WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.139 John's Gospel, chapter 21, from verse 15 through to 25. 00:00:04.339 --> 00:00:07.160 That's on page 907 in the Church Bibles, 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:10.620 which are available on the table at the back of the sanctuary, 00:00:10.620 --> 00:00:12.080 both downstairs and upstairs. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:15.980 Print it on the screen, and it's also in your bulletin as well. 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:19.679 So John 21 at verse 15. 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:22.400 When they had finished breakfast, 00:00:23.019 --> 00:00:25.019 Jesus said to Simon Peter, 00:00:25.699 --> 00:00:27.280 Simon, son of John, 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:29.219 do you love me more than these? 00:00:29.939 --> 00:00:30.759 He said to him, 00:00:31.279 --> 00:00:33.479 Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:35.019 He said to him, 00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:36.439 Feed my lambs. 00:00:36.859 --> 00:00:38.659 He said to him a second time, 00:00:39.239 --> 00:00:40.560 Simon, son of John, 00:00:40.859 --> 00:00:41.979 do you love me? 00:00:42.619 --> 00:00:43.479 He said to him, 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.000 Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:47.500 He said to him, 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:48.780 Tend my sheep. 00:00:49.539 --> 00:00:51.219 He said to him the third time, 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:53.099 Simon, son of John, 00:00:53.239 --> 00:00:54.239 do you love me? 00:00:54.899 --> 00:00:58.099 Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 00:00:58.420 --> 00:00:59.120 do you love me? 00:00:59.219 --> 00:01:00.439 And he said to him, 00:01:00.879 --> 00:01:02.579 Lord, you know everything. 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:04.319 You know that I love you. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:06.000 Jesus said to him, 00:01:06.700 --> 00:01:07.819 Feed my sheep. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:09.319 Truly, truly, 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:10.500 I say to you, 00:01:10.739 --> 00:01:11.760 when you were young, 00:01:11.819 --> 00:01:13.280 you used to dress yourself 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:15.560 and walk wherever you wanted. 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:17.460 But when you are old, 00:01:17.759 --> 00:01:19.420 you will stretch out your hands 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:21.159 and another will dress you 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:22.359 and carry you 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:23.920 where you do not want to go. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:27.840 This he said to show by what kind of death 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:29.700 he wants to glorify God. 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:31.859 And after saying this, 00:01:32.260 --> 00:01:33.219 he said to him, 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:34.700 Follow me. 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:37.859 Peter turned and saw the disciple 00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:40.500 whom Jesus loved following them, 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:44.599 the one who also had leaned back against him 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:45.659 during the supper 00:01:45.659 --> 00:01:46.840 and had said, 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:47.599 Lord, 00:01:48.379 --> 00:01:49.519 is it that, 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:50.479 Lord, 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.060 who is it that is going to betray you? 00:01:54.179 --> 00:01:55.519 When Peter saw him, 00:01:55.959 --> 00:01:57.019 he said to Jesus, 00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:57.959 Lord, 00:01:58.219 --> 00:01:59.519 what about this man? 00:02:00.459 --> 00:02:01.560 Jesus said to him, 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:03.400 If it is my will 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:05.359 that he remain until I come, 00:02:05.939 --> 00:02:07.120 what is that to you? 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:09.400 You follow me. 00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:12.340 So the saying spread abroad 00:02:12.340 --> 00:02:13.500 among the brothers 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:15.979 that this disciple was not to die. 00:02:16.819 --> 00:02:18.659 Yet Jesus did not say to him 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:20.080 that he was not to die, 00:02:20.580 --> 00:02:22.500 but if it is my will 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:24.580 that he remain until I come, 00:02:25.099 --> 00:02:26.319 what is that to you? 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:28.400 This is the disciple 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:29.599 who is bearing witness 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:30.840 about these things 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:33.159 and who has written these things, 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:34.340 and we know 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:36.200 that his testimony is true. 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:38.659 Now, there are many other things 00:02:38.659 --> 00:02:39.640 that Jesus did. 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:41.659 Were every one of them to be written, 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:44.080 I suppose that the world itself 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:45.920 could not contain the books 00:02:45.920 --> 00:02:47.300 that would be written. 00:02:48.140 --> 00:02:48.580 Amen. 00:02:49.099 --> 00:02:50.300 May God bless to us 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:51.819 reading of his own precious 00:02:51.819 --> 00:02:53.340 and most holy word. 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:56.599 We are continuing to look at 00:02:56.599 --> 00:02:57.719 encounters with Jesus, 00:02:58.020 --> 00:02:59.319 and we're looking again 00:02:59.319 --> 00:02:59.980 at this encounter 00:02:59.979 --> 00:03:01.319 between Jesus and Peter 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:03.060 at the very end of John's gospel. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:05.959 Peter has just had breakfast 00:03:05.959 --> 00:03:07.299 with Jesus on the beach. 00:03:07.899 --> 00:03:10.259 Peter was a spectacular failure. 00:03:10.780 --> 00:03:11.679 We looked at that last week. 00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:13.620 Peter had said, 00:03:14.179 --> 00:03:16.799 before Jesus' crucifixion, 00:03:17.359 --> 00:03:18.319 if you go to die, 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:20.299 I will go to die with you. 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:22.439 And when it came time 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:23.300 to test that, 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:24.320 Peter denied 00:03:24.320 --> 00:03:25.719 even knowing Jesus 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:26.880 three separate times. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:28.880 And here, 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:30.840 the spectacular failure 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:31.700 of Jesus Christ, 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:33.660 pardon me, 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:34.280 Peter, 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:35.620 is encountered 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:36.580 by Jesus Christ. 00:03:37.740 --> 00:03:38.320 And Peter 00:03:38.320 --> 00:03:39.080 is encountered 00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:39.640 because Peter 00:03:39.640 --> 00:03:40.500 experienced a moment 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:41.480 where he was treacherous, 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:42.180 and he was a coward, 00:03:42.260 --> 00:03:43.020 and he was a liar. 00:03:43.620 --> 00:03:44.900 And Peter carried 00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:45.480 a wound 00:03:45.480 --> 00:03:46.260 so deep. 00:03:46.620 --> 00:03:47.240 So if you've ever 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:47.720 found yourself 00:03:47.720 --> 00:03:48.300 in a place 00:03:48.300 --> 00:03:49.180 where you think, 00:03:49.580 --> 00:03:50.060 I didn't know 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:51.420 I was capable of that, 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:53.120 crossing a line, 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:54.719 it creates a wound in you 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:55.580 that is so deep, 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:57.280 only the Messiah himself 00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:57.920 can heal it. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:03:59.360 And when they had breakfast 00:03:59.360 --> 00:03:59.980 on the beach, 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:01.200 Jesus Christ, 00:04:01.300 --> 00:04:01.700 the surgeon, 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:02.420 healed Peter 00:04:02.420 --> 00:04:03.400 and restored him. 00:04:04.040 --> 00:04:04.800 And he did that 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:06.420 by way of walking 00:04:06.420 --> 00:04:07.120 through repentance. 00:04:07.480 --> 00:04:08.340 Peter experienced 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:09.340 real repentance. 00:04:09.600 --> 00:04:10.160 And so last week, 00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:10.720 we were asking, 00:04:11.040 --> 00:04:11.920 have you ever experienced 00:04:11.920 --> 00:04:12.600 real repentance? 00:04:12.820 --> 00:04:13.460 And real repentance 00:04:13.460 --> 00:04:14.680 is staring 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:15.700 at the mirror 00:04:15.699 --> 00:04:16.899 of your sin 00:04:16.899 --> 00:04:18.219 that Jesus is holding up 00:04:18.219 --> 00:04:19.519 and looking at the truth 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:21.120 of your wounded heart, 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:21.899 your sinful heart, 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:22.860 and saying, 00:04:22.979 --> 00:04:23.539 who can understand 00:04:23.539 --> 00:04:24.759 how deep the sin goes? 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:25.620 The pride problem 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:26.719 I have really goes. 00:04:27.300 --> 00:04:28.180 And then from that, 00:04:28.300 --> 00:04:29.980 experiencing the godly sorrow 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:30.759 that Peter did. 00:04:30.899 --> 00:04:31.139 It says, 00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:33.439 Peter says it was grieved. 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:34.980 And by that, 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:35.819 it means, 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:37.599 you know you've had 00:04:37.599 --> 00:04:38.480 real godly sorrow 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:39.279 and real repentance 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:40.079 when you say, 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:41.360 I'm not so concerned 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:43.000 about what my sin cost me. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.419 I'm concerned about, 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:45.280 I want to acknowledge 00:04:45.280 --> 00:04:46.460 what my sin cost him, 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:47.780 cost Jesus. 00:04:48.080 --> 00:04:49.020 And that's godly sorrow. 00:04:49.140 --> 00:04:49.819 That's real repentance. 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:52.259 And when Peter experiences that, 00:04:52.460 --> 00:04:53.259 he is restored. 00:04:53.460 --> 00:04:54.020 He's forgiven. 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:55.699 He was already forgiven. 00:04:57.300 --> 00:04:58.560 And that means today, 00:04:58.660 --> 00:04:59.900 if you come as a person 00:04:59.900 --> 00:05:00.819 who knows yourself 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:01.439 as a failure, 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:02.759 who knows yourself 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:03.680 as a person 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:04.819 who has crossed a line 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:05.520 in your life, 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:07.020 if you are willing 00:05:07.020 --> 00:05:08.300 to look in the mirror at all 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:08.700 and say, 00:05:08.780 --> 00:05:10.439 my heart is desperately wicked, 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:11.379 who can understand it? 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:13.879 The absolute best place 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:14.399 to be, 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:15.879 no matter if you're a Christian 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:16.819 or not this morning, 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:17.680 is to come and sit 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:18.779 at the feet of Jesus 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:19.639 at the charcoal fire. 00:05:20.219 --> 00:05:21.279 That's the best place to be, 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:23.100 to sit at Jesus' feet. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:24.139 And the question 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:25.079 I want to ask today 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:26.500 as we look at this passage 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:27.500 and extend it a bit 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:28.360 one more time, 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:29.459 we'll look today 00:05:29.459 --> 00:05:30.860 down to verse 23. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:31.779 We'll have to leave 00:05:31.779 --> 00:05:33.319 the very end of John's gospel 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:33.860 for later. 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:35.959 The question I want to ask 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:36.740 is what happens 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:38.540 when a follower of Jesus 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:40.319 experiences a spectacular failure, 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:41.819 but then they're forgiven 00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:43.279 like Jesus loves to do. 00:05:44.099 --> 00:05:45.079 And they're restored. 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:45.759 That's the word, 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:46.319 restored. 