João 21
G. Campbell Morgan · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 21
Morgan - My Lambs-My Sheep) A C Gaebelein - The last word John reports in His Gospel, coming from the lips of our Lord, is "Follow thou me." And thus He speaks to all of His people. Wonderful Gospel it is, this Gospel of the Son of God and the Eternal Life! How full and rich each portion of it! And oh! the Grace which has sought us, saved us, made us one with Him, keeps us and which will soon bring us home to the Father's house with its many mansions. (ED: ENABLED BY AND DEPENDING CONTINUALLY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT ) May we follow Him in loving obedience, till He comes. (AMEN!) In his first epistle Peter echoes Jesus' charge to follow Him writing…For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH (We of course cannot follow Him exactly in this manner, for He was sinless, but we can imitate Him [enabled by His Spirit] in the description that follows); and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously (1Pe 2:21, 22, 23+) Related Resources: See discussion of the Need for the Holy Spirit to obey NT commands (or "How to Keep All 1642 Commandments in the New Testament!") The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked! Filled with His Spirit/Richly Indwelt with His Word - Chart Comparing GUARDED AND GUIDED BY THE FATHER’S LOVE (see NIV, Once-A-Day: Walk with Jesus: 365 Days in the New Testament) Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me”. JOHN 21:22 Peter was unique among the 12 disciples. He had unique potential. Unique problems. Unique personality. But in John 21, Peter compared himself with another disciple, wondering if the future course of their lives would be similar. The Lord’s reply was simply, “Follow me.” Timothy Dwight offers this insight on the danger of comparing one Christian’s lot in life with another’s. WALK WITH TIMOTHY DWIGHT “How often we find that we never escape certain difficulties. We hope to escape them; we wonder why we do not. “The Lord’s reasoning is clear: We were made for the accomplishment of a special divine purpose—for the showing forth of a divinely formed character and life—and all allotments of experience are wisely fitted to that end. “The work of Peter as a disciple of Jesus was intended to be different from that of John. He was to show the development of true life in a different way. “Providential dealing takes all our living, and every part of our experience, into God’s plan and purpose. “It teaches us to trust that the natural movement of our lives is under a supernatural guidance, and that in all things we are guarded and guided by a Father’s love.” WALK CLOSER TO GOD Loving Father, you are the Lord over all, my Creator, my Savior. You know me better than I know myself. Remind me often that my life is still under construction as you use my particular abilities for your glory. Help me to see trials as opportunities to become more like the person you want me to be. Thank you for the daily delight of following you. In the name of Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen. What is that to you? You follow Me. —John 21:22 When you attend a children’s choir concert, you’re not surprised when the children look everywhere but at the director. They wiggle, squirm, and poke each other. They stand on tiptoes to search for parents in the audience. They raise their hands to wave when they see them. Oh, yes, and they occasionally sing. We smile at their antics. The behavior is cute in children. It’s not so cute when adult choir members don’t watch the conductor. Good music depends on singers who pay attention to the director so they can stay together as they sing. Christians sometimes are like singers in a children’s choir. Instead of looking at Jesus, the great Conductor of the symphony of life, we are busy squirming or looking at each other or watching the audience. Jesus admonished Peter for such behavior. After He told him what would be required of him, Peter pointed to John and asked, “What about him?” Jesus answered with a question: “What is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:22). My times are in my Father’s hand; How could I wish or ask for more? For He who has my pathway planned, Will guide me till my journey’s o’er. —Fraser Every child of God has a special place in His plan. The Cure For Resentment Read: John 21:18-25 If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me. --John 21:22 We readily agree with the statement that "all men are created equal" and that we are endowed with certain "unalienable rights." But we can't live long without discovering that life doesn't treat everyone the same. This is a fact we must learn to accept without resentment. Life's inequities show up on many levels. Cancer ravages the body of a child, while a hard-drinking chainsmoker lives to a ripe old age. Some people enjoy good health, others don't. Some have no handicaps, others have severe limitations. Some work hard and remain poor; some are born to wealth or seem to have a series of lucky breaks. When Jesus informed the apostle Peter that he was going to