1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:04,880 Pray with me, Father in Heaven, as we come to this passage, the 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:09,840 end of the gospel according to John as you carried him along to 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,960 write these words. Thousands of years later and 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:19,320 until you return, your church is going to feed on this living 5 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,960 word for many. We've seen and heard this 6 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:28,560 narrative of how you restored Peter, but Lord, take us deep 7 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,880 into this narrative that we might see new things and have 8 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:38,880 our lives transformed by the one and only one who is the Lord 9 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,600 Jesus Christ and whose name we pray. 10 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,920 Amen. This morning I'm going to read 11 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:50,360 the entire chapter of John 21, the final page of the Gospel 12 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,200 According to John, and there's three basic stories that are 13 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,280 unfolding. The context is that this is the 14 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,960 third time Jesus has appeared to his disciples as a group. 15 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,840 The first time there were 10 present. 16 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,080 Thomas wasn't there. The next time, which we were in 17 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:12,840 last week, Thomas was present. Thomas, having Jesus show him 18 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:14,960 his hands on his side, cries out. 19 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:20,280 My Lord and my God, Jesus breathes on them. 20 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:26,760 And then comes this narrative of seven of the disciples, 21 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,120 including Peter and John, are on a boat fishing, when this is 22 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,800 what happens again, verse 1 of chapter 21. 23 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:39,520 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples 24 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:44,240 by the sea of Tiberius, and he revealed himself in this way. 25 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,240 Simon Peter Thomas called the twin Nathaniel of Cana in 26 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,400 Galilee. The sons of Zebedee and two 27 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,400 others of his disciples were together. 28 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,200 Simon Peters said to them, I am going fishing. 29 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,000 They said to him, We will go with you. 30 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,680 They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught 31 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,880 nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus 32 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,440 stood on the shore. Yet the disciples did not know 33 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,960 that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, Children, do 34 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,200 you have any fish? They answered him, No. 35 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:24,520 He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and 36 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,200 you will find some. So they cast it, and now they 37 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:33,000 were not able to haul it in because of the quantity of fish. 38 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:38,400 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, It is 39 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,800 the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it 40 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,600 was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was 41 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,160 stripped for work and threw himself into the sea. 42 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,920 The other disciples came in the boat dragging the net full of 43 00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:57,440 fish, for they were not far from the land, but about 100 yards 44 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,840 off. When they got out on land they 45 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:05,280 saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it and 46 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,200 bread. And Jesus said to them, Bring 47 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,400 some of the fish that you have just caught. 48 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,520 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore full of 49 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:20,400 large fish, 153 of them, And although there were so many, the 50 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,640 net was not torn. Jesus said to them, come and 51 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:27,480 have breakfast. Now none of the disciples dared 52 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,800 to ask him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord. 53 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,040 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them. 54 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,480 And so with the fish. This was now the third time that 55 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,680 Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised 56 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,720 from the dead. When they'd finished breakfast, 57 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:51,120 Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more 58 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,360 than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord, you 59 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,240 know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. 60 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,760 He said to him a second time, Simon son of John, do you love 61 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,640 me? He said to him, Yes, Lord, you 62 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,600 know that I love you. He said to him, Tin my sheep. 63 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,840 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love 64 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,519 me? Peter was grieved because he 65 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:19,120 said to him the third time, Do you love me? 66 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,800 And he said to him, Lord, you know everything. 67 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:27,800 You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my 68 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,960 sheep. Truly, truly. 