Please turn with me to John 21 - starting at verse 15.  Over the last few Sunday’s we’ve looked at encountering Jesus in our loss - encountering Jesus in our fear - encountering Jesus in our doubt - encountering Jesus in our failure.  This morning we’re going to be looking at encountering Jesus in our pride.

Of all of the encounters with Jesus that we’ve looked at - this one - encountering Jesus in our pride - is probably the hardest for us to deal with.

When we experience loss - loss most often  is about how our loss effects us - what it is that we’re missing.  When we experience fear - fear is about what may happen to us.  Doubt is about the foundations of our carefully constructed world - what we believe - what we understand - seeing all that coming apart and wondering where that leaves us.  Failure is about our inabilities - what we lack - where we don’t measure up - our feelings of inadequacy.

In all the encounters that we’ve looked at - underneath all that - the bottom line struggle - is our pride.  We keep tripping over ourselves while we’re trying to follow God.

Often times our struggle with pride - being so self-focused - often that struggle goes on beneath our radar.  But its there.  We get blindsided by our ego - our trust in ourselves - our arrogance.  Our pride shows up in what comes out of our mouth - thoughts that go through our head - things we do - the ways we try to compensate or cover or project an image of competence.

What we’re coming to this morning is Jesus leading Peter on a journey through Peter’s heart - exposing pride.  Jesus helping Peter to see what God has done in his life and to trust God for what God is doing and will do in Peter’s life.

John 21 - starting at verse 15:  So when they - the disciples - remember from last week - seven disciples are having breakfast with Jesus - on the shore of the Sea of Galilee - So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” - these meaning - do you love Me more than you love these disciples or Jesus could also be referring to fish and fishing - do you love Me more than you love fishing?  Point being:  “Peter, how much do you really love Me?”

“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”  He - Peter - said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.”  He - Jesus - said to him, “Tend My lambs.”  He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.”  He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

Verse 17:  He - Jesus - said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”  Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

Let’s pause.  In verses 15 to 17 - Jesus is focusing on Relationship.  Let’s say that together, “Relationship.”  The relationship between Jesus and Peter - Peter and Jesus.

After breakfast Jesus and Peter get off by themselves - walking on the shore apart from the other disciples  - and they have this conversation.  There are three elements of this conversation that that we need to grab on to.  First - The Name.

Jesus calls Peter what?  Simon son of John.  Simon was Peter’s first name.  His family name was John - or the Hebrew equivalent - Jonah.  Simon barjona - Simon son of John.

Three years earlier - on the shore of the Sea of Galilee - when Jesus had invited Simon to be his disciple - Jesus did what to Simon?  Gave him the nickname “Peter” - in Greek “petras” - which means what?  “Rock.” 

Speaking as a guy - that’s a great nickname?  Isn’t it?  “The Rock.”  Simon the stable.  Simon the immovable.  Simon!  Simon!  He’s our man!  If he can’t do it no one can.  He’s the Rock.  Let’s be honest - there are times we’d like to be “The Rock.”  Better than “The Wimp.”  Stirs the pride a tad.  Doesn’t it.

Jesus - here in this conversation is taking Peter back on a journey through time.  A reminder of where they began together and what they’ve come through - tons of experiences together.  Peter’s discipleship and growth - following Jesus around Palestine.  Peter’s role among the disciples.

Second - notice The Number Three. 

There are reams of material written by commentators trying to explain all the nuances of this conversation.  Within the three questions and three answers there are two different Greek words used for “love.”  Two different Greek words are used for “know.”  There are two different words for shepherding or caring for the sheep.  There are two different Greek words for “flock.”  Which is a fascinating study - that we’re not going to get in to.

Essentially Jesus asks the same question three times.  Peter answers three times.  That number three sticks out as significant. 

Over and over in the Gospels Peter “gets it.”  Its Peter who answers the question, “Who is Jesus?”  Peter answers, “You are God’s Messiah.”  (Luke 9:20).  Its Peter who bows before Jesus, “I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8).

When Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum - taught that He is the bread of life - that He - Jesus - is the giver of eternal life.  Many disciples stopped following Jesus.  “This is too heavy for me.”  Not Peter.  Peter said, “Jesus, You have the words of eternal life.  You are the Holy One of God.”  (John 6:66-69).

There are places in the Gospels where Peter comes out with these tremendously insightful statements. 

And then... there was the day that Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray.  And when Peter, John, and James woke up - from deep meditation while praying - they woke up to Jesus transfigured - His face shining - His clothing a brilliant white.  With Jesus are Moses and Elijah - standing and talking together.

Peter says, “Master, it’s a good thing we came along otherwise who would you get to put up tents so we can keep hanging out together.”  Scripture says that Peter had no clue what he was talking about.  (Luke 9:28ff)  But of course that didn’t keep Peter from trying to say something brilliant and tripping over his pride.

Peter - at the last supper - “Lord, you’ll never wash my feet!”  Pride.  Then - after Jesus very carefully explains it to him - then Peter says, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”  (John 13:5-9)

Peter, “Lord, I’ll lay down my life for you!”  (John 13:37)  In the garden when Jesus was arrested - Peter rushed around with a sword - in a kind of self-focused “Look how I’m serving Jesus” pride - cutting off Malchus’ ear.  (John 18:10,11)

Peter in the courtyard of the high priest - asked three times by different people - in different ways - the same question - three times Peter vehemently denied that he knew Jesus.  (John 18:15-27)  Jesus looking at Peter.  Peter weeping bitterly.  (Luke 22:61)

That contrast - Peter who gets it - verses Peter chewing proudly on his foot - putting his foot in his mouth and tripping over his pride.  That contrast is typical of Simon “The Rock.”  Three years in which Simon has been anything but “The Rock.”  Peter the impulsive.  Peter the unstable.

Jesus - asking the same question three times - perhaps highlighting the most intimate example of that instability - Peter’s betrayal - is a reminder of the intimacy of their relationship - what they have experienced together.  The joys.  The pain.  The forgiveness.  The restoration.

Then third:  Notice Peter’s Response.  Three times Peter answers Jesus’ question.

Twice Peter answers, “Lord - You know that I love You.”  Telling Jesus  -almost arrogantly - telling Jesus what Jesus ought to know.  “Jesus, You should know that I love You.  That’s a fact.”  Then Peter’s third answer is different.  “Lord, You know all things.  You know that I love You.”

Peter’s third answer isn’t about Jesus knowing things intellectually - the facts of what’s gone on over the last three years.  Peter’s emphasis is that Jesus knows all things - knows Peter relationally - from what they’ve experienced together over those last three years - knows the depths of what’s in Peter’s heart - knows the love in Peter’s heart for Jesus.  Love borne out of an intimate relationship.  Love responding to forgiveness and restoration. 

It's the response that Jesus has set this scene up for - that Jesus has been leading Peter towards.

To be The Rock - the shepherd of the sheep - the leader of the disciples - “Peter - shepherd My sheep” - all that isn’t about what you - Peter - achieve relying on yourself - what you can prove to me by your actions.  Its about your relationship with Me.  Its about knowing how deeply I love you.  Its about your response to My love.  “I trust you to shepherd My sheep because I know your heart - the depth of your love for Me.”

The relationship of Jesus and Peter isn’t about Jesus proving His love to Peter.  He does - the greatest example being death on the cross.  Their relationship isn’t about Peter - in pride - somehow proving his love to Jesus.  He can’t.  Doesn’t need to.  Jesus knows Peter’s heart.

When we come to our relationship with God there’s no place for our pride - for self - for demonstration.  What would be the point.  God our hearts.  Our relationship with God isn’t about us.  Its about God.  Our need is openness to the profound reality of God’s love for us.