die as a martyr for his faith, Peter asked what would happen to John. He seemed to think that it wouldn't be fair if John didn't die the same way. But Jesus told him that what happened to John was not his concern. That was God's prerogative. Peter's responsibility was simple: He was to follow Christ. We all have different loads to bear, Some heavy and some light; But those who give their lives to Christ Can trust He'll make things right. --Sper Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from looking to God Bob Gass - It’s Their Backyard “Lord, and what about this man?” “… what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:21–22, NASB) Learn to identify who owns what. That’s what Jesus was trying to teach Peter and us! It’s their backyard—let them mow it, or live with the weeds. If they play the martyr or get what they want by guilt-tripping or manipulating others, that’s their issue; don’t make it yours! If they’re living with consequences, it’s their consequence—not yours! If they deny their problems or can’t think clearly on a particular issue, the confusion is theirs! It’s not your job to change them. If they don’t seem to be capable of loving, or showing appreciation, or even apologizing when they’re wrong—that’s their property. When you can admit you’re wrong, it means you’re wiser today than you were yesterday. Maybe tomorrow they’ll be wiser, too, but for today—it’s their backyard—stop trying to mow it! If your hopes, your peace, and your joy are dependent on them, then you need to learn how to “detach.” You’re not a joint tenant with them, you are a joint-heir with Christ! (See Romans 8:17.) Has it occurred to you that God could be waiting for you to get out of the way so that He can go to work in their situation? The truth is, you are powerless over them—but God’s not! HE MAY LET THEM FALL BEFORE HE LIFTS THEM, BUT HE’LL DO WHAT’S RIGHT AND WHAT’S BEST. SO JUST FOLLOW HIM AND LEARN TO MOW YOUR OWN BACKYARD. (BORROW Fresh Word for Today: 365 Insights for Daily Living PAGE 20) John 21:23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” what: Dt 29:29 Job 28:28 33:13 Da 4:35 John 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries REPORT SPREADS THAT JOHN WOULD NOT DIE Therefore (oun) is a term of conclusion. Based on Jesus' words "If I want him to remain until I come." This saying went out among the brethren that that disciple (mathetes) would not die - This was a faulty conclusion based on a misinterpretation of Jesus' words. Yet (term of contrast) Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but (term of contrast) only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” John was quick to counter the "saying" that he would not die. If he did not, Jesus could be accused of making a false prediction when John did die. Robert Wurtz - The words of Christ are clear when it comes to concerning ourselves with God's business in other peoples lives; 'What is that to thee, follow thou me.' (John 21:23) Just because you see someone else doing things that are worse than what you may be doing does not justify your sin. This is obviously not repentance. It is a self-defense/self-preservation maneuver. ( Seven Myths of Repentance) Raymond Brown on would not die. Imaginative traditions grew up about John, identified as the Beloved Disciple, for instance, that he has been wandering through the world throughout the centuries, or that he sleeps in his grave at Ephesus and the movement of the earth’s surface above it attests to his breathing (Augustine In John 124:2; PL 35:1970 - ED: THIS "INTERPRETATION" BY AUGUSTINE IS ABSURD --- THIS GENRE OF SYMBOLIC OR SPIRITUALIZED INTERPRETATION IS ANOTHER REASON ONE MUST BE VERY CAUTIOUS READING AUGUSTINE AND ACCEPTING EVERYTHING HE SAID! SEE NOTE BELOW). Origen’s interpretive approach had great influence on those who would follow in the Middle Ages, as did Augustine (354-430) who, like Philo, saw allegorization as a solution to Old Testament problems.33 The allegorical system of interpretation prevailed throughout most of the Middle Ages: During the Middle Ages, the fourfold sense of Scripture was taught. Medieval scholars took Origen’s threefold sense—the literal, the moral, and the spiritual—and subdivided the spiritual into the allegorical and the anagogical. As schoolman Thomas Aquinas affirmed, ‘The literal sense is that which the author intends, but God being the Author, we may expect to find in Scripture a wealth of meaning.’ An example of how the fourfold sense was worked out during the Middle Ages is Ge 1:3, ‘Let there be light.’ Medieval churchmen interpreted that sentence to mean (1) Historically and literally—An act of creation; (2) Morally—May we be mentally illumined by Christ; (3) Allegorically—Let Christ be love; and (4) Anagogically—May we be led by Christ to glory.34(CLICK FOR FULL NOTE ON DANGERS OF ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION) NET NOTE Greek “the brothers,” but here the term refers to more than just the immediate disciples of Jesus (as it does in Jn 20:17). Here, as R. E. Brown notes (John [AB], 2:1110 = "the brothers. In Jn 20:17 we saw this term applied to the immediate disciples of Jesus, because they would be begotten as God’s children through the gift of the Spirit and thus become Jesus’ brothers. Here it is applied to the Christians of the Johannine community (probably with the same theological understanding), a usage attested also in 3 John 5, and widely in the NT (some fifty-seven times in Acts; Matt 5:22–24, 18:15, etc.)