Rev Gideon Lee
During a visit to the mental asylum a visitor asked the Director what the criterion was which defined whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.
"Well" said the Director "we fill up a bathtub then we offer a teaspoon a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."
"Oh I understand" said the visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."
"No." said the Director "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"
John 13:31-38
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
13: 37 38pp – Mt 26: 33- 35 Mk 14: 29- 31 Lk 22: 33 34
31 When he was gone Jesus said “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him God will glorify the Son in himself and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me and just as I told the Jews so I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him “Lord where are you going?”
Jesus replied “Where I am going you cannot follow now but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked “Lord why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth before the rooster crows you will disown me three times!
John 21:1-19
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter Thomas (called Didymus) Nathanael from Cana in Galilee the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish” Simon Peter told them and they said “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them “Friends haven’t you any fish?”
“No” they answered.
6 He said “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say “It is the Lord” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat towing the net full of fish for they were not far from shore about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish 153 but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating Jesus said to Simon Peter “Simon son of John do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes Lord” he said “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said “Simon son of John do you truly love me?”
He answered “Yes Lord you know that I love you.”
Jesus said “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him “Simon son of John do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time “Do you love me?” He said “Lord you know all things you know that I love you.”
Jesus said “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him “Follow me!”
Note Jesus' last command to Peter was "Follow me!"
All of us know that what Jesus predicted came true, that Peter denied Jesus three times.
Jesus spent 85% of His ministry at these parts of Galilee. The North West corner of the lake. The author of the book of John probably also knew that Jesus knew this spot like the back of his hand.
The fishes often congregate at this area. A few of these men went fishing all night and got nothing. Remember an incident when Jesus called the disciples? They were busy fishing then. Jesus won't call lazy people. Jesus said they would be Fishers of Men and called them to "follow me".
This is almost the same kind of circumstances. As the story goes, they caught nothing like the Sunday school song. Here the bible says early in the morning, Jesus stood at the shore and the disciples didn't realise it was Him.
Jesus told them to throw the net on the other side. Remember they didn't know it was Jesus and the moment they threw the net and saw the fishes, John immediately said it must be Jesus.
Some bible scholars said they went back to fishing because they were disillusioned and went back to their familiar trade. Some of them may say that they don't know what to do next so they did the only thing that they knew best, which was fishing.
Jesus was the last person Peter wants to meet. He was down and at a low period of his life. He denied Jesus and was probably feeling bad. But the moment John said it was Jesus, Peter put on his clothes immediately and just jumped into the water and went towards Jesus. That did not make sense right? Why wear your clothes when you are about to get wet going into the water?
This is because at that time you wear proper attire to meet someone important.
Jesus was barbequing then. He had the coals burning with some fishes and bread. The bible was very detailed in this passage. Do you know why? The writer was trying to dispel a heresy that Jesus actually resurrected bodily.
Remember Jesus asked the disciples to touch His nail pierced hands and His speared side. He wanted to dispel the rumour that He was just a hungry ghost floating around.
They had large fishes but the net didn't break. The bible said it was 153 fishes. Why 153? Some scholars had all kinds of suggestions but the best ones I have come across is the man called Jerome. He said that at that time in that region there were 153 known species. What he is trying to say is that the gospel net is for everyone. And that the net did not break. The good news is for everyone, every tongue, nation and tribe.
This is Peter's re-commissioning. Jesus asked him "do you love me?" Other things have become Peter's priorities and Jesus wanted him to re-prioritise. Jesus asked him a question that all of us have to answer. "Do you love me?" He asked Peter do you love me more than all these things.
The emotion was not mentioned in this passage. Remember Peter had denied Jesus and he was an emotional wreck but the fact that Jesus asked him three times, Peter had to confront this choice. Peter needs to know himself that he love Jesus. This was for the three times Peter denied Jesus. For every denial, Jesus reassured Peter. Isn't our Lord good?
He never condemned Peter nor pointed out Peter's error. He didn't beat him down and condemn him. Our God is good.
