The Challenge of Love, Lovest Thou Me? — Peter Brandon

Divine Love and the Life of the Church

We are taking up this great study of love. We have noticed from the scriptures that where there is theological contention, it drives people from the church. Where there is true Christian love, it builds up the church.

We have noticed from the word of God that the greatest truth in scripture is the divinity of our Lord. And probably the greatest moral truth in scripture is love. We have seen from the word of God that this word love, agape, is mentioned 120 times and the verb is mentioned 130 times in the New Testament.

We have seen that the word, generally speaking, was not used very much in Greek literature. It is mainly a New Testament expression. We notice from the word of God that this divine love, agape, is a love that is spiritual.

It is essentially divine. It comes from God. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. It is impossible for a man in the street to love in a way in which God loves. In fact the same kind of love that the Father loved the Son and the Son loved the Father, is the same love that has been given to us.

Think of that. And the teaching of that truth is beautifully portrayed in John chapter 17. And therefore this love is not to be found in the man of the street, but this love is to be found with the man in the sanctuary.

And therefore this is a sanctuary love. And every Christian has the propensity to love in a divine way. And when that comes to us, we should bow our heads and quietly worship. Secondly we have seen that this love is essential, number one it is essential to a functioning church, 1 Corinthians 13.

Number two it is essential for the continuation of a local church, Revelation chapter 2. When we leave our first love the candlestick is removed. And you remember the night we discussed that particular problem.

We ask ourselves the question, had we left such love? Then we saw in the word of God that this divine love was social. For instance John tells us that we know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren.

The Lord Jesus made it quite clear that love is the hallmark of discipleship. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, that ye love one another. And we saw in scripture that love was the secret of soul winning.

For we read those amazing words, uttered by Paul, the love of Christ constrained men. And then we saw from the word of God that love was a spiritual principle. And then I corrected myself, you remember and I put in the definite article, love is the principle.

And we notice from the word of God that we have been delivered from the oldness of the letter and we have been brought into the newness of the spirit. And the newness of the spirit was first of all the faith word, the spirit word, but essentially love word.

And we notice that tremendous commandment given to us by our Lord, if ye love me keep my commandments. And then we got new thought on this great word agape, we notice that it was not an emotional love.

It was not even a physical love. It was not even a family love. It was a love of obedience. A love that's rational. A love that's intentional. And we went through the scriptures to see just how this love characterized itself in various people.

Love's Rival: The World and Its Seductions

Then you will notice last night we dealt with the subject love's rival. And you remember we looked at that tremendous challenge where John says love not the world, neither the things of the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that's in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world. And then we saw that the world was going to pass away. And we noticed last evening the world it's meaning.

Then we noticed it's nature. Then we looked at it's various characteristics. Then we looked at it's world's ruler, Satan. Then we observed it's opposition. The world is diametrically opposed to the church.

And then lastly we saw it's ultimate judgment. And then we closed by using that scripture which the apostles used in order to exhort the Corinthians to live closer to his Lord. Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean things.

And then we just touched on the great sin of Balaam. And we noticed how that God hated the doctrine of Balaam as it was outlined in Revelation 2. And we noticed the doctrine of Balaam was twofold. Number one, it was evangelical.

Some of the finest truths came by the prophecy of Balaam. And yet at the same time he seduced the children of Israel. And we noticed that it's possible for a man to preach the gospel. And yet at the same time for that man to be seducing the people of God to go into the world in order to find their salvation.

And that was hateful to the Lord. Now tonight we are going to look at this great subject. Love is devotional and pastoral. And we shall read tonight from John's Gospel chapter 21. John's Gospel chapter 21.

Jesus' Restoration of Peter in John 21

And we shall read for the sake of time from that night. As soon then as they were come to land they saw a fire of coals there. And fish laid their own on bread. And Jesus saith unto them bring of the fish which ye now have caught.

And Simon Peter went up and threw the net to land full of great fishes a hundred and fifty and three. And for all there were so many yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them come and dine or breakfast.