." ), it refers to Christians of the Johannine community (which would include both men and women). John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. we know: Jn 19:35 1Jn 1:1,2 5:6 3Jn 1:12 John 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries This is the disciple (mathetes) who is testifying (martureo) to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony (marturia/martyria) is true As Chuck Swindoll says "The account is selective, not exhaustive. The events are actual, not theoretical. The purpose is specific, not vague." Earlier John had emphasized the truth of the gospel… And he who has seen (John giving first person witness) has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that (the purpose of speaking the truth about Jesus) you also may believe. (Jn 19:35, cp Jn 20:31) Testifying (present tense = continually, indeed the written record fulfills this function) (3140) (martureo) means to be a witness, give evidence, bear record, to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, to provide information about a person or an event concerning which the speaker has direct knowledge. In his first epistle John reiterated his first hand witness of Jesus… What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life (Great Name for Jesus)--and the life was manifested (phaneroo = external manifestation to the senses which is thus open to all), and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1Jn 1:1, 2, 3+) Written (1125) (grapho from root graph- = primarily means to scratch on or engrave as on an ornament, reports, letters, etc; English = graph, graphic, etc) means to engrave or inscribe with a pen or stylus characters or letters on a surface which can be wood, wax, metal, leather, stone, parchment, dirt (John ), paper, etc Testimony (3141) (marturia/martyria gives us our English word martyr) is evidence given. An affirmation. Proof of some fact. In modern English testimony is a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official. True (227) (alethes - see aletheia) in simple terms is that which confirms to reality. Whatever God says is true. Whatever Scripture says is true. John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that *would be written. there: Jn 20:30,31 Job 26:14 Ps 40:5 71:15 Ec 12:12 Mt 11:5 Ac 10:38 Ac 20:35 Heb 11:32 that even: Nu 13:33; Dt 1:28; Da 4:11 Am 7:10 Mt 19:24 John 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JESUS' COUNTLESS MIRACULOUS WORKS In explaining the purpose of his Gospel John gave a similar caveat earlier… Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30, 31) And there are also many other things which Jesus (Iesous) did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world (kosmos) itself would not contain the books (biblion) that would be written - Many other things - Some might consider this a hyperbole or exaggeration but Luke's statement suggests it is not unrealistic "The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach." (Acts 1:1+) Clearly the four Gospels contain only very limited and selected records of the events of Jesus. We can only imagine the plethora of holy teachings and miraculous demonstrations of His divinity which Jesus provided to His Chosen People and yet they still refused to receive Him as Savior and Lord (Jn 1:9, 10, 11). The upshot is that in view of their greater light, the people of Israel would be subject to far greater judgment than even such a wicked city as Sodom (see Jesus' declaration Mt 10:15, 11:20, 21, 22, 23, 24). What Jesus was teaching is that in hell there will degrees of punishment, a thought that is difficult for me to fully comprehend. I like John MacArthur's concluding statement to this great Gospel - Jesus had challenged Peter to love Him above all else. Faced with the prospect of sacrificing everything for Christ, from here on Peter did not back down. He learned the lesson that following Jesus was to be the singularly supreme objective of his love. Peter and his fellow apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, turned the world upside down through their fearless witness to Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 17:6) and in almost every case died as martyrs for the love of Christ and the truth of the gospel. (MacArthur, J: John 12-21. Chicago: Moody Press) NET NOTE Although the majority of MSS (C2 Θ Ψ f13 𝔐 lat) conclude this Gospel with ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”), such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, excellent and early witnesses, as well as a few others (א A B C*,3 D W 1 33 pc it), lack the particle, rendering no doubt as to how this Gospel originally ended. The author concludes the Gospel with a note concerning his selectivity of material. He