we enter verses 15-25 we will see that while the call to follow is not a call to follow with no promise of provision, it is also a call to fallow with complete devotion and potential for significant hardship. Christ calls on us to follow, He promises to provide, but does not promise everything will be easy. Christ's call is one of complete devotion.

• Don't miss the symbolism present. The last time that Peter stood before a coal fire was back in John 18:18 "Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself." What happened at this moment? Peter denied Jesus! The stage is set and Jesus is about to follow up on what is one of the most important questions still lingering. What is to be done with a follower once they have failed? What is to be done with Peter? At the original fire, three questions were used to demonstrate Peter's complete failure, here, again we will see three questions, but this time they are not to destroy Peter, no they are to restore Peter.

• We can practically see Peter and Jesus walking together on the beach after their morning breakfast with the Apostle John following closely behind. John has chosen to write in a way that gives us the opportunity to listen in.

Complete Devotion (Verses 15-17)

Do you love Jesus? (Verse 15)

• Verse 21:15. Notice a couple of features, Christ addresses Peter very formally. In fact, He does not even call him Peter, no Christ uses the formal name Simon, son of Jonah. Just like in his original calling John 1:42 "Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone)." Christ is demonstrating that service and dedication are not matters of courage or even competence, no service is a matter of Christ Himself.
• You might argue that John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." highlights a major theme of the the book of John, namely, God loves the world! In fact, John devotes chapter 12-20 to the passion week, the greatest outpouring of love the world has ever seen. Now as we conclude the book, we ask an important question, does the disciple of Christ reciprocate that love? Here Jesus narrows and asks "more than these" multiple explanations exist, fishing, more than he loves the disciples, or does he love more than the other disciples. Probably, Christ is asking Peter, do you love me more than you love the other disciples?" In particular, during the three denials Peter had chosen to show love for man rather than love for Christ. Jesus now asks Peter to play His highest love and dedication in Christ.
• Many languages have more than one word for love and Greek is no different. In John 21 we see Jesus using αγαπάς and Peter responding, with φιλώ. Sciholars have debated the significance of the two words but consider the folllowing: John chose to use two different words in close proximity to each other, it would seem that John is trying to capture something for us to consider. Many have argued that the agape love used by Christ is a higher love than the phileo love used by Peter. This may be the case, and it may even be the case that reflecting on his failures Peter was unwilling to over commit again (he had previously, Matthew 26:35, told Jesus that even if all denied he would remain loyal) this may be the case. But even if John has a more subtle point it is important to note the presence of alternation. Perhaps what John is showing is that Christ was willing to meet Peter where he was and use the phileo love Peter was willing to commit to him. Regardless, what we see is Jesus asking Peter to commit to loving Him. Christ asks that His followers love Him first and foremost.
• You might wonder, what does it mean to love Christ. We toss the word love around a lot, we even abuse the word for love, so what does love for Christ actually look like? Christ follows the question of love with a command, feed “my lambs.” Here Christ reveals what love for Christ looks like, it looks like love for Christ’s flock. Christ, in this passage, presents himself as the shepherd and calls on Peter, as an under shepherd to care for Christ’s flock.

No really, do you love Jesus?

• Verse 16: Again we see Jesus ask Peter, do you love me. Interestingly, the phrase “more than these” is notably missing this time around. Peter responds in exactly the same way, and this time Jesus says “tend my sheep.”

Let me ask you one more time, do you love Jesus?

• Verse 17: Finally, we see Jesus change the question and use the phileo that Peter had been using. Peter is grieved, breaks down and admits that it is Jesus who knows all. Jesus responds by repeating the command to “feed my sheep.” The commands feed, tend, feed provide us another alternation the work of loving Christ’s church can be hard work and can require significant dedication. Some people are hard to love, some people are needy, but the alternation seems to indicate a complete love for all of Christ’s church.
• So, I am left with the following question in my mind, “do I love Jesus”. Honestly, I don’t think any person can answer this question without being grieved because no matter who you are, there is room to love Christ more. We need to commit to total devotion to Christ.

As Christians we must have complete devotion to Christ.

The Cost of Devotion (Verses 18-19)

The truth about the cost (Verse 18)

• Jesus addresses the cost of true devotion by beginning with the phrase αμην αμην, a translation of an Aramaic word that meant to confirm. It is interesting that there is no known use of a Jewish individual using the word αμην of his own speech. Instead, the word was used to confirm the speach of another. When Jesus uses this phrase it is something like "thus says the Lord." Jesus is stating a prophetic fact as God Himself.
• Jesus gives Peter a comparative illustration to highlight the cost. Peter was an excited, energetic, young man who was a go getter. Peter was know for getting things done! You could say that Peter enjoyed his freedom and lived freely (think about his rash decision to jump in the sea earlier). Jesus compares the freedom with which Peter lives to the bonds in which he will die. The phrase "you will stretch out your hands" was understood in ancient culture to be crucifixion. In 2 Peter 1:12-15 "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease." Peter demonstrates that he spent 3 decades ministering with the knowledge that he would die for Christ.
• We sometimes sugarcoat the costs. Don't be deceived, it may cost you everything to live for Christ.
  • Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
  • Matthew 5:11Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
  • On the Damascus road Christ tells Paul Acts 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.
  • Matthew 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
• Suffering for Christ is real!

