Bible Study Materials

FEED MY LAMBS

by   07/04/2008  

Question


1. Read verses 1-14. What was the disciples’ situation? How did Jesus appear to them? What did he do for them? 2. Read verses 15-17. After the meal, what did Jesus ask Simon Peter? How did Peter answer? What command did Jesus give him? Think about the significance of the question and command of Jesus. 3. Read verses 18-25. What life direction did Jesus give to Peter? How did Peter respond to it?


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Message


There are many beautiful stories. We wonder what can be more beautiful than the story in John 21. It is the story of love relationship being restored between Jesus and his top disciple Peter. In the restored relationship Jesus reinstated Peter as a shepherd for God’s flock of sheep. We moved into this new place, and now we are having centre-dedication worship. Through this study we want to be renewed in our Lord Jesus’ hope and love and newly dedicate ourselves to his earnest command, “Feed my lambs.” May the risen Jesus come and speak to us. First, Jesus’ hope (1-4). The place of the event was by the Sea of Tiberias. Seven disciples were together. At this point they were a bunch of failed disciples of Jesus after doggedly following him for the last three years. Although Jesus rose from the gave and appeared to them again and again, they were still helpless and hopeless and directionless. Even such an epoch-making event as Jesus’ resurrection did not bring any change to them. They were in deep despair when their human dream of the earthly messianic kingdom was shattered to pieces. They did not have any strength to challenge for a new life. What they knew was fishing. So they went out and got into the boat for fishing, but that night they caught nothing. Before following Jesus, they had at least fishing spirit. Now it seemed that they even lost fishing spirit. They caught nothing. To them it looked like the end of the world. No one in the world could know their despaired heart and broken life. What would come to them next? Look at verse 4a. “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore…” Wow! What a scene! “As Jesus promised, “…After I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee” (Mt 26:32; Mk 14:28), he went and stood in the breeze on the shore of Lake Galilee. The darkness of the previous night had dragged on and seemed like it would never end. But it was gone, and the brightness dawned and Jesus was standing there. As for Jesus three years of his earthly ministry looked fruitless with no disciple remaining. His lost disciples were wandering aimlessly in the Sea of Tiberias, not knowing where to turn. Jesus visited them and stood on the shore early in the morning. Definitely, this early morning signifies new hope after black darkness of despair. The risen Jesus stood there to start all over again. In him there is no despair but only bright hope and new beginning. New hope did not come from the disciples themselves but from the risen Jesus. This scene of Jesus standing on the shore early in the morning must be coded in our permanent memory system. He is truly the God of hope. This Jesus can help us to drive out any despair. In his hope we can challenge again and again and again, however hard the situation looks. Second, Jesus’ love (5-14). When the disciples did not realize Jesus standing on the shore, he called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you have any fish?” Think about the disciples. At the most difficult time of Jesus’ crucifixion they all ran away. And at the most glorious time of Jesus’ resurrection they were senseless. They did not at all look like Jesus’ friends. Yet, he called out to them, “Friends,” and wanted to help their fishing work. He said, “Haven’t you any fish?” They answered, “No.” Then 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. Jesus helped them to make a great catch of fish. How did they respond at this great catch of fish? John immediately sensed Jesus’ presence and said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard this, he wrapped his outer garment around him and jumped into the water. The author snapped such a vivid, dynamic sight. To John this action of Peter must have been very impressive. When we refer to the whole gospel story, we see that Simon Peter had exactly the same experience as this at the time Jesus’ personal calling. On one occasion he worked hard all night in the same sea of Galilee, he caught nothing. Jesus came to him and said, “Put out into deep water, and let down the net for a catch.” It was a difficult command to obey. But Simon Peter said, “Because you say so, I will let down the net.” When Peter and his fishing partners did so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. At that time Simon Peter responded, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.” He felt filthy dirty inside, and unworthy and fearful at the holy presence of Jesus the Lord. Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” It was the place where Jesus had called him. But this time Simon Peter’s response was different. When he learned that it was the Lord who enabled him to make a great catch of fish, he ran to Jesus, jumping into the water and swimming as fast as he could, while other disciples followed in the boat. Peter could have fled away from the mighty presence of Jesus, saying to himself, “Lord, I am totally unworthy to be your disciple again. Please, go away; I am really a sinful man.” No. Rather Simon Peter dashed to the Lord, swimming. Why? It was because the bond of love had been established between the two, Jesus and the man Simon Peter. The bond of love would not disappear regardless of his failures. Now to Peter Jesus was more than a holy God. He was forgiving and unchanging, gracious loving Lord. We learn a precious lesson that human failures cannot cut our love relationship with our Lord Jesus. Rather the cord of love is stronger. When Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught,” Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore.” He seems so happy in love-bond with Jesus that even the number of fish was counted, 153. Then Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast.” Jesus himself cooked fish on the fire of coals and invited them to the breakfast. This was an act of the risen Jesus. He knew that the disciples were hungry. The risen Jesus knew not only the disciples’ failures and despair but also their hungry stomach. The risen Jesus revealed his sovereign mighty power through the great catch of fish so that the disciples might notice him. He also revealed himself as a delicate loving Lord through preparing a fish and bread menu and inviting them to the breakfast: “Come and let’s have breakfast on the beech. Enjoy the food which I prepared.” Usually people eat together or have feast together when they celebrate victories in life or battle. But Jesus wanted to have the morning meal together with the failed and hungry disciples on the shore. It was of course not a victorious feast but a truly loving table. What can be more beautiful and gracious than this Tiberias beach eating fellowship in the world! The disciples may have felt unworthy to have such a breakfast with the risen Lord. They were still hesitating at this surprising breakfast, looking at one another and doubting their eyes. But they knew that it was the Lord. Then Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to the disciples and he did the same with the fish. Simon Peter must have felt that his love relationship with Jesus was ever stronger. This scene of the beach party is full of grace. It was an unforgettable love feast. Later, John associated this love feast at the beach with the heavenly feast in Revelation 3:20b, “…I will come in and eat with him, and be with me.” When we decided to move our centre near U of T, I did not know what kind of centre we would have. There was a kind of worry in my heart. Also, in our moving I was not that excited because there was no helping hand of the disciples, which I had eagerly desired before. I struggled to do all things by faith. But I could not deny a sense of failure in my deep heart. However, as I mediated on this passage, I could sense that the risen Jesus prepared this new beautiful centre as he prepared the beach breakfast for the disciples. I felt unworthy, questioning, “Lord, how could you prepare this wonderful centre for us, the undeserving”. Yet, the word of the risen Jesus is resounding in my ears, “Come and thankfully and joyfully use this Bible house. And I can help Toronto coworkers’ fishing in the U of T campus.” At this time I thank and praise the risen Lord Jesus for his unchanging and unfailing love for you and me. Third, Jesus’ direction (15-25). How did the beach breakfast progress? Was the eating fellowship the end of the meeting between the risen Jesus and his disciples? No. The story goes deeper. Let’s read verse 15. “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’” After showing his unfailing and unchanging love to Simon Peter, Jesus gave him a love question very personally, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” The risen Jesus wanted Simon Peter’s love in return so that their love relationship might become mutual. Peter needed to love Jesus more than anything else in the world. Receiving Jesus’ love was not enough. He had to love Jesus. Jesus asked Simon Peter three times, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these” “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” “Simon son of John, do you love me?” each time calling his name personally. Some may ask, “Why should we love God?” Loving God is God’s command: Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all soul and with all your strength.” Men who are made in the image of God are to love God. When you do not love God, we have no God in our hearts. When we do not love God, we are godless. When we do not love God, we become children of the devil. And when we love God, we can truly love others. Loving God is not an option, but imperative. John’s gospel is the gospel of three “L”s, Light, Life and Love. In terms of love, first, Gods’ love was