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:48.040 And what we see 00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:48.659 in this passage, 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:49.719 and this is what we never 00:05:49.719 --> 00:05:50.839 could get to last week, 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:51.620 is that then 00:05:51.620 --> 00:05:52.959 you're commissioned. 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:54.860 So what we learn here 00:05:54.860 --> 00:05:56.379 is that when you are restored, 00:05:56.839 --> 00:05:57.959 when you are forgiven, 00:05:58.219 --> 00:05:59.339 you're also commissioned 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:00.500 or recommissioned. 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:02.199 In other words, 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:02.980 verse 19, 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:05.339 when Peter experiences forgiveness, 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:06.800 Jesus says, 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:07.899 follow me. 00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:10.120 be my disciple. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:11.639 You're restored, 00:06:11.739 --> 00:06:12.319 you're recommissioned. 00:06:12.359 --> 00:06:12.859 What does it mean? 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:13.899 So let's think about that. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:14.779 What does it mean? 00:06:15.299 --> 00:06:15.779 What does it mean? 00:06:15.859 --> 00:06:17.379 And today is less of a day 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:18.959 that's maybe pulling 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:19.759 on the heartstrings 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:20.419 and more of a day 00:06:20.419 --> 00:06:21.599 that's asking the question, 00:06:22.159 --> 00:06:22.819 if I'm a Christian 00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:24.579 and I really have received 00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:25.939 forgiveness after forgiveness, 00:06:26.299 --> 00:06:27.299 what does it mean 00:06:27.299 --> 00:06:28.399 to follow him? 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:29.139 So that's the question. 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:29.519 What does it mean 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:30.039 to follow him? 00:06:30.359 --> 00:06:30.919 And then I just want 00:06:30.919 --> 00:06:31.719 to conclude secondly 00:06:31.719 --> 00:06:32.939 with one danger 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:34.099 from this passage, 00:06:34.179 --> 00:06:34.759 one warning 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:36.439 that this passage gives us 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:37.719 about a barrier 00:06:37.719 --> 00:06:39.500 that we all might face 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:40.399 to following Jesus. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:42.019 So first, 00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:43.000 what does it mean 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:43.719 to follow him? 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:46.379 Here, 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:48.279 Jesus is not just saying 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:49.339 to Peter in this passage, 00:06:49.599 --> 00:06:50.480 your sin is covered, 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:51.699 you're forgiven. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:53.579 And he is saying that, 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:54.519 grace upon grace. 00:06:55.399 --> 00:06:56.219 He's turning then 00:06:56.219 --> 00:06:56.659 and saying, 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:58.759 because you have been graced, 00:06:58.860 --> 00:06:59.800 you've been clothed, 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:01.459 you are now being sent, 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:02.519 you're being commissioned, 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:03.839 you're being sent 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:04.979 to go and do something, 00:07:05.060 --> 00:07:06.039 to go and follow me 00:07:06.039 --> 00:07:06.919 all the way. 00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:08.180 In other words, 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:08.859 your failures, 00:07:08.979 --> 00:07:09.799 even as a disciple, 00:07:10.379 --> 00:07:10.519 look, 00:07:10.579 --> 00:07:11.759 if you've been following Jesus 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:12.740 for a long time, 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:13.979 but you've been in a pattern 00:07:13.979 --> 00:07:15.439 of running from him 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:16.539 and of saying, 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:17.240 I didn't know 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:18.539 I would be capable of that, 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:19.399 even as a Christian, 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:22.819 that sin does not disqualify you 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:24.439 from living for him, 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:25.419 following him, 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:26.339 becoming again 00:07:26.339 --> 00:07:27.279 a renewed disciple, 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:28.879 and that's what's going on here. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:30.419 So here's the metaphor 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:31.620 that Jesus gives. 00:07:31.719 --> 00:07:32.399 He says to Peter, 00:07:32.659 --> 00:07:32.919 okay, 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:34.579 you're restored. 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:36.199 Now go three times, 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:37.279 feed my sheep, 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:38.959 tend my lambs, 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:40.039 feed my sheep. 00:07:40.859 --> 00:07:41.620 That metaphor, 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:42.299 of course, 00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:43.259 for Peter means 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:44.319 that he's being called here 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:44.699 and said, 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:44.859 hey, 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:45.719 you're still an apostle, 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:47.139 you're still a disciple, 00:07:47.479 --> 00:07:48.439 you're also going to be 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:48.939 a minister, 00:07:49.099 --> 00:07:49.639 a pastor, 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:51.339 you're going to have to preach. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:52.879 So if you open, 00:07:53.099 --> 00:07:53.620 if you flip over 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:54.419 to the book of Acts, 00:07:54.459 --> 00:07:55.399 you can read all about 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:56.120 Peter's ministry 00:07:56.120 --> 00:07:56.939 and how amazingly 00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:57.839 at times 00:07:57.839 --> 00:07:59.339 he fulfilled that command, 00:07:59.479 --> 00:08:00.319 go and feed my sheep, 00:08:00.479 --> 00:08:01.180 tend my lambs. 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:03.199 But, 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:04.480 what I want to say today 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:05.620 is that this is actually 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:07.300 the ark of every believer. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:08.579 So when you read 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:09.660 the whole of John's gospel, 00:08:09.780 --> 00:08:10.720 you realize that Jesus 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:11.560 is saying this 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:12.300 to all of us. 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:13.300 So if you come today 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:13.879 as a Christian, 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:15.100 the ark, 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:16.759 the story of every believer 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:18.800 is you've had to stand 00:08:18.800 --> 00:08:19.460 in the mirror 00:08:19.460 --> 00:08:20.639 and Jesus say, 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:21.519 stare right into 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:22.280 the heart of your sin 00:08:22.280 --> 00:08:24.860 and receive grace 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:25.519 and restoration 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:26.259 and forgiveness 00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:28.199 and now go and feed 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:28.639 my sheep, 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:30.500 go and tend my lambs. 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:31.899 So if you're a follower 00:08:31.899 --> 00:08:32.539 of Jesus today, 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:33.539 this is not just for Peter. 00:08:33.939 --> 00:08:34.580 The command, 00:08:34.819 --> 00:08:35.480 feed my lambs, 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:36.100 tend my sheep, 00:08:36.319 --> 00:08:36.980 follow me, 00:08:37.439 --> 00:08:38.419 is for every single 00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:38.960 one of us. 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:40.379 And so let's ask 00:08:40.379 --> 00:08:41.279 a little more, 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:41.740 okay, 00:08:41.899 --> 00:08:43.100 what does that mean 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:44.000 for us as people 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:45.080 in 2025 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:46.299 to actually do something 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:46.799 like that? 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:47.559 Let me give you 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:48.419 three things it means. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:49.319 First, 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:51.860 Jesus says to Peter 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:52.539 three times, 00:08:53.419 --> 00:08:54.279 do you love me? 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:55.379 Do you love me? 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:56.299 Do you love me? 00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:58.159 Do you love me more 00:08:58.159 --> 00:08:58.740 than these? 00:08:58.819 --> 00:08:59.639 Is the first question 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:00.259 he asks him. 00:09:00.959 --> 00:09:02.419 And we learned 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:03.779 that back in John 18 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:04.719 and before that, 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:06.019 Peter had said, 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:07.099 Lord, 00:09:07.199 --> 00:09:07.759 I love you 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.379 and I love you 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:09.399 more than all these guys 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:10.419 and I will follow you 00:09:10.419 --> 00:09:11.379 all the way to the very end 00:09:11.379 --> 00:09:12.839 even if it costs me my life. 00:09:13.579 --> 00:09:14.699 And when the time came, 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:18.039 he failed so spectacularly. 00:09:18.539 --> 00:09:19.279 So today, 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:21.620 resting on his pride 00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:22.319 in the past, 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:23.919 following Jesus 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:25.299 out of competition, 00:09:25.599 --> 00:09:26.139 following Jesus 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:27.000 to get something, 00:09:27.199 --> 00:09:28.679 to get a sense of 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:29.699 I'm better than other people. 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:30.719 That was his life before. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:32.740 But after he failed 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:34.439 and then the resurrection happens, 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:35.539 he comes back again 00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:36.539 and he receives 00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:37.259 the same question, 00:09:37.699 --> 00:09:38.319 do you love me 00:09:38.319 --> 00:09:38.980 more than these? 00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:40.579 And now what he says is, 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:41.480 I love you. 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:43.059 Lord, 00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:44.019 you know that I love you. 00:09:44.719 --> 00:09:46.120 And because he has experienced 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:48.399 such grief over his sin, 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:49.659 he can truly come 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:50.240 in this moment 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.199 and say, 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.040 I love you 00:09:52.040 --> 00:09:53.180 out of a place of weakness. 00:09:54.560 --> 00:09:54.920 Now here, 00:09:55.280 --> 00:09:55.540 friends, 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:56.480 everybody today, 00:09:57.160 --> 00:09:59.040 what is the first way 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:00.300 after you've been forgiven 00:10:00.300 --> 00:10:00.879 and restored 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:02.600 that Jesus says, 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:03.120 follow me? 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:03.820 How do you do it? 00:10:04.020 --> 00:10:04.460 Verse 19, 00:10:04.520 --> 00:10:05.360 how do you follow him? 00:10:05.420 --> 00:10:06.100 And the first thing 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:06.820 is to see this. 00:10:07.660 --> 00:10:08.700 You follow him 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.800 by turning around 00:10:09.800 --> 00:10:11.360 and loving him. 00:10:12.460 --> 00:10:13.240 And so I just want 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:14.259 to simply ask today, 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:16.440 follower of Jesus Christ, 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:18.360 do you love Jesus? 