Apr 11 2021 Jesus Restores Relationships
11th April 2021
John 21:15
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you 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 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.
This passage has many layers of meaning – and we have gone through these in the past – what ‘love’ means in each section –
But Jesus has one clear purpose for Peter – He has a desire for Peter to restore his relationship with Jesus.
This follows the last supper – where Jesus had said that all would forsake Him – but if everyone else forsakes, Peter said, I wouldn’t! But Jesus told him he would deny Him 3 times.
And Jesus gives Peter the opportunity to reaffirm his love 3 times!
We will use this section as a launching point – first – what we can do to restore our relationship with God – 2nd – how to reconnect with God’s people – feed my sheep – and third – out of chapter 20 – how to reengage in the world – specifically on our mission – as the father has sent Me – so I am sending you.
And maybe a fourth thing –
This past year has been challenging for many
One way – it has placed stress on family relationships
And physically – I had added “The COVID-9” when I stepped on the scale.
There have also been challenges for church relationships.
Many, surveys show, have stopped attending church – even virtually.
Also, many have switched, or considered switching churches.
Also, there has been a significant challenge to Christian unity.
When the pandemic ends, these issues will not disappear!
There are things we will need to address and continue to address. I think – the point of this series – we need to put first things first – first – our relationship with God.
Jesus said – few things are necessary – really only one – having a right relationship with God – and that is the hope for this series.
I was talking with Tim Brown (Bailey Rd. Christian) on Thursday – he has a second minister he does – spiritual and pastoral care for residents of National Church Residency – those in homes who have been most affected by the past year.
Remind people of this: As he talks with those who have lost much – he is helping them grieve. Everyone has lost much – and you will not reconnect with God or ministry if you are unable to grieve what you have lost.
What he encouraged – to write a Psalm of Lament – I don’t have time to explain how – but Google it – Psalm of Lament – and you can write your own.
There are bunches of them in the Bible. You may see it in headers. Or how to write a personal lament.
The purpose of a lament – grieving – taking our complaint to God. Lament teaches you to take your complaints to God – not to Facebook and Twitter!
We see that in the Psalms – pouring out complaint to God. He is able to receive that from us.
I encourage you to consider doing that. It can be a very helpful thing. No one will grade it – you don’t have to share it with anyone! Probably shouldn’t!
18 Very truly I tell you, 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!"
Jesus is demonstrating tremendous confidence in Peter – You’ve failed, but will be a loyal disciple who will lay down his life in service to Me.
He was loyal to the end – crucified upside-down for his Savior.
The last sentence – the most important aspect of returning – “Follow Me”
The most important question to restoring our relationship with Jesus – are we following Jesus, or, are we following something or someone else? That is the most important question! Are we simply followers of Jesus without a lot of other stuff attached?
I think we are followers of Jesus and attach a lot of stuff.
If we were following other gods -0 that would be obvious – if we were following fortune or fame – that might be obvious – but there are things that are not as obvious that take the place of Jesus in our hearts – things like following a ministry or a leader or a position. All good things – but they can steal our hearts. Those things are especially difficult to discern, because they are good things, but take our hearts.
I think, the number one thing – following a way of ‘living the Christian life’ rather than the person of Jesus.
I did over 15 years of campus ministry. I knew all the other leaders – and working with college students is unique! Those years as a college student are different from everything else in life – it is an unusual time – and campus ministries have developed discipleship programs that are geared toward college students – and that is fantastic – except when that way of discipling becomes the only way of discipling – and you don’t realize it until you start working in the real world.
And that is a reality in our lives as we go – we can’t get set on doing things one way – when you are single, and you get married, things change! Then you have a family, and things change! And kids grow up and things change! But we have to constantly follow Jesus and let God do the new things in our lives. That is part of who He is.
It is easy for us to see OTHER PEOPLE following things other than Jesus – it is hard to see it in our own lives.
Some practical ways to make sure we are following Jesus and how to guard against not…
20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" 22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
Stop looking with a critical eye at how others follow Jesus! You cannot follow Jesus if you are judging how others are following Jesus! That should be a hard stop and a poster!
If you are judging how others are following Jesus, at that moment, you have ceased to follow Jesus!
Second – Stop comparing yourself with others! Some of us – with inferiority complexes – gosh – I will never follow like THAT person…
God is not out there keeping score! We are just so used to “how many stars does Amazon give it!”
But God is not saying – this person is a 5 and this person is a 2.5!
The flipside – always feeling like we are a 5, and everyone else is a 2.!
Third – learn from, but never copy others!
God did not make you a copy of anyone! God is not boring! He will refuse to be boring! He has made each of us unique with a unique calling and a unique way to fulfill that calling. It is okay to learn from others, and to figure out how that works in our unique calling.
God loves variety! Think of how many different trees, flowers, and bushes there are. And dogs!
God loves variety! Think of all the different ways people worship on Sunday mornings! Even Corinthians says that there are bunch of gifts, ministries, and ways those work out!
Fourth – do – look at yourself and your own discipleship! Examine it! Not from guilt or perfectionist attitudes – those are unhelpful. If you are a perfectionist – you probably don’t like to, but examine yourself! Our self-examination should be soaked in God’s love – His death and resurrection – and examine ourselves through that.
We should not be examining to see if we are doing it the right way – or doing enough! And we should not look at ourselves to figure out – how many ways have I failed today.
Here is what to ask: Do I continually return to the Lord?
Psalm 16:8 – I have set the Lord continually before me – because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken! Why? Because he drifts! There is a need to bring God back to front and center. It is not about how much or little you fail, but how quick we are to return to the Lord when we have drifted.
Another thing to return: Begin at the end! Begin at the end of the day - at the end of the day – when God created – each day – He looked back.
We know this – how you sleep at night has an impact on your next day – what a critical thing as a parent – developing a good bedtime routine! The same needs to be true of us – a focus before bed to turn back to God – good thoughts about God and our relationship with Him – to enter into sleep with that. That will have a significant impact on the next day.
Turn your focus to God – falling asleep with good thoughts of God.
And then, in the morning, to order our day before the Lord. We need, at some point – to give it all to God – here is what is happening – put it before the Lord – in the morning I will order my prayer to you and to eagerly watch. We expect God to show up! Looking for Him to come, speak, and act!
And finally – during the day – we need to find some sacred pauses – April Yamasaki – Sacred Pauses – short things where we can set the Lord before us – commute, red light – break time – re-set the Lord continually before us!
Everyone does this differently – if you would, send me emails – just share how you do these things – how do you set your heart right during the day? Next week – as you share these, I’d like to share, anonymously – how people do this. I share my ways, and people say – that wouldn’t work for me! Well, what works for you? Maybe it will help someone else!
If any of you would like to share for a couple minutes next week – let me know.
We can learn from one another!
Let’s pray – Lord, I thank You for this opportunity to worship You – teach us how to return to You – to set You continually before us – we want to be quick to return – knowing that You are a good and loving God – thank You!