And none of the disciples doth ask him who art thou knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh and taketh bread and giveth them and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples.

After that he was risen from the dead. Now when they had dined or breakfast. Jesus saith to Simon Peter. Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these. He saith unto him. Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him feed my sheep or my lamb. He saith to him again the second time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me. He saith unto him. Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him feed or tend my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me. Peter was grieved or literally hurt. Because he said unto him the third time lovest thou me. And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things.

Thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him feed. My sheep. Verily verily I say unto thee. When thou wast young thou girdest thyself and walkest whither thou wouldest. But when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hand and another shall gird thee.

And carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This be he signifying what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this. He saith unto him follow me. And the Lord will bless to us the reading of his word.

Tonight I want to speak upon a love that comes to us first of all as a challenge. And a love that will produce a pastor. The first challenge that the Lord Jesus gave to the apostle Peter was evangelical.

There was Peter and his brother Andrew casting a net in the sea for they were fishers. And obviously it was a casting net which was conical in shape. And they were actually throwing it in the sea from quite near the beach.

And as they were pulling out the fish the Lord Jesus Christ called Peter and said follow me. And I will make you to become fishers of men. And from that moment he and Andrew left their net and they followed Jesus.

The second challenge that the Lord gave to Peter was at Caesarea Philippi. And you will remember he put to his disciples the question whom do men say that I the son of man am. One said John the Baptist.

Another said Jeremiah. Another said Elijah or one of the prophets. And I want you to think of those statements. Who was Jeremiah God's foreseer. Who was Elijah God's foreteller. Who was John the Baptist God's forerunner.

But they were all wrong. And then he turned from the world's opinion and he turned to his own disciples and he says whom say ye that I am. And as Peter looked right into the face of his Lord he received a mighty revelation.

God commanded the light to shine out of darkness. And into that man's mind there thundered a revelation that came obviously from heaven. And if I may paraphrase now divine language he said something like this.

You're not a foreseer. You're not a foreteller. You're not the forerunner. But you are the foreteller. Thou art Christ the Messiah. Doesn't that ring with reality. And then having said that he made this tremendous statement.

Thou art Christ the son of the living God. There is no ifs and buts. This is not presumption or arrogance. This comes by not mere mechanical education but divine revelation. And therefore the Lord Jesus said to Peter.

Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. What a revelation. Flesh and blood have not revealed it to them. But my Father in heaven. And dear friends if you can say in the power of the Spirit that Jesus is Lord.

1 Corinthians 12 verse 1 and 3. If you can say with divine revelation that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Then you are a blessed happy man. And then the last challenge the Lord gave to Peter was not an evangelical one.

It was not a challenge that was ecclesiastical. But it's a challenge that passed. And after all his failures God was going to fully restore him. And make him now not the thinker of men. But the pastor of gifts.

Spiritual Qualifications for Pastoral Leadership

Now can I say this carefully enough. That is where we have failed. An assembly will never rise higher than it spiritually. When God raises up holy ghost shepherds you will have holy ghosties. When you have good godly leaders in the church of God.

Then you will have spiritual children. We cannot lift people higher than what we are. It doesn't matter what our academic ability might be. It doesn't matter how deeply we read into the original. It doesn't matter how many thoughts we can accumulate.

It doesn't matter how we can analyse the scriptures. We cannot lift people higher than what we are. And that is why the apostle could say you became followers of me. And of the Lord. I used to know as a boy the father of E .W. Rogers.

Who was an outstanding man of God. He lived until he was 97. And died with all his family. I knew him when he was about 93. And when you went into this godly mans home. The first thing he did was to pull you on his neck.

And he would pray. Let all our conversation be exclusively for thy glory. In the name of the Lord Jesus. And then when you went into his study. There was a graph of the whole assembly. And all the members were sectioned off.

And every day he spent 2 hours praying for sections of the assembly. No wonder it was spiritual. Why? They had spiritual leaders. Beloved I do want to say this to you from the depth of my innermost being.

We must not make people leaders of the local church. We must not allow them to be elders. Because of their proficiency in business. But they must become elders because they possess the qualifications and they do the work.

And again I want to say this sincerely to you. We shall never see New Testament churches until we see New Testament God. And that is absolutely right. Could I now give a word of warning. If a man claims to be an elder and sits with the elder and does not do the work.

He will be responsible for that at the behemoth. But if a man has done the work of an elder. When he stands before the behemoth he will receive the crown of glory that prays not a word. Now having said that I want to show you from the word of God that love is pastoral and devotional.

We cannot possibly understand this narrative and challenge until we go back into the life of Jesus. The Lord Jesus said to his disciples just before his death that they would all be offended because of him.

The word there means they would stumble because of him. Peter was hurt because of that statement and he said arrogantly. They might all offended yet will not I. And the I there is impassive. In other words he was saying Lord they might be offended but not me.

And then he went further. He said if I may now paraphrase his language that he was prepared to follow the Lord and to die for him. And then the Lord Jesus warned Peter three times because he knew that Peter was going to deny him three times.

He told him very clearly by prophecy that the cock would crow and before the cock crew he would deny him three times. And we all know the sad story. Peter followed afar off. Secondly he associated with the world.

Thirdly he warmed his flesh by the world's fire and killed his own heart. And then in the midst of the company of the world he denied his Lord alas with some swear word. And immediately he denied the Lord Jesus on three occasions.

The cock crowed. The cock was an ornamental bird. The pterodactyl. And sometimes the high priest had in their temple and in their court. And the phantom bird was the only bird in nature that when it crowed inflates itself twice its normal size.

And I want you to see Peter. I will never deny you. They might be offended but not me. Not me. And now we see this man following afar off. Mingling with the world. Warming his flesh. Killing his heart.

And then he saw crowing in his face there was this cock and he could have run its neck. Because when Peter saw the cock inflating itself its normal size. He saw himself. His feathers. And you will remember this if you are familiar with the offering.

When the bird was offered the feathers were cast on the east side with the cross. With the cross. And there you see that bird crowing right in his face. And he could have killed it. And then in the midst of all that drama and we must remember this that when the church becomes worldless.

God always makes a noise. He warns us. He has his cock crowing. Then the Lord turned and looked on Peter. I think that's what the Lord is doing in Britain. If I had now my finger on the post the church is worldless.

The church is worldless. In fact. I would go deeper. We are right in Babylon. The cocks are crowing. The Lord is turning. And his look. And Peter got one glimpse from the Lord and went out and wept bitterly.

Beloved friends could I stop and ask the question. Are you getting too near the world's fur? Is there something in your life and in your home that's withering up your spiritual life? Is there something that you're doing that's causing you to deny your Lord?

Is he looking at you now with those eyes of love and yet with disappointment? Peter went out. And wept bitterly and the scripture says in John. It was dark. In that darkness he was handed over to Satan.

Now note this. Satan was never allowed to shift him. To sift him. Not shift him. Sift him. Listen to this. Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He couldn't be shifted from that could he?

But he was handed over to the enemy that he might sift him. I think this is what Peter meant when he wrote in his letter. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than gold. It was the ideal of purification.

And as Satan got hold of him to sift him. The Lord was praying for him. And somehow through that experience all the arrogance. All the pride. All the impetuosity was being sifted up. Beloved I say this with a sense of agony.

Don't we need that today? I'm not saying that we need to be handed over to Satan. But we need the sifting of the Lord. The purifying of the faith. When the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead he called for Peter.

And obviously and secretly Peter was restored. And then after his restoration. You remember according to the prophecy they were to wait at Galilee. But somehow we see a tinge of Peter's impetuosity. I go a fishing.

The others followed him because he was a leader. And that night they caught nothing. And as they were shivering in the cold they looked over the gummel of the boat. And there is a stranger and he says children have you any meat?

And they answer coldly no. Then he says cast the net on the right side and you shall find. And they cast and they were not able to draw for the multitude of fish. And then immediately the man of discernment who is John says.

If the Lord in the miracle he sees the identity of Christ. And then Peter is over the boat. He is rushing to his Lord. And after meeting him. He runs out to help the disciples. And he brings the net to land full of fishes.

A hundred and fifty and three. The net wasn't broken and every fish was brought to the place. Where it could be used for the glory of God. And isn't that a picture of real restoration. The fish caught.

The fish landed. And there is a beautiful fire prepared by the Lord Jesus. You will notice the fire is not a fire of wood. That burns and splutters and then quickly burns out. You will notice here that it is the fire of coal.

Probably charcoal. But it was a fire of coal that burns consistently. And I love that. Our little fires burn on but they burn out. The fire of God burns on forever. And God is marked by holy consistency.

After the Lord had given them in his love and grace the fish and the bread. And after they had dined. He said. I have got something to say to you. You know sometimes I believe after we have taken the bread and wine.

And we have said on Christ and worshipped him. Somehow the Lord would have something to say to us. Do now to note the challenge of the love. I want you to note first of all. The nature and the object and the rival of love.

Then I want you to see the response to the challenge of that love. And then I want you to see the calling of that love. First of all the challenge of that love. Notice to whom it was given. Jesus said to Simon Peter.

The Challenge of Agape Love and Its Sacrificial Object

Simon son of Jonas. Now why do you think he uses his unconverted man. Those of you who are familiar with the first chapter of John. Will notice that when Andrew brought Simon to Peter. He calls him Simon son of Jonas.

And he tells him that he is going to be Theophilus. Which by interpretation means Theophilus. And therefore Peter was his new name. His Christian name. Simon son of Jonah or John was his unconverted name.

Or you may put it like this. Simon son of John was his old name. Relating to his old nature. Peter was the new name given to the new man. And therefore in Simon son of John we have the old. In Peter we have the new.

Why then does he refer to him as Simon son of Jonah. Because of the action of the apostle Peter. When he was following the Lord of Pharaoh. He didn't look a Christian. When he was associating with the world he didn't look like a follower of Christ.

When he denied that he knew the Lord Jesus Christ. He certainly didn't look like a Christian. When eventually he used blasphemy in order to excuse himself of their company. He certainly looked far from being a Christian.

When he was going through that process of being sifted by Satan. His life was in doubt. When he even said I go a fishing. It was the impetuous old Peter. Therefore in a most masterly way. The Lord addresses him as though he was the old Peter.

Beloved friends take this from the Lord. And you know I am saying this to you in love. Sometimes many of us live as though we were not Christians at all. We come home and we spend hours around the television don't we.

Instead of the work. You know I have been in believers homes of late. And I say this with tears. When I have seen them watching the filth of this world. And my dear wife and I we have to ask to be excused.

Simon son of John. Sometimes we meet together and the Lord looks upon us. And I am sure he does not see us acting in our newness. But operating in our oldness. Therefore in a most masterly way he goes right back to the beginning.

And he says Simon son of John. A bit more. The moment he said Simon son of John. Peter's mind would go back to the beginning. When he first met him. And his mind would go back to the grace of the Lord Jesus.

His mind would go to the moment when he denied him. And the loving looks of his Lord Jesus. His mind would go through those days of darkness. When he was being sifted by the power of Satan. Then he would hear himself foolishly saying.

I go a-sifting. And then he would remember that moment of his restoration. And as the Lord said it. It would break him because of the grace of the Lord Jesus. Beloved as you look back over your life.

Aren't you sometimes broken because of the grace of God. I am. I wonder why he puts up with me sometimes. Simon. Son of John. Then having said that. I want you now to note the substance of his challenge.

Love is found me. Again he uses the word agape. But now I'm going to use something that's completely apart from the text book. This is my own personal conviction. He did not say to Peter. Simon. Are you going to obey me?

He didn't say that. He didn't say. Peter. Are you going to fully follow me now? He just uses one word love. And he uses agape. And somehow. I may be wrong. But somehow I believe the Lord was standing showing him his hand.

