JOHN 21.v 20-25

 

What would our live be like if our actions were in line with what we said?  How many people regularly sing and say words in Church and then go out into the world and behave in a contradictory way?  I know clergy who recite the Creed, but do not accept the Virgin Birth, or/and, the physical resurrection of our Lord.  How shameful is that? 

 When Paul was pleading his case before King Agrippa, the king said you persuade me almost to be a Christian.  I think there are many ‘almost Christians’ in today’s Church.  People profess, talk much, engage in obtuse theology in colleges, but are spiritually dead. There is no feeling, no love; God looks at the heart not the mouth.  You may not understand doctrine, but you will know if Jesus Christ means all he should to you.    Let no one therefore think ill of Peter, there is no one righteous, no not one.

  I like the story, of a Church where the congregation had just sang ‘stand up for Jesus’ and the Vicar had gone into the pulpit, when two men wearing black hoods walked in brandishing guns.  Who is going to stand up for Jesus now they asked.  The choir ran out, and best part of the congregation.  The men took off their masks, put down their guns and said, ‘carry on now Vicar; we have got rid of the hypocrites.’

 Jesus then had a personal meeting with Peter, something we should all seek, for it is good to talk privately with the Lord.  Three times Peter denied Jesus, and now here Jesus is asking Peter three times to declare whether he loved Jesus.  It is obvious, Jesus is pricking Peter’s conscience and to teach him a lesson, although Jesus never accused him of betrayal.

 The word love can be interpreted in two ways; either in the sense of feeling a deep commitment to another person, or a feeling of mere affection. Jesus, on the first two occasions is using the one which asks for commitment, whilst Peter responds with the one which means affection.  On the last occasion, Jesus asks if it is just affection, and is it more than the other Apostles offer.  Peter is restrained from professing deep commitment after the courtyard betrayal.  Jesus then shows forgiveness in commissioning Peter anew, to do the work of an Apostle, to feed his flock.

 You will notice uses three different commands to Peter; feed my lambs; take care of my sheep; feed my sheep. This suggests Jesus means, teach the children, help those who need, and watch over the older ones.

In using the term feed my sheep, Jesus wants Peter to teach them the Scriptures, something sorely needed to be done in our Churches today. In too many places, the attitude seems to be if you can’t change them join them, and we are doing what Paul warned against, when he spoke of people not wanting sound doctrine, and having false teachers ready to oblige them.

It is not too strong to say immorality is permeating into Churches.  We have bishops openly advocating the ignoring of the Bible, where it states behavior is sinful, and assuring the participants it is not.  People are not being taught the thoughts of God, but following blindly after the culture of society. The Bible states, ‘preach the Word’ and those whose responsibility is to do so, will one day have to account before the Lord for betrayal.

God’s purpose for the Church, is to lead people to salvation; to proclaim the gospel story to an unbelieving world. In order to help us. do this according to his wishes, God created spiritual boundaries and we should not wander beyond what the Bible sets out for us.  It is because preachers have extended their remit beyond God’s boundaries and gone off message, that the Church is falling apart in the West; people now are confused as to what the Church believes.  God wants us to preach his Word, not express our opinions or think we have a better idea.

It has always irritated me when people know a bishop or archbishop is to visit or speak, think he must be superior in the faith, when in fact it is more than likely the opposite. Bishops are vocally supporting immorality, and campaigning for same sex marriage without reserve. Whenever General Synod meets I dread reading the newspapers, and hope people forget I was a Vicar.

In the concluding verses of this Gospel, we find the future history of Christians in life and death are known by Christ. Jesus tells Peter a prediction of how he will die, and he was right when Peter died a martyr’s death for Christ’s sake. Peter in fact spent the rest of his life knowing he would one day die on a cross, and is said to have chosen to die upside down to glorify his Lord.  When Peter asks what about he future of John, with whom he had a close relationship, Jesus tells him virtually it is none of his business, but infers that John might live a long life.

 Peter was a man with a big heart, impetuous and without doubt loved Jesus, and served him well, always ready to make a grand gesture, first to enter the empty tomb on Easter Sunday although John got there first but didn’t go in. This tells us we should not try to compare ourselves, ,nor try to be the same; we may admire other Christians and wish we had their gifts, but God loves as we are, as long as we are faithful and loving him.

 John did in fact live a long life, the only Apostle to live and be able to give first hand account of life with Jesus, and he was always ready to speak of Jesus, and give a most accurate record of all he saw.

 In the final verse, John comments that whilst much has been included in his gospel regarding the life of Jesus, there was so much more could have been written to help the Church understand the all sufficiency of Christ and strengthen Christians in their faith.  It would in fact be impossible, for anyone to fully illustrate the work achieved by our Lord.

 The last verses of this gospel are part of a divine commission to go and make disciples of all nations. The United Kingdom and United States, were once the nations teaching the world the gospel, now we have the devoted Christians of the Eastern nations, showing and telling us how to spread the gospel.  If we are willing to be missionaries of Christ, we don’t need to travel any distance, the whole nation is in need of conversion, so we can start where we are.

 Jesus promises to be with us by his Spirit, and give us the strength and knowledge we need to speak for him, if we go in his name. As Jesus chose the fishermen of old to go catch men, may we emulate them that we may bring Jesus to them so they will accept him as their Lord.

 Now, just as the previous passage referred to Peter and  his place in the scheme of things, this passage assigns to John his place. People pointed out how Peter went away  shepherding his people, they wondered what was the function of John, who had lived on in Ephesus until he was told he was past all activity.

So we come at the end of this Gospel, with the two great men of the Church.  Peter was the shepherd of Christ, John was the witness of Christ. To each was given a function, and in the end to die for Jesus Christ.

 To this day, the Christian is the one who can say I know Jesus Christ, and all that is written in the pages of Scripture I believe to be true. John ends with the triumphs and the power and the limitless grace of Jesus.

 We have come to another conclusion, the end of the Easter season. I pray that you have been satisfied with the sermons you have received and found some help and blessing. We now face another new year.

I thank all who read the sermons and I look forward for the coming year.

 I wish you all a happy and blessed time with good health.

 

May God’s Holy Name be praised and He be glorified.

 

G