makes it plain that he has not attempted to write an exhaustive account of the words and works of Jesus, for if one attempted to do so, “the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” This is clearly hyperbole, and as such bears some similarity to the conclusion of the Book of Ecclesiastes (12:9–12). As it turns out, the statement seems more true of the Fourth Gospel itself, which is the subject of an ever-lengthening bibliography. The statement in v. 25 serves as a final reminder that knowledge of Jesus, no matter how well-attested it may be, is still partial. Everything that Jesus did during his three and one-half years of earthly ministry is not known. This supports the major theme of the Fourth Gospel: Jesus is repeatedly identified as God, and although he may be truly known on the basis of his self-disclosure, he can never be known exhaustively. There is far more to know about Jesus than could ever be written down, or even known. On this appropriate note the Gospel of John ends. World (2889)(kosmos) means essentially something that is well-arranged, that which has order or something arranged harmoniously. Kosmos refers to an ordered system or a system where order prevails. Many times in the NT, kosmos refers to the anti-God reaction of the world to Jesus. It follows that one must examine the context to determine the most accurate meaning. KOSMOS IN GOSPEL OF JOHN, EPISTLES OF JOHN AND THE REVELATION - Jn. 1:9; Jn. 1:10; Jn. 1:29; Jn. 3:16; Jn. 3:17; Jn. 3:19; Jn. 4:42; Jn. 6:14; Jn. 6:33; Jn. 6:51; Jn. 7:4; Jn. 7:7; Jn. 8:12; Jn. 8:23; Jn. 8:26; Jn. 9:5; Jn. 9:39; Jn. 10:36; Jn. 11:9; Jn. 11:27; Jn. 12:19; Jn. 12:25; Jn. 12:31; Jn. 12:46; Jn. 12:47; Jn. 13:1; Jn. 14:17; Jn. 14:19; Jn. 14:22; Jn. 14:27; Jn. 14:30; Jn. 14:31; Jn. 15:18; Jn. 15:19; Jn. 16:8; Jn. 16:11; Jn. 16:20; Jn. 16:21; Jn. 16:28; Jn. 16:33; Jn. 17:5; Jn. 17:6; Jn. 17:9; Jn. 17:11; Jn. 17:13; Jn. 17:14; Jn. 17:15; Jn. 17:16; Jn. 17:18; Jn. 17:21; Jn. 17:23; Jn. 17:24; Jn. 17:25; Jn. 18:20; Jn. 18:36; Jn. 18:37; Jn. 21:25; 1 Jn. 2:2; 1 Jn. 2:15; 1 Jn. 2:16; 1 Jn. 2:17; 1 Jn. 3:1; 1 Jn. 3:13; 1 Jn. 3:17; 1 Jn. 4:1; 1 Jn. 4:3; 1 Jn. 4:4; 1 Jn. 4:5; 1 Jn. 4:9; 1 Jn. 4:14; 1 Jn. 4:17; 1 Jn. 5:4; 1 Jn. 5:5; 1 Jn. 5:19; 2 Jn. 1:7; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 13:8; Rev. 17:8 Books (975) (biblion) is literally a little book and in the ancient world was usually a scroll made of parchment formed from papyrus. Pliny says that the pith of the papyrus plant was cut in slices and laid in rows, over which other rows were laid crosswise, and the whole was massed by pressure. The name for the blank papyrus sheets was charta paper. BIBLION - 29V - book(27), books(4), certificate(2), scroll(1). Matt. 19:7; Mk. 10:4; Lk. 4:17; Lk. 4:20; Jn. 20:30; Jn. 21:25; Gal. 3:10; 2 Tim. 4:13; Heb. 9:19; Heb. 10:7; Rev. 1:11; Rev. 5:1; Rev. 5:2; Rev. 5:3; Rev. 5:4; Rev. 5:5; Rev. 5:8; Rev. 5:9; Rev. 6:14; Rev. 10:8; Rev. 13:8; Rev. 17:8; Rev. 20:12; Rev. 21:27; Rev. 22:7; Rev. 22:9; Rev. 22:10; Rev. 22:18; Rev. 22:19
João 21
Morgan comments on Jesus' uses of the term sheep… The note that first impresses the heart is that of infinite and tender compassion: "My lambs… My sheep." Let me illuminate this by reference again to the passage in Matthew. When He saw the multitudes, what effect did the vision produce upon Him? As God is my witness, I hardly know how to cite these words to you. I am afraid of harshness of tone. Yet I am also afraid that if I attempt to do other than recite them with the natural harshness of tone, I may but libel the exquisite tenderness that ought to be heard in them. "He was moved with compassion for them." (Mt 9:36KJV) How familiar we are with the words. Would that in the quiet hush of this moment, they might come to us with all their infinite meaning. "He was moved with compassion." The final outcome of that compassion was the cross. Why was He moved with compassion? Because He saw them "distressed and scattered." Take the words and let them be pictures, as they really are, and in a moment we discover their true significance. I do no violence to them if I say that our Lord saw the sheep harried by wolves, bruised, wounded, flung to the ground, faint and weary; and it was that vision of humanity in its degradation, spoiled and ruined, that moved His heart with compassion. "My lambs… My sheep." We cannot hear these words, interpreted by the declaration of the Gospel of Matthew, without discovering in them the note of infinite tenderness and compassion. Yet, there is infinitely more in them than the note of compassion. There is that of supremacy. It was Homer who once said that kings are the shepherds of the people. Perhaps it would have been more correct to have said kings ought to be the shepherds of the people. It is at least perfectly true that the master figure of kingship in the Old Testament is that of the Shepherd. All God's chosen, ordained kings and leaders were of the shepherd heart. If Moses was to lead the people, he had to learn the art of leading them by being a shepherd for long years. If David was to come to the throne, he had to discover