69 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,120 I say to you, when you were young you used to dress yourself 70 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,040 and walk wherever you wanted, but when you were old you will 71 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,720 stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry 72 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:44,440 you where you do not want to go. This he said to show by what 73 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,480 kind of death he was to glorify God, and after saying this he 74 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:53,560 said to him, Follow me. Peter turned and saw the 75 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,560 disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also 76 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,920 had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, 77 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,640 Lord, who is it that is going to betray you? 78 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:08,600 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about this 79 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,880 man? Jesus said to him, If it is my 80 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,360 will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? 81 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:19,080 You follow me. So the sayings spread abroad 82 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,680 among the brothers, that the disciple was not to die. 83 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,280 Yet Jesus did not say to him that this that he was not to 84 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:27,840 die. But if it is my will that he 85 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:31,040 remain until I come, what is that to you? 86 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,080 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these 87 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,360 things. And it was written these things, 88 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,200 and we know that his testimony is true. 89 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:45,480 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did for every 90 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:49,720 one of them to be written. I suppose that the world itself 91 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,280 could not contain the books that would be written. 92 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,280 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 93 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:07,880 Please be seated. August 18th of last year we had 94 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,760 our first sermon in our series on the Gospel of John. 95 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:16,240 Today is our last and we'll be moving into the book of Jonah 96 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:21,800 next Sunday. 48 verses. That little book will occupy our 97 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,640 time up to Advent and following Advent. 98 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:29,000 As we move into 2026, we plan to go into a study of the book of 99 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,600 Ephesians that will take us the rest of the way through spring 100 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,440 and into summer. Today we come to this final 101 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,720 chapter of John. It's been a great study for us 102 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,440 personally, and I hope and pray for you as well. 103 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,640 In the chapter preceding the one I just read, John told us his 104 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,920 purpose. He said Jesus did many other 105 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,920 signs in the presence of the disciples which are not written 106 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,200 in this book. And then verse 31 of chapter 20, 107 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,240 John says, but these are written so that you may believe that 108 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,320 Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you 109 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,480 may have life in His name. That's why he wrote these words. 110 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,800 And what that means is that John, the beloved disciple, the 111 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,320 son of Zebedee, the one spoken of at the end of this chapter, 112 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:23,640 is the one that was carried along by the Holy Spirit to 113 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:28,520 write these very words, to record every story that we've 114 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,680 heard to in the gospel the way he did. 115 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:38,160 Today, as we look at these verses, I want to focus on three 116 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,160 parts. 1st, how the Lord revealed himself. 117 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,160 Secondly, how the Lord restored Peter. 118 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,120 Third, how he recommissioned Peter. 119 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,240 And then one final thought. Do we? 120 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:53,400 The reason I want to start with the word revealed is because 121 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,400 it's used twice in the first verse of chapter 21 and then 122 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,280 again in verse 14. Go with me to verse one. 123 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:05,360 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples 124 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:09,960 by the sea of Tiberias and he revealed himself in this way. 125 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:14,960 Then in verse 14 after the first story of the catch, this was now 126 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:19,280 the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after 127 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:24,960 he was raised from the dead. The Word revealed is an 128 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:29,360 important word in Christianity. It's what separates us among 129 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,919 many other important doctrines from every other religion in the 130 00:08:32,919 --> 00:08:37,200 world. What it teaches us is that God 131 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:41,280 had to reveal himself to his people. 132 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,799 That's why John starts the gospel. 