Let’s go on.  Verses 18 and 19 focus on Surrender.  Let’s say that together, “Surrender.”

Verse 18:  “Truly, truly, I say to you - Peter - when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will grid you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”  Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he - Peter - would glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

Herod Agrippa had James - John’s brother - put to death.  When Herod saw in the opinion polls that - because of James’ execution - saw that his approval rating went way up with the Jews - Herod had Peter arrested and thrown in prison - in order to execute Peter.  One good execution deserves another.  But God intervened.  Sent an angel that miraculously led Peter out of the prison.  Peter went and testified of what God had done.

After Jesus returned to heaven that’s the way Peter’s life went.  Peter testifying of Jesus.  Peter being thrown in Jail.  God miraculously springing Peter.  Peter testifying of Jesus.  Peter being thrown in jail.  God springing Peter.

In the midst of all that God did awesome things through Peter - miracles - healings - great testimonies of Who Jesus is - what it means to know Jesus - thousands coming to faith in Jesus.  But - that came at the cost of great personal sacrifice for Peter.

The ultimate was in the year 64 A.D. when Peter was in Rome.  The nut-case emperor Nero setting Rome on fire - blaming the Christians - ordered hundreds of Christians to be brutally martyred.

Peter - who’d been testifying of Jesus - so much so that even some of Nero’s own household had come to trust Jesus - Nero had Peter arrested.  After nine months in prison - Peter was brought out for execution - scourged - and crucified.  At Peter’s request he was crucified head down.  Peter thinking he wasn’t worthy to suffer in the same way Jesus did.

When we’re young we think the world pretty much revolves around us.  It may not seem like when you’re a teenager because you’ve got parents and school.  Not necessarily in that order.  But you really do have a lot of freedom as to how you spend your time.  If you think you’re time is not yours now - just wait.

What Jesus is saying here to Peter is that when you were younger you pretty much did what you wanted.  Life was all about you.  Do you hear self - pride - in that.  But you’ve grown - matured.  Now - life is all about Me - following Me.  That means you’re going to be led places you probably wouldn’t have chosen to go.  “I died.  Follow Me - even if it means your death.”

There is a big difference between surrender and submission.  Would you agree with that?  Surrender is the voluntary choice to place ourselves under the authority of someone else.  Submission is when our will is taken from us.  

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane - praying - sweating blood - a struggle of will.  “Father, if You are willing - if its within your will - remove this cup - this destiny - from Me; yet not My - what?  will, but Yours be done.”  (Luke 22:42)  Jesus voluntarily surrendering His will to the will of the Father.

Jesus told the Pharisees, “No one has taken [My life] from Me - that would mean that I was forced to submit to you.  No one has taken [My life] from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative - My choice is to submit to you - I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take It up again.  This commandment I received from My Father.”  (John 10:18)

Follow this:  Jesus - willfully chooses to surrender His will to the Father’s - which means submitting Himself to crucifixion - willfully placing Himself at the whim of His crucifiers.

If we only knew then what we - what?  know now.

When Jesus first called Peter to follow Him - Peter had no clue what that would mean.  But now - three years later - when Jesus renews that call - verse 19 - “Follow Me”  Peter has matured.  He has better idea of what He’s getting himself into.

To sweeten the deal, Jesus tells Peter, “To follow Me means surrendering your will to Mine.  That’s going to mean - out of surrender to Me - submitting yourself to the whim of those who will lead you where you would not naturally choose to go.”  Meaning Peter’s death.

That’s a great selling point isn’t it?  Follow Jesus and die.  But that’s what He means.  To follow Jesus means daily - hourly - minute-by-minute surrendering our will to His - even if that means physical torture and death.  Following Jesus - surrendering to Him - is the choice to lay aside our pride - our prerogative to assert our will over God’s.

When we choose to follow Jesus - it means that we surrender our lives to Him - all of our lives - even the manner of our death - even if He requires our martyrdom.