the secrets of victory by slaying the lion and the bear that came against the sheep of his father's flock. The idea of kingship in the economy of God is always that of the shepherd, who feeds rather than is fed, who guards rather than seeks to be guarded. It is the true ideal of kingship. 'Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away, In the parable Jesus told; A grown-up sheep, that had gone astray, From the ninety and nine in the fold. Out on the hillside, out in the cold, 'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought; And back to the flock, safe into the fold, 'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought. Why for the sheep should we earnestly long, And as earnestly hope and pray? Because there is danger, if they go wrong, They will lead the lambs astray. For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know, Wherever the sheep may stray; When the sheep go wrong, it will not be long Till the lambs are as wrong as they. And so with the sheep we earnestly plead, For the sake of the lambs today; lf the sheep are lost, what terrible cost Some lambs will have to pay. - Author unknown Shepherd (4165) (poimaino from poimen = take care of sheep) means to tend flocks like a shepherd - oversight, protecting, leading, guiding, feeding. I like to sum up the meaning of this verb as a call to "Graze, Guide, Guard". Poimaino is a comprehensive term encompassing the entire task of a shepherd. Poimaino describes literal tending of sheep in Lk 17:7 and 1Co 9:7 but most of the NT uses are figurative. Poimaino - 11v - caring(1), rule(3), shepherd(5), tending sheep(1), tends(1). Matt. 2:6; Lk. 17:7; Jn. 21:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Co. 9:7; 1 Pet. 5:2; Jude 1:12; Rev. 2:27; Rev. 7:17; Rev. 12:5; Rev. 19:15
João 21
Morgan - My Lambs-My Sheep) J Vernon McGee…Jesus must have looked across the dying embers of that fire upon which He had prepared their breakfast and straight into the eyes of Simon Peter as He said, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' (J.
João 21:15-25
Morgan comments on Christ's commission noting first that our Lord says… I am King. You have crowned Me King. They are My lambs, My sheep. My work as Shepherd is to feed them and gather them. Share it with me. Do it by My side. Prove your loyalty by fellowship in the exercise of My royalty. Oswald Chambers - Tend My lambs John 21:17 This is love in the making. The love of God is not created--it is God's nature. When we receive the Holy Spirit He unites us with God so that His love is manifested in us. When the soul is united to God by the indwelling Holy Spirit, that is not the end; the end is that we may be one with the Father as Jesus was. What kind of oneness had Jesus Christ with the Father? Such a oneness that the Father sent Him down here to be spent for us, and He says - "As the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." (Jn 20:21) Peter realizes now with the revelation of the Lord's hurting question that he does love Him (at least with agapao love); then comes the point - "Spend it out (Pour yourself out)." Don't testify how much you love Me, don't profess about the marvelous revelation you have had, but - "Feed My sheep." And Jesus has some extraordinarily funny sheep, some bedraggled, dirty sheep, some awkward, butting sheep, some sheep that have gone astray! It is impossible to weary God's love, and it is impossible to weary that love in me if it springs from the one centre (His Spirit in me). The love of God pays no attention to the prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord I have no business being guided by natural temperament--I have to feed His sheep. There is no relief and no release from this commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by working along the line of natural human sympathy (your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings), because that will end in blaspheming ( revile and abuse) the love of God. (The Unrelieved Quest) Feed My Sheep - Just before Jesus left this earth, He instructed Simon Peter to care for the dearest object of His love—His sheep. How could anyone care for them as Jesus cares? Only out of love for Him. There is no other way. Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Each time, Jesus answered, “Feed My sheep.” Was Jesus unaware of Peter’s love? Of course not. His threefold question was not for Himself, but for Peter. He asked His questions to underscore the essential truth that only love for Christ would sustain Peter in the work that lay ahead—that arduous, demanding work of caring for people’s souls—perhaps the hardest work of all. Jesus did not ask Peter if he loved His sheep, but if he loved Him. Affection for God’s people in itself will not sustain us. His sheep can be unresponsive, unappreciative, and harshly critical of our efforts to love and to serve them. In the end, we will find ourselves defeated and discouraged. The “love of Christ”—our love for Him—is the only sufficient motivation that will enable us to stay the course, to continue to feed the flock of God. Thus Jesus asks you and me, “Do you love Me? Feed My sheep.” — by David H. Roper More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show, More of His saving fullness see, More of His love who died for me. —Hewitt It is love for Christ that will enable us to love His children. Oswald Chambers "Have You Felt The Hurt Of The Lord?"