Do You Love Me?
Sermon
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There is a very tender and moving scene in the play, Fiddler
On The Roof. Tevyev and his wife Golda are being forced to move
from their home in Russia. One day Tevyev comes into the house
and asks his wife, "Golda, do you love me?"
"Do I what?"
"Do you love me?"
Golda looks at him and then responds: "Do I love you? With our
daughters getting married and this trouble in the town, you're
upset, you're worn out, go inside, go lie down, maybe it's
indigestion."
Tevyev interrupts and asks the question, "Golda, do you love
me?"
Golda sighs as she looked at him and says, "Do I love you? For
25 years I've washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned
your house, given you children, milked the cows. After 25 years,
why talk of love right now?"
Tevyev answers by saying, "Golda, the first time I met you was
on our wedding day. I was scared, I was shy, I was nervous."
"So was I," said Golda.
"But my father and my mother said we'd learn to love each
other, and now I'm asking, "Golda, do you love me?"
"Do I love him?" Golda sighs. "For 25 years I've lived with
him, fought with him, 25 years my bed is his! If that's not love,
what is?"
"Then you love me?" Tevyev asks.
"I suppose I do!" she says.
"And I suppose I love you too!" he says. "It doesn't change a
thing, but after 25 years it's nice to know."
"Do you love me?" is the same question Jesus is asking Peter
in the closing scene of the Gospel of John. It is interesting to
note that this closing scene is cast in the same spot where the
first scenes of the gospel took place -- on the shore of the Sea
of Galilee. Once again Peter was back to his old occupation. Once
again Peter was back to his old way of life. Once again Peter was
back in his old fishing boat. But it was not a very exciting
return. Peter and the other disciples had spent the entire night
fishing, but they had caught nothing.
Throughout that long and frustrating night of fishing, the
thoughts of Peter keep flying back to another occasion, another
time. He was remembering how one had stood on the shore almost
three years ago and said to him: "Come, follow me and I will make
you a fisher of men."
Dreams of those happy days were dancing in his mind. Suddenly,
John was shaking him and pointing toward the shore. Peter looked
toward the shore and saw someone and asked, "Who is it?"
"Can't you see?" cried John. "It's the Lord!"
Again, Peter looked toward the shore. He recognized Jesus. He
leaped into the water. He went to meet Jesus. Later, when Peter
and Jesus are alone, Jesus asks a question that goes to the heart
of Peter. He asks: "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than
these?"
Three times Jesus asks this question: "Simon, do you love me?"
And three times Peter responds by saying: "Yes, Lord, you know
I love you."
And three times Jesus commissioned Peter: "Feed my sheep!"
Many preachers and scholars, when they get to this point in
the biblical story, want to focus on the three questions that
Jesus asked, or the three responses of Peter or the challenge of
Jesus to "feed my sheep." Instead of going in that direction, I
want to look at the loving way in which Jesus dealt with Peter.
Love is something we talk about. Love is something we romanticize
about. Love is something we know we need more of. However, by
watching Jesus deal with Peter along the shore of the Sea of
Galilee, we get a good clear picture of love in action.
I. One Thing Which We See In The Example
Of Jesus Is That Love Is Caring.
As Peter found himself alone with Jesus by the Sea of Galilee,
I would imagine there was an awkward silence. After all, Peter
was probably feeling guilty about denying Jesus when he was
warming himself by the fire at Caiaphas' house. Peter was
probably trying to figure out how to put the apology into words.
But Jesus deals with the awkward situation by asking a very
simple question. He looks at Peter and asks: "Simon do you love
me?"
Jesus could have handled that awkward situation in a very
judgmental way. He could have asked, "Simon, are you ashamed of
denying me?" He could have said, "Simon, I understand you lied
about knowing me." He could have asked, "Simon, how can I be sure
you won't deny me in the future?" But Jesus knew how Peter was
hurting in his heart, so he went right to the heart of the matter
by asking: "Simon, do you love me?" By asking this question three
times, perhaps this was Jesus' way of helping Peter overcome his
earlier denials.
However, one thing is clear and that is that Jesus dealt very
carefully with Peter. Jesus did not attempt to further embarrass
Peter or to compound his guilt. Instead, he asked a simple little
question, a question that was direct, but a question that was
tempered with a love that was caring and compassionate.
A few years ago I was in Washington, D.C., and I went on a
tour of all the traditional sites like the White House, the
Smithsonian, the halls of Congress and the Lincoln Memorial.
