Simon, Son of Jonah, Do You Love Me More Than These?

FROM: JANUARY 24 @ 30, 2017

TOPIC: "Simon, Son of Jonah, Do You Love Me More Than These?" John 21:15-19

When you are born you already come with the ability to have knowledge. This knowledge will bring you a human pride, a pride that is carnal. The acquired knowledge brings with it a feeling of self-sufficiency and obstinate independence. The knowledge goes on surpassing and increasing more and more with the study in the schools and with everything else lived. But, I assure you that THIS KNOWLEDGE WILL MAKE US BECOME EACH TIME LESS AND LESS INTERESTED IN THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF LIFE. Careful with your heart, well it hardens! If it is hardened, it is most certain that pain will come so that you wake up and attend to the spiritual; you will see that pain and suffering will serve to revive you! In this passage of the Bible we read that JESUS COMES TO ASK THE APOSTLE PETER: "SIMON, SON OF JONAH, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE? The Lord Jesus wants each one of us to have this love that He asked of Peter. The Lord wants to see in us a love "greater than that of all." He wants to see in us what He saw in Mary when she was willing to wash His feet with tears and to dry them with her hair. John 12:3 "Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." The night before Peter had told Jesus that he would never leave Him. (Matthew 26:33) "Peter said unto him, Though they all be offended of thee, I will never be offended." He had said to him: "Even if they all leave you, I will not." But, he did not comply and he indeed denied the Master, indeed he failed Him just like the others. Now, when asked by Jesus about whether he loved Him, Peter responds by saying, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love you." Jesus had His reason to ask and what He wanted Peter to understand. The Lord knew that Peter needed a restoration, an awakening. Jesus wanted the apostle to see his human nature, that's why He called him "Simon, son of Jonah ..." Just as simple as that, that he could see his humanity. Peter denied Him three times, well now he would have the opportunity that Jesus was giving him to affirm his love. THIS WAY PETER WOULD LIBERATE HIS MIND FROM THE THREE TIMES THAT HE DENIED HIM! John 21:17 "Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep." He gave him a task, the task for him who loves Him: "Feed my sheep." The life of the believer is not wandering, there is much to do, it is not to demand and claim, but to work and serve. It is as if the Lord had said to him: "Peter, if you love me, dedicate your life to shepherding the sheep of my flock." Look, and I want you to understand today, Church, what the Lord wants you to know: THAT WE CAN ONLY SHOW WE LOVE JESUS BY LOVING OTHERS! I can hear some who, by having what they have, believe that they can make fun of their brothers in the Lord's church. They think that because they have a little knowledge they can make fun of their brothers in the faith. Love is the greatest privilege in the world, but it also carries the greatest responsibility. Responsibility is commitment and obligation. Responsibility is the fulfillment of obligations. If love and responsibility have not reached your spirit, because what you have is merely your vain knowledge and you live in

foolishness and kidding around, then you cannot be useful in anything. Responsibility is in the small things as well as in the bigger things. If we love the Lord we also love the brothers. Jesus also brings to Peter "a cross." John 21:18 "...you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." That is, you will extend your arms on a cross and will be taken where you do not want to go. That day arrived for Peter in Rome when he died for his Lord; he also ended his life on a cross, he was crucified with his head face down because he did not consider himself worthy to die as his Lord. So, the love for his Lord brought Peter A TASK and, of course, A CROSS. Perhaps, some time, the love of Jesus brought you a task also, but when you knew about your cross, it weighed heavily on you. Could it be that your knowledge of the earth fills your life more than the cross you have to carry? Do not forget that the LOVE to God always implies A RESPONSIBILITY and always includes A SACRIFICE. WE DO NOT REALLY LOVE CHRIST UNLESS WE ARE WILLING TO ASSUME HIS WORK AND HIS CROSS! No true Christian who loves the Lord lives bragging, mocking, and cornering the brothers. The duty and responsibility of the one who loves Christ is WORK AND IS CROSS! Amen.