… 'Jesus said unto him the third time, Lovest thou Me?' John 21:17 Have you felt the hurt of the Lord to the uncovered quick, the place where the real sensitiveness of your life is lodged? The devil never hurts there, neither sin nor human affection hurts there, nothing goes through to that place but the word of God. "Peter was grieved because Jesus said unto him the third time… " He was awakening to the fact that in the real true centre of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus, and he began to see what the patient questioning meant. There was not the slightest strand of delusion (or doubt) left in Peter's mind, he never could be deluded again. There was no room for passionate utterance, no room for exhilaration or sentiment. It was a revelation to Peter to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he simply said - "Lord, You know all things." Peter had begun to understand how much he did love Jesus; but he did not say - "Look at this or that to confirm it or as proof of my love." Peter was beginning to discover within himself how much he did love the Lord, and that there was no one in heaven above or upon earth beneath beside Jesus Christ. But he did not know it until the probing, hurting questions of the Lord were asked. The Lord's questions always reveal the true me to myself. Oh, the wonder of the patient directness and skill of Jesus Christ with Peter! Our Lord never asks questions until the right time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will get us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than any profession can ever show. My Jesus, I Love Thee by William R Featherston My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; For Thee all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. I love Thee because Thou has first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree. I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. In mansions of glory and endless delight, I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. John 21:18 "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.": but: Jn 13:36 Ac 12:3,4 another: Ac 21:11 You do not wish: Jn 12:27,28 2Co 5:4 John 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Truly, truly - Or "Amen, Amen" or "Verily, verily" - This introduction is only used by John and always introduces an important truth - John 1:51; 3:3, 5, 11; 5:19, 24f; 6:26, 32, 47, 53; 8:34, 51, 58; 10:1, 7; 12:24; 13:16, 20f, 38; 14:12; 16:20, 23; 21:18 When you were younger you used to gird yourself - You were in control of what happened. But - Always stop and ask what is being contrasted (see contrasts)? Stretch out ((1614)(ekteino from ek = out + teino = to stretch) means stretch out literally, as a gesture with one's hand stretched out. Jesus' stretched His hands out "toward His disciples" (Mt 12:49), to Peter drowning (Mt 14:31), to the leper (Mk 1:41, Mt 8:3, Lk 5:13, cf healing in Acts 4:30). Ekteino is used of the stretching out of Paul's hand as he prepared to offer his verbal defense (Acts 26:1). Ekteino refers to Jesus telling the lame man to stretch out his hand (Mt 12:13, Mk 3:5, Lk 6:10). Ekteino can mean stretching out one's hands with a hostile intent to lay hands on or arrest (Lk 22.53). As a euphemistic figure of speech referring to one's hands stretched out in crucifixion (Jn 21.18). Gird (2224) (zonnumi) means to bind about, to gird, put on a belt. Only other use Acts 12:8. In other words when Peter grew old, he would be be seized by others who would lead him away to execution, the stretching out of hands picturing crucifixion. Wish (2309)(thelo) refers to a desire that comes from one’s emotions. It describes an active decision of the will, implying volition and purpose; conscious willing and denotes a more active resolution urging on to action. Bring you where you do not wish to go - This should not be interpreted as an implication of Peter's unwillingness to die, but the natural shrinking anyone would have from a cruel death, especially death by agonizing crucifixion. If you knew you were to be crucified, how would it affect your actions. Peter was focused and for the next 3 decades faithfully served the Lord he loved, feeding the sheep, some of that food including two epistles that had exhortations such as… If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian (the very thing that would happen to Peter), he is not to be ashamed (what a contrast to when he denied Jesus three times), but is to glorify God in this name (as Jn 21:19 says Peter's death would glorify God). (1Pet 4:14, 15, 16-note).
João 21:15-25
Morgan - My Lambs-My Sheep) J Vernon McGee… Jesus must have looked across the dying embers of that fire upon which He had prepared their breakfast and straight into the eyes of Simon Peter as He said, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' (J.
