HONEY, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU
John 21:1-19
INTRODUCTION
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shores,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to Rise no more,
But the master of the sea, heard my despairing cry
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I
Love lifted me, Love Lifted me.
Love is not a feeling it is an action. Love starts with an action on your
Part.
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so whoever believes in Him shall not parish, but have eternal life.
When I was growing up, I thought love was a feeling. I was looking for some companion to love, who would love me back. I always thought of love as a warm cozy feeling.
You may have that cozy feeling from time to time, but most often you don’t.
To my young people, love and sex are to different things. You can have sex with out love.
And you can have love without sex. That is another subject best left for marriage counseling.
Jesus defines love as keeping His commandments. That brings to out text.
Let’s put ourselves in the minds of the disciples. They had been with Jesus
For three and an half years. He was their leader, champion, teacher, and Lord. They had hoped He would free them from the Romans.
He died a violent death which they witnessed and stood by helplessly.
He was gone. Even though they knew of His resurrection and had seen Him
A couple times, It was not the same. Jesus was with them in the spirit,
But they didn’t understand the spirit. Besides, they were still afraid that they would be identified as Jesus disciples and be killed.
It is the same thing to day as we deal with this pandemic. Social distancing
has isolated us from family and friends. And we are afraid that this silent
killer will come to our door. We can zoom to see each other, but it is
Not the same. We are moved by touch and feel. Zoom is not the same.
We don’t know if we will ever have the “same” again.
What we do know is Jesus is in control of the new normal.
John 21:1-19
LOVE LOOKS FOR THE POSITIVE
V:1. Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.
It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus),
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other
disciples were together. 3 \”I\’m going out to fish,\” Simon Peter told
them, and they said, \”We\’ll go with you.\” So they went out and got into
the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
A. Not having Jesus leading them, they didn’t know what to do next.
1. So they went back to doing what they knew.
2. They knew fishing for fish, but they had not considered fishing for
men.
The fishermen used nets made of flax or linen. Most fishing was done
at night so that fish would not see and swim around the nets.
3. You can easily catch fish when they are looking for food.
4. Fish feed in places that God has prepared.
B. The night the disciples went out to fish, there was no fish in the place
They fished.
1. Some times God allows your efforts to produce nothing.
2. Let me suggest that it is in those times that God gets you ready
to listen to Him.
3. This group of men were skilled at fishing, but their skills were
not enough on this trip.
LOVE BEGINS WITH YOU
V:4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not
realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, \”Friends, haven\’t you any fish?\”
\”No,\” they answered.
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.
LOVE MEANS FORGIVENESS
A. It is in our darkest hour that Jesus comes, with love to comfort
us.
1. Notice, Jesus comes as a friend.
a. The Greek word for friend used here is “paidion” which is translated
child or immature Christian.
2. Jesus as your guardian, pays attention to your needs and responds.
3. Some times Jesus comes in the form of a friend that we don’t know.
4. Be kind to strangers, you never know when you are entertaining
an angel.
5. A friend comes with suggestions that could be helpful to you.
6. They had been out all night, probably not in one place and caught
nothing.
7. Following God’s direction always leads to success.
8. The right hand of the Lord leads to blessing.
9. The fish was there close to the shore in abundance.
10. God can do exceedingly abundantly more than you can conceive.
11. A parent provides for the needs of His children.
LOVE HONORS THE LORD
V:7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, \”It is the Lord!\” As
soon as Simon Peter heard him say, \”It is the Lord,\” he wrapped his
outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the
water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of
fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When
they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and
some bread.
A. When you love someone, you honor them in many ways.
1. The disciples may have initially thought that the one speaking was
their neighbor.
2. As soon as they realized it was Jesus, their attitude changed.
3. In honor to Jesus, teacher and Lord, Peter did not want to be seen
naked.
4. It Was Peter who did not want the Lord to wash his feet because he
did not want to dishonor Him.