Firstly, we learn that Jesus loved Peter.
When he needed love most, Jesus gave Peter love. Peter needed God's love and Jesus knew that. Jesus seek Peter out. He went to the shore to look for Peter.
A man went to a doctor to have his stitches removed but he needed the stitches to be removed quickly as he had a 9.00 am appointment. The doctor was removing the stitches and started a conversation and asked the man what was so important he had to go for the appointment. He said he has an appointment with his wife and have kept that appointment every day for the last five years. She has Alzheimer's so can no longer recognise him. The doctor then asked the man why he bother since she no longer knows him? He replied, "yes, but I know her and I love her."
Even when we did not know Jesus, He loved us.
The second things is forgiveness.
Peter needed forgiveness. In all other religion it is about doing this and that. But here we see Jesus offered forgiveness not just love.
Remember the prodigal son? To live amongst the pig for the Jews is the lowest of the lowest. When he came to his senses and went back to his father, he did not condemn or punish him but ran to greet the son. No self respecting Jewish man will do that. He saw his son and hugged his smelly and stinking son. That was what Jesus did for us. Jesus offers you forgiveness. I don't know what you have done and you may think its horrible but I want you to know, Jesus offers you forgiveness and redemption.
The last thing is Jesus offers you direction.
What was Jesus' response every time. Feed my sheep. Jesus gave Peter clear instruction. The last word Jesus spoke to Peter was the same as His first instruction to Peter "follow me". God's instruction have not changed. To all of us it is "follow me". Jesus said if you love me feed my lamb.
The true test comes in loving God is loving his people. Are we doing that? Tough question yes?
How many of you are serving in this church. We need to be serving in one capacity or another in this church. You need to be serving in one Ministry at least. My goal is to see all of us serving in one ministry at least. Statistically it shows us that 20% is serving the 80% of the church. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it is the other way around?
Let us serve one another, caring and serving one another. A new commandment the Lord gave to all of us "Love one another" and the bible says "by this all men will know you are my disciples." Tough yes? You may tell me you don't like a person. It's okay you don't have to like the person, just love him.
"Well" said the Director "we fill up a bathtub then we offer a teaspoon a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."
"Oh I understand" said the visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."
"No." said the Director "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"
John 13:31-38
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
13: 37 38pp – Mt 26: 33- 35 Mk 14: 29- 31 Lk 22: 33 34
31 When he was gone Jesus said “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him God will glorify the Son in himself and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me and just as I told the Jews so I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him “Lord where are you going?”
Jesus replied “Where I am going you cannot follow now but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked “Lord why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth before the rooster crows you will disown me three times!
John 21:1-19
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter Thomas (called Didymus) Nathanael from Cana in Galilee the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish” Simon Peter told them and they said “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them “Friends haven’t you any fish?”
“No” they answered.
6 He said “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say “It is the Lord” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat towing the net full of fish for they were not far from shore about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish 153 but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating Jesus said to Simon Peter “Simon son of John do you truly love me more than these?”
“Yes Lord” he said “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said “Simon son of John do you truly love me?”
He answered “Yes Lord you know that I love you.”
Jesus said “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him “Simon son of John do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time “Do you love me?” He said “Lord you know all things you know that I love you.”
Jesus said “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him “Follow me!”
Note Jesus' last command to Peter was "Follow me!"
All of us know that what Jesus predicted came true, that Peter denied Jesus three times.
Jesus spent 85% of His ministry at these parts of Galilee. The North West corner of the lake. The author of the book of John probably also knew that Jesus knew this spot like the back of his hand.
The fishes often congregate at this area. A few of these men went fishing all night and got nothing. Remember an incident when Jesus called the disciples? They were busy fishing then. Jesus won't call lazy people. Jesus said they would be Fishers of Men and called them to "follow me".
This is almost the same kind of circumstances. As the story goes, they caught nothing like the Sunday school song. Here the bible says early in the morning, Jesus stood at the shore and the disciples didn't realise it was Him.
