Do You Love Me?

(The Risen Christ Implants His love for Us to follow Him)

April 7, 2024

 

John 21:1-19

Key verse 21:15 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.”

 

From last week’s message, we witnessed Jesus’s glorious resurrection which gave us the same resurrection hope in our hearts as children of God. Just as Christ was raised in a glorious resurrection body, so shall we be raised with a glorious body like Jesus. Jesus finished His final mission. Jesus paid in full for our sins on the cross and God accepted his sacrifice through his resurrection. However, even though Jesus finished his mission, he could not leave behind all the disciples who dwelled in a sense of failure, especially, Peter. Today, we will see the unending love of the Risen Jesus who knows all our weaknesses, restores our failures, and implants the love which can fuel us to follow Jesus. Look at the end of chapter 20. In verse 31, the author, apostle John concludes the purpose of his Gospel: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” This is the perfect ending. No need to add more. However, he put this chapter 21 intentionally. Do you know why the apostle John wanted to add this chapter which looks more like a private conversation?

  

Part 1. When we hit rock bottom in our Galilee (1-4)

 

After His resurrection, did Jesus ascend to heaven waving hands to disciples like in Disney movies, 'they lived happily ever after'? No, not now. Among 4 gospels, only this gospel of John has this epilogue. We want to know what happened after the climax. And we need to know the disciples’ life after the resurrection. This is why we have this chapter 21. It happened by the sea of Galilee.

Look at Matthew 26:32, "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” This verse was the instruction of Jesus after he prophesied about the disciples’ running away when he was arrested. Then Peter boasted about his love in verse 33, " Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Jesus answered in verses 34 and 35, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same." Jesus already knew that Peter and other disciples would fail. Mark 16:7,8 says, “But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid.” Jesus even wanted to remind them of their meeting in Galilee through the women. Jesus already knew that disciples would be brokenhearted and He prepared Galilee as the promised reunion and healing spot of hope.

 

However, the promise of the Galilee meeting was totally forgotten in the minds of the disciples by Jesus’ sudden death on the cross. If they remembered what Jesus had said, the disciples would bring all members to Galilee, not just some disciples(v.2). They would long to wait for the Risen Jesus, not go out to fish for the night(v.3). Also, they would recognize Jesus right away when they saw Jesus(v.4). Therefore, the reason some disciples came to Galilee was, not because they remembered the promise of Jesus, but because of their complete despair and failure as the disciples of Jesus. Their following Jesus for three and half years looks in vain and everything now seems lost. When we lose hope, we look for the most secure place like family and hometown. For them, it is Galilee which is the hometown of these disciples. Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John, sons of Zebedee, and also Andrew and Philip. When they had nothing to do, Peter initiated to go fishing which was the only option left without Jesus. Others also joined him. They did their best to catch the fish but there was only an empty net. No need to mention the desperation of Peter who was a former fisherman and always wanted to be the leader. Fishing was his last resort. He failed spiritually by denying Jesus three times. Now he failed again in fishing in front of other disciples. He failed even in the most secure place which should be his Galilee. This is the rock bottom of his life. There is nowhere to escape. 

 

However, Jesus was there as he promised, "I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Even though the Risen Jesus came, they did not realize Jesus was there for them. (v.4). They were too tired and exhausted with failure after failure. When we experience failure, our eyes are fixated on finding a solution right away with all our strength, and even we do not recognize that our God is already there ahead of us in our Galilee. I pray that we may remember Jesus' promise in our darkest moment that he has been with us always.

 

Part 2. Feed with love (5-14)

 

Look at verse 5. "He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered." In most other Bible translations, Jesus called them, "Children". Either 'friends' or 'children' shows Jesus' affection toward the disciples. The one who initiates the relationship is the one who loves more. Jesus shows how to resume the relationship with lambs who are weak in faith. Look at verse 6. "He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." When Jesus said to the disciples, they obeyed. They assumed that it was some veteran fisherman who knew better than them since they had been away from fishing for more than 3 years. They didn’t realize that it was very similar to what happened 3 years ago in Luke chapter 5. At that time, Jesus helped Peter to catch the large number of fish which restored his failure and called him a fisher of men. When they got the large number of fish, the disciple whom Jesus loved, apostle John noticed Jesus and said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.' When Peter heard that, he wrapped his outer garment around him, and jumped into the water to meet Jesus more quickly than others. Even in that moment, Peter showed great respect to Jesus. He did not want to show himself half-naked. Peter may remember the first moment he met Jesus as the lord in Luke 5:8, "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”  The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net with full of fish. When the disciples came to Jesus, the perfect breakfast was ready for them, even with the fish. Jesus invited them, saying, “Come and have breakfast.” The Risen Christ who is ennobled and glorified through his resurrection, even cooked breakfast like a mother for his disciples, who were hungry and tired. Jesus could have punished them for their running away or at least said something to Peter to embarrass him. Rather, the Risen Christ prepared breakfast for Peter and the disciples. When Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast,” none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew that it was the Lord. There was no condemnation but acceptance with love. While they eat with the Risen Jesus, their failures, despair, guilty conscience and all shameful memories are melted away and replaced with hearty and satisfying food which can renew their heart and souls. They felt as if they were in heaven. The scene of this humble breakfast in the morning is full of grace. It was an unforgettable feast of love. Later, John associated this love feast with the heavenly feast in Revelation 3:20b, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” The breakfast with the Risen Christ rekindled the love of the disciples’ hearts and realized His unchanging love.