João 21:15-25
Morgan comments on Jesus' uses of the term sheep… The note that first impresses the heart is that of infinite and tender compassion: "My lambs… My sheep." Let me illuminate this by reference again to the passage in Matthew. When He saw the multitudes, what effect did the vision produce upon Him? As God is my witness, I hardly know how to cite these words to you. I am afraid of harshness of tone. Yet I am also afraid that if I attempt to do other than recite them with the natural harshness of tone, I may but libel the exquisite tenderness that ought to be heard in them. "He was moved with compassion for them." (Mt 9:36KJV) How familiar we are with the words. Would that in the quiet hush of this moment, they might come to us with all their infinite meaning. "He was moved with compassion." The final outcome of that compassion was the cross. Why was He moved with compassion? Because He saw them "distressed and scattered." Take the words and let them be pictures, as they really are, and in a moment we discover their true significance. I do no violence to them if I say that our Lord saw the sheep harried by wolves, bruised, wounded, flung to the ground, faint and weary; and it was that vision of humanity in its degradation, spoiled and ruined, that moved His heart with compassion. "My lambs… My sheep." We cannot hear these words, interpreted by the declaration of the Gospel of Matthew, without discovering in them the note of infinite tenderness and compassion. Yet, there is infinitely more in them than the note of compassion. There is that of supremacy. It was Homer who once said that kings are the shepherds of the people. Perhaps it would have been more correct to have said kings ought to be the shepherds of the people. It is at least perfectly true that the master figure of kingship in the Old Testament is that of the Shepherd. All God's chosen, ordained kings and leaders were of the shepherd heart. If Moses was to lead the people, he had to learn the art of leading them by being a shepherd for long years. If David was to come to the throne, he had to discover the secrets of victory by slaying the lion and the bear that came against the sheep of his father's flock. The idea of kingship in the economy of God is always that of the shepherd, who feeds rather than is fed, who guards rather than seeks to be guarded. It is the true ideal of kingship. 'Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away, In the parable Jesus told; A grown-up sheep, that had gone astray, From the ninety and nine in the fold. Out on the hillside, out in the cold, 'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought; And back to the flock, safe into the fold, 'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought. Why for the sheep should we earnestly long, And as earnestly hope and pray? Because there is danger, if they go wrong, They will lead the lambs astray. For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know, Wherever the sheep may stray; When the sheep go wrong, it will not be long Till the lambs are as wrong as they. And so with the sheep we earnestly plead, For the sake of the lambs today; lf the sheep are lost, what terrible cost Some lambs will have to pay. - Author unknown John 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep: third (KJV): Jn 13:38 18:27 Mt 26:73,74 Rev 3:19 grieved: 1Ki 17:18 La 3:33 Mt 26:75 Mk 14:72 Lk 22:61,62 2Co 2:4-7 2Co 7:8-11 Eph 4:30 1Pe 1:6 Lord: Jn 2:24,25 16:30 18:4 Jer 17:10 Ac 1:24 15:8 Rev 2:23 You know: Jn 21:15 Jos 22:22 1Ch 29:17 Job 31:4-6 Ps 7:8,9 17:3 2Co 1:12 Feed: Jn 21:15,16 12:8 14:15 15:10 Mt 25:40 2Co 8:8,9 2Pe 1:12-15 3:1 1Jn 3:16-24 3Jn 1:7,8 John 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Simon, son of John, do you love Me? - Instead of agapao Jesus now uses Peter's own word phileo which Plumptre paraphrases as "Dost thou, in personal affection and devotion, really love Me?" and adds that "this time the love which Peter knows has ever filled his soul (phileo) seems to be doubted. The question cuts to the very quick, and in the agony of the heart smarting beneath the wound, he appeals in more emphatic words to the all-seeing eye that could read the very inmost secrets of his life, "Lord, Thou knowest all thing; Thou knowest that I love Thee." (A New Testament commentary for English readers) David Roper comments… Was Jesus unaware of Peter’s love? Of course not. His threefold question was not for Himself, but for Peter. He asked His questions to underscore the essential truth that only love for Christ would sustain Peter in the work that lay ahead—that arduous, demanding work of caring for people’s souls—perhaps the hardest work of all. Jesus did not ask Peter if he loved His sheep, but if he loved Him. Affection for God’s people in itself will not sustain us. His sheep can be unresponsive, unappreciative, and harshly critical of our efforts to love and to serve them. In the end, we will find ourselves defeated and discouraged. The “love of Christ”—our love for Him—is the only sufficient motivation that will enable us to stay the course, to continue to feed the flock of God. Thus Jesus asks you and me, “Do you love Me? Feed My sheep.” (Feed My Sheep) Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time - John
João 21:15-25
