15/06/10

Do you love Me more than these?

John 21:3 - 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.


We read in today's message that Simon Peter and team were disconnected from Jesus for some time and being sad about what had happened he thought of a way to keep himself busy and escape from thinking of Jesus.

You will understand the depth of his efforts by the fact that the whole night they were fishing and it was only in the morning that Jesus appeared unto them. Also a matter to note is that Simon Peter was so lost trying to catch fish that he was naked in the boat but came to realize of his situation only when he saw Jesus on the shore and was identified to him by another colleague.

Almost all of us do what Simon Peter did.

As lay people when we are at service or worship we go 'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus' and when we finish and go home, we behave like the disciples who did not expect to see Jesus again (we do until next service or worship session). Lost of Jesus Christ many go back to our old ways of living and therefore see no change comes into our lives.

As people working for God many of us too behave like Simon Peter. We may put on a holy attire in front of people but when alone, we let our old man creep out and sometime do not even realize until we are made aware of the Lord's presence. Many harbor their carnal desires in whitewashed covering until they are exposed by the presence of Christ. It does not require the glory of God to be manifested but even the presence of a Man of God can expose them to themselves.

Many workers of the vineyard whitewash greed, some pride, some fame and some even lust (it was astonishing to hear a preacher claiming that God gave him permission to have an extramarital affair).

Like when Jesus appeared to Simon and asked him 'do you love Me more than these?' today He is asking each one of us three question.

Do you love Me more than your worldly life?
Do you love Me more than your family life?
Do you love Me more than you love your life?

What is your answer?


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord Jesus, without You we do not have life and live in a deception of life. Lord Jesus it is only through You that we and the people we love can have the fullness of life and without You we deceive ourselves and those around us with concepts like love, peace, righteousness, holiness, service etc...

Lord we pray that your people understand that all these are incomplete without You and You are always there with us every moment of our lives only if we say YES, YES and YES to You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
John 21:1-17
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.

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