Please read John 21:15-23 to prepare for Sunday morning worship.
Sermon Focus: “Peter Becomes a Sheepherder”
He asked a third time,”Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, ”Do you love me?” he replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 20:17)
- What do you think Jesus is asking Peter to do? How does this demonstrate our love for Jesus?
- When we engage in servant ministry, is our love of Jesus at the heart of our action? Do others experience the love for Jesus in our activity? How?
Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. This sequence mirrors the threefold denial of Peter about Jesus at the time of his crucifixion. Perhaps this is a moment of restoring their relationship and speaks to the sadness in Peter’s reaction. During this interchange, Jesus makes it clear that to love him is to serve him by reaching out to the sheep in need of our care. According to this Scripture Jesus asserts that proclaiming love for him is not where the path of discipleship ends. The love of Jesus is where transformation begins for us, much like Peter, and we too learn how to be transformers in the world by seeking the sheep in need of care.