“Do You Love Me More Than These?”

John 21

1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Rev Stegen shared from John 21 how God called him right at the beginning. God commanded the children of Israel to tell their children their redemption story from Egypt, lest it’s forgotten. You need to teach your children how God saved you from worldliness, the lust of the flesh, resentment, anger, etc. They don’t know, unless you teach them. Some children of Christian parents don’t know the basics of the Christian faith, which they should know, simply because their parents never teach them.

  • Jesus asked Peter, ‘Simon… do you love me?’ He uses Peter’s old name, and asked him if he loved Him with godly love (agapé). Peter answered that he loved Jesus as a friend (phileo). Jesus asked him the 2nd time the same question and Peter answered the same. The 3rd time Jesus came down to Peter’s level and asked him whether he loved him as friend (phileo). That broke Peter’s heart.
  • Jesus asked Peter whether he loved Him more than the others. Peter loved John, Thomas, Nathaniel, his wife, children., etc. However, Jesus wanted to know whether he loved Him more than them. When you compare your love for your friends, your wife, children, etc., to your love for Jesus – do you love Jesus more? If you love them more, you cannot be His disciple.
  • We can also read the question, do you love Me more than they love me? i.e. Jesus wants you to love Him more than others do. When you’re right with God you will concern yourself more with your own sin than those of others. Even when the whole world is wrong, Jesus expects you to love Him and do what’s right.
  • Lastly, we can read it too, do you love Me more than these fish? Do you love Jesus more than your ambitions, possessions, sport, etc.? God gave the best He had to save us from our sins, even while we were His enemies. You must love the same.

Jesus told Peter that when he’s old, another will dress him and take him where he would not like to go. Peter, who was very vocal and self-assured of his love for Christ, failed miserably when put to the test. He was ashamed of Christ, His shame and His suffering and denied His Lord. However, when he became old, he counted it a privilege to be mocked and even killed for the sake of Christ. Peter was crucified upside-down, counting it a privilege to die for his Lord, but not worthy to be crucified the same.

The question Jesus asks of you today, is not how long you’ve toiled for Him, but ‘do you love (with agape, godly love) Me more than these?’