Let’s go on - verses 20 to 23 are about Comparison.  Let’s say that together, “Comparison.”

Verse 20:  Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them - meaning John - writer of this Gospel of John - the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”  So Peter seeing him - John - said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”  Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me!”

Verse 23:  Therefore - because the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus meant about John - therefore this saying went out among the brethren that the disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

Don’t you just love Peter?  Here is this awesome intimate moment with Jesus.  Jesus renewing His call on Peter’s life - talking about relationship and love and what its going to mean to follow Him.  And Peter messes up again.  First thing out of Peter’s mouth, “Lord, what about John?”  Already he’s thinking about himself - comparing what Jesus has for him to what Jesus has for John.

Comparison brings out the ugly in us.  “Just try to get into your expensive vet.  I’m parking my el cheapo family car as close as I can.”

Comparison brings out the ugly in us.

“Why are their kids smarter than our kids?  Why do we have to live here?  Why does my husband have this illness?  No one else has to deal with the stuff I’ve got to deal with.  Most people would have given up a long time ago.  I guess I’ll just have to pick up the slack for everyone else - again.  What a bunch of losers.  Thank you God that I’m not like them.  Why should God bless them so much?  What about me?  At least I don’t have their hang-ups.” 

Jesus’ response?  “What’s it to you?”  Jesus’ point isn’t about how short Peter is going to live or how long John is going to live.  Jesus’ point is about what it means for Peter to follow Him.

God has a unique role for each of us to play in life.  When we get our focus on ourselves - let our pride bend us out of shape - we easily get distracted from that.

Each of us is uniquely called - uniquely gifted - led by Jesus down unique pathways in life.  Our pasts - our personalities - our spiritual gifting - everything that we are makes us a unique person in God’s kingdom.  God wills to use all of what is uniquely us - to uniquely serve Him.  So Jesus calls to each of us, “Follow Me.  Focus on what I have for you.”

Verses 24 and 25 are John’s Testimony.  Let’s say that together, “John’s testimony.”  

Verse 24:  This is the disciple - meaning John - this is the disciple  who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

Peter was martyred in 64 A.D. under Nero.  John - however - was in Ephesus when the Emperor Domitian had him arrested and brought to Rome.  There John was thrown into a caldron of boiling oil.  By a miracle of God he survived and was banished to the island of Patmos - just off the west coast of present day Turkey.  Where John wrote the book of Revelation.

Later - under the Emperor Nerva - John was allowed to go back to Ephesus - where - some traditions say he lived to the age of 100.  In Ephesus - living to be a old man dying of natural causes - John wrote the Gospel account we’re reading.

While John lived - he watched all the other Apostles die - tortured horribly - martyred.  Including his brother James.  And Peter - crucified - led where he would not have chosen to go.

To give testimony of something - to be a true witness - means having first hand experience with what we’re testifying about.  John had that.  First hand experience about what it means to follow Jesus.  First hand experience of the unique lives each disciple lived out following Jesus.  John testifies that the life of following Jesus - that relationship - that surrender - that focus in life - is the only life worth living. 

Within John’s testimony is an encouragement for each one of us.  Most of us want to serve Jesus.  We’ve put our faith in Him.  We desire to follow Him.  And yet we struggle.  We live with our fears and failures.  We have our doubts.  We experience loss.  We get distracted.  We stumble in sin.  We trip over ourselves trying to follow Jesus - wanting to follow Jesus and often times getting it wrong.  And yet - for however many years we’ve been following Jesus He still calls to us, “Follow Me.”

Jesus answers our pride with an invitation to intimacy with Him - to a relationship with Him that comes from a simple response to His invitation to come and to know His love.  Jesus invites us to surrender to Him - to lay aside our efforts at holding on to our own lives and to give ourselves to Him.  An invitation to experience the unique life of purpose of fulfillment that comes as God leads us through life according to His perfect will.

Ultimately, this all boils down to one question:  Who are you following?  Yourself?  Or Jesus?

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.