133 00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:47,320 He the way he did. What we looked at a year ago in 134 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:52,160 the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the 135 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:56,400 Word was God. The Word is more than an idea. 136 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,440 It's more than just teachings. It's the very person of Jesus 137 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:05,720 Christ. And God sent his Son so he could 138 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:12,800 reveal who He is and who we are and who we can be if we belong 139 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,400 to Him, if we rest and receive in Him. 140 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:20,800 But we will never rest and receive Jesus unless He has 141 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:25,440 revealed Himself to us. This is grace. 142 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:32,360 When God speaks about His Word being revealed, it is not just 143 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,440 for justification. It's not just for that woman 144 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,800 when our eyes are opened, when our ears are open, when our 145 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,000 heart suddenly beats for Christ and we're transformed. 146 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,480 It's also part of our sanctification when we are being 147 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:50,800 made more and more like Jesus. If God is not faithful to reveal 148 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:55,240 to us His Word through His Word and Spirit, we will never be 149 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,680 transformed. So picture the context. 150 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,720 Remember what has happened. Not much time has passed since 151 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:07,840 Peter said to Jesus. Even if all of them deny you, I 152 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:11,440 will lay down my life for you. Jesus tells them that that's not 153 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,000 the way it's going to happen, but that Peter will deny him. 154 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,880 And he does. Christ has been arrested. 155 00:10:17,560 --> 00:10:21,160 Christ is then crucified. He is placed in the tomb. 156 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:26,800 He is dead three days later. Christ is risen. 157 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,240 He's risen. He is alive now. 158 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:34,320 John records this third visitation, meaning it's the 159 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,360 collective time he's appeared to marry as well, but with the 160 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,920 disciples as a group. This is his third time. 161 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:44,080 First was when he suddenly appeared when the disciples were 162 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,480 hidden because of fear behind closed doors. 163 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,400 Second was in the same way only 8 days later because Thomas 164 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,560 wasn't there. And when Jesus appeared to 165 00:10:52,560 --> 00:10:57,360 Thomas, what Thomas had demanded was unless I see his hands and 166 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,640 put my hand in his side, I will never believe. 167 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,760 And he was right. So what does God do? 168 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:08,240 He meets him and he reveals himself to him and he says to 169 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:11,400 Peter, see my hands, put your hand in my side. 170 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,920 And then he says, stop disbelieving, believe. 171 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:20,160 And Peter says the greatest thing we could ever say about 172 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:26,960 Christ, my Lord and my God. Now Peter, we don't know why, 173 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:31,600 decides to go fishing. The others join him. 174 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,920 Seven of them are on the boat. But here comes Christ. 175 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,880 For the third time, Christ appears on the shoreline, this 176 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:46,080 time not behind any walls. He begins to cook breakfast for 177 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:51,120 the disciples. Jesus is revealing himself to 178 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,840 his disciples as he sits on the shoreline. 179 00:11:55,560 --> 00:11:59,360 He cries out, calls out to his disciples, but they don't know 180 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:01,680 it's Him. John tells us that it's about 181 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:05,040 100 yards away, so you need to think of a foot. 182 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,400 I know some of you don't want to think of a football field, but 183 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:08,800 you need to think of a football field. 184 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:15,360 It's 100 yards away and Jesus is there next to a charcoal fire 185 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:23,520 and he shouts out and his voice carries over the water, the same 186 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:28,440 water he walked on that Peter also walked on, the same water 187 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:36,200 that he calmed in the storm. He calls out, children, have you 188 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,680 caught anything? Have you caught any fish? 189 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,400 Jesus knows the answer and they speak back. 190 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:51,160 It's brief, probably out of frustration, weariness, but also 191 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,280 because of the distance. They simply say no. 192 00:12:55,400 --> 00:13:00,480 Then in verse 6 Jesus says cast the net on the right side of the 193 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,560 boat and you will find some. So they do that. 194 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:08,680 You may not realize it, but they're obeying the word of God. 195 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:13,120 Cast your net on the right side. They did it. 196 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:20,280 And when they did, they had a catch that was so great they 197 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:24,680 were unable to haul all of it in because of the quantity of fish. 198 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:30,280 When that happened, verse 7, that disciple whom Jesus loved, 199 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,880 we know it's John, the son of Zebedee, the one who's writing 200 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,640 this letter is the Holy Spirit carries him, says to Peter 4 201 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:45,560 words, it is the Lord, it is the Lord. 202 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:50,760 This is important. John could have said it's Jesus, 203 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,960 He could have said it's the Messiah, He could have said it, 204 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,000 it's our Savior, it's our friend. 