John 21:17

John 21:17

We have here three points; love's examination, love's answer, and love's evidence; and we purpose to look at these three points of love in their order.

I. Observe then, first, what Christ did not do with Peter. Christ did not examine Peter continually all his life, as to the state of his heart; but upon a distinct occasion, for a distinct object. There was nothing subtle, and metaphysical, and perplexing in our Saviour's mode of examining Peter's heart. He did not wind His probe about. He was simple, straightforward, and definite. He went to the point where pain began He made Peter grieve, and then He pressed it no further. From His example we gather the occasions for examination to be: (1) When we have lapsed into any known sin. (2) In a time of affliction. (3) Before any great enterprise. (4) At sacred festivals. (5) At particular anniversaries.

II. Love's answer. "Peter was grieved." I do not suppose he knew that that very grief was the answer. Peter appealed to the omniscience of Christ. It is always best to find the harbingers of peace more in God's mind than in your own mind. And it is evident that this thought was the mainstay of Peter's assurance; for the more he seemed to be doubted, the greater stress he laid upon it. A wicked man does not dare to think of God's omniscience. He is always afraid of the thought; he cowers at it. But to the Christian, it is a thought with all strength and all peace "God knows everything."

III. Love's evidence. "Feed My lambs," "Feed My sheep." Actions must always be the heart's language. Be suspicious of the reality of any feeling which has never gone out in an action. Painstaking, faithful, hard work is the bent of a full heart, without which the feelings will grow, first restless, then oppressed, and then dying. Love will work. It only wants opportunity, and opportunity is always given. For wherever God, by His Spirit, has given the desire to work in the heart, He always, by providence, opens the door. The branch that bears no fruit can never have been grafted. The love which does not act, cannot live.

J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,1874, p. 352.

I. Love to the Lord Jesus is the essence of religion. If you have it not if the Lord Jesus is no friend of yours, we cannot promise you much happiness in the present life; for the best happiness is to be found in Him to whom you still are a stranger. And with yourself there must be something radically wrong. So excellent is the Lord Jesus and so suited to our need, that most reasonably and righteously God the Father employs Him as a test or touchstone of the sons of men.

II. It is love it is the opening of the heart to God's good will, which draws back to Himself that heart in grateful devotion and tender affiance. The love of God you cannot overrate, nor from its infinite wellspring drink too largely. "God is love," and to believe that love, of which the sinless creation is the boundless sphere, and of which Calvary is the focus concentrated, the bright and burning expression to believe that it is not a cold law, a dark fate, a sombre power, in which you live and move and have your being; but to believe that it is God's great life which now encircles and will eternally enclasp your little life to believe that a Being most wise, most holy, hovers round your daily path to get grace to believe this, is to learn the lesson which the Incarnate Word was constantly teaching, and the faith of which gave to John and his brethren their fulness of joy.

III. If you, too, would be happy, learn to love. View God as He reveals Himself. Believe Him to be what Jesus said; believe Him to be what Jesus was. When any mercy or any happy moment comes, remember the pleasant truth God Himself is near. And just as your little child wakes up, and finds a present on his pillow and shouts forth his wonder and his thanks; so when, through no labour of your hands, through no procurement or desert of yours, there comes to you some good and perfect gift, you cry, "Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ. My heavenly Father has been here, for it is thus He giveth to His beloved in their sleep."

J. Hamilton, Works,vol. i., p. 276.

We may Learn a Lesson

I. From the words and demeanour of our Lord in this simple narrative. How tender and considerate He was in all He here said. We too have to do with Jesus, and we have no reason to fear that He will deal more harshly with us than He did with His penitent disciple. He is full of compassion. Man may reproach us, load us with bitter words, delight in our anguish; but Jesus never reproaches, or if He seems to do so, His words are full of love as well as of chastisement. Man may strike wantonly, and strike again when we are down, and follow it up to our ruin; but our Saviour does not so. He wounds only as the physician wounds, that He may heal. His wounds are to question our love, and not that He needs to enquire into it, but that we may enquire into it, and prove ourselves, and test the reality of our love for Him. Such remindings are but the crook of the chief Shepherd, bringing back His sheep that they go not astray.

II. And from the penitent apostle too, we may learn: First, his humility. He casts himself simply on his Lord. He knew what a broken reed self was to lean upon. He had once trusted to himself; he had sown in self-confidence, and had reaped tears and shame. And have we not too had some sad experience of the same kind? Have we never gone forth champions and returned traitors? Have we never spoken as if we would stand for Christ against an army, and then fled at the sight of a foe? Let us not be drawing highly-coloured pictures to ourselves of our devotedness, our faith, our love, exalting ourselves, to be abased; but rather simply renounce all self-esteem and boasting, and fly for our refuge to "Lord, thou knowest." Dismiss bye ends and double purposes; give up the fruitless and disappointing attempt to serve the world and God at the same time; though in weakness and fear, and in self-abasement, yet in singleness of purpose cleave to the blessed Jesus. Thus will His questionings and His chastisements not be in vain if they knit your hearts to Him.

H. Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons,vol. i., p. 317.

References: John 21:17. J. M. McCulloch, Sermons,p. 183; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. ii., p. 245.John 21:18. Preacher's Monthly,vol. v., p. 229; M. Dix, Sermons Doctrinal and Practical,p. 120; Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iv., p. 134.