Outline
Preparation
Request that some sheep are made - from cotton wool, and straws.
Background
Start with video clip from Miracle maker to give background – Peter's denial of Jesus (1:05:00-1:07:20)
Reading. John 21:15-25
stand for Gospel
Introduction
Simon says – as a game- but in reverse – so Don't do what Simon says.
Prayer
Look at Peter
What had happened to get Peter here?
his background
the 'school bully situation' [slide 3]
Declared love for Jesus – everyone else may leave you I won't
Defended Jesus – inappropriately (sword incident)
John 18:10
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)
Denied Jesus – three times.
What did we see last week?
Disciples, at Simon's direction had returned to previous profession – fishing, and failed.
John spots Jesus on the shore
Peter :“It is the Lord” – diving and swimming to Shore
Motivations?
A chance to put things right?
Pure excitement?
Love?
What's in a name?
“Simon son of John”
Where has Peter gone? Simon was renamed Peter in John 1:42
Jesus looked at him {Simon} and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter [ Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) mean rock.] ).
From then on John refers to Simon as either Peter, or more often Simon Peter until now.
Today's conversation:
[slide 4]
1)
Do you truly love me more than these?
Boats & nets, or disciples – disciples – refer to the claim
You know I love you
Weak, guarded response
Feed my Lambs
[get some lambs]
Only the young ones – an important start
2)
Do you truly love me?
No confusion – Just Jesus
You know I love you
Weak, guarded response
Take care of my sheep
[get some sheep]
Peter is asked to be a shepherd. To look after the welfare of the sheep
3)
Do you love me?
Is there any love you can show in your response
You know all things – you know that I love you
Response from the hurt caused by the first reasonable question.
Feed my sheep
[get some people]
Finally the whole job is back, and Peter is back.
What's been going on? - Some thoughts
How have thing changed over the course of the conversation?
Questions, Commands , Responses
Jesus
Questions [slide 4 overlay 1]
Get easier – From detailed strong specifics – “truly love” and “more than these” to simply “love” - which of course is all that any of us are asked to do.
Commands [slide 4 overlay 2]
(or opportunities) get harder / more extensive
from “Lambs” to “Sheep”. And finally there's the prediction of what's going to happen, which mirrors Peter declaration.
Peter [slide 4 overlay 3]
Peters answers change very little, but do go from being self centred towards being God centred. Some commentators believe the answers show that Peter has already learnt his lessons, centring on what Jesus knows, rather than what he himself feels – then the final answer just extends this. However, what happens next shows that Peter, is still Peter – and has a long way to go. What Peter shows throughout these three questions is that he really wants this, that's why he's prepared to go through the questions – to put right, if he can, his previous failure.
If you really want something, you'll do whatever it takes to get it What do you really want:
15 Minutes of Fame:
The Word – I'd do anything to get on television – Sitting in baths of snakes, or worms.
Fame academy – queue for hours, and have some professionals be really rude to you – possibly all for nothing. Is it worth the risk, are you really going to get chosen from all those thousands of people.
Big Brother – live for twelve weeks with a group of people who've been chosen for their incompatibility. Perhaps you'd prefer to live in a real version of the “Truman Show”.
The Marathon – all that training, in all weathers, working up from 5 miles to 25 miles slowly, painfully ...you must really want it
Chocolate – what would you do for a bar? - Lets find out ---
Jumping
Running
Hand stand?
Sit quietly ---
[give out chocolate]
How de we know what we want?
Ask yourself the question “What would you be prepared to give up to get whatever it is?”
Your answer might include Chocolate, or it might be more – your home, your friends, your family, your religion, your Life
Remember the parables Jesus told – the treasure hidden in a field, and the extremely valuable pearl.
Paul said:Philippians 3:8
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
“What would you be prepared to give up to know Jesus better?”
“What would you be prepared to give up so that others can know Jesus better?”
Mission will bring changes to the Church – one way or another.
Peter had been prepared to give up his life for Jesus, and now Jesus predicts that that is exactly what he will do, but that it will not be in the way that he had expected.
Peter's Error
From understanding to error – it happens every time we see Peter:
Transfiguration
Luke 9:29-33 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
You are the son of God --> to Get behind me Satan
Mark 8:29-33 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Its his way, and its repeated here, but Jesus turns the attention back on to Peter – “What is that to you – you must follow me”
Exchange ends with You must follow me
What does it mean for us to Follow Jesus?
Try these:
Three Dumb Hunters
Three idiots decide to go hunting. The first one says he's going to get a buck. He goes out, and indeed comes back with a buck. The other two hunters ask how he did it. He says, "I see tracks. I follow tracks. I get buck."
So the second hunter says that he's going to get a doe. And he does. They ask him how he did it, and he says, "I see tracks. I follow tracks. I get doe."
So the third hunter says, "I'm just gonna shoot at anything I see."
So he goes out and comes back half a day later all beaten, bruised, bloody, and totally trashed. The other two hunters ask him what happened and he says, "I see tracks. I follow tracks. I get hit by train!"
Perhaps thats not the right way?
Someone called Robert Leighton said:
The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days.
[pause]
The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days.
Peter certainly had plenty of cloudy days – look at Acts, and the tradition of his death.
Keep you eyes on Jesus, and don't let anything distract you, you can never be sure exactly where He'll lead you
I must also end with Jesus saying to all of us “You must follow me”