205 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,080 But he doesn't. He said it is the Lord. 206 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:06,600 And it's not because it's just a formal address, what John is 207 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:11,040 saying about Jesus, the same thing Thomas said, My Lord and 208 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:17,360 my God is everything because Jesus is the Lord. 209 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,800 John Frame, long time professor of Westminster Seminary, has 210 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,840 written so powerfully and beautifully, primarily in 211 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:31,480 systematic theology, and the way he seeks to frame the way he 212 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:34,680 teaches his students, whether it's in reading his books or 213 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,880 whether you sit under his lectures, is to think through 214 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:43,440 all of it through the lordship of Christ and helping frame 215 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:46,640 that, no pun intended. Because of his last name, he 216 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:51,480 focuses on this aspect of the lordship of Christ, control, 217 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:57,440 authority and presence. Now think about this. 218 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:04,360 The Lord is in control. The Lord is all authoritative. 219 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:08,200 Everything he says has authority, but he's also present 220 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:14,160 here on this shoreline. When the when the disciples pull 221 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:19,000 in this large catch, John recognizes it because not as his 222 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,680 physical appearance, but because of his lordship. 223 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,240 This man cooking breakfast on the shore is in control. 224 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,640 He is in control of the water and of the fish. 225 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,400 He created the water. He created the fish. 226 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,200 He created the shoreline he's walking on. 227 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:44,160 He created fire. Christ is present as Lord and He 228 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:48,360 still is. His presence means so much 229 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:53,680 because he present on that shoreline is fully God, truly 230 00:15:53,680 --> 00:16:00,800 God, fully man, truly man. When John says to Peter it is 231 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:05,360 the Lord, it's because Jesus revealed that to John. 232 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:11,040 When Peter hears John's words, he does what Peter does. 233 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:15,440 He just moves into action. He jumps out of the boat and 234 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:17,720 begins to swim towards the shoreline. 235 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:24,560 The other disciples, 6 of them now haul in 153 fish. 236 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,360 What caused John to say it is the Lord? 237 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,360 Likely it's because of the story that took place in Luke 5. 238 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,920 Early in the Gospel of Luke, we learned that Jesus said to his 239 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:43,920 disciples, Peter particularly, Come follow me and I will make 240 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,840 you fishers of men. Remember, Peter was fishing. 241 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:52,000 He had another night like this one, a night of failure. 242 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,080 A fisherman not bringing home fish. 243 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:58,880 That is a night of failure. Jesus and Luke 5 tells him cast 244 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:03,560 the net on the other side after going out into the deep and they 245 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:08,160 bring in so many fish that the Nets are bursting. 246 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:13,040 John remembers and says it is the Lord. 247 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,440 Those words lead Peter to action. 248 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:23,680 But remember, as Peter is swimming, he denied that he knew 249 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:29,160 Christ more than that he said to those who said to others he was 250 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,200 with them. And his final curse, it was a 251 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,440 curse he brought up on himself. If I'm found to be related to 252 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:40,160 this man, equated to this man in any way, connected to him in any 253 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:44,520 way, may I become like what you were about to do to him. 254 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,320 And he caused on them to slander and spit upon him. 255 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,600 Peter wanted them to not think he had anything to do with 256 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:53,800 Jesus. And then the rooster crowed. 257 00:17:55,560 --> 00:18:01,760 Peter and the other disciples get to the shoreline and there 258 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,640 they hear Jesus. He's revealed himself to them. 259 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:11,520 And he says, bring verse 10, some of the fish that you have 260 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,480 just caught. So Simon Peter went aboard and 261 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:18,960 hauled the net ashore full of large fish, 153 of them. 262 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:24,800 And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 263 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:27,680 I'll come back to that in a minute. 264 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:32,080 Jesus said to them, come and have breakfast. 