Message Aim: Love for others is the real symbol of our love for Christ.
Sermon Title: “Do You Love Me?”
Scripture: John 21:3-6, 12-17
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. 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.
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.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.
Message Synopsis:
Do any of you like camping? Camping in the past has been a pleasant memory of mine. I have camped all across the United States. But you know it was not the distance I traveled that I so much remember. Rather it’s those simple sacred remote spots close to home that were dear to me. When you know you are in the presence of God …the Creator.
You don’t have to go camping to experience this, but you do need to find a way not to be distracted by the world and its busyness. Our Bible reading this morning is about a kind of camping trip. The disciples were on a fishing trip — and they had fished all night and caught nothing. But Jesus comes along and tells them where to fish, and after listening to Him they made a great catch. As they came ashore, Jesus was cooking breakfast for them over a campfire — they were in the presence of God …the Savior.
Then Jesus asked an important question to Simon, “Do you love me…?” Jesus asks three times: “Feed my lambs!” “Tend my sheep!” “Feed my sheep!” That is our mission statement, — the work to which we, as Christians, must dedicate our lives. The church and every Christian — every person here today — has a responsibility to feed lambs and tend sheep. Are we doing that? Are we loving Jesus by obeying Him? What are you doing to feed lambs and tend sheep?
Perhaps we should first ask what it means to feed lambs and tend sheep? Jesus is using lambs and sheep as metaphors to talk about people. He is calling us to feed and tend to the needs of people — but what kind of people? So, when Jesus calls Peter — and calls us — to feed lambs and tend sheep, he is calling us to make safe and to take care of the most vulnerable people among us. He is calling us to help the helpless. Through the centuries, the church has been doing that in many different ways.
First — the church provides spiritual food — conducts worship — offers word and sacraments. Worship meets our highest need — our relationship to God. Worship transforms us from the inside out. Worship is the first work of the church, and fuels all its other works. In worship, the weak become strong. So, if the church is to feed lambs and tend sheep, it must first lead in worship.
Second, it means helping people to understand the scriptures. Feeding lambs is equivalent to that of children. Feeding lambs means teaching our children about Jesus — teaching them the great Bible stories — praying with them daily — helping them to understand that God loves them — and helping them to know what it means to be a disciple.
And, third, feeding lambs and tending sheep means providing for people’s physical needs — feeding the hungry — housing the homeless — digging wells for people without clean water — teaching people basic sanitation — providing medical care. It means establishing justice for the weak and the oppressed.
Jesus said, “Simon…do you love me?” Then he said, “Feed my lambs…. Tend my sheep.” Today, Jesus says, “Joe, do you love me?” “Susan, do you love me?” “Mike, do you love me?” “Nancy, do you love me?” And then he says, “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.”
Christ says, “If you love Me, then feed My sheep.” The point is – the best way to love Christ is to love His sheep. Love is the authentic sign of discipleship. Love for others is the real symbol of our love for Christ. He wants us to follow Him and imitate His loving ways. He wants us to understand that love is the most powerful thing in the world. He wants us to know that love makes all the difference. What matters most? First, to Love God … Next, to Love one another!
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