The Elephant in the Room - a podcast by Lewis Marsh

The Gospel of John 15-21

Part 7 – The Elephant in the Room

By Louie Marsh, 5-29-2023

 

1) Jesus GOES THERE.

 

If you say there is an elephant in the room, you mean that there is an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about. -  The Cambridge Dictionary

 

“¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? … (John 21:15a, ESV)

 

·       He fully exposes Peter’s SINS.

 

“³³Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”” (Matthew 26:33, ESV)

 

·       Jesus does this because it’s what everyone NEEDS.

 

Jesus doesn’t leave elephants in the room, like most of us do and all of us wish, at times, that he would.

 

2) Jesus calls Peter to a HIGHER love.

 

“¹⁵…Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”” (John 21:15, ESV)

 

Jesus love is – agape. Used for God’s love, a love not driven by emotion but by what’s best for the object of your love. It’s being able to be calm and cool and do what’s right. It’s tough love.

 

·       Agape in action:

 

“¹⁶“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV)

 

·       Philia in action:

 

“⁷That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.” (John 21:7, ESV)

 

Peter said that he had philia for Jesus. Brotherly love, a more common, emotional, type of love.

 

3) Why the REPETITION?

 

“¹⁶He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:16–17, ESV)

 

Peter uses Philia all the time and Jesus uses it the second and third times.

 

·       To bring the total forgiveness & HEALING needed.

 

·       To DRIVE HOME the aim of his ministry.

 

·       To push Peter to keep on GROWING.

 

“⁵For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” (2 Peter 1:5–7, ESV)

 

4) The end result of FOLLOWING Jesus.

 

“¹⁸Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) …(John 21:18–19a, ESV)

 

5) Knowing the truth, I must CHOOSE to follow Him anyway.

 

And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”” (John 21:19b, ESV)

 

“When Christ calls a man he calls him to die.” – Bonhoeffer

 

·       Peter’s first act after rededicating himself to Christ – STAY FOCUSED!

 

“²⁰Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them…he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²²Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”” (John 21:20–22, ESV)

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus uses Agape in vs. 15

 

 

Jesus asks if he loves him more than them first time. Holding Peter accountable for what he said during the Lord’s Supper.

 

Second and third time he asks if he loves him. Holding him accountable for what he said when Jesus was on trial, reminding him that was prophesied by Jesus himself.

 

Jesus says feed, tend and feed my sheep.

 

He says Peter will die in a way he doesn’t want too and then finally says follow me.

 

Jesus forgives Peter’s past but won’t ignore it. Why? Because he wants to 1) heal it, and 2) use it for his glory and to reach others.

 

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