00:10:19.880 --> 00:10:21.040 Can you say today 00:10:21.040 --> 00:10:23.180 when Jesus asks, 00:10:24.060 --> 00:10:25.020 in the midst of your weakness, 00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:26.260 in the midst of the fact 00:10:26.260 --> 00:10:27.460 that he has died for you, 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:28.780 he has risen for you, 00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:29.680 can you say today, 00:10:31.160 --> 00:10:31.420 yes, 00:10:31.540 --> 00:10:31.960 Lord, 00:10:32.020 --> 00:10:32.740 you know I love you. 00:10:33.540 --> 00:10:34.380 And what does that mean? 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.080 That means 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:37.220 not a perfect love at all, 00:10:37.280 --> 00:10:38.100 but in some sense 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:39.680 having affection for Christ, 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:41.260 in some sense 00:10:41.260 --> 00:10:42.440 having a heart of affection 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:44.480 that he draws you in 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:45.620 over and over again. 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:47.980 But if you think as well 00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:49.279 about the rest of John's gospel, 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:50.279 in John 15, 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:50.659 John, 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:51.560 what did Jesus say? 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:51.860 He said, 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:53.840 if you love me, 00:10:54.180 --> 00:10:54.879 if you love me, 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:55.500 how do you love him? 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.879 You will keep my commandments. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:58.039 You'll listen to my teachings. 00:10:58.940 --> 00:10:59.779 And so we learn, 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:01.700 the first way to follow Jesus 00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:02.659 is just to ask the question, 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:03.560 am I growing 00:11:03.560 --> 00:11:04.759 in my love for him? 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:06.920 And if I love him, 00:11:06.920 --> 00:11:08.820 am I looking at his teachings 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:10.500 and seeking to obey them? 00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:11.500 Now let me take that further. 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:12.360 Secondly, 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:13.659 the second way to follow Jesus. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:15.460 It's right here in the passage. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:16.720 When he says, 00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:17.519 do you love me? 00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:19.399 Then he turns and says three times, 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:21.159 feed my sheep, 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:22.840 tend my lambs, 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:24.220 feed my sheep. 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:27.980 And notice the pronoun there, 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:30.019 feed my sheep, 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:31.320 tend my lambs, 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:31.960 Jesus says. 00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:33.620 Sometimes, 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:36.300 I know that this happens 00:11:36.300 --> 00:11:36.879 to everybody 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:37.720 that's a member 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:39.080 or attends a local church 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:39.899 pretty regularly, 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:40.539 but sometimes, 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:41.420 especially when you're 00:11:41.420 --> 00:11:41.779 a minister, 00:11:41.920 --> 00:11:42.240 pastor, 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:43.680 people will say to you 00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:44.220 something like, 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:46.460 how's your church doing? 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:47.700 You know, 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.539 and then you say, 00:11:48.680 --> 00:11:49.720 you never know what to say. 00:11:49.940 --> 00:11:50.180 You know, 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:50.820 I don't know. 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:51.659 I think it's okay. 00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:52.920 Other people probably don't. 00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:53.539 I'm not sure. 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:56.639 I'm thankful for what God's doing 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.100 around here. 00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:59.220 But what's the question? 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:00.800 How is your church doing? 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.080 You could ask that as a member. 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:03.360 How's things at your church? 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:04.860 And if you're being cheeky, 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:06.480 you want to say, 00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:07.220 well, 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:07.879 hold on a second. 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:08.899 It's not my church. 00:12:09.899 --> 00:12:11.079 So Jesus here says, 00:12:11.579 --> 00:12:13.100 feed my sheep, 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:13.740 tend my lambs. 00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:14.559 And so he's saying to Peter, 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:15.919 get out. 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:16.759 In other words, 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:17.840 what is he talking about? 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:18.120 He's saying, 00:12:18.199 --> 00:12:20.000 get out and love the church. 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:21.419 Love the church, 00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:22.100 my sheep, 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.039 my lambs. 00:12:23.439 --> 00:12:24.240 That's who he's talking about. 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:24.579 Now look, 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.819 if we were to put it all together, 00:12:26.699 --> 00:12:27.259 what does it mean 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:28.120 to follow Jesus, 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:29.860 to respond to grace, 00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:30.819 to be a disciple? 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:32.360 It means first, 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:34.100 to turn around and say, 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:35.639 not in order to get 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:36.340 into his kingdom, 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:37.600 but because I already am, 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:38.980 I want to grow in love 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:39.280 with you, 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:39.500 Jesus, 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.360 and love for you. 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:41.560 Love God, 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:43.180 and then he says, 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:44.500 love the church. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:45.920 Sounds like a good 00:12:45.920 --> 00:12:46.500 vision statement. 00:12:47.160 --> 00:12:47.780 Love God, 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:48.899 love the church, 00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:50.420 and then love the place 00:12:50.420 --> 00:12:50.940 that you've been sent, 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:51.500 love the city. 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:53.519 This is the sum total 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.019 of what it means 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:54.720 to follow Jesus. 00:12:54.920 --> 00:12:55.420 Love God, 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.460 grow in love for Jesus, 00:12:56.920 --> 00:12:57.899 and love the church 00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:58.759 is what he ultimately 00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.680 tells Peter here. 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.200 He's been restored, 00:13:01.800 --> 00:13:02.240 and he says, 00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:02.800 love me, 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.840 and tend the people, 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.420 tend the sheep 00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:06.240 that you've been given. 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.300 And this is for everybody. 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:07.740 Third, 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:08.580 lastly here, 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.720 to love him, 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:12.180 let me now bring this 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:12.820 into summary. 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:13.259 Okay, 00:13:13.280 --> 00:13:14.340 if I could summarize this 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.220 in one image, 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:16.680 and it's right here, 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:17.040 I think, 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.320 coming out of the text. 00:13:19.160 --> 00:13:20.120 To follow Jesus, 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.360 to be a disciple of Jesus, 00:13:21.780 --> 00:13:23.759 is to give him, 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.120 then, 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:24.960 your heart. 00:13:26.040 --> 00:13:27.220 So it's not to give him 00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:27.680 your heart 00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:28.899 in order to get his heart. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.820 It's not to give him 00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:30.220 your heart 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.519 in order to get 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.580 God's love for you. 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:34.060 It's because you have 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:34.780 God's love, 00:13:35.160 --> 00:13:35.639 then you say, 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.860 now I want to grow 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:37.939 daily in giving 00:13:37.939 --> 00:13:38.740 my heart away 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.860 to you, 00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:40.139 Jesus. 00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.620 John Calvin, 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:43.539 during the Reformation, 00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:44.580 the great reformer 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:45.279 of Geneva, 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:47.500 he would write 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:48.080 a lot of letters 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:48.799 to people, 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:50.059 and we have 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:51.199 some of those letters, 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.539 and at the bottom 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.360 of his letters, 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.460 he would always, 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.000 often, 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:56.799 stamp or seal 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.519 and wax 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.159 an image, 00:13:58.600 --> 00:13:59.220 and this image 00:13:59.220 --> 00:13:59.700 has become 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.399 pretty famous. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.220 some universities 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:03.100 use it, 00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:03.899 or seminaries 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:04.819 use it as their image, 00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:05.639 but it is, 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.299 you might have seen it, 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:07.379 it's two hands 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.279 like this 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:09.139 holding a heart, 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:10.819 and sometimes 00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:12.419 when he would 00:14:12.419 --> 00:14:13.360 put underneath 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.000 the seal, 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:14.980 he would write, 00:14:15.459 --> 00:14:15.939 my heart 00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:16.740 I give to you, 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.079 Lord, 00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:17.799 promptly 00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.639 and sincerely. 00:14:19.699 --> 00:14:20.340 And so it was really, 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:21.699 the motto of his life 00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:21.980 is, 00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:23.539 because you have given me 00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:24.000 your heart, 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:24.439 Christ, 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.579 I give you back 00:14:25.579 --> 00:14:26.120 my heart, 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.379 and that's what it means 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:28.159 to follow Jesus. 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:29.740 It's a great image 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:31.039 to take away today. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:32.360 In other words, 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.179 the final hymn 00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:33.659 we're going to sing 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.220 in a few minutes 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:34.500 is, 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.460 I will go 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.539 where thou leadest me, 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:38.159 I will give you 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:39.000 my heart today. 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.100 Now, 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.820 what do we learn? 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:42.639 What do we learn here? 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.080 As a follower of Jesus, 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.019 we learn that 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.299 he is calling us 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:47.939 not to be directed 00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:49.340 by our own desires, 00:14:49.820 --> 00:14:50.740 but directed 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.399 by his mission for us, 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.360 to give our hearts away, 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:54.559 and that's exactly 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:55.220 what's going on 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.559 in verses 18 and 19. 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:58.320 If you look down 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:00.120 in verse 18 and 19, 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:01.139 he gives this parable, 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:01.899 Jesus does, 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:03.019 to Peter, 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:03.539 and he says, 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:04.679 truly, truly, 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.259 I say to you, 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.039 when you were young, 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:07.439 you would dress yourself, 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.519 you would walk 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.740 wherever you wanted to walk, 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:10.879 but when you're old, 00:15:10.939 --> 00:15:11.480 you're going to stretch 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.179 out your hands, 00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:12.980 somebody else 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:13.759 is going to dress you, 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:15.399 somebody else 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.259 is going to carry you 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:16.980 where you do not 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:17.559 want to go. 00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:18.860 And John adds 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.740 this little parenthetical 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.139 comment, 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:21.779 that was a prophecy, 00:15:21.940 --> 00:15:22.399 a parable, 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.960 about the death 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.899 that Peter was going 00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.539 to ultimately 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.360 go and die. 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.940 What's going on here? 00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.060 This parable, 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.100 this parable, 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:30.899 he's saying, 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:32.019 when you're early 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.980 in your discipleship, 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:33.240 Peter, 00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:33.919 when you're following 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:34.759 me after this, 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.019 things are going 00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:36.659 to be smooth, 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:37.159 they're going 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:37.720 to be okay. 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.700 Read Acts, 00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:39.480 the early chapters 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.340 of the book of Acts, 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:42.060 but when you grow older, 00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.480 somebody's going 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:43.919 to take you 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:44.500 where you do not 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:44.940 want to go. 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.200 And you can even 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.100 notice in this, 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:47.800 in verse 18, 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.240 he says, 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.340 somebody's going 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:49.960 to force you 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.920 to stretch out 00:15:50.920 --> 00:15:51.519 your hands. 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:53.379 So we learn 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.259 by tradition, 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.399 second century 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:56.159 Tertullian, 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.639 Clement of Rome, 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.179 these early 00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:59.100 second century 00:15:59.100 --> 00:15:59.579 disciples, 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:01.019 that Peter, 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:01.899 around 80, 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.360 70, 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.480 was crucified. 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:05.500 And Jesus here 00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:06.059 is referencing 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:06.500 that. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.960 When you grow old, 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.319 this is going 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:09.439 to be 35 years 00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:10.120 later from this 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.419 moment, 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:11.340 somebody's going 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:11.939 to stretch out 00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:12.360 your hands 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:12.799 for you. 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:13.699 And you're going 00:16:13.699 --> 00:16:14.419 to go to a place 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:14.879 that you do not 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.279 want to go. 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.840 And that's what 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:18.059 it means for you 00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:18.699 to be called. 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.079 Now, 00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:22.759 the last two 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.659 looks at John 21, 00:16:24.219 --> 00:16:24.759 let's bring it 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.099 all together 00:16:25.099 --> 00:16:25.799 and connect this. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.019 We have noticed, 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:28.500 if you've been 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:28.799 with us, 00:16:28.859 --> 00:16:29.279 we've noticed 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.679 that there have 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.439 been some deep 00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:31.679 connections between 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:32.559 multiple passages 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.319 in the Gospels. 00:16:33.979 --> 00:16:34.619 The beginning 00:16:34.619 --> 00:16:35.359 of John 21, 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.219 the disciples 00:16:36.219 --> 00:16:36.979 were out fishing. 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:39.079 They were not 00:16:39.079 --> 00:16:39.839 doing the ministry 00:16:39.839 --> 00:16:40.479 God called them 00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:40.699 to do. 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.179 They were sitting 00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:41.879 on their hands. 00:16:42.719 --> 00:16:43.839 And that had 00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:45.179 happened in Luke 5 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:45.719 as well, 00:16:45.819 --> 00:16:46.599 when Peter and 00:16:46.599 --> 00:16:47.039 these disciples 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.719 were first called. 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.460 In Luke 5, 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:50.040 they were out fishing 00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:50.840 and Jesus said, 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.300 you haven't caught 00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:51.720 any fish, 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:52.440 go cast your net 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:53.879 on the other side. 00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:54.980 John 21, 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.879 you haven't caught 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.320 any fish, 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.100 cast your net 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.840 on the other side. 00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:58.700 That's the scene 00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:58.980 here. 00:16:59.420 --> 00:17:00.279 Or last week, 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.399 we saw that. 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.220 In John 18, 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.740 when Peter denied 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.759 Jesus three times, 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.440 where was it? 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.100 If you were here 00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:06.420 with us, 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.000 you remember, 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.180 around a charcoal 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:08.660 fire. 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:09.779 John 21, 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:11.500 Jesus restores 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.259 Peter around 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:13.220 a charcoal fire. 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:14.980 John 21, 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:16.100 15 to 25 today. 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:19.299 When Jesus wants 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.420 to express to Peter 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.460 what it's really like 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.120 to be a disciple, 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.200 what it's really like 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:23.860 to follow him 00:17:23.860 --> 00:17:24.480 all the way, 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.740 he says to him, 00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:26.940 I bid thee go 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:27.460 and die. 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.539 I bid thee go 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.480 and die for me. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:33.319 Back in Mark chapter 8, 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.519 the first time Jesus 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.299 ever said anything 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.000 like this, 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.259 Jesus said 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:38.140 to the disciples, 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:38.700 to Peter, 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.360 I have a cross 00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:40.860 to bear 00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:42.740 and you can't go 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.380 where I'm going. 00:17:44.300 --> 00:17:45.060 And Peter said, 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.020 what do you mean? 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.680 And Jesus said, 00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.900 I have to bear the cross, 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.320 I have to go 00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:48.860 and die for you. 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:49.540 And Peter said, 00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:50.000 oh Peter, 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:50.980 he said, 00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:53.460 no Lord, 00:17:53.540 --> 00:17:54.280 you can't die, 00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:55.320 we won't let that happen. 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:56.480 And Jesus said, 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.980 get behind me Satan. 00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:58.600 You know, 00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.260 foolish Peter, 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:01.080 always running his mouth 00:18:01.080 --> 00:18:01.920 and there he was again. 00:18:02.040 --> 00:18:03.020 And then Jesus turns 00:18:03.020 --> 00:18:03.660 and he says something 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:04.380 so important 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.460 that's right here 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.080 in John 21. 