A Question Of Devotion
Or
A Calling To Commitment
Sunday Nov. 5, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ Peter said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’”
“Jesus said to him again the second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’”
“Jesus said to Peter the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because Jesus said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’”
“Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’”
“This Jesus spoke, signifying by what death Peter would glorify God. And when Jesus had spoken this, He said to Peter, ‘Follow Me.’” John 21.15-19
Something To Consider:
The disciples have just hauled in a huge catch of one hundred and fifty-three fish. Why not one hundred and fifty-two fish, or one hundred and fifty-four fish? Why one hundred and fifty-three? It is something we can ask Jesus when we see Him in heaven, but I think it may take a back seat to our seeing and experiencing the glory of God there.
But after a satisfying outdoor grilled beachside breakfast, it appears that Jesus had some unfinished business with Simon Peter. It will be evident in our next lesson that Jesus was very thoughtful of Peter by probably strolling the shoreline with Peter away from the earshot of the other disciples, for Jesus was about to deal with some slightly embarrassing past issues.
But it was for Peter’s best interest that the subject was approached by Jesus, as in our own lives. When was the last time Jesus privately focused His attention on an issue in our own lives that required His confronting? Has it been a while or has it been rather recent?
Of one thing I can be assured of, God’s dealing with us whenever and however it was with much mercy as here in this instance with Peter. God’s end goal agenda is much less about retribution than it is about restoration. Are we not glad that the mercies of God are new every morning?
Something Else To Consider:
Jesus asked Peter three times, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He did not ask Peter two times or four times, but three times. Was Peter thinking of the one hundred and fifty-three fish, or was he thinking now of the three times he denied Jesus publicly?
Jesus is not attempting to chide Peter as much as He is attempting to establish Peter’s rightful understanding of his own personal spiritual call and ministry within the soon to be established church. Peter may feel as if he is between a rock and a hard place, but this confrontation is more of a divine appointing than a spiritual rebuking session.
And the same is also true in our personal restoration encounters with God either in prayer or in reading the convicting and convincing Word of God! The final outcome from God’s perspective is restoration. And yet, it is also a question of devotion and a question of a calling to commitment.
Something More To Consider:
Jesus first instructed Peter to feed His lambs. For the young believers in Christ will need to be instructed in the sincere milk of the Word of God. Jesus then admonished Peter to tend or to shepherd His sheep, by his being a watchful and faithful serving minister to the flock of God.
Thirdly, Jesus instructed Peter to once again, “Feed My sheep.” According to Jesus, Peter’s mission in life was to faithfully feed the flock of God with the bread of life, by his teaching the Word of God.
Peter was not called to be an evangelist, though he evangelized as the Spirit of God opened certain doors of opportunity. He was not called to be a missionary, though Peter supported those who were. Peter was called to be a shepherding elder, preaching and teaching God’s Word to God’s people, of which he did even until his own death.
Are we devoted to the true biblical work of God? Are we committed to the calling of the Word of God to live godly lives which is our reasonable service, though it may bring much persecution in these end times in which we live?
Will we become and remain faithful in the work of obedience to the Word of God, rather than blindly following after church traditions and false messages of an unbiblical escape plan entitled as a pre-tribulation rapture? Jesus promised in Revelation 2.10; “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.”
A Few Final Words:
While thousands of false prophets are propagating the lie of a pre-tribulation rapture, Jesus wants us to be faithful unto death. Who will we believe? Who will we place our trust in, sons of the father of lies, or Jesus, the Son of God and living Word of God?
Jesus’ admonishment to, “Be faithful unto death”, invokes in us all a question of devotion and a calling to commitment. Jesus’ question of devotion to Peter, is a question to us all, “Do you love Me?” Truly it is a question that Jesus already knows the answer to. Therefore, His question is more for our benefit, than it is for His.
When Jesus was ending His private beachside encounter with Peter, Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” Are we in some small way involved in the feeding of the sheep of God? And if not, why not? Are we studying to show ourselves approved unto God? And if not, why not?
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, help us to hear and to obey Your call upon our lives. Help us to remain faithful to Jesus as did Peter and others. Keep us seeking first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 