A Right Relationship - John 21

 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.  But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.--John 21:5-8

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,

I love these verses because they show where Peter's heart truly is!  Make no mistake, Peter had trouble  maintaining a stable relationship with His Lord but he so wanted it, didn't he?  His desire was for the Lord.  even though many times it did not penetrate his will.  Peter was overconfident about his spirituality but  Jesus looked at his heart and loved him, because he saw where that desire would lead him as he matured. Jesus' kindness to Peter and to us reminds me of Isaiah 42:3:

"A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth."

As soon as John told Peter that it was the Lord, Peter jumps up and puts on his outer garment and plunges into the sea.  No hesitation...just took time enough to get properly dressed to meet Jesus and threw himself in the water.  The other disciples reacted a bit more sedately and waited til the boat arrived on the shore, but not Peter.  Yes, Peter was impulsive.  Yes, he was arrogant even to telling Jesus that if everyone else forsook Him, he would not, but you could not fault his fervor...His desire was for His Lord.  Peter's love for Jesus is always an encouragement to my faith.


When the time of testing came, Peter's will had not quite caught up with his  fervent desire to follow His Lord and  as John MacArthur says, he collapsed in a heap of denials. The restoration of Peter's relationship with the Lord occurs here in Chapter 21. As He goes about righting the relationship, we really get a window into what Jesus wants from us in our relationship with Him. 

The first thing He wants is that we love Him supremely. He wants us to love Him more than anything else.  I love that.  He demands all of our love.  I remember asking my dad when I was young and even when I got much older how much he loved me.  His answer was always the same.  With all my heart and then he would ask me the same question and I would reply, "I love you will all my heart, Daddy."   This is what Jesus wants from us...hearts that are completely surrendered to Him.  The extent of our surrender and love will be revealed in our obedience to Him. 

The next thing he discusses with Peter is sacrifice. Here is what he says to Peter in chapter 21.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God."


He wants us to be willing give our all even our lives in His service.  To be...as it says in Romans 12... living sacrifices wholly acceptable to Him which is our reasonable service. Loving Jesus supremely means taking up your cross and following Him.  It means obeying Him at any cost...even death. If there's anything in your life that you sacrifice for Christ, that's evidence of your love. If there's anything in your life that you will not sacrifice for Christ, that's the evidence of the shallowness of your love.

The final thing Jesus wants in our relationship with Him is that we follow Him.

He said to him, “Follow Me.”Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”  Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”--John 21:19-22

If we are going to be in right relationship with Jesus,we cannot be concerned about other people.  Our job is to be obedient and  follow Him.  We belong to Him.  Our eyes are to be on Him.  We are set apart to do His work.  Our lives are to reflect His wants and desires...what others are doing or getting or not getting  is irrelevant and not important.  If we focus on them, then they become distractions and get in the way of our service.  Peter turned his eyes away from following Jesus to look at John almost immediately after Jesus told him to follow.   Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Follow Him no matter the cost   It is never about you...it is always about Him and doing His work.  Love Him supremely, live for Him sacrificially, and follow Him completely


But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life--John 6:68


Love
Mom

Lead Me to the Cross

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
You are
Te word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen

To your heart
To your heart
Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart

Hillsong...