Pastor Mike Quimby - Session 4 - March 13, 2010
Why does God allow us to experience these Shoreline Encounters? Why does He put us in a position where we must be in turmoil trying to determine His Will? There were two sessions of Introduction and Clarification of what a Shoreline Experience Involves. This is part 2 of our exploration of John 21 to discover the three things that Christ wants to accomplish in and through us on the Shoreline.
NUMBER 2: JESUS WANTS TO SEE A FRESH DEPENDENCE ON HIM!
Looking back over the events of Peter’s life from the moment he began following Christ, we see many major signs of Arrogance and Self-Reliance. Before Peter could be an effective leader that God could use, he would have to come to a new level of humbleness and God-Reliance.
Arrogance and Self-Reliance were signs of carnal or satanic influence. On one occasion, Jesus verbalizes the problem by proclaiming, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” Matthew 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." NIV
Peter was so arrogant that he thought that he loved Jesus more than anyone else. He felt that he was better than the other disciples. But, in fact, in their humble ways, everyone loved Jesus more than he did because they were willing to accept his leadership and blindly follow his direction. They were more DEPENDENT on Jesus than Peter was.
Now, after the Denial, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and the Out-Pouring of the Holy Spirit, Jesus asks, “Do you love me more than these?” I have heard many sermons on this text and each time, the preacher tried to interpret that Jesus was asking, “Do you love me more than you love these Things?” Implying that Jesus was referring to the fish, beach, nets, fishing things, atmosphere, or something else that could be the object of Peter’s affection and joy.
I differ in my interpretation. Jesus was trying to re-instate Peter so his question was designed to confirm Peter and reveal to all, including Peter, that Peter had come to a state of God-Reliance, humbleness, and appreciation of those that Peter would lead. I believe that the question would better be understood to mean; “Peter, Do you love me more than these other disciples love me?” To me, this makes much more sense in light of Peter’s attitude deficiency. In Matthew 26:33, Mr. “Better-Than-Everybody-Else,” in front of all the other disciples, proclaimed, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I NEVER WILL.” This probably annoyed, offended, and belittled all the other disciples.
Peter had been at the pinnacle of arrogance; denied Christ; lost all Hope; had been broken, and was ready to give up. He finds himself at the Shoreline once again. Now, Jesus was ready to give the assignment for Peter to Lead and Feed His flock. You see, due to the work of God's Holy Spirit, Peter was a changed man. Peter had to answer the question, "Do I REMAIN on the Shoreline; RETREAT from the Challenge; or RESPOND to the CALL?" Fortunately for the world, He Responded to the Call!
ARE YOU AT A SHORELINE?
Is your attitude one which Jesus can utilize to Lead and Feed parts of His flock?
Do you need a Fresh and Healthy Dependence on Him?
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This is indeed a questionable area of scripture....one that begs contemplation and study. Your views are shared by more than a few theologians. The entire chapter is up for personal interpretation. It is one area that we can safely agree to disagree with others or even with ourselves at times. I think it is thought provoking to imagine that Jesus was sort of saying, "So, how much do you love me now?" We tend to make Jesus a humorless chap, but with so much good humor in humanity, I believe this is selling Him short. I can imagine Jesus attempting to lighten a very serious and sober moment in Peter's life. Peter was completely down and out. To study his story is to realize that many men would have committed suicide under similar circumstances. Peter did not climb off the mountain of self; he nose-dived. For Jesus to hit him with a, "So how much do you love me now?" question was to lighten the mood, because Peter needed the other side of the story. Peter needed to understand that it was perfectly okay to be a boob---the sacrifice of Christ was sufficient for that and it was the solution to that!!! How could Jesus have anything but a smile and a buoyant attitude in this moment when Peter's ears were more open than ever? Much could be said on this.
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