 

Part 3. Jesus implants His love for us to follow Him (15-19)

 

Let’s read together today's key verse 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.” Some think “these” means, these fish, nets, boats and any worldly dreams Peter had. Others think Jesus meant the other disciples. Jesus asked two more times about Peter’s love. Finally, Peter answered, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” How could he say, “You know that I love you”? It was because he was sure that Jesus still loved him. This dialogue with Peter seems personal. However, It applies to each individual Christian who wants to follow Jesus. 

 

When Jesus visited Peter and cooked breakfast for him and said to him, “Come and have breakfast,” his heart melted with the love of God. At that moment, the love of God that had been planted in him by Jesus sprouted out and blossomed to the full. Peter accepted Jesus’ love first. So he could say, “You know that I love you.” Here we learn that the way to love Jesus truly is first to accept God’s love into our hearts. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” Everybody wants to be loved by someone. However weak human beings cannot love others without first knowing God’s love. When one does not know God’s love, one feels unloved, even though one is much loved. Praise Jesus who restored his love relationship with Peter in this way. Here we can see why Jesus pressed Peter, “Do you love me?” It was not to embarrass Peter or humiliate him. By helping him to make a public confession, Jesus wanted him to be healed from his wounds and restored. 

 

Jesus asked the same question, “Do you love me?” three times. And each time, also commanded, “Feed my lambs”, “Take care of my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” Because we can express our love for Jesus when we feed God’s sheep; we can maintain our love relationship with Jesus when we feed his precious sheep. Up till then, Peter had been Jesus’ sheep. He had received much love from Jesus. Jesus bore all Peter’s weaknesses. In this way, Jesus wanted to show him shepherd life in the hope of raising him as a shepherd for God’s flock. Now Peter was not supposed to remain as Jesus’ permanent sheep but become a shepherd. Peter has to imitate Jesus who loved him to the end. He has to receive many rejections. He has to receive many wrong phone numbers and emails. He has to bear with many sheep who blow up for no reason.

 

3 years before, Jesus called Peter to be a fisher of men. Now Jesus calls him to be a shepherd. Jesus promoted him. But the life of a shepherd is not easy. It is a life of sacrifice. Peter needed to know that. Look at verse 18. “I tell you the truth, 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.” In the past, Peter had lived according to his sinful feelings or in his dream world. He said that he loved Jesus and he was loyal to Jesus. He was known as the top among the twelve disciples. But in reality, he was an unchanged man with selfish ambition. So he could not understand Jesus’ shepherd's heart. He had never fed one of God’s sheep. Rather he was burdened by God’s sheep and offended his coworkers with his aggressive character. But verse 18 implies he would lose many of his human freedoms, even the freedom of dressing himself. He could not go wherever he wanted. From now on, he must eat and drink for the sake of Jesus and for the sake of His flock of sheep. In short, in the future, he cannot live a selfish life. He must live a life of mission. Without sacrificing one’s selfish freedom, no one can be a good shepherd whom Jesus can use. The meaning of verse 18 is that Peter would live a holy life of mission all his lifetime and glorify God through his martyrdom. He lives no more to fulfill his dream. But he must live a life of mission according to God’s instructions and guidance. 

 

Last week, my son, Joseph, became 11 years old. When he was born, we needed to take care of everything about him. How to find nipples to suck and make him burp, how to sleep, clean him. The only thing he could do by himself was cry for his dissatisfaction. But that was enough. We were so happy to have our son in this world. Because we loved him before he was born. For 11 years, my son has grown physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We find joy and happiness in all this development and we almost cried when he showed his love to us. If Joseph didn't grow for 11 years, how much would I worry? We need to grow in faith by following Jesus. I pray that we may love Jesus more deeply to grow by feeding his sheep. 

 

I want to close this message with 3 confirmations of Jesus’ love. Firstly, Jesus dearly loves us, like a mother who waits for our Galilee to heal and feed us to recover. Because we are little lambs to grow. Secondly, Jesus dearly loves us, by giving us chances to serve others. When we spend our time and energy to share and serve with others, it will bring more joy and happiness to God through our growth. Lastly, Jesus dearly loves us to the point of giving His life to save us. When we fail to love others like Jesus loves, we can come to the Cross again and again and be renewed with His unending love which is implanted in our hearts.    

 

Big Idea: “You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”