DO YOU LOVE ME?

#229                                                 DO YOU LOVE ME?                                                                 

Scripture  John 21:15-25, NIV                                                                            Orig. Date 2/13/1966

                                                                                                         Rewr. Dates 10/1981, 5/23/1987

Passage: 15 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.”

16 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.”

17 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. 18 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.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Purpose: To share with my people three significant questions, in response to Jesus’ question, telling us about ourselves.

Keywords:        Biography (John, Peter)         Love                Christ, Master             Commitment

Introduction

            The Jewish historical play, set in early 20th Century Russia, tells a story that was commonplace among the dispersed Hebrew people.  It bore the title, Fiddler on the Roof, highlighting joys that were perceived by these people, even when they were suffering persecution. 

            One of the main figures in the story was that of Tavia, a poor man, but rich in spirit.  A highlight comes when Tavia sees his little family, now grown and leaving home.  He wants to be sure of what remains to him.  He puts his wife through an ordeal asking of her “Do you love me?”  Every assurance that she gives is of what she has done for him as his wife.  She has borne his children, reared them, taught the daughters wifely skills, cooked his meals, washed, ironed, and mended his clothes.  But Tavia wants to hear her answer to his question, “Do you love me?”  True enough, she has done all of these things, but has she done them for the express reason that she loves him, Tavia.

            Essentially, there is no more important question than this one: “Do you love me?”  It is a question demanding, not just an answer, but the right answer.  It is a question asked most often of husbands by their wives, and of wives by their husbands.  It is an answer sought in silent, hurtful ways by children of their parents.  Some go so far as to do unloving things because they want to be reassured that their parents do, after all, love them.

            But Jesus’ question seeks not information for Himself, but insight for His disciples, then and now.

I.          The Question First Addresses the Past Asking Who We Are.  V15 “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?”  V16/17 “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” 

            It may at first appear that Jesus is asking about things (boats, nets, fishes).  “Simon, this is that from which I called.  You gave evidence that the secure times of your life were spent here.  Strong faith was evidenced when you asked to come to me during the storm.  To this you chose to return.”

            The significant call to faith often comes when it seems hardest to respond.  Simon, so unsettled by what has happened, so secure back at his fishing.  The rich, young ruler was another such case.  [He] could have taken any moral directive; would have changed his life by measure; but it was his wealth in the way.  “Follow me!”  Basic difference between what Jesus says, and religious charlatans.  Item this week (USA Today—5/18/87)—heiress suing to have millions returned.  Jesus says “Give them away!”  Charlatan says “Give them to me!”

            The question raised here is of what we are the most inordinately proud.  Not just “Do you love me?”  But “How is your love effected here?”  Do you love me in the context of obedience?  We answer, “I quit!” (smoking/chewing).  “I don’t drink (too much)!”  “I can talk without swearing!”

            “These things you do not because you love me.  What do you do for love?”    

            One may consider, however, that Jesus’ question, put sharply to Simon, had not to do with fishing.  “Do you love me more than them?” (Andrew, John, Phillip, Nathaniel).  “Are you of us because of them or me?”  Jesus’ teaching was very clear.  Matthew 10:37 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.  He that loveth son or daughter is not worthy of me.”

            How do we judge superior “love”?  Athletes judge performance at tape.  Farmers judge performance by quantity.  “Love” for family is judged same way.  The measure of our commitment is determined by the consequence of love.

II.         The Question Next Addresses the Future, and Seeks to Determine Where We are Going.  V18 “Simon, when you were young, you did what you wanted, went where you chose; but the future will be different (sacrifice, pain).  Others will do to you what you would not.”

            Not many of us are completely in charge of changes that confront us from time to time.  I was intrigued in Transylvania by the number of people living where they grew up.  Joe Cannon as a teenager with many classmates still there.  But I found out some were not doing what they wanted to do.  My experience over the years, it was never as easy to go as it was to stay.  We are intimidated by predictability,  you and me, it is never easy to confront change.

            This was Simon’s dilemma.  John 21:3 “I don’t know about you boys, but I am going fishing.”  He was tired of hard choices.  Time to find something comfortable.  The boat, the sea, to some degree, the fish, were predictable.  Following Jesus wasn’t very.

            But you see, Jesus wasn’t through with Simon,  nor was Simon through with Jesus.  A boat on the lake was a diversion.  It was a pretense of self-determination.  He never expected Jesus to be along.  They caught no fish, then he recognized Jesus.  “Not peace, but a sword . . . turn a man against his father. . . who does not take his cross . . . is not worthy of me.” 

            Everything on that boat reminded him of where they were, and where they were not.  Jesus had not called Simon to die on a cross, He called him to be faithful.  Does that sound familiar?  It should.  Tradition holds that he did.  No matter.  He lived his life in love with Jesus.

            There is no place in the scripture where we can learn more from words than here.

            Jesus:  “Simon, to you truly love (agapas) me?” Simon: “Lord, you know I love (philō) you.”

            A second time—Jesus: “Simon, to you truly love (agapas) me?” Simon: “Lord, you know I love (philō) you.”

            And a third—Jesus: “Simon, do you love (phileis) me?”  It will be enough, if Simon will give evidence of what love he possesses in the way he lives out his life.

            Jesus:  “Others will bind you and carry you where you don’t wish to go.” “Feed the sheep of me.”

III.       The Question Finally Addresses the Future and Asks Whose We Are.  Simon decides he’s been the center of attention long enough.  V21 “And this one what?”  “That doesn’t matter, Simon. What matters here is you, and your commitment.  Thou me follow.”

            We don’t judge our stature as Christians on the basis of what others do.  Whether they are of high or low estate.  My success doesn’t depend on position.  Nor, on the faithfulness of those around me.  Am I willing to trust God for my needs?

            We are to seek out God’s will and conscribe it.  Calvin Reid, in his book, “We Knew Jesus,” summarizes the lives of the disciples.  Of Peter he wrote, “The Master did not turn me into a barnyard fowl.  He did not even clip my wings.  He showed me in what direction I should fly.”

            “Do you love me?” means that there is a place, a time, where Jesus became Lord, and I continue to honor His special place in my life.  Sin continues as a problem until faith crucifies it on the cross of Jesus.  “Nicodemuses” needed to be “born again.”  But, not even “Judases” and Jews and Romans.

            Jesus wants to know if we love  Him.  It means we believe in His love.  It means that He has priority in my life.  It means that I must be inspired to love in the way that He loved.  It means bringing my life in harmony with the expectations of scripture.