Monday 6 February 2012

Sermon on John 21:15-23



Introduction:
Today we are going to talk about the gospel of John and it was about the third appearance of Jesus Christ in Galilee. Here the Apostle John want to describe that Jesus did appeared to his disciples to manifest  himself; and had a communication to his disciples as well as to Peter. Jesus did this so that they may know that after dead we too would raise in a living forms as Jesus himself. And also Jesus let his disciples remember that what he had promise to his disciples when they were in a last lord supper. Now this is the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead [Jn 21:14]. So, John records the first three times. Jesus did appear on other occasions after this, but this was the third time in order. Then now let us see what was happening at that time.
Outlines:
1. Submitting to Christ. V 15-17
2. Following Christ in the midst of suffering. V 18-19
3. The blessing of Christ v 20-23
Brief background:
When Peter and with his friends were hauled the net in the Sea of Galilee for the whole night. They were hauling the net for the whole night but they found nothing. It was dawn when Jesus appeared to them. They saw Jesus stood on the sea shore. They didn’t recognize that he was Jesus. Jesus came nearer to them and told them to haul on the right hand side of the boat. They found 153 fishes. They brought to Jesus and sat near a charcoal fire. But they didn’t dare to ask him. They knew that it was Jesus not anyone else. Jesus took the fish break it and share to one another. This might be the third times that he revealed himself as living forms to his disciples after he rose from the dead.
On the other hand, they were very diligent in their profession. They even didn’t notice that lord Jesus would arise. They might already forget Jesus when the happening was over. They were busy in their own profession or domestic work. But Jesus himself also didn’t even say that he was Jesus. He directly steps near to them and have prepare for the breakfast as they usually do. Nor he shows them the marks of crucifixion. He stayed with them as usual way they live. According to this, we can say that they might know him when Jesus told them to haul the net on the right hand and found it many fishes. From this they might recognized him well that he was Jesus. Peter would be remembering about his first meet with Jesus. Otherwise they would ask many questions to him.
1. Submitting to Christ v 15-17
Submitting to Christ is that the zeal of love with our inner heart which means brotherly love or true love or earnestly loves. It can also distinct it into two ways – True and Materialistic love. Here Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, Do you love me more than these? [Jn 21:15]. The word love” used here is very deep of God's divine love. Or it is a very strong love. We can distinguish by saying that do you love me more than your livelihood? Or do you love me more than your profession? Or it could be referring to the other disciples whom Peter had avowed that he loved the Lord really more than them. For Jesus had said to His disciples that, all of you are going to be offended tonight because of me. And Peter said, Lord, though they may all be offended, I will never be offended. In his essence of saying this Lord, I am more faithful, and I love you more than the others. And Jesus said to Peter, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. He said it is not possible for me Lord. If they would kill me also, I would never deny you [John 13:36-38]. [1] But he did. Here Jesus might be recalling his faith in Christ that failure when He said to Peter. We don't know because we weren't there to see what Jesus was looking at, or action towards. Or it could be for another reason he revealed himself to them perhaps Peter is very necessary in his mission to continue his teaching to the nations that which Jesus told him.
On the other hands, we see that Jesus told to Peter that “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [Matt 16:18]. Peter himself also said that “Lord I will lay down my life for you; I will follow you where you go” [John 13:37]. Or Jesus might be having some thing to comment them to do in this world in the days to come. Otherwise Jesus will not ask Peter “Do you love me?” repeatedly. Perhaps Jesus spoke this to signify by what death he would be glorifies God. And Jesus has given them a great commission for his disciples to proclaim the good news to all nations and to the end of the earth along with his promises holy spirit to sent and stay with them [Matt 28:19, 20] before his dead. For this conclusion we can just assume that why Jesus chose Peter’s to be accomplished his command. He might be for his great plan on commissioning that he gave to his disciples to makes disciples and preach the good news. Their task might be vital to accomplish what they have heard from Lord Jesus.
2. Following Christ in the midst of suffering: v- 18-19
Here after he asked Peter’s thrice times Jesus also said again unto him, Feed my lambs [Jn 21:15] means that the Lord is interested that His lambs would be fed. Or The Lord would give the knowledge and understanding to feed his children of God. [2] Thus the phrases sound like there are three responsibilities for peter to take care of God’s peoples. We can just assume that this passage is a pastoral task. Here the phrase “feed my lambs” and “feed my sheep” meaning is very similar. Except the word “lambs” and “sheep” is the different. These words mean to his peoples of the world of all the believers. The phrases used in a plural form for the word “lambs”. As we know that Jesus used the word sheep, lamb and flock are as for the peoples of God. Then we can clearly think that if the word is “lambs” then it might be referring for the new believers who were not very strong in their faith in Christ. Or who had been newly believed and not firms in their believed.

Secondly Jesus used in his saying “feed my sheep” which mean the peoples of God or believers. Jesus might want to reaffirm Peter reply so that he would be clear or please in his mind with satisfactory. This is the second responsibility for Peter to take care of the Godly peoples in a very special way. As we knew that “Jesus is the good shepherd” [John 10:11]; and here it’s likely that Peter is a subordinate shepherd who should take care the flock of sheep or the congregational peoples. A good shepherd used to take care after the flock of sheep from any danger or attacked. We may also know that in the midst of doing missionary we surely face suffering and trouble in our life. It’s his great responsible given by the Lord Jesus to Peter. Peter’s himself said that suffering is valuable for our life [I Peter 1:6-7; 2:19-20; 4:14] and he also says that we should rejoice in suffering [I Peter 4:13].  That’s means we have to do God’s work until dead, though it is in the midst of suffering.