introduced: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). Then Jesus gave his disciples a new command, “Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another” (Jn 13:34). Then in this passage Jesus wanted Peter’s returning love for mutual love relationship. At this time Jesus did not command Peter, “Love me your Lord.” Nor did he say, “You must love me.” He asked a love-question. Undoubtedly, Peter loved Jesus enough to splash through the waters to come him. His love was evident from the beginning of following Jesus. He left everything to follow him. He was willing to give his life for Jesus. But it was shown that Peter loved his own dream, his own will more than Jesus. He did not accept Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion for the will of God. He did not prepare himself for the time. It turned out that he denied Jesus three times despite his love for Jesus. That‘s why Jesus questioned him concerning his love for Jesus by comparison and repetition. This time Jesus wanted to make it sure that Peter loved Jesus more than anything else. Loving Jesus needs priority. It comes first before any love (Ex 20:3). This prioritized love relationship with Jesus was so significant that Jesus asked him three times until Peter was hurt. Let’s think more about why Jesus gave Simon Peter love-question, love-command. It was to help him be sure of his love for Jesus and make a love-confession. A Christian’s faith and love must be confessed. The love buried in one’s heart, not being confessed, is ambiguous and incomplete. Romans 10:10 says, “For it is with you heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Making a faith or love confession of Jesus before anyone is very important. Through the confession of love our love relationship can be true and grow deeper. Words are powerful. Word has power to kill or heal (Pro 10:11,21). The word of love confession makes the love blossom (“I love you” increases love, while “I hate you” increases hatred). In our lives there are times of spiritual crisis or transition. Each of those times can be an opportunity for us renew our love relationship with Jesus as of most important and make a new love confession. At the love question, Peter said, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love.”` At this time Peter was not confident in himself. He knew that he was a failed and undeserving sinner. But he trusted in Jesus’ unfailing love, and made a sincere love confession. At the third question Peter was hurt. But still he said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus loved Peter consistently; Peter made a love confession, “I love you.” In this way the love relationship was complete. Each time Peter made a confession of love, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs,” “Take care of my sheep,” or “Feed my sheep.” This time Jesus did not ask, “Do you want to feed sheep?” or “Would you like to feed sheep?” He said, “Feed my sheep.” Actually, it would be Jesus’ last word to his disciples. What is the relation between “Loving Jesus” and “Feeding his sheep.” So far Jesus took care of God’s given sheep. Once God lamented that his sheep were abandoned and scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched and looked for them (Ez 34:6). Jesus came to this world to shepherd God’s flock of sheep. He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…I know my sheep and my sheep know me...” (Jn 10:11,14). He also said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (Jn 10:16). What a hope and vision for all mankind! This vision and hope of Jesus would never be gone, but accomplished. It would be possible through his disciples. Now leaving this world, Jesus was reinstating Peter as a shepherd for God’s flock of sheep. Jesus’ promise to Simon Peter, “From now on you will catch men,” was still in Jesus’ heart and had to be fulfilled. Jesus wanted Peter to be a shepherd like Jesus in the shepherdless world. Feeding his sheep in the world was so urgent and significant that he seemed to press peter so hard, saying it three times, as he asked love questions of him three times. Loving Jesus is not only a matter of heart and confession but also a matter of act of feeding his sheep. Jesus wants each of his servants to practice his love by feeding God’s flock of sheep, particularly U of T sheep. After saying, “Feed my lambs…take care of my sheep…feed my sheep,” Jesus said continually, “I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted. But when you are old, someone else will dress you and take you where you don not want to go…” Shepherd life is not an idealistic and noble life. It is the life of cross and sacrifice. But it is the most glorious life. Then Jesus said, “Follow me,” and “You must follow me.” To love Jesus and obey his command and follow him is a very personal matter. Thank Jesus for his unchanging and unfailing. Thank God for providing with this beautiful centre. As we dedicate our centre to him, may we dedicate our heart and life to Jesus’ command, “Feed my lambs” out of love for him.


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