265 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:38,360 Is that how you picture Christ? When you pray to the Lord, do 266 00:18:38,360 --> 00:18:44,640 you pray to Him only as this transcendent, far away mass of 267 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:48,560 God which he is, and you should, but you also know that through 268 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:54,800 His Spirit he lives inside us. Dutch theologian decades ago, O 269 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,440 Housby's his name. Writing a book on prayer begins 270 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,360 this way. He places a verse at the top of 271 00:19:01,360 --> 00:19:06,360 the page and then he says, I doubt I know of another verse in 272 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,880 all of Scripture that says more about prayer than this one. 273 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,600 I've taught conferences on prayer. 274 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:19,840 I've preached this and never once have I had, no matter the 275 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:21,960 size of the audience. Somebody guess what verse he 276 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,840 selected? It was Revelation 320. 277 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:29,040 Jesus, behold, I stand at the door and knock. 278 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,480 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in 279 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,720 and eat with him and he with me. In fact, many of you probably 280 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:39,760 came to saving faith by somebody giving you that verse, even 281 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,040 though that verse is not primarily about that. 282 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,400 Housby was saying this is the greatest verse on prayer in the 283 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:50,280 whole Bible because that's what prayer is. 284 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:55,720 It is communion with the Lord through the powerful presence of 285 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,440 His Spirit. It's feasting with the Lord. 286 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,480 This imagery of the Lord's Table. 287 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:06,280 This imagery of the fish. And the loaves present here on 288 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:10,240 the shoreline shows us how powerful that imagery is. 289 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:17,400 The disciples are eating fish and bread with the one they saw. 290 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,000 Multiply the fish and the bread as they carried around 291 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,680 basketfuls. This is remarkable. 292 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:29,520 Come have breakfast. I wonder where did Jesus get the 293 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:32,240 fish? There weren't enough because he 294 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,280 called for them to bring some of their own. 295 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:36,880 What a great picture of the way we served together. 296 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,640 Where did he get the bread? It doesn't tell us, but don't 297 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,560 forget he's the Lord. He made those fish. 298 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:48,800 He made that bread, He made that fire and the elements that could 299 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,720 even create fire. That's who we're talking about. 300 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:54,080 Jesus says come and have breakfast. 301 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:57,480 Verse 12. Now none of the disciples dared 302 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:01,040 ask him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord. 303 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:05,800 Jesus came, took bread, gave it to them, and so with the fish. 304 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:11,000 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to them. 305 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:19,080 If Christ didn't reveal Himself to them, and through His Spirit 306 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:23,080 and Word didn't reveal Himself to us, we would never believe. 307 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:29,120 We would never know who He is. This is a profound element of 308 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:32,440 our Christian faith. God initiates. 309 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,120 He often initiates in times we weren't expecting. 310 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:40,600 These men were not expecting to see Jesus on that shoreline, but 311 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,200 that's where He was. You may have come to this place 312 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,520 today, or you may be listening to the sermon even years after 313 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:50,880 I'm preaching it, and you had no idea that this was Christ 314 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:55,840 essentially on the shoreline holding out who He is and who 315 00:21:55,840 --> 00:22:00,240 you might be in Him. If you will trust Jesus says 316 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:04,280 come have breakfast. He reveals who He is. 317 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:09,280 This is why John was carried along to write these words that 318 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:13,160 you might believe, and if you believe, it's because he 319 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:17,120 revealed Himself to you. Never get over that second part 320 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:20,000 though. Now that the meal is over, He 321 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:25,480 moves from just revealing who he is to the disciples to now 322 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:28,480 restoring Peter. And what he's going to reveal 323 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:33,800 here is the powerful nature of his grace and his powerful 324 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,160 calling to what He wants Peter to do. 325 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:41,560 Verse 15, When they'd finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon 326 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,080 Peter. Now many of you know these three 327 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:47,560 statements. Jesus first says, Simon, son of 328 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:50,600 John, that formal language that he used when you first called 329 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:55,840 him, Do you love me more than these? 330 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:58,720 Now what did he mean by more than these? 331 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,000 I'll go back to that in a moment. 332 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:04,480 Peter said, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. 333 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:08,640 He said to him, feed my lambs. Verse 16. 334 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:12,280 He said to him a second time, Simon son of John, do you love 335 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:15,280 me? He said to him, yes, Lord, you 336 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:19,760 know that I love you. He said to him, tend my sheep, 337 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,520 verse 17. He said to him the third time, 338 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,560 Simon son of John, do you love me? 339 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,000 Well, Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 340 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,840 do you love me? And he said to Jesus, Lord, you 341 00:23:34,360 --> 00:23:37,760 know everything. And he does. 342 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:42,520 He's omniscient. Lord, you know everything. 343 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:48,120 You know that I love you. And Jesus said to him, feed my 344 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:51,800 sheep. Let's spend a little time here. 345 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,360 When Jesus said, do you love me more than these? 346 00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:02,080 What did he have in mind? I think there's only three 347 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:06,160 options. One, do you love me more than 348 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:11,680 you love these other men? 2 do you love me more than you 349 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:18,880 love being a fisherman, this hollow fish or Three, do you 350 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,120 love me more than these other men love me? 351 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:29,160 Theologians debate what might have been meant, but the point 352 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:34,440 isn't missed. There's one supreme love and 353 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,840 that's what Christ is going after in Peter's life. 354 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:42,640 I believe he meant do you love me more than these men love me 355 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:45,720 and the why? The reason I think that is true 356 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:51,400 is because Peter said so. He said even if all these 357 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:56,400 others, his fellow disciples reject you or deny that they 358 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:01,400 know you, if they flee, I will never and he believed it. 359 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:05,920 I will never deny you. I will lay down my life for you, 360 00:25:09,120 --> 00:25:11,480 Jesus said that's not going to be the way it happens. 361 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,000 Before the rooster crows, you will deny that. 362 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,360 You know me three times. And he did. 363 00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:25,480 And that's why Peter is sad when Jesus says for 1/3 time, do you 364 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:30,400 love me? Peter loved Jesus. 365 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,160 Jesus knew he loved him. Why did he ask him? 366 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:47,680 Jesus Christ, in restoring Peter shows us that He is going 367 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,280 towards the thing that always matters most. 368 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:57,080 Jesus could have asked Peter anything He could have said. 369 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:00,840 Peter, are you sad that you denied me? 370 00:26:02,360 --> 00:26:10,600 Peter, have you wept tears over your rejection of who I am to 371 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:12,800 other people in our relationship? 372 00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:19,080 Peter, you fasted, put on sackcloth and ashes, beat 373 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:21,840 yourself because of the way you denied me. 374 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,960 Peter, do you remember everything I taught you? 375 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,720 Peter, do you have gifts that I've given you that you know I 376 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:39,800 need for the church? Jesus only asked Peter about his 377 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:43,800 love. There's a play on the Greek 378 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:47,360 language here that's beautiful. Whether there's significance, 379 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:50,680 theologians debate one way or the other, but the point isn't 380 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,480 missed. It could be that it's just 381 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:56,920 John's style and it's beautiful. But Jesus says to Peter, Peter, 382 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,240 do you agapeo me this high level of love? 383 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:02,600 A choice to love? Peter answers. 384 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:08,560 Lord, you know I phileo you. Jesus says, Do you agape of me? 385 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:10,960 Peter says, You know I flay of you. 386 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,240 Then Jesus says, Peter do you flay of me? 387 00:27:15,160 --> 00:27:23,320 And Peter responds with sadness. Lord, you know everything, all 388 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:25,720 things. I flay of you. 389 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:38,680 The love that Christ is asking about is what restores Peter as 390 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:44,720 he experiences what is ultimate and supreme in his life, and 391 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:49,800 that is his dependence upon Christ and his forgiveness. 392 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:54,480 This is remarkable. He didn't ask him anything else. 393 00:27:55,760 --> 00:28:04,800 But do you love me because of the size of our church, because 394 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,840 of the kind of body that brought, God has brought here, 395 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:12,920 which is beautiful and broken and full of people who truly 396 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:16,840 love the Lord and those who are on their way, All of us. 397 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:23,160 It's not uncommon for me to receive a dozen or so request 398 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:28,440 from search committees to help them find their next pastor. 399 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:34,000 Even the church, we came out of Highland Park Press meeting with 400 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,560 their search committee and helping them think through what 401 00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:40,680 they would be looking for and the person who's called next. 402 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:46,040 It's a privilege. But I want to tell you, almost 403 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:49,600 every time after I've read everything they've sent me, 404 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:53,480 here's the letter, here's the qualifications, here's the job 405 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:59,640 description, Almost every time when they say, is there anything 406 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:03,880 you see that's missing, the answer is yes. 407 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:09,880 Nowhere and anything have you written, have you asked or said 408 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:16,560 this man must love Jesus Christ and love the flock. 409 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:21,800 It's not there. And every time I pointed out, 410 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:25,400 they say, well, of course, of course, that's assumed. 411 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:29,640 Well, we assume it too. Here's how I know. 412 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:34,800 Last Sunday we ordained and installed men for the office of 413 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,320 elder and Deacon. We do it every year. 414 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:41,760 I ask the same questions that the Book of Church Order calls 415 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:44,120 for me to ask of the elders and the deacons. 416 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:49,640 Ruling elders and deacons. Look at your bulletin from last 417 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:53,120 week. Not one of those questions 418 00:29:53,200 --> 00:30:00,480 addresses a man's love for Christ, but we assume it because 419 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,120 you wouldn't recommend them if you didn't know that that was 420 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,960 present. I want to tell you that should 421 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:09,040 change. Do you love Jesus? 422 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:13,880 Should be the first and most frequent question ever asked. 423 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:19,200 Sitting in many ordination exams at Presbytery, I've never heard 424 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,720 somebody from the floor ask the man, Do you love Jesus? 425 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:24,880 Friends, I think that needs to change. 426 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,360 It's the first question we should ask, and it's the most 427 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:35,320 frequent question we should ask. So I ask you, in your small 428 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:40,040 groups, as new ministries have a new calendar cycle about to 429 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,280 start, how often do you ask one another? 430 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,840 Do you love Jesus? How often to your spouse, to 431 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:51,160 close friends, to your children? Do you love Jesus? 432 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,600 It's a really important question. 433 00:30:55,360 --> 00:31:02,640 It's the only question Jesus asked Peter, and He used that to 434 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:07,800 restore Peter to the office. And in doing so, he revealed 435 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:11,600 himself to Peter again. He restored Peter, and then he 436 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,040 recommissioned him. Here's how it happened. 437 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:20,280 Look at me at verse 18 after Jesus responded to each of 438 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:24,560 Peter's statements. Yes, Lord, you know that I love 439 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,200 you. Let me say this, I forgot notice 440 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:31,720 in Peter's answer, he didn't put the attention upon himself. 441 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:37,960 Instead he said, Lord, you know, he had learned I can't put 442 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:43,400 confidence in the flesh. Lord, you know Jesus said feed 443 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,920 my lambs 10 my sheep. It's a different word means 444 00:31:46,920 --> 00:31:50,520 shepherd means encourage, lead, discipline. 445 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:53,320 And then he says for the third time, feed my sheep. 446 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:59,040 Then verse 18 truly, truly I say to you, when you were young you 447 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,280 used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when 448 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:06,120 you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will 449 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:09,160 dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. 450 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:17,920 OK verse 18 truly, truly. The last time Peter heard Jesus 451 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:23,960 use those words was in John 13 where Jesus said to Peter, 452 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:33,160 truly, truly before the rooster crows, you will deny 3 times you 453 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:37,240 knew me. Another powerful picture is the 454 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:42,760 last time the word charcoal was used is when Peter in the Gospel 455 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:46,720 of John is when Peter is warming himself by a charcoal fire. 456 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:52,840 When the woman says certainly you were with him, Peter was 457 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:57,280 warming himself by a fire and by that fire he denied that he even 458 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:00,840 knew Christ three times. And now he's just been with 459 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:02,720 Christ that another charcoal fire. 460 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:08,640 And Jesus says truly, truly. And what Jesus says, John tells 461 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:12,520 us is that Peter actually is going to fulfill what he said he 462 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:16,760 would do. He is going to die for Christ 463 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:21,800 because he has been restored and recommissioned. 464 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:26,800 Jesus ends that section at the end of verse 19. 465 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:32,040 After saying this, he said to Peter, follow me. 466 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:36,960 He told Peter early in the Gospels, Come follow me and I 467 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:42,000 will make you fishers of men. There's powerful symbolism that 468 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,800 first catch so many fish. The Nets broke. 