The truth about the command (Verse 19)

• John wants to make sure we really understand what Jesus is saying here. Peter is going to die for God's glory. Tradition in the early church asserts that Peter died by cruxifixction, being crucified upside down counting himself unworthy to be crucified in the way his Lord was crucified.
• Notice the concluding command, Jesus has just announced Peter's coming death and then He states "Follow me!" This is the same command Jesus had issues clear back in John 1:43. The book of John is rich with theology, but I find it particularly interesting that the end of the matter is just as simple as the beginning. "Follow me!" No matter what you know about theology, no matter how much you study theology, no matter your education, no matter your knowledge, Christ has one simple command, "Follow me!"
• What does it man to follow Jesus? For Peer it ultimately meant following Jesus even to the point of death on a cross. Jesus may ask the same of you, or maybe He will ask something different.
• The New Testament is filled with passages that command us to imitate Christ. Consider the following examples:
  • 1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
  • 1 Peter 2:21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
  • Ephesians 5:1Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

If we are to live devoted to Christ, we must be prepared to give all for Christ.

The Focus of Devotion (Verses 20-23)

The reality of distraction (Verses 20-21)

• The phrase "turning around" is intended to signal something significant. Throughout his gospel, John has regularly shown misunderstandings the disciples held. In this case, Peter, turning, emphasizes a final misunderstanding. Jesus has just commanded Peter to follow Him, but where do we see Peter's focus? Is Peter focussed on the one to whom he is to follow? No! Peter is focussed on John. Peter is already distracted from his call. In driver's education courses they tell you not to focus on the accident on the side of the road because you will tend to pull in that direction and become a part of the accident. If you want to go in a straight line you must look in a straight line. Peter should have focussed on Jesus, instead he turns his focus to John.
• On four separate occasions John has highlighted a sort of implicit comparison that he and Peter may have made between themselves (13:22-25, 20:3-9, 21:7, 21:20-23). Here the comparison is made more explicit and strongly rebuked by Jesus.
• Peter, having just learned that he would be asked to give his life for Christ, wonders what sort of overwhelming trial John will endure.
• I think we are often guilty of exactly the same. We compare our trials to the trials of someone else. We wonder why we are forced to endure trial when our neighbor is not. I may be overstating it slightly, but I suspect we may even wish our trials on another. I think that all too often, just like Peter, we ask God, "What about John, if I have to endure ... what are you going to make John endure?"

The necessity of focus (Verse 22)

• Jesus responds to Peter with a fairly strong rebuke. In fact, Jesus chooses to include the emphatic pronoun συ μοι ακολουθει to emphasize that Peter is the subject of the command follow. John was the last gospel to be written and so in a sense, we have the last words of Christ during his earthly ministry recorded here, "You, follow me!"

• Some disciples can be easily distracted by unnecessary questions about God’s secret will; as a result they neglect God’s plainly revealed will. God’s plans for Christians vary and His reasons are not often made known. Peter was to commit himself to God’s plain commands to him. ^[1]

• We need to make sure we are focussed on Christ, not focussed on everyone else around us. You may wonder why someone else is being blessed, you may wonder why someone else is suffering, but your focus must be on Christ.
• Note: Romans 12:15 states "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." We are not called to be ignorant of the events in other's life. We are called to follow Christ. We need to show empathy and we need to care about others, but if that care ever distracts from our focus on Christ, then we are wrong.

The transcendence of God's will (Verse 23-25)

• People have a tendency to jump to conclusions. We often hear what we want to hear, and read what we want to read. In social science, people often talk about a research lens, referring to the fact that if you wear tinted glasses, you would see the world differently. John wrote his gospel approximately 50 years after the events described and apparently a rumor had begun that John would not die. John carefully reminds his readers that this is not what Christ actually said.
• We must understand that God's will transcends out understanding. There are aspects of God's will that we will not understand or be able to comprehend. John reminds us to focus on God's words. What has God actually said? All the speculation in the world is not as good as the word of God.
• If our focus is to be on Christ we must focus on the word of God. The answers that we need are in the Bible.
• Verses 24-25. We do not know everything. According to Mark Bailey, the president of Dallas Theological Seminary, 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.^[2]"

Christians must place their focus on Christ, stop measuring themselves against other Christians, and instead measure themselves against Christ, the perfect standard of God.

Conclusion

Have you erected a facade of devotion, or are you willing to admit failures of devotion and to throw yourself at the Savior asking for help in your devotion to Him?

Are you prepared to give all for Christ, or do you have a personal reserved area of your life?

Are you distracted by all those around, or is your focus on Christ and Christ alone?

• You may have answered any of these questions in a way that demonstrates failure. Perhaps you committed to Christ a few months ago and are now looking back and seeing failure. Maybe you have fallen back into complacency, maybe your dedication that was before so real has resulted in denial more recently. In John 21 we see an answer to the question, "what about Christians who fail?" The answer is simple, Christ provides forgiveness and asks for devotion. Don't let the failures of the past prevent you from successes today. Instead, let the failures of the past teach you the dangers of complacency and the need to walk fully dedicated. I see no evidence that Peter ever went back to "normal" fishing after these events. Peter put the past behind him and pushed forward in complete devotion to his savior. In fact, tradition holds that Peter suffered martyrdom around AD 67-68 and was crucified upside down, counting himself unworthy to be crucified in the manner of Christ.

As Christians we must determine to follow Christ.

References

1. ↑ Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 345–346.
2. ↑ 2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV