The Testimony of Love a sermon based on John 21:15-19  preached ca 400 AD by St. Augustine of Hippo          John 21:15-19 (New International Version) Jesus Reinstates Peter  15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"       "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."       Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."  16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"       He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."       Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."  17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"       Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."     Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"     1. You remember that the Apostle Peter, the first of all the Apostles, during our Lord’s trial and crucifixion experienced the biggest failure. Of his own self he failed, but by Christ he was renewed. For he was first a bold presumer, and became afterwards a timid denier. He had promised that he would die for the Lord, when the Lord first revealed to the disciples that he would die for them.” When Peter said, “I will be with you even unto death, and I will lay down my life for You;” the Lord answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, I say unto you, before the rooster crows, you shall deny me three times.” When the hour came, Christ, being God of true God and Peter being a mere man, Christ’s prophecy was fulfilled and so were the Scriptures, and Peter did deny him three times. Pondering this, I became upset, even fearful and I shouted with indignation: ”Everybody is a liar.” Then I remembered that the Apostle Paul makes the very same point when he said: “for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” For God is true, and every man a liar. Christ is true, Peter a liar. 2. But what now? The Lord asks him as you heard when the Gospel was being read, and says to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? He answered and said, Yes Lord You know that I love You. And again the Lord asked this question, and a third time He asked it. And when Peter replied: you know that I love you, Christ asked him to tend his flock. For each time Peter answered, “I love you;” the Lord Jesus said to him: “feed My lambs, feed My little sheep.” Jesus’ response was not just meant for Peter, but rather a message to all pastors, present and future--good pastors, that is--who know that they feed Christ's sheep for Christ’s sake, not for themselves. One question remains: Was Peter at this time a liar? Did he answer untruly that he loved the Lord? He answered honestly; for he gave his answer based on what he saw in his own heart. For when he had promised before, “I will lay down my life for You,” he presumed on future strength. Sadly, it is true of many of us that often times when we take a pledge we do so based on how we feel today, but who knows what we may feel tomorrow? Who knows whether we will honor our pledge of yesterday. So then, Peter turned his eyes inward, looking deeply into his own heart, when the Lord asked him: “Peter, do you love me more than these?”, and in confidence made answer of what he saw there: 'Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.' He was answering in other words: “Lord, what I tell You, you know! What I see here in my heart, You see also.” Nevertheless, Peter did not venture to answer what the Lord had actually asked. For the Lord had not simply asked, “Do you love me?” but he added, “Do you love Me more than these?” that is, “Do you love Me more than these here do?” He was speaking of the other disciples; Peter could not answer this question except to say, “I love You;” He did not venture to say, “more than these.” He would not be a liar a second time. It was enough for him to say what he saw in his own heart; it was no duty of his to be judge of the hearts of others! 3. Peter, then, was true. Or was it that Christ was true in Peter? Now, when Peter acted on his own strength, or when he acted in the belief that he could rely on his own strength, Peter was found to be a feeble man; who made of himself a liar; but when it so pleased the Lord Jesus Christ, He filled Peter with strength, and Peter was found true. Peter means literally translated: “Rock (Petra)” The Rock made Peter true, for the Rock in Peter was Christ. And what did He announce to him, after Peter answered a third time that he loved Christ? He announced to Peter beforehand the way he would suffer and die. “When you were young,” says Christ to Peter, “you girded yourself, and went where you wanted, but when you shall be old, you shall reach out your hands, and another shall gird you, and carry you where you do not want to go.” The author of the passage, John, has explained to us what Christ meant by these words when he wrote: “” This He said signifying by what death he should glorify God; ie.. that he would be crucified for Christ.” For this is what, “You shall stretch forth your hands” means.  The denier would turn into the faithful martyr. Then after this the Lord Christ said, “Follow Me.” He did not say “follow me” in the same sense as before, when he called the disciples for the first time. For then too He said, “Follow Me;” then to instruction, but now to a crown.  “Follow me into death, so you can receive your crown” is what Jesus was saying. Was he not afraid to be put to death when he denied Christ? He was afraid to suffer that which Christ suffered. But now he need not be afraid any longer. For he saw Him now Alive in the Flesh, whom he had seen hanging on the Tree. By His Resurrection, Christ took away Peter’s fear of death; and now after He had taken away the fear of death, now did he with good reason enquire of Peter's love. Fear had denied three times, love confessed three times. The threefoldness of denial led to the forsaking of the Truth; the threefoldness of confession led to the testimony of love.  Therefore, confess ye the Lord also my children; confess him with your lips and with your heart so that the testimony of God’s love may abound among you. Amen.