JOHN21v15to25: JESUS REINSTATES PETER

(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

This final passage of John's gospel illustrates 4 essential ingredients of the Christian life: Confession, care, consecration and credibility.

(A) Confession.

(1) Jesus asked Peter a most important question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" v17. This is a question we all must answer. Jesus doesn't ask us if we love the church with all its paraphernalia, the denomination we belong to or a body of doctrine but, if we love him.

It is a question we can answer. We may be unsure about our faith and hope but we know if we love Jesus. If we love someone we are delighted to see them, thoroughly enjoy talking to and about them, appreciate hearing others speak well of them and desire to please them. Isn't this true? I am so happy when others reminisce about my father and mother because I was devoted to both of them.

(2) Jesus knows if we love him. Peter was aware of this and said: "Lord you know all things; you know that I love you." v17. It was because Jesus knew of Peter's love that he forgave him so much.

We are prepared to forgive those that love us an awful lot. I certainly found it easier to overlook the failings of pupils who had affection for me than the faults of students who were antagonistic. Jesus will never abandon those who genuinely love him despite the mistakes they make.

(3) We should love Jesus because he first loved us. 1John4v19. Jesus said: "Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John15v13. Jesus laid down his life for us. Indeed he laid it down while we were yet sinners. Rom5v8. There is no love like the love of Jesus ..... boundless and pure and free. Jesus love is stronger than death. It is admirably summed up in the words of the old hymn:

          Which of all our friends, to save us,
          Could or would have shed his blood?
          But Immanuel died to have us
          Reconciled in him to God.
          This was boundless love indeed;
          Jesus is a friend in need.

(4) We need to confess our love for Jesus. Three times the Master invited Peter to publicly avow his love before his fellow disciples. A charcoal fire burned the night Peter denied his Lord; now he is given the opportunity, around another fire and before friends, to put the record straight. It was important for Peter, and his credibility as a disciple, to reaffirm his love before others.

This is true in human relationships. If a husband lets his wife down badly an affirmation of love may be the only way for him to save the marriage.

No Christian should be diffident or hesitant about privately and publicly confessing devotion to Jesus. Believer's baptism is one way of doing this. It provides a glorious opportunity for the child of God to demonstrate love for, and obedience to, the Saviour.

Love for Jesus is the defining characteristic of the Christian. Paul acknowledges this when he blessed the church at Ephesus: Grace with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. AV. Eph6v24. Paul does not desire God's grace for the doctrinally sound but for ALL who LOVE Jesus. It is not just for Roman Catholics or Anglicans or Grace Baptists or Pentecostalists but for EVERYONE who LOVES Jesus.

(C) Care

It is evident from what Jesus said to Peter that we should care for one another. Jesus told him to: "Feed my lambs." "Take care of my sheep." "Feed my sheep." If we love Jesus we shall love one another. This involves three things. We need to:

(1) Think about others.
My mother was a thoughtful Christian. She kept a record of people's birthdays and wedding anniversaries. My mother would always try and visit an elderly Christian on their birthday or invite them to tea. She never went on a birthday visit empty handed.

Love is perceptive. My mother's brothers were perceptive men. They knew how to give their nephew a good time. I remember holidays spent with my Uncle David with the greatest pleasure. It requires perception to buy someone else a book that they will enjoy. Only a friend or family member who understands you will be capable of this.

We could all be more thoughtful and more perceptive!

(2) Talk with others
First of all we need to be good listeners. We should try to draw a person out by showing an interest in them. My brother Philip is excellent at doing this. He will ask all manner of questions about a person's work, interests, opinions and family - and listen to the answers.

We should speak to our fellow Christians to encourage them and to show appreciation. Think of how Paul wrote to his brothers in Philippi: I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil1v3to6. I have a friend, Ian Brown, who whenever he emails includes some words of praise to raise my spirits - whether I deserve them or not!

Sometimes we need to correct, advise and exhort our fellow Christians. Paul always did this in his epistles - even in the one to the Philippians: I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel... . Phil4v2and3.

(3) Serve others
There are all sorts of ways Christians can provide practical assistance. The husband of a lady in my church has been in hospital for the last month. The lady has no car but, she has been able to visit her husband every day because her fellow Christians have provided transport.

It is important to show hospitality. Many years ago Mr Goad conducted a Christian tent mission in the neighbouring village of Rede. Every day he came to our house for dinner or tea. He was treated like one of the family. Mr Goad never forgot that week of hospitality. Whenever he saw my mother subsequently he greeted her like a long lost friend - to her considerable embarrassment!

Sometimes we should give a Christian a little treat. We could, for example, take an elderly brother or sister for a ride in the countryside followed by a pub lunch. Perhaps, we are too puritanical! I must confess that the only time anyone has made a big effort to give me a series of treats occurred amongst Buddhists in Japan!! What a lovely time my friend Tommy Bamber and I had there. The Japanese probably think that English birdwatchers are a little crazy but this did not stop them getting up at an unearthly hour and taking us to nature reserves. I wonder when you last gave a Christian a treat for Christ's sake.

(D) Consecration
The passage teaches that we should accept God's will and purpose for us without question or complaint. This is what it takes to be consecrated.

(1) God has a plan for our lives. He had a plan for Peter's life: Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 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." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. v17to19.

I am not perfectly clear what this signifies. If I was Peter I am not sure that I would want to know how I was going to die! However, Jesus was probably saying:

    (a) When Peter was young he dressed up and strutted his stuff. He was in control.

    (b) In maturity Peter would follow Jesus and care for his flock. He would serve the church into old age.