There is something about standing in the Lincoln Memorial and
reading the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address
which gives you goosebumps. One line in the Second Inaugural
reminds you what a caring and compassionate man Lincoln was. He
was speaking about the coming end of the War and he said: "With
malice toward none; With charity for all."
Lincoln put this idea into practice on the day that news
arrived in Washington that the war was over. A crowd gathered at
the White House and a military band was playing some festive
music. Lincoln stood on the balcony of the White House and spoke.
Instead of lashing out against the South, he spoke of the horrors
of war being over. He spoke of families getting back together. He
spoke of a time of peace. Then he said, "In a few moments I want
the band to play and I'm going to tell them what I want them to
play."
Of course, the band started getting the "Battle Hymn of The
Republic" ready to play. This had been the theme song of the
North throughout the Civil War. But Lincoln crossed them up. He
stood there and said: "The band will now play the theme song of
the people we have called our enemy. They are not our enemies any
more! We are one people again. I want the band to play 'Dixie.' "
Historians say there was a long, awkward pause. The band
didn't have the music to "Dixie," but they finally got together
and played, "Dixie." Lincoln knew that the South was not only
hurting because of the horrors of the war, but also because of
the shame which accompanies defeat. Lincoln was sending a clear
signal to the South. Lincoln was telling everyone that there
would be no punishment upon the South. Lincoln was saying that
the South would be treated with love and compassion.
When you love, after the patterns of Jesus, caring and
compassion become the cornerstone of your love. Love is not
vicious or hostile. Love does not try to compound the guilt. Love
doesn't try to rub salt in the wounds of shame.
When we learn to love after the pattern of Jesus, we learn to
show care. We learn to show understanding. We learn to show
compassion to those who are hurting.
II. A Second Thing We See In The Example Of
Jesus Is That Love Is Forgiving.
Peter must have been hurting on the inside. After all, look
what he had done. He had denied even knowing Jesus. He had shamed
himself by cursing those who accused him of being a disciple. He
had used language so vile that even the soldiers were shocked.
And now, alone with Jesus by the Sea of Galilee, Peter was
looking for a way to prove his love for Jesus. But what could he
do? He could not appeal to his record of faithfulness because his
record was smeared with shame. He could not appeal to his
reputation as a man of his word, for that reputation evaporated
the night he denied knowing Jesus on three occasions. He could
not appeal to the witness and testimony of his fellow disciples
because they knew that when the chips were down, fear turned
Peter into a coward. Peter had nothing, absolutely nothing, to
prove his love was genuine.
But, was Peter really left with nothing? Three times Jesus
asked, "Simon, do you love me?" And three times Peter responded:
"Lord, you know all things. You know the whole story. You know
everything about me. You know I love you."
Peter had nothing left with which to prove his love. And yet,
Peter sensed deep within that he did not have to prove his love.
He knew that he did not have to prove his loyalty. He knew that
the heart of Jesus would be forgiving for his shortcomings.
This is the way the love of Jesus is -- it is forgiving.
Forgiveness did not take away Peter's memory of his denial -- he
carried that memory with him to his grave. The forgiveness of
Jesus simply re-established the old relationship and
assured Peter he was still loved. This is the way of Jesus' love
-- it is forgiving. In spite of the sin in our lives, in spite of
the wrong we do, in spite of the guilt and shame we bring on
ourselves, the love of Jesus is a love that is forgiving.
In a novel, a woman is in the hospital with a terminal
illness. Her life has been lived on the wild side. Her life has
been as bad and as despicable as they come. Now, she is dying.
A priest, a friend for many years, is in the room with her and
she asks, "Am I dying?"
"Yes," the priest said.
"Does he love me?" the woman asked.
"Your husband?" the priest asked.
"No," she said. "You know who I'm talking about. Does God love
me?"
The priest said, "Yes, God loves you!"
"I find that hard to believe," the woman said. "You know the
kind of life I've lived. How can you say that God still loves
me?"
The priest smiled at her question and said, "I'm telling you
that no matter what you've done, God still loves you." Then the
priest began reading one of the beautiful prayers in the Last
Rites of the Catholic Church. He read the prayer which says: "God
loves you and God accepts you. Your sins are forgiven; you belong
to God; You are now with God."
This is the message which came through to Peter along the
shores of the Sea of Galilee. And it is the message which we need
to hear. In spite of our sins, in spite of our failures, in spite
of everything we have ever done which denies him, his love
forgives us and accepts us because we belong to him.
Are you ready to accept his forgiving love?
Are you ready to once again try to be one of his followers?
Prayer: O God, help us to know that your love forgives us and
claims us as your disciples. In Jesus' name. Amen.
