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Last updated 11pm Yorkshire Day 2026 (BAF).
Sunday 2 August 2026
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Sermon Notes
Do You Love Me? - John 21:15-19
Believe and Confess
The purpose of John’s Gospel: ‘Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name’ (20:30-31)
John’s conclusion to his Gospel includes the story of Peter - the disciple who when asked by Jesus, ‘Who do say I am?’ answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Matthew 16:16), to which Jesus responded: ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! [Simon, son of John] For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’ (Matthew 16:17-18) – meeting face-to-face with Jesus, the one whom John the Baptist described as, ‘the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (1:29)
The Gospel in all its Glory
The immediate context of 21:15-19:
· The pre-arranged meeting in Galilee with a specific reference to Peter (see Mark 16:7)
· Breakfast with Jesus on the beach after a long night fishing without success and the miraculous catch of fish near the shore (21:1-14)
· The first occasion that Jesus and Peter have been alone since: ‘Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly’ (Luke 22:60-62)
Back to where it all went wrong:
‘Do you love me more than these?’ (21:15) – In the upper room Peter had boldly declared to Jesus: ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you’ (13:37) – a promise that didn’t last long!
‘they saw a charcoal fire in place’ (21:9) – at the residence of the high priest after Jesus’ arrest: ‘when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them’ (Luke 22:55)
’you know everything, you know that I love you’ (21:17) – ‘But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed’ (Luke 22:60)
Peter was no doubt taken right back to the moment of his greatest failure.
Back to where it all started – Why three times?
Confession, Repentance and Forgiveness
Why three times? Three denials!! On a first reading the repeated questioning of Peter may seem harsh, even cruel. However, Jesus is extending a great kindness to Peter!
Peter really did love Jesus when he said what he said in the upper room. He just didn’t realise what it meant to truly love Jesus, yet!
As the risen Jesus stands before Peter, still bearing the scars of the cross, we are reminded of the seriousness of sin. It is Jesus’ intention that Peter will be thoroughly healed of his sin against Jesus and its scars – denying Jesus is as serious a sin as there is! Repentance is more than simply saying, sorry. Peter, as with us all, must examine his sin in the company of the one who is, ‘the Christ, the Son of God.’ John records that on the third time of Jesus asking, ‘Peter was grieved because he said to him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ (21:17) Peter is not concerned that Jesus, didn’t believe him, rather the reality of his sin as he stood before the risen Jesus was striking home.
As Peter responds to Jesus’ repeated question, ‘Simon, son of John [the name he had before he was called by Jesus], do you love me?’ John 21:15; 16 & 17) BOTH, the seriousness of Peter’s sin and the kindness of Christ’s grace are in view. A great healing is taking place in Peter.
Assurance
This healing is essential. Jesus intends that Peter knows that he is truly forgiven. To receive the peace of Christ. This healing will remove the uncertainty that Satan will use to promote his lies: a sinner like you can’t really be forgiven!!’
Forgiven AND Restored
‘And after saying this [describing the type of death Peter would endure – because of boldly acknowledging that he was a follower of Christ] he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ (21:19) – ‘feed my lambs,’ ‘tend my sheep,’ feed my sheep’. Not only is Peter’s sin forgiven, but he is restored to the call that Jesus gave to him close to this very spot three years earlier: ‘Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him’ (Mark 1:17-18)
Do you love Me?
Profoundly encouraging for us!
We can get so hung up on wondering if we really love Jesus enough! Good news, we can’t!!
Or we can believe nothing would ever stop us from loving Jesus fully! Bad news we will!!
Jesus didn’t ask Peter, ‘do you love me perfectly?’ He simply asks us to love him! What we witness in this passage and all that follows in the life of Peter is the reality and the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel we are called to believe and confess.
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Jim's hosts while in the UK worship at Living Word Church, Fareham. Jim was able to have a meeting with their Pastor, Rev Chris Wickland - aka The Vexed Vicar. Jim contrasts issues affecting Christians in the UK with the global context.
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