Let’s face it—we all mess up. We fall short, and we disappoint. Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt walks us through the story of Peter, a man who, like many of us, missed the mark and ran back to his old way of life. But Jesus meets him right where he is, and He’s doing the same for us today. Lean in and listen as we hear another one of the questions Jesus asked.
Notes 📓✏️:
“Do You Love Me?” – Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt
Arguments may form your opinions, but questions will expand your thinking.
“Every sinner has a future. Every Saint has a past.”
Mark 14:29 – “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”
Matthew 26:35 – “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!”
Mark 14:66-72 (NLT) – “Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.”
But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.
When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!” But Peter denied it again.
A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”
Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” And immediately, the rooster crowed the second time.”
Luke 22:61 (NLT) – “At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Luke 22:62 (NLT) – And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
William Shakespeare said… “Expectation is the root of all heartache.”
John 21:1-9 (NLT) – “Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there…”
Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?
“No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.”
John 21:15-17 (NLT) – “After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”
Jesus was asking Peter, “Do you love me” (Agape)
Agape love = Self-sacrificial love, unconditional, selfless
Peter answered, “Yes, I love you.” (Phileo)
Phileo love = Brotherly love.
Finally, the third time, Jesus asked “Do you love me?” (Phileo)
• “Are you even my friend?”
Peter answered, “Yes”
Jesus meets us where we are at, not where we should be.
He loves you enough to accept you just the way you are, but also loves you enough to help you not stay the way you are.
God never calls the qualified, but He qualifies the called.
He reminds Peter of his relationship, not his track record.
Peter: “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
Today, Jesus would ask us… Do you love me?
George Eliot once said…
“It is never too late to be what you might have become.”
1. Admit that you fail.
2. Admit that you are powerless.
3. Understand that God’s love for you is not based upon your performance.
4. Quit hiding in your past.
The past doesn’t look good on you.
With God’s help, failure can shape you into a stronger Christ follower.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- What is the difference between agape love and phileo love, and why did Jesus use these different words when asking Peter if he loved him?
- Why does Pastor Jeremy emphasize that Peter’s story is relatable to all of us?
- How did Jesus demonstrate his unconditional love and acceptance of Peter despite his failures?
- Why is it important to focus on our relationship with Jesus rather than dwelling on our past failures?