00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.100 He said, 00:18:07.100 --> 00:18:07.860 you too 00:18:07.860 --> 00:18:09.160 must take up 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:09.600 your cross 00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:10.240 and follow me. 00:18:11.620 --> 00:18:12.160 Mark 8, 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:12.820 John 21, 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:14.079 what is Jesus saying? 00:18:14.399 --> 00:18:15.859 When he turns to Peter 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.159 and says, 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:16.919 one day you are going 00:18:16.919 --> 00:18:17.579 to go and die, 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.879 he's connecting it 00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:20.119 to the same claim 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:21.159 Jesus has been making 00:18:21.159 --> 00:18:22.679 the whole of his ministry 00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:23.480 in the gospels. 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.939 He said to followers 00:18:24.939 --> 00:18:25.379 of Jesus 00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:26.339 over and over again, 00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:27.240 what does it mean 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:27.939 to follow him? 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:28.679 It is, 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:29.460 I bid thee 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.200 go and die. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.039 Take up your cross 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:32.980 and follow me. 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:33.859 That is the heart 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.579 of discipleship. 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:35.159 It's the heart 00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.939 of what it means 00:18:35.939 --> 00:18:36.579 to follow. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:37.980 Love Jesus, 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.419 tend my sheep, 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.200 love the church, 00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:41.220 and I bid thee 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:41.740 go and die. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.640 Now what type 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:43.720 of death is this? 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:45.940 As we finish 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:47.039 this first point, 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.400 what type of death 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.059 are we talking about? 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:50.380 This is a death 00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:51.460 that every Christian 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.200 is called to. 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.319 And is it 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.819 the physical martyrdom 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.839 that Peter experiences? 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.180 No, 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:56.880 not at all. 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:57.940 We of course know 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.420 that most Christians 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.180 are not called 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:01.279 to become martyrs. 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:01.799 Some are, 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:02.279 some aren't. 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:03.980 But what type 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.620 of death is it? 00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:06.500 There's a commentator 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.960 on Mark's gospel 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:09.140 that's fairly well known, 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.140 a guy named James Edwards. 00:19:10.140 --> 00:19:11.920 And this is what 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:12.700 he writes about 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:14.240 the idea 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.140 that Jesus says. 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:15.500 What does it mean 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.080 to be a follower 00:19:16.080 --> 00:19:16.960 when he says, 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:18.240 take up your cross? 00:19:19.040 --> 00:19:19.620 What exactly 00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.500 does Jesus mean by that? 00:19:20.540 --> 00:19:20.880 This is what 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.820 James Edwards writes. 00:19:22.520 --> 00:19:22.900 He says, 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:24.800 Jesus chose an image 00:19:24.800 --> 00:19:27.259 of extreme repugnance 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:29.180 to describe discipleship. 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.540 The cross was the instrument 00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:32.840 of cruelty, pain, 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.800 dehumanization, 00:19:33.800 --> 00:19:34.540 and shame. 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.540 The cross symbolized 00:19:36.540 --> 00:19:38.180 the hated Roman oppression 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.220 and was reserved 00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:41.000 for the lowest social classes. 00:19:41.560 --> 00:19:42.580 It was the most visible 00:19:42.580 --> 00:19:43.900 and omnipresent aspect 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:46.320 of Rome's terror apparatus. 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:49.940 He notes that in 71 BC, 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.380 the Roman general Crassus 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.799 defeated the famous 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:55.380 slave Spartacus. 00:19:56.100 --> 00:19:56.600 You probably know 00:19:56.600 --> 00:19:57.320 something of that story. 00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.440 And what did he do? 00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:58.980 Crassus, 00:19:59.059 --> 00:19:59.700 the Roman general, 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.180 crucified Spartacus 00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.720 and 6,000 people 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.700 down the stretch 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.740 of one long road. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.080 And that was really 00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:06.600 the beginning 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.600 of the cross 00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.960 as Rome's terror apparatus. 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:11.180 One century later 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.200 in 71, 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.539 approximately 80, 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:14.720 Nero, 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.720 the emperor of Rome, 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.820 will crucify Peter 00:20:16.820 --> 00:20:17.980 along a road 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.759 in the city of Rome. 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:21.400 And James Edwards comments 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:21.819 and he says, 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:22.960 this is the image. 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:23.860 Boy, 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.220 this is the image 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:26.380 that Jesus chose 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:27.120 to say, 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.220 go and be my disciple 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:28.740 like that. 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:30.120 Take up a cross. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.420 This repugnant, 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.960 hideous image 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.380 in the first century. 00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:34.740 You know, 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.440 a Jewish person 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.000 in the first century 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.720 would have known 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:38.259 how ugly this was, 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.480 how horrific this was. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.180 And ultimately, 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:41.839 at the heart of it, 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.860 it's got a death. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.860 That's what he's talking about, 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:44.299 a death. 00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:45.480 What kind of death is this? 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:46.579 He says, 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:46.940 Peter, 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:48.460 to truly follow me, 00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:50.019 I bid thee go and die. 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.079 Christian friend here, 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:51.500 disciple, 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.200 if you are a follower of Jesus, 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:53.779 he's saying, 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:55.240 I bid thee go and die. 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:57.000 What kind of a death is it? 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:59.099 And just one little line 00:20:59.099 --> 00:21:00.319 back in Mark 8 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.720 tells us ultimately 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.620 what it was all about. 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.759 And back in Mark 8, 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.339 he says, 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:06.099 if you really want to follow me, 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.700 if you want to save your life, 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.700 you must lose it 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.579 for my sake. 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.599 What kind of death is it 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.400 that you have to die 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:14.360 to be a follower of Jesus? 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:14.479 Jesus. 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.899 It's not physical necessarily. 00:21:17.139 --> 00:21:17.639 It's not the death 00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:18.559 of a martyr necessarily. 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:18.879 No. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:20.299 What has to die? 00:21:20.419 --> 00:21:21.019 What has to die 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:22.519 is a part of you. 00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:24.319 That's what has to die. 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.000 That's what Jesus 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:25.679 is talking about. 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.719 To be a follower of Jesus 00:21:27.719 --> 00:21:28.799 that's growing, 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:30.539 that's growing in love for God, 00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:31.439 love for the church. 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.339 He's saying, 00:21:32.459 --> 00:21:32.799 ultimately, 00:21:32.899 --> 00:21:33.659 that looks like this 00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:35.379 killing a part of you, 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.559 killing a part of yourself, 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.219 a daily dying 00:21:38.219 --> 00:21:39.119 that has to take place 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.939 where you are, 00:21:40.199 --> 00:21:41.000 one part of you 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.159 is looking at another part of you 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:44.000 and saying, 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.120 this old part of me 00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:45.820 has to die. 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.320 It has to be mortified. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.180 It has to be killed. 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.600 And it sounds really philosophical, 00:21:51.540 --> 00:21:54.660 but it's simply something like this. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.540 Paul says, 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.300 this type of death 00:21:57.300 --> 00:21:58.259 is the death 00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:59.600 of the love of self. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.740 And Jesus is saying, 00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:02.660 true discipleship 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:04.360 is to give your heart away 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:05.160 every day 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.420 into the hand of Jesus 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:06.800 and say, 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.980 I recognize today 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:09.759 that something of me 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.500 has to die 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:12.059 if I'm going to follow you. 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:14.079 And what has to die 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.339 is the love of self 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.299 expressed 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:18.599 in selfish relationship, 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.740 selfish ambition, 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:23.419 selfish desire for wealth, 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.279 selfish greed, 00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:27.720 selfish care, 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.419 selfish comfort. 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:31.339 And he's saying here, 00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:31.539 Peter, 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:33.000 you've got to be willing 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:34.539 to become fully a follower 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.720 by losing that part of yourself 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.099 that wants to live for self, 00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:38.980 that wants to love self 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.519 all the way 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.659 to the day of your death. 00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:41.480 This is a call 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.420 to daily dying. 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:45.180 This is a classic 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.259 Puritan expression. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.420 Wake up every day 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:48.720 and say, 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.119 Lord, 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.259 to live is Christ, 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.259 to die is gain. 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.539 I, 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.159 how does Paul put it? 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.420 I have been crucified 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.079 with Christ. 00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.519 It is not me 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.220 who lives today, 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.399 but me in him. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:02.779 So I give you my heart 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:04.160 into your hands. 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:06.299 Show me all the ways today 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.740 that I need to die to self 00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.799 in order to live for you. 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.599 It's very painful. 00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.299 It's not easy. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.759 It is very difficult for us 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.639 and it is the call 00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:15.220 that we're given. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.420 Not in order to be 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.899 a part of God's people, 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.680 but because we are. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.460 The call to dying to self 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:21.799 every day. 00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.019 Now, 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.899 let me finish secondly 00:23:23.899 --> 00:23:24.879 and briefly with this. 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.359 There is one warning here 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:28.200 that is a barrier 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:30.720 to this type of discipleship 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.019 in the passage. 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.900 The danger is always, 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:34.839 this is what happened 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:36.079 with Peter over and over again, 00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:38.160 is that without that commitment 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.579 to daily dying to self, 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.660 you will drift back 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.480 to your old life. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.380 You will drift back 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:44.279 to the old desires. 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.240 You will drift back 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.980 to your old self. 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:47.500 And Peter found himself 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.259 in that place 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.180 over and over again 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:49.759 in his life 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.259 and that's an experience 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.220 that any Christian 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.579 in the room 00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.700 can describe, right? 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.279 Verse 20 and 21, 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.700 boy, Peter, 00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:01.360 he's just been restored. 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.840 He's just been forgiven. 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.759 And in verse 20 and 21, 00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:05.920 it says that 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:06.960 as Jesus and Peter 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.900 are walking down 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.600 the beach together, 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.920 Peter turns around 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.460 and he sees John, 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.080 the disciple, 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.460 following them. 00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:14.180 They're walking down 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:14.559 the beach. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:16.600 John is following them. 00:24:17.100 --> 00:24:18.160 And as soon 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:20.299 as Jesus says to Peter, 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.640 you have to go 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.620 and die for me, 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:25.059 Peter's response is, 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.980 what about him? 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.019 John, 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:30.000 is he going to have to? 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.420 He says, 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:32.480 Lord, what about this man, 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:32.900 John? 00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:34.480 He's the other leader 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.059 of the apostles. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.920 Is he going to have 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.720 to do it too? 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.099 And Jesus can only say, 00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:42.160 do not worry about him. 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.440 Why are you asking 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.039 about John? 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.819 I have put you 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.860 where I want to put you 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.779 and I've given you 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.519 the life that you're 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.000 going to have. 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.360 Go and die to yourself 00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:52.059 and follow me. 00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:55.079 a great barrier 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:57.059 to growth as a disciple. 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.700 I had three, 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.579 I cut it back to one. 00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.099 You'll be thankful. 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.299 A great barrier 00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:02.619 to growth as a disciple 00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:06.220 is the alluring power 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:08.200 of comparison and envy, 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:11.579 of looking at other people's lives 00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.799 as a Christian 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.980 and saying, 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.319 Lord, 00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:15.460 why didn't you give me 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.179 that life? 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.639 Why didn't you give me 00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:18.240 that gift? 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.319 Why didn't you call me 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:20.079 to that part 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.899 of your little kingdom, 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.259 of your enormous kingdom, 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:22.939 a little part 00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:23.679 of your enormous kingdom? 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.799 Why didn't you give me 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.220 that, Lord? 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.679 Comparison and envy, 00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:28.559 as it's commonly said, 00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.939 is a thief of all joy. 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.799 It will steal your joy away 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:33.819 and it will actually turn, 00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:35.039 what does comparison 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.740 and envy do? 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:37.279 It turns us back 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.199 into self 00:25:38.199 --> 00:25:39.419 when Jesus has said, 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:40.960 give me your heart 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.599 every day, 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.439 daily dying. 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.179 Comparison and envy 00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:45.579 are one of the many issues 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.319 we struggle with 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:47.659 that turns our minds 00:25:47.659 --> 00:25:48.079 and our hearts 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.119 back to self-interest 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:50.199 instead of self-forgetfulness 00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:52.119 because it constantly 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:53.379 keeps us in our own heads 00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:53.839 and says, 00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.699 why not? 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:55.459 Why not me? 00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:56.739 Why don't I have this? 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.579 Lord, 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.799 why didn't you give me this? 00:25:59.439 --> 00:26:00.639 And we're being told here, 00:26:00.739 --> 00:26:01.739 we're being shown here 00:26:01.739 --> 00:26:02.539 by Peter 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:04.059 that you can be standing 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.799 in the presence 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.619 of Jesus Christ 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:06.139 restored, 00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:07.079 forgiven, 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.559 recommissioned, 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:08.879 saying, 00:26:08.979 --> 00:26:09.119 Peter, 00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:09.539 you're going to go 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.659 do great things 00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:12.199 for the kingdom of God 00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:13.119 and immediately 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.919 sidelined by comparison 00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:15.719 and envy 00:26:15.719 --> 00:26:16.500 and struggling 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.219 with the, 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:17.619 ultimately, 00:26:17.739 --> 00:26:18.119 what is this? 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.919 This is the allure 00:26:18.919 --> 00:26:19.619 of comfort 00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:20.819 and saying, 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:22.159 that sounds great, 00:26:22.219 --> 00:26:22.359 Lord, 00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:23.459 I want to be forgiven 00:26:23.459 --> 00:26:24.839 but I don't want 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:25.779 to count the cost 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.500 of discipleship. 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.579 I don't, 00:26:27.699 --> 00:26:28.099 I want to live 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:28.819 a comfortable life. 00:26:29.219 --> 00:26:29.859 Why does John 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:31.279 get to not die for you? 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.919 Why do I have to? 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.099 He wants to be comfortable. 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.599 You see, 00:26:35.699 --> 00:26:37.039 the allure of comfort 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:37.839 drives him 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.799 to the allure, 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:39.459 the struggle 00:26:39.459 --> 00:26:40.079 of comparison 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.539 and envy. 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.259 Envy, 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.459 what is love? 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.239 What is true love? 