B. Love will cost you something.
1. Love will cost your prayer time.
2. Love will cost you availability.
3. Love will cost you a desire to help.
4. Love will cost you to be present.
C. Love will cost you to be ready to serve.
1. Love will cost you your resources.
2. A friend knows when you are hungry and brings
what you need.
3. In times of trouble, God will always show up with comfort
food.
LOVE ALLOWS OTHERS TO GROW
V:10 Jesus said to them, \”Bring some of the fish you have just caught.\”
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full
of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus
said to them, \”Come and have breakfast.\” None of the disciples dared
ask him, \”Who are you?\” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came,
took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14
This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was
raised from the dead.
A. Jesus treated His disciples with tenderness.
1. Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and
to give his life as a ransom for many. “That’s Love”
2. The breakfast with fish and bread was a reminder of the miracle with
five thousand men and the miracle with 4000 men in which fish
and bread was served by Jesus from a boy’s lunch.
2. Jesus is the bread of life. The fish may represent His abundance.
3. This was proof to the disciple that Jesus was their host.
B. The fire would be a reminder to Peter of his denial of Jesus by a fire the,
night before the crucifixion.
1. The Lord had forgiven Peter, and showed him His grace and mercy.
2. God knows our weaknesses, and He shows His love by encouraging
and strengthening us.
3. Before Jesus began His teaching, He allow the disciples to rest and
be refreshed.
4. Sometimes it is the simple things we do that shows our love.
LOVE COUNSELS THE RIGHT MOTIVES
V:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, \”Simon son
of John, do you truly 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 truly 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.
A. Jesus asked Peter do you love me more than your relatives, and more
than your business partners.
1. The question was, can your love for me be first.
2. Luke 14:26-27
\”If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his
wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life —
he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross
and follow me cannot be my disciple.
3. If Jesus is first, you are a good second
Eph 5:25-26
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and
gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the
washing with water through the word.
4. When Jesus is first, you will be the best second.
B. Notice, two Greek words for love are used.
1. Jesus used the word “agapao” which means a love feast, benevolence,
full of good will.
For Jesus it is a sacrificial love, like His, willing to die.
2. Peter responded with the Greek word, “phileo” which is a friendly love,
to wish one well.
3. Jesus was talking about the work of salvation. Peter responded with
personal feelings.
C. Jesus gave Peter three commands that would show his love (agapao) for
Him.
Feed my lambs
Take care of my sheep
Feed my sheep
1. There is a difference between a lamb and a sheep.
2. A lamb is sheep under a year old.
a. Similar to an immature Christian
b. Lamb meat is tender and moist with little fat.
3. Sheep are growing to maturity.
Sheep meat has much fat.
4. Lambs need to be taught the Word of God.
5. Sheep need to be reminded of the Word and encouraged to follow
Jesus’ examples.
6. Jesus outlined the work of the ministry for His disciples.
7. Friendship love brings no commitment to the table.
8. It is the Agapao love that bring your complete sacrifice, devotion and
commitment to Jesus.
9. John 14:15-16
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,
that he may abide with you for ever;
10. When you love God first, blessing flow in your life.
LOVE PREPARES YOU FOR THE FUTURE
V: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.\” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, \”Follow me!\”
A. All of us have the command to follow Jesus by keeping His commands.
1. True love is serving God.
Matt 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: \”\’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind.\’ 38 This is the first and greatest
commandment. 39 And the second is like it: \’Love your neighbor as
yourself.\’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two
commandments.\”
2. While we have our health and strength, we should bless God with our
service, using the spiritual gifts He has given us.
3. There may come a time when our health fail us and we will have to rely
on others.
4. When we can’t do for ourselves we can call on the treasures we
stored in heaven with our sacrifices to Jesus.
SUMMARY
LOVES SEES THE POSITIVE
LOVE BEGINS WITH YOU
LOVE MEANS FORGIVENESS
LOVES ALLOWS OTHES TO GROW
LOVE COUNSELS THE RIGHT MOTIVES
LOVE PREPARES YOU FOR THE FUTURE
Rev. M. Mitchell