    (c) In old age events beyond his control would lead to a martyr's death.

    (d) This death would glorify God.

Such was God's plan for Peter's life. He has a plan for all our lives if we are Christians.

(2) God's plans are tailor made. He treats us all individually.

Peter was keen to know what the future held for his friend John. When Jesus and Peter got up and moved away from the fire after the first, "Follow me", John was not far behind. (I think this is significant - John was always anxious to be close to Jesus - he never wanted to miss anything.) After Peter had taken in the rather forbidding information about his future, he turned and saw his friend, John. I think Peter was of a naturally curious disposition. At the Last Supper when Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him it was Peter who beckoned John and said, "Ask him which one he means." John13v24. So Peter asked Jesus: "Lord what about him?" Jesus replied rather sharply to this question: "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" v22.

It is possible the twenty first chapter was added to John's gospel because the beloved apostle lived such a long life that the rumour grew that he would not die but would be alive until Jesus' second coming.

God had a different plan for John's life. He was not martyred but exiled in old age to the island of Patmos where he wrote the final, very puzzling book of the New Testament.

Every Christian's life will be different because for each of us God has a unique plan.

(3) Our responsibility is to accept God's plan and follow Jesus. That is the command the Master gave Peter: "Follow me."

We must follow Jesus in spite of:

    (a) Difficulties, disappointments and setbacks. Peter experienced: opposition from the Jews, imprisonment, problems in the early church and discrimination against Gentile Christians. If I think of my own Christian life there have been a lot more failures than successes. It is a great grief to me that I belong to a church in decline with no young people in membership. I was heartbroken when the few younger Christians who attended our services left to worship elsewhere. I was very sad when my church would not back me in a dispute with the Association to which we belong over the affirmation of Christian fellowship. So I could go on!

    (b) Other Christians apparently enjoying a less troubled, more successful and better quality life than ourselves. There are Christians who are admired, loved and valued. So why aren't we?

    It is as well to be cautious before concluding that someone's quality of life is better than our own. I had a somewhat triumphalist annual letter from a dear friend at Christmas. It suggested that everything in the garden was rosy. I was in one of my sour moods and so I Emailed my friend and told him I would like to hear about some of his sorrows as well as his joys. He Emailed me back a catalogue of woes: his prostate was playing up, his wife's arthritis was getting worse, he was having problems settling into a new church, moving house had been a nightmare and so on.

    We should be even more cautious before deciding that God's plan for another Christian's life is superior to God's plan for our own life. This is of no concern to us. Jesus says: "What is that to you? You must follow me."

We must follow Jesus in faith. John said of his friend Peter: Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. v19. We need faith to believe that if we follow Jesus and accept God's will and purpose then our lives will glorify God and bring glory to us. In the words of Paul: But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. Phil3v13and14. Our prayer should be:

            Thy way, not mine O Lord,
            However dark it be
            Lead me by Thine own hand
            Choose Thou the path for me.

(E) Credibility

John was a credible witness. Someone, possibly the elders of the church of Ephesus, appended these words to his gospel: This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know his testimony is true. v24.

What makes a credible witness? He or she must possess at least four qualities:

(1) First-hand knowledge. If you wanted to know what happened in my house the night my mother died I would be the best person to ask. I was there. John was there for the events he describes in his gospel. This is evident from the many little details he includes that are absent from the synoptic gospels. For example, he was able to dispel the rumour that had grown up about him. He writes: Jesus did not say that he would not die; but he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" v25. There are many other instances where it is clear John writes from first-hand experience.

(2) Consistency. A witness giving evidence in a court of law would soon be in trouble if found to be contradicting himself. A consistent testimony carries weight. From first to last John's presentation of Jesus is impressively coherent. The great truths stated in the introductory verses are repeated over and over again in the later chapters. In him was life. Jesus was the true light that gives light to every man. His own did not receive him. He was full of grace and truth. Those that believe in Jesus are born of God and will receive eternal life. He made God known.

Needless to say our witness should be consistent. There should be no discrepancy between our talk and our walk.

(3) Corroboration. The Jesus of the synoptic gospels is not different from the Jesus of John. John's gospel has a special character because it was written by an eye witness and someone very, very close to Jesus but it compliments rather than contradicts Matthew, Mark and Luke.

The world should not ignore the agreement among Christians about what Jesus has done in their lives. In particular, the testimony by so many that submission to Jesus and faith in him brings assurance of sins forgiven and newness of life cannot be easily ignored.

(4) True to human nature. A testimony true to human nature has the ring of truth. If a witness spins a yarn to judge and jury that involves a person acting in a way that is incompatible with how people generally behave, the witness will not be believed.

John reported things as they were. He very rarely provides an explanation for what Jesus said or did. John describes the encounters Jesus had with others sparely, without elaboration or interpretation. We are left to puzzle out, with the help of God's Spirit, what it all means. I am sure that we are only able to arrive at the meaning if we examine events in the light of human nature. I hope I demonstrated this in my expositions on the Wedding Feast at Cana, the dialogue with Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman, Mary and Martha's response to the death of Lazarus and Jesus' trial before Pilate. I am convinced that the strongest evidence for the authenticity of John's witness is the credibility of his description of the reactions of men and women to Jesus. This is what makes the gospel so remarkably powerful.

What a wonderful witness John was to the King of Kings and Lord of All. His testimony does the Master justice. I am sure he would wish for no higher praise than that. Nor would we all!

ANY COMMENTS FOR JOHN REED: E-mail jfmreed@talktalk.net

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