On The Roof. Tevyev and his wife Golda are being forced to move
from their home in Russia. One day Tevyev comes into the house
and asks his wife, "Golda, do you love me?"
"Do I what?"
"Do you love me?"
Golda looks at him and then responds: "Do I love you? With our
daughters getting married and this trouble in the town, you're
upset, you're worn out, go inside, go lie down, maybe it's
indigestion."
Tevyev interrupts and asks the question, "Golda, do you love
me?"
Golda sighs as she looked at him and says, "Do I love you? For
25 years I've washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned
your house, given you children, milked the cows. After 25 years,
why talk of love right now?"
Tevyev answers by saying, "Golda, the first time I met you was
on our wedding day. I was scared, I was shy, I was nervous."
"So was I," said Golda.
"But my father and my mother said we'd learn to love each
other, and now I'm asking, "Golda, do you love me?"
"Do I love him?" Golda sighs. "For 25 years I've lived with
him, fought with him, 25 years my bed is his! If that's not love,
what is?"
"Then you love me?" Tevyev asks.
"I suppose I do!" she says.
"And I suppose I love you too!" he says. "It doesn't change a
thing, but after 25 years it's nice to know."
"Do you love me?" is the same question Jesus is asking Peter
in the closing scene of the Gospel of John. It is interesting to
note that this closing scene is cast in the same spot where the
first scenes of the gospel took place -- on the shore of the Sea
of Galilee. Once again Peter was back to his old occupation. Once
again Peter was back to his old way of life. Once again Peter was
back in his old fishing boat. But it was not a very exciting
return. Peter and the other disciples had spent the entire night
fishing, but they had caught nothing.
Throughout that long and frustrating night of fishing, the
thoughts of Peter keep flying back to another occasion, another
time. He was remembering how one had stood on the shore almost
three years ago and said to him: "Come, follow me and I will make
you a fisher of men."
Dreams of those happy days were dancing in his mind. Suddenly,
John was shaking him and pointing toward the shore. Peter looked
toward the shore and saw someone and asked, "Who is it?"
"Can't you see?" cried John. "It's the Lord!"
Again, Peter looked toward the shore. He recognized Jesus. He
leaped into the water. He went to meet Jesus. Later, when Peter
and Jesus are alone, Jesus asks a question that goes to the heart
of Peter. He asks: "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than
these?"
Three times Jesus asks this question: "Simon, do you love me?"
And three times Peter responds by saying: "Yes, Lord, you know
I love you."
And three times Jesus commissioned Peter: "Feed my sheep!"
Many preachers and scholars, when they get to this point in
the biblical story, want to focus on the three questions that
Jesus asked, or the three responses of Peter or the challenge of
Jesus to "feed my sheep." Instead of going in that direction, I
want to look at the loving way in which Jesus dealt with Peter.
Love is something we talk about. Love is something we romanticize
about. Love is something we know we need more of. However, by
watching Jesus deal with Peter along the shore of the Sea of
Galilee, we get a good clear picture of love in action.
I. One Thing Which We See In The Example
Of Jesus Is That Love Is Caring.
As Peter found himself alone with Jesus by the Sea of Galilee,
I would imagine there was an awkward silence. After all, Peter
was probably feeling guilty about denying Jesus when he was
warming himself by the fire at Caiaphas' house. Peter was
probably trying to figure out how to put the apology into words.
But Jesus deals with the awkward situation by asking a very
simple question. He looks at Peter and asks: "Simon do you love
me?"
Jesus could have handled that awkward situation in a very
judgmental way. He could have asked, "Simon, are you ashamed of
denying me?" He could have said, "Simon, I understand you lied
about knowing me." He could have asked, "Simon, how can I be sure
you won't deny me in the future?" But Jesus knew how Peter was
hurting in his heart, so he went right to the heart of the matter
by asking: "Simon, do you love me?" By asking this question three
times, perhaps this was Jesus' way of helping Peter overcome his
earlier denials.
However, one thing is clear and that is that Jesus dealt very
carefully with Peter. Jesus did not attempt to further embarrass
Peter or to compound his guilt. Instead, he asked a simple little
question, a question that was direct, but a question that was
tempered with a love that was caring and compassionate.
A few years ago I was in Washington, D.C., and I went on a
tour of all the traditional sites like the White House, the
Smithsonian, the halls of Congress and the Lincoln Memorial.