469 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:49,240 That caused those men to recognize that the man who said 470 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:51,480 those things is not an ordinary man. 471 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:53,560 They followed him for three years. 472 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:59,680 Now when he says cast your net on the other side and John says 473 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:02,680 because 153 are not on the net, it is the Lord. 474 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:05,600 John tells us in the net did not break. 475 00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:11,239 What that means is that we are not the ones who catch the fish. 476 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:15,199 We are used by God. Peter was used by God, still 477 00:34:15,199 --> 00:34:19,600 being used by God, but when those that are his or caught in 478 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:25,360 that net, that net will not break those to whom Christ has 479 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,679 revealed himself, who come to saving faith. 480 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:32,920 We are the Church and the gates of hell cannot prevail against 481 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:35,600 us. The Nets not going to break. 482 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:46,400 Peter then is still Peter. He turns as he walks with Jesus 483 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:50,520 side by side, and he sees John, the beloved disciple. 484 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:56,239 Following verse 21. When Peter saw him, he said to 485 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,960 Jesus, Lord, what about this man? 486 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:03,840 And Jesus said to him, if it is my will that he remains until I 487 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:11,800 come, what is that to you? You follow me. 488 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:17,720 He knows how easy it's going to be for Peter to compare himself 489 00:35:17,720 --> 00:35:23,000 to another man, to lose focus, and so once again he reveals 490 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:25,720 himself to Peter. Peter, that's none of your 491 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:29,800 business. Stay in your lane, butt out. 492 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:35,520 I know what I'm doing. I'm the Lord, I'm in control, I 493 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:38,640 have authority, I'm present. Listen to me. 494 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:43,080 And so he does. Jesus reveals himself, he 495 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:50,440 restores, he recommissions, and then John ends his gospel with 496 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:55,000 these words and so will I. Now there are also many other 497 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:59,360 things that Jesus did where every one of them to be written. 498 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,600 I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that 499 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:10,400 would be written. Well, that's, that's our dear 500 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:15,920 brother the apostle John, carried along by the Holy Spirit 501 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:22,920 using hyperbole to show us how great and awesome is God. 502 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:27,240 Psalm 145, we said it in the call to worship your greatness 503 00:36:27,240 --> 00:36:34,760 is unsearchable. God, Christ, Father, Son, Holy 504 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:40,760 Spirit is so much greater than we know. 505 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:47,800 And by his grace, he reveals himself to US time and time and 506 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:50,040 time again. And here's what that means. 507 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:56,520 If you know anything about Christ, it's because it was by 508 00:36:56,520 --> 00:36:58,720 His grace that He revealed it to you. 509 00:36:58,720 --> 00:37:03,440 And no matter what you know or how much you know, and I hope 510 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:07,240 and pray it's a lot and I hope it's a lot more before He calls 511 00:37:07,240 --> 00:37:13,040 you home. It is still such a small portion 512 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:21,160 of knowledge of who He ultimately is, and one day 513 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:28,600 that's going to be revealed to us that hyperbole should create 514 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,560 true humility. I didn't deserve it. 515 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:33,680 I don't deserve to know what I know. 516 00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:37,560 But it should also create profound hunger. 517 00:37:38,240 --> 00:37:42,920 I want to know more. And he said, blessed are those 518 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:45,640 who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be 519 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:48,360 filled. And as he fulfills that promise 520 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:53,920 and reveals more of himself to you, never forget grace. 521 00:37:54,480 --> 00:38:00,280 Humble yourself. This word is living and 522 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:06,720 powerful. There's so much more for us to 523 00:38:06,720 --> 00:38:12,560 know. Lord Jesus, thank you for every 524 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:17,400 word that you've given us, and thank you that Holy Spirit, you 525 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:23,280 revealed to us that all this Scripture, all your word is God 526 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:29,240 breathed and is useful. Lord, I thank you for every word 527 00:38:29,240 --> 00:38:32,440 that you carried the apostle John along to write. 528 00:38:33,120 --> 00:38:37,000 And I thank you that throughout the history, really of the 529 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:42,120 world, but especially of the church, what John felt led to 530 00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:45,600 write has truly happened and will continue to happen. 531 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:52,800 People like us have believed, and because of that belief, we 532 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:58,520 have life in your name and nothing can take that away. 533 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:03,120 Humble us, Lord, and make us hungry. 534 00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:10,240 Help us, O Lord to think constantly of the question, Do 535 00:39:10,240 --> 00:39:14,360 you love me? And Lord, enable us to use 536 00:39:14,360 --> 00:39:20,920 whatever gifts you've given us to help feed the sheep that are 537 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:25,280 desperate for this living word. We pray this in Jesus name, 538 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:27,040 Amen. Please stand.