Jesus told them to throw the net on the other side. Remember they didn't know it was Jesus and the moment they threw the net and saw the fishes, John immediately said it must be Jesus.
Some bible scholars said they went back to fishing because they were disillusioned and went back to their familiar trade. Some of them may say that they don't know what to do next so they did the only thing that they knew best, which was fishing.
Jesus was the last person Peter wants to meet. He was down and at a low period of his life. He denied Jesus and was probably feeling bad. But the moment John said it was Jesus, Peter put on his clothes immediately and just jumped into the water and went towards Jesus. That did not make sense right? Why wear your clothes when you are about to get wet going into the water?
This is because at that time you wear proper attire to meet someone important.
Jesus was barbequing then. He had the coals burning with some fishes and bread. The bible was very detailed in this passage. Do you know why? The writer was trying to dispel a heresy that Jesus actually resurrected bodily.
Remember Jesus asked the disciples to touch His nail pierced hands and His speared side. He wanted to dispel the rumour that He was just a hungry ghost floating around.
They had large fishes but the net didn't break. The bible said it was 153 fishes. Why 153? Some scholars had all kinds of suggestions but the best ones I have come across is the man called Jerome. He said that at that time in that region there were 153 known species. What he is trying to say is that the gospel net is for everyone. And that the net did not break. The good news is for everyone, every tongue, nation and tribe.
This is Peter's re-commissioning. Jesus asked him "do you love me?" Other things have become Peter's priorities and Jesus wanted him to re-prioritise. Jesus asked him a question that all of us have to answer. "Do you love me?" He asked Peter do you love me more than all these things.
The emotion was not mentioned in this passage. Remember Peter had denied Jesus and he was an emotional wreck but the fact that Jesus asked him three times, Peter had to confront this choice. Peter needs to know himself that he love Jesus. This was for the three times Peter denied Jesus. For every denial, Jesus reassured Peter. Isn't our Lord good?
He never condemned Peter nor pointed out Peter's error. He didn't beat him down and condemn him. Our God is good.
Firstly, we learn that Jesus loved Peter.
When he needed love most, Jesus gave Peter love. Peter needed God's love and Jesus knew that. Jesus seek Peter out. He went to the shore to look for Peter.
A man went to a doctor to have his stitches removed but he needed the stitches to be removed quickly as he had a 9.00 am appointment. The doctor was removing the stitches and started a conversation and asked the man what was so important he had to go for the appointment. He said he has an appointment with his wife and have kept that appointment every day for the last five years. She has Alzheimer's so can no longer recognise him. The doctor then asked the man why he bother since she no longer knows him? He replied, "yes, but I know her and I love her."
Even when we did not know Jesus, He loved us.
The second things is forgiveness.
Peter needed forgiveness. In all other religion it is about doing this and that. But here we see Jesus offered forgiveness not just love.
Remember the prodigal son? To live amongst the pig for the Jews is the lowest of the lowest. When he came to his senses and went back to his father, he did not condemn or punish him but ran to greet the son. No self respecting Jewish man will do that. He saw his son and hugged his smelly and stinking son. That was what Jesus did for us. Jesus offers you forgiveness. I don't know what you have done and you may think its horrible but I want you to know, Jesus offers you forgiveness and redemption.
The last thing is Jesus offers you direction.
What was Jesus' response every time. Feed my sheep. Jesus gave Peter clear instruction. The last word Jesus spoke to Peter was the same as His first instruction to Peter "follow me". God's instruction have not changed. To all of us it is "follow me". Jesus said if you love me feed my lamb.
The true test comes in loving God is loving his people. Are we doing that? Tough question yes?
How many of you are serving in this church. We need to be serving in one capacity or another in this church. You need to be serving in one Ministry at least. My goal is to see all of us serving in one ministry at least. Statistically it shows us that 20% is serving the 80% of the church. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it is the other way around?
Let us serve one another, caring and serving one another. A new commandment the Lord gave to all of us "Love one another" and the bible says "by this all men will know you are my disciples." Tough yes? You may tell me you don't like a person. It's okay you don't have to like the person, just love him.
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