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:45.219 Love is when 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.380 you look out 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.839 at other people, 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.860 when Jesus says, 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.720 feed my sheep, 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.600 tend my lambs, 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.400 when you look out 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.000 at other people 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.759 and say, 00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.700 I'm happy 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.900 with your happiness. 00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.360 That's real love. 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.220 I am excited 00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.559 for the good things 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.400 going on in your life. 00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:03.240 Envy in comparison 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.779 is a nasty thing 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.400 and what does it do? 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.259 It says, 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.079 I'm sad 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.740 when you're happy 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.420 and I'm happy 00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:08.980 when you're sad. 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:12.500 And Jesus is saying, 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.400 Peter's showing, 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.299 watch out 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:15.779 because it will take you 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.980 out of the path 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.880 of growing 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:18.960 and following Jesus. 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:20.099 And what's the only antidote? 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.519 Daily dying. 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:22.799 Lord, 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.620 I give you my heart today. 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.519 Kill that part of myself 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:27.380 that needs to die 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:28.480 that is envious 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.400 and comparing 00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:30.299 and struggling 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.160 with wanting comfort 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.480 far more than giving myself 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.059 away for you. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.660 That's the part of us 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.920 that ultimately has to die. 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:38.480 Let me bring it home to me, 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.299 to a pastor, 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.079 to a minister. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.120 This can happen to anybody. 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.059 Here's an example. 00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:44.500 Can the local pastor, 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.480 can the local minister 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:48.180 look at what God 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.920 might be doing 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.660 down the street 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.980 bringing a small revival 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.880 or a big revival 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.660 to the church, 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.799 to the Baptist church 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.380 down the road 00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:56.299 and say, 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.400 I'm happy 00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:58.319 for what God is doing 00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:58.720 down there. 00:27:58.980 --> 00:28:00.000 I'm excited for that. 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:00.420 I want, 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:02.339 if we lose people to that, 00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:03.000 if people go there 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.960 because of all God's doing, 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:04.940 I want to see 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.660 the kingdom grow. 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:06.940 See, 00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:07.720 the allure of envy 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.279 would say, 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.000 institutionalism. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.480 It's this place or nothing. 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.059 It's the allure 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.000 that can capture all of us. 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:17.960 Maybe social media today, 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.620 maybe you need to, 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:19.539 as we pray in a moment, 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.559 need to ask, 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.900 is social media 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:23.860 robbing me of discipleship 00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:26.240 by putting me 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.740 in the path 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.200 of comparison and envy 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:29.460 and self-interest, 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.440 turning me back in on 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.480 what is my life like 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.220 compared to everybody else 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.759 all the time 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.839 and taking away 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.559 the possibility 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.559 of daily dying? 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:38.440 God has put you, 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.119 let me close with this, 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.159 God has put you 00:28:40.159 --> 00:28:41.639 exactly where you are. 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.099 God had given Peter 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:44.200 exactly what he wanted 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.659 for Peter 00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:46.659 and that was a hard 00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:47.379 providence, 00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:48.179 martyrdom, 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:50.180 and he's calling us 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:51.220 today to say, 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.759 do not let comparison 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.400 and envy 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:54.440 take away 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:56.100 the path of calling, 00:28:56.560 --> 00:28:57.620 the focus on it 00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:59.060 that God has ultimately 00:28:59.060 --> 00:28:59.580 given you. 00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:02.339 Charles Dickens, 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.099 in his book, 00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:04.319 A Tale of Two Cities, 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.299 there's a character 00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:08.079 named Sidney Carton 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.679 and if you've read it, 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.480 you'll know about Sidney. 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:12.759 Sidney was a man 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:14.460 who had a life of regret. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.659 He was an older man. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.579 He really hated himself, 00:29:17.679 --> 00:29:18.599 a lot of self-loathing. 00:29:19.659 --> 00:29:20.839 He was deeply cynical 00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:22.720 and it's because 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.960 he was, 00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.740 as a young man, 00:29:25.339 --> 00:29:26.139 told by everybody 00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:27.299 how brilliant he was 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.579 and how much he was 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.460 going to do with his life 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.179 and how great he was 00:29:30.179 --> 00:29:30.579 going to be 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.960 and he had just lived 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:33.399 a really mediocre life. 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.319 He had never done 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:34.960 anything great 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:36.859 and as he got older, 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:38.500 it made him deeply upset 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:38.980 and angry, 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.119 really self-loathing, 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.019 hated the world, 00:29:41.199 --> 00:29:41.679 hated himself 00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:44.159 but at the end of the novel, 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.379 one of his friends, 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.019 Charles, 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:48.000 was arrested falsely 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.879 and imprisoned 00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:50.759 and Charles was sentenced 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:52.259 to death by guillotine 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:55.539 and Sidney, 00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:57.819 coming to himself 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.740 and getting out 00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.460 of his self-interest 00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:00.220 and self-loathing, 00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:01.339 getting out of his own head. 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:04.079 He realized that 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:04.980 throughout the book, 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:06.240 Dickens hints at this 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.939 several times, 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.439 but Sidney and Charles, 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.259 they looked alike. 00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:10.240 People confused them 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.279 for brothers quite often 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:13.679 and so Sidney turned 00:30:13.679 --> 00:30:15.000 and he went into the prison, 00:30:15.159 --> 00:30:15.639 snuck in 00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:16.799 and took the place 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.819 of Charles in the prison 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:19.099 and let Charles, 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.200 helped Charles escape 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:22.159 and then Sidney went 00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:22.740 to death 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.839 by guillotine 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.599 for Charles 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:26.139 and Dickens puts 00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:26.740 these words 00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.619 in Sidney's mouth 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.480 at the end of the book. 00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:30.179 He says that going to die 00:30:30.179 --> 00:30:31.019 in the place of another, 00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.500 this is what he writes, 00:30:33.179 --> 00:30:33.899 Sidney says, 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.719 it is a far, 00:30:34.879 --> 00:30:35.599 far better thing 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.240 that I do 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.939 than I have ever done. 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.639 It is a far, 00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.579 far better rest 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:42.379 that I go to today 00:30:42.379 --> 00:30:43.919 than I have ever known. 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.559 And what is he saying? 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.299 He's at, 00:30:46.459 --> 00:30:46.579 look, 00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.119 here's what he's saying. 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:48.559 What makes life great? 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.980 What makes life great 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:52.160 is not, 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.259 is when you look up 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.539 and say, 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:55.440 I have given myself away 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.059 for a purpose 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.079 far bigger than me 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:59.019 and not been crushed 00:30:59.019 --> 00:31:00.200 by self-loathing 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.980 and self-interest. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.539 I've become self-forgetful. 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:04.740 That is what makes life great. 00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:05.759 That is what brings joy 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.680 ultimately in life 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.319 and that is exactly 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.440 what Jesus is calling us to. 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:09.360 Don't let comparison 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:09.839 and envy 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:11.839 take away self-forgetfulness. 00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:13.819 Daily dying 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:14.660 is the only prescription. 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.539 I give the last word 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:18.799 here to Peter's story today. 00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:21.740 If you were to read now 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:23.519 the rest of the New Testament 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:26.019 and follow Peter's narrative arc, 00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:29.440 Peter went out 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.680 and was self-forgetful 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.860 and he followed Jesus 00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:32.779 and he lived 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.839 throughout much 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.480 of the book of Acts 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.240 in a way that was 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:37.039 amazing and important 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:38.480 and many people came to faith 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.360 because of his ministry. 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:43.839 But about 15 years after this, 00:31:45.140 --> 00:31:46.579 flip to the book of Galatians 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.839 and we find out 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:49.939 that when Paul went 00:31:49.939 --> 00:31:51.399 to visit Peter at Antioch, 00:31:51.659 --> 00:31:52.639 he said Peter 00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:53.859 was actively 00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:54.519 and openly 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.919 denying the gospel 00:31:55.919 --> 00:31:58.619 and he was refusing 00:31:58.619 --> 00:32:00.099 to eat with Gentiles 00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:02.639 and he said 00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.359 that Peter used 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:04.220 to eat with Gentiles 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.679 and call them 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:05.419 brothers and sisters 00:32:05.419 --> 00:32:06.500 but now he's not. 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:06.819 Why? 00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:08.220 Because other people 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.220 came to Antioch 00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:09.779 and said, 00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:10.159 no, no, no. 00:32:10.179 --> 00:32:10.980 If you want to be a Christian, 00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:12.000 you've got to follow Jesus 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:13.459 and be circumcised. 00:32:13.659 --> 00:32:14.419 You've got to follow Jesus 00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:15.660 and obey all the works 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.500 of the Mosaic law 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:18.080 and Peter, 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:20.960 afraid of what other people 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.860 thought about him, 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.700 went around saying, 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.980 yeah, yeah, that's it. 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:26.060 If you want to be a Christian, 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:27.620 it's more than Jesus. 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:30.080 Boy, oh Peter, 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:33.740 a failure constantly 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.880 throughout his life. 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:37.600 Paul even uses the language 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:38.860 that attends to being 00:32:38.860 --> 00:32:40.600 anti-Christ, anti-gospel 00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:41.880 in Peter's ministry 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:42.380 in that moment. 00:32:42.380 --> 00:32:44.680 And that means that 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.840 Christian discipleship 00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.560 and following Jesus 00:32:46.560 --> 00:32:48.620 is not a 45 degree angle 00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.560 of virtue enhancement. 00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:53.080 It is a constant struggle 00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:54.620 and up and down. 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:57.760 And Peter's narrative arc, 00:32:57.820 --> 00:32:59.380 you flip over to 1 and 2 Peter, 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.260 these beautiful letters 00:33:00.260 --> 00:33:01.060 that we have from him 00:33:01.060 --> 00:33:03.760 10 years after Peter 00:33:03.760 --> 00:33:04.780 denying the gospel 00:33:04.780 --> 00:33:05.460 to the Galatians, 00:33:05.600 --> 00:33:06.440 in Antioch, 00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.680 noted in the book of Galatians. 00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:08.740 And this is what he says. 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:09.580 I think, 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.720 let me finish with this. 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:12.559 I think Peter was thinking 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:14.039 of himself and his story here 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:15.200 when he writes these words. 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.600 He says, 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.660 Jesus Christ himself 00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:19.039 bore our sins 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:20.519 in his body on the cross 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:22.740 so that we might die to sin 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:23.980 and live to righteousness. 00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:25.779 By his wounds, 00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:26.680 you have been healed. 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.740 For you, 00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:28.299 here it is, 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.559 for you are like sheep 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.240 without a shepherd. 00:33:30.600 --> 00:33:31.500 You are like sheep 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.460 going astray, 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:34.380 but now you have returned 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:34.920 to the shepherd. 00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:36.339 How many times 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.259 did Peter have to say, 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.920 but now I've returned 00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.420 to the shepherd? 00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:41.920 Jesus keeps bringing us back. 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:42.720 That's the arc 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.779 of following him 00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.400 throughout life. 00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:47.000 You do not have 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.820 to be good enough. 00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.279 You do not have 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.360 to be a good enough disciple 00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:51.200 to be worthy 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:53.160 of Jesus calling you 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.539 a disciple. 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:55.740 The message here 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.180 is not, 00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:58.920 if you follow me 00:33:58.920 --> 00:34:00.000 and if you adequately 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.880 take up your cross 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.460 consistently, 00:34:01.640 --> 00:34:02.440 then I will give you 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:03.400 the power of my cross. 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.680 The message here is, 00:34:06.060 --> 00:34:06.980 I have given you 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.940 the power of my cross. 00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:10.760 So keep coming back. 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.480 Keep coming 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.740 and be restored 00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:13.599 and be set back 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:14.119 on your path. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:16.280 A question for you. 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.360 As we pray, 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:19.900 do you today, 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:21.320 everyone in this room, 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.340 do you today 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.780 need to be restored 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.940 and recommissioned 00:34:25.740 --> 00:34:26.179 this morning? 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.300 Do you today, 00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:28.920 as we pray, 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.340 join me in prayer 00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:30.900 in just a moment 00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:32.019 and say to the Lord, 00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.400 Jesus, 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.360 I am captured 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.119 by legalism. 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:36.099 I'm captured 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:38.059 by seeking approval. 00:34:38.259 --> 00:34:38.839 I'm captured 00:34:38.839 --> 00:34:39.480 by comparison. 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:40.219 I'm captured 00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:40.759 by envy. 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.539 I'm captured 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:43.400 by wanting comfort 00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:44.779 far more than daily dying. 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:46.159 I'm not living for you. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.299 I'm not following you. 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:49.239 And be restored. 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:50.980 Let us pray. 00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:51.400 Father, 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:54.019 we are captured 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:55.739 and so we recognize that. 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:57.000 We are struggling 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:58.420 with following you 00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:59.059 all the way. 00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:00.400 And so today, 00:35:00.659 --> 00:35:02.619 we confess before you 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:04.519 our need of approval, 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:05.480 our need of comfort, 00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:06.599 our struggle 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.139 with comparison 00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:07.659 and envy 00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:09.420 that is taking away 00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.699 our self-forgetfulness 00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:11.420 and our ability 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:12.579 to just live for you 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.859 and to love you 00:35:13.859 --> 00:35:14.619 and love people 00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.400 and love the city 00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:16.219 and love the place 00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:17.059 where you've put us. 00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:19.480 And we just want 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.420 to recognize our struggle. 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:20.880 And so, 00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:21.699 in the light of that, 00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:22.079 Lord, 00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:23.219 restore us, 00:35:23.339 --> 00:35:24.299 deliver us from that, 00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:26.000 set us back on our path, 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.279 help us to hear 00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:28.139 the words that 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:29.819 we don't give you 00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:30.639 our hearts today 00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:32.259 so that we might be accepted. 00:35:32.879 --> 00:35:34.179 We give you our hearts today 00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:35.239 simply to respond 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:35.639 to the fact 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:36.639 that we have been accepted 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:37.099 by you. 00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:40.079 Take our hearts today. 00:35:41.799 --> 00:35:42.859 We give you our hearts 00:35:42.859 --> 00:35:43.859 this very week. 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:45.500 We pray that in Jesus' name. 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:45.879 Amen.