There is something about standing in the Lincoln Memorial and
reading the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address
which gives you goosebumps. One line in the Second Inaugural
reminds you what a caring and compassionate man Lincoln was. He
was speaking about the coming end of the War and he said: "With
malice toward none; With charity for all."
Lincoln put this idea into practice on the day that news
arrived in Washington that the war was over. A crowd gathered at
the White House and a military band was playing some festive
music. Lincoln stood on the balcony of the White House and spoke.
Instead of lashing out against the South, he spoke of the horrors
of war being over. He spoke of families getting back together. He
spoke of a time of peace. Then he said, "In a few moments I want
the band to play and I'm going to tell them what I want them to
play."
Of course, the band started getting the "Battle Hymn of The
Republic" ready to play. This had been the theme song of the
North throughout the Civil War. But Lincoln crossed them up. He
stood there and said: "The band will now play the theme song of
the people we have called our enemy. They are not our enemies any
more! We are one people again. I want the band to play 'Dixie.' "
Historians say there was a long, awkward pause. The band
didn't have the music to "Dixie," but they finally got together
and played, "Dixie." Lincoln knew that the South was not only
hurting because of the horrors of the war, but also because of
the shame which accompanies defeat. Lincoln was sending a clear
signal to the South. Lincoln was telling everyone that there
would be no punishment upon the South. Lincoln was saying that
the South would be treated with love and compassion.
When you love, after the patterns of Jesus, caring and
compassion become the cornerstone of your love. Love is not
vicious or hostile. Love does not try to compound the guilt. Love
doesn't try to rub salt in the wounds of shame.
When we learn to love after the pattern of Jesus, we learn to
show care. We learn to show understanding. We learn to show
compassion to those who are hurting.
II. A Second Thing We See In The Example Of
Jesus Is That Love Is Forgiving.
Peter must have been hurting on the inside. After all, look
what he had done. He had denied even knowing Jesus. He had shamed
himself by cursing those who accused him of being a disciple. He
had used language so vile that even the soldiers were shocked.
And now, alone with Jesus by the Sea of Galilee, Peter was
looking for a way to prove his love for Jesus. But what could he
do? He could not appeal to his record of faithfulness because his
record was smeared with shame. He could not appeal to his
reputation as a man of his word, for that reputation evaporated
the night he denied knowing Jesus on three occasions. He could
not appeal to the witness and testimony of his fellow disciples
because they knew that when the chips were down, fear turned
Peter into a coward. Peter had nothing, absolutely nothing, to
prove his love was genuine.
But, was Peter really left with nothing? Three times Jesus
asked, "Simon, do you love me?" And three times Peter responded:
"Lord, you know all things. You know the whole story. You know
everything about me. You know I love you."
Peter had nothing left with which to prove his love. And yet,
Peter sensed deep within that he did not have to prove his love.
He knew that he did not have to prove his loyalty. He knew that
the heart of Jesus would be forgiving for his shortcomings.
This is the way the love of Jesus is -- it is forgiving.
Forgiveness did not take away Peter's memory of his denial -- he
carried that memory with him to his grave. The forgiveness of
Jesus simply re-established the old relationship and
assured Peter he was still loved. This is the way of Jesus' love
-- it is forgiving. In spite of the sin in our lives, in spite of
the wrong we do, in spite of the guilt and shame we bring on
ourselves, the love of Jesus is a love that is forgiving.
In a novel, a woman is in the hospital with a terminal
illness. Her life has been lived on the wild side. Her life has
been as bad and as despicable as they come. Now, she is dying.
A priest, a friend for many years, is in the room with her and
she asks, "Am I dying?"
"Yes," the priest said.
"Does he love me?" the woman asked.
"Your husband?" the priest asked.
"No," she said. "You know who I'm talking about. Does God love
me?"
The priest said, "Yes, God loves you!"
"I find that hard to believe," the woman said. "You know the
kind of life I've lived. How can you say that God still loves
me?"
The priest smiled at her question and said, "I'm telling you
that no matter what you've done, God still loves you." Then the
priest began reading one of the beautiful prayers in the Last
Rites of the Catholic Church. He read the prayer which says: "God
loves you and God accepts you. Your sins are forgiven; you belong
to God; You are now with God."
This is the message which came through to Peter along the
shores of the Sea of Galilee. And it is the message which we need
to hear. In spite of our sins, in spite of our failures, in spite
of everything we have ever done which denies him, his love
forgives us and accepts us because we belong to him.
Are you ready to accept his forgiving love?
Are you ready to once again try to be one of his followers?
Prayer: O God, help us to know that your love forgives us and
claims us as your disciples. In Jesus' name. Amen.