Morgan - My Lambs-My Sheep) A C Gaebelein - The last word John reports in His Gospel, coming from the lips of our Lord, is "Follow thou me." And thus He speaks to all of His people. Wonderful Gospel it is, this Gospel of the Son of God and the Eternal Life! How full and rich each portion of it! And oh! the Grace which has sought us, saved us, made us one with Him, keeps us and which will soon bring us home to the Father's house with its many mansions. May we follow Him in loving obedience, till He comes. In his first epistle Peter echoes Jesus' charge to follow Him writing… For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH (We of course cannot follow Him exactly in this manner, for He was sinless, but we can imitate Him [enabled by His Spirit] in the description that follows); and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously (1Pe 2:21, 22, 23) Peter's lot was to suffer, John's to wait. John 21:23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?": what: Dt 29:29 Job 28:28 33:13 Da 4:35 John 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries This saying - John was quick to counter the "saying" that he would not die. If he did not, Jesus could be accused of making a false prediction when John did die. Robert Wurtz - The words of Christ are clear when it comes to concerning ourselves with God's business in other peoples lives; 'What is that to thee, follow thou me.' (John 21:23) Just because you see someone else doing things that are worse than what you may be doing does not justify your sin. This is obviously not repentance. It is a self-defense/self-preservation maneuver. ( Seven Myths of Repentance) John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.: we know: Jn 19:35 1Jn 1:1,2 5:6 3Jn 1:12 John 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries This is the disciple who is testifying to these things… his testimony is true - Earlier John had emphasized the truth of the gospel… And he who has seen (John giving first person witness) has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that (the purpose of speaking the truth about Jesus) you also may believe. (Jn 19:35, cp Jn 20:31) Testifying (present tense = continually, indeed the written record fulfills this function) (3140) (martureo) means to be a witness, give evidence, bear record, to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, to provide information about a person or an event concerning which the speaker has direct knowledge. In his first epistle John reiterated his first hand witness of Jesus… What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life (Great Name for Jesus)--and the life was manifested (phaneroo = external manifestation to the senses which is thus open to all), and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us--what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1Jn 1:1, 2, 3) Written (1125) (grapho from root graph- = primarily means to scratch on or engrave as on an ornament, reports, letters, etc; English = graph, graphic, etc) means to engrave or inscribe with a pen or stylus characters or letters on a surface which can be wood, wax, metal, leather, stone, parchment, dirt (John ), paper, etc Testimony (3141) (marturia gives us our English word martyr) is evidence given. An affirmation. Proof of some fact. In modern English testimony is a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official. True (227) (alethes - see word study on aletheia) in simple terms is that which confirms to reality. Whatever God says is true. Whatever Scripture says is true. As Chuck Swindoll says "The account is selective, not exhaustive. The events are actual, not theoretical. The purpose is specific, not vague. John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written: there: Jn 20:30,31 Job 26:14 Ps 40:5 71:15 Ec 12:12 Mt 11:5 Ac 10:38 Ac 20:35 Heb 11:32 that even: Nu 13:33; Dt 1:28; Da 4:11 Am 7:10 Mt 19:24 John 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries In explaining the purpose of his Gospel John gave a similar caveat earlier… Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30, 31) Many other things - Some might consider this a hyperbole or exaggeration but Luke's statement suggests it is not unrealistic… The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach. (Acts 1:1) World (2889)(kosmos) means essentially something that is well-arranged, that which has order or something arranged harmoniously. Kosmos refers to an ordered system or a system where order prevails. Books (975) (biblion) is literally a little book and in the ancient world was usually a scroll made of parchment formed from papyrus. Pliny says that the pith of the papyrus plant was cut in slices and laid in rows, over which other rows were laid crosswise, and the whole was massed by pressure. The name for the blank papyrus sheets was charta paper. Clearly the four Gospels contain only very limited and selected records of the events of Jesus. We can only imagine the plethora of holy teachings and miraculous demonstrations of His divinity which Jesus provided to His Chosen People and yet they still refused to receive Him as Savior and Lord (Jn 1:9, 10, 11). The upshot is that in view of their greater light, the people of Israel would be subject to far greater judgment than even such a wicked city as Sodom (see Jesus' declaration Mt 10:15, 11:20, 21, 22, 23, 24). What Jesus was teaching is that in hell there will degrees of punishment, a thought that is difficult for me to fully comprehend. I like John MacArthur's concluding statement to this great Gospel… Jesus had challenged Peter to love Him above all else. Faced with the prospect of sacrificing everything for Christ, from here on Peter did not back down. He learned the lesson that following Jesus was to be the singularly supreme objective of his love. Peter and his fellow apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, turned the world upside down through their fearless witness to Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 17:6) and in almost every case died as martyrs for the love of Christ and the truth of the gospel. (MacArthur, J: John 12-21. Chicago: Moody Press)