In the verse 18, we looks at that Jesus used the word “young and old” also, perhaps he used this in order to compare the strength of the faith in Christ. Because when we were young, we need not to depend on anybody, we do it by ourselves. But if we think in a literal sense, now we are old we have not enough strong to take care of ourselves or work so hard. Or in the other way, when we were young we didn’t care of God love but now we have understood the love and grace of God; and he chose us to be his faithful servant. Or here it might be because of Peter vow to lord Jesus Christ when he asked him before betraying Jesus. This might be very significant for Peter that he is going to be crucified. (ESV) “When you were young, you dressed yourself and you went where you wanted, but one of these days others are going to dress you and they're going to take you where you don't want to go[V-19]. They were going to take you to a cross. And sure enough in the years to come, when Peter was in Rome, he was sentenced to die on a cross. And Peter was crucifying upside down; he says he was not worthy to die as did the Lord. And he was crucified upside down. It is interesting that Jesus here tells him by what death he's going to die. And immediately after telling to him, Jesus told him to follow. [3]
3. The blessing of Christ v-20-23
Here Peter asks to Jesus that “Lord who is going to betray you? And he again asks him what about him?”[v-20], here it seems that, Peter was very careful for Jesus. That’s why Jesus ask him, why you think for others. Or perhaps he should think for himself that he was chose to be a shepherd. He might want to be peaceful in their lives and want them to follow him right away. Or Jesus might say for eternal life or he want to say that why should you worry for the other, it doesn’t matter for you. Think of yourself. Here Jesus says (NIV) “if I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you” [v-21 & 23] for two times repeatedly.
And it is also seemed that Jesus is very serious and wants them not to remember what had happened in the paste life. He might also encourage them to be more concentrate in what they have to do in their future. Jesus even virtually telling him to mind owns his business to proclaim the Gospel. Because everybody knew that he was already dead and Jesus might want them to forget those things or issue. Jesus said in essence, Peter, that's none of your business. I'm talking to you about you. You worry about yourself.
Don't worry about him. It is likely that, that “if I should will that he lived until I come again, what difference that makes you? [V-23]
Now, the Lord always wants to deal with each of them personally, and that personal relationship with them. The Lord will talk to them and tell them about him, and the Lord will talk to you and tell about you.
Illustration:
One of a Pastor’s in my home town, working two in one business. He engaged in the mission field as well as involving a dangerous business. He used to supplied arms, bullets etc, and many others thing along with his profession. He has been working for 6/7 years already. He used his professional identity to safe himself from any terrible and danger. He is very kind and much helpful to the congregation but his profession is not matches him to be like this. He is very good working in the church. He often rebuked for the way the other man do wrong and wants them in order to be good in the future days. He always thinks for the growth of the congregation. He donating money, and bought the necessary things for the church.
But unfortunately one day he was caught that he was doing such dangerous business. Many members of the church didn’t know and expect that he was such person. He was in trouble in everywhere. He was put in jail for 1 year. After 1 year he has been released from jail. He stopped his business and kept gaps for 2 years. The people of his church were uncertain about him and his work that he may start again at any time. This way the people expects him verily. He shouldn’t involve in those kind of business. Because, we have known that money and God can’t walk together. In the Bible Paul’s says “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” [1 Tim 6:10]. Then now what can we say about these? Can we still engage with it? No, no one should be doing like that. So, if any one who do so, they are breaking the law of God.    
What we can learn:
From this passage we can learn three things- firstly failing to look after the people of God and secondly how to guide in the godly way for the congregation. Thirdly, the true love for God is not only in the midst of suffering and pain, but also in time of our happiness. Failing to look after the people of God here I mean is that many times we failed to see what was going on the church. We never care for the church. In this passage Peter failed what he has to be done, but he didn’t.  He never realized that God came to this world into being for his great purpose. He was busy in his profession. It seemed that he didn’t care the people to teach or proclaims the gospel to the people of the world. Likewise we too didn’t care what was assigned for you and me.
Secondly, we often neglected to give any advice or suggestion for those who are weak in the spiritual life as well as physical life. We think that we have nothing to do with the church. We also think that there is a leader in the congregation and thought it easily and lightly. We have a right to guide and lead them but we don’t do what we supposed to do. We have the responsibility to tell or teach them but we don’t. This is the weak point for those who have not fulfilled his responsibility. Then how much God would grief to us for we didn’t fulfill his commission to go and preach the Gospel to the world.
Conclusion:
For my conclusion I want to say that one should work a particular appointed work of Christian ministry with worthily. He shouldn’t involve in a very terrible business. If he is a pastor, he should be worthy of it for his job or ministry. He should work properly with honors and gentleness. He must know that he is a servant of God. He must give respect for his profession. As we have discuss how the Pastor problem in my home town. I boldly can say that rather than he there are many people who engage like that. Like working as Pastor Sake and doing such great and strange business in the church of our own home town.
And in addition to that, some Pastor have a very cruel mind and thought for the congregation or others members. And not only that working as Pastor but no used for him sometime. He didn’t do his profession properly in the church. He even can’t take his responsibilities to look after his church members well. So I therefore want to say that please let us not misunderstand what God has appointed us to do. Let us make the Christians develop our faith in Christ very effectively.  

In the Bible we see that Peter profession was fishing fish. He fished in the River of Galilee at Tiberius when Jesus appeared after his resurrection. Jesus wants Peter's in occupation of fishing men in this world.
   
 
They thew their net for whole night but they couldn't get any fish.
The Bible is inspired or breathed by God    




  


References:


[1]. Smith, Chuck. Smith Bible Commentary OT/NT (Through the Bible C 2000 Series).1986
[2]. Smith, Chuck. Smith Bible Commentary OT/NT (Through the Bible C 2000 Series).1986
[3]. Smith, Chuck. Smith Bible Commentary OT/NT (Through the Bible C 2000 Series).1986



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