And his dust. And perhaps he was saying this. Peter I knew you were going to let me down. I told you you were going to deny me trust. I provoked the cock to crow. I knew Satan was going to assist you.

And yet I prayed for you that your faith would not fail. I knew the experience you went through in that darkness. But Peter I did die for you. And here is the sign of my love. Here's my agape. You will say to me unrightly so.

Well Peter where is your textual evidence for that? Because in this very chapter. Peter the Lord Jesus predicted the very way in which he was going to die. And therefore the word agape here is sacrificial.

Almost leading love. Now that's the love God wants from us. You see Peter said he would deny he would prepare to die for the Lord. But the very thing that caused him to blaspheme. Was the very thing that caused him to preserve his life wasn't it?

But now the Lord Jesus Christ comes to him with his dying love. With his glorious agape. And now it's not verbal it's demonstrated. It's demonstrated by Calvary. And therefore he says to you sacrificial a love.

Now this is love. It's Sunday morning and you're not feeling too well. And the saints are being gathered around the Lord's table. Love will bring you to that meeting. It's the track band and all the saints should be going from door to door with their little tracks.

Love will take you to the doors of the booth. That's love. It's the prayer meeting and perhaps it's a very hot evening and the hall is very hot. Love says. I'll leave the comforts and the cool of my home.

And I'll go to the faith. Faith is in great difficulty and needs help. They have cunning flaws. Love goes to that faith and really helps. Some of the Christians have lost their homes and everything. Love so brightly is sacrificial.

You see this agape is a love that's prepared to bloom. Secondly I want you not only to note the nature of the love but I want you now to look at the object of the love. Lovest thou me? Now when you love sacrificially there is always a danger.

Loving Christ Above Scripture, Church, and Worldly Goods

For instance some of the Corinthians were loving the world sacrificially and therefore they became worldly and carnal and sinful. Some of the Galatians were loving the letter of the law to such an extent they were going back to Judaism and they were becoming legal.

And instead of saying for me to live as Christ some were saying for me to live as the law and circumcision. Some there in Colossae they had a tremendous sacrificial love for intellectualism so called.

And they were mingling that with theology. And they were bringing in liberalism. The church there in Laodicea loved the material things of life. And therefore they loved the gold and they loved the white raiment they loved the iron soles.

And that was the sole purpose really of some of their living. Christianity to them was just a hobby but what they really loved was the material things of life and therefore they became materialistic. Therefore note this.

The very thing of persons that you love with agape love becomes your God. And so he says to Peter, Peter lovest thou me? Now I know I am bordering on something that is rather dangerous but I must say it.

It is possible to love the study of scripture more than the Lord Jesus. Now note this. If the Bible doesn't bring you to God. If it doesn't bring you to Christ. Then it has failed in its object. And the reason why the book has been given to us is to give us an intellect knowledge of Christ and of God.

So that we might know him. And know God. And therefore it is possible to have a massive knowledge of the scripture. And to have a very little knowledge of the experimental Christ but more. It is possible to have a knowledge of the church and we want to gain a knowledge of the church.

It is possible to have a knowledge of the local church and love the pattern of the local church. And we should all seek to study the word of God. So that we find ourselves in New Testament churches. But if we love the church more than Christ we become legal.

But when the object of our love is Christ himself. We become exceedingly sick. May I say this in passing. What an object to love. Love is bad. The only man that ever lived that could not sin was the Lord Jesus.

What an object to love. When God looked upon the Lord Jesus he did not look for sin. Never. When he looked upon the Lord Jesus he looked upon him to see in him the highest development of all divine good.

And he found it. That is why he said this is my beloved son in whom I find all my delight. No wonder we can love him. There was only one being who was co-equal with God. Who was in the very form of God.

And yet was it not robbery. A thing to be grasped. To be equal with God. That made himself of no reputation. And that was the Lord Jesus. No wonder we can love him. There was only one mighty man that had the right to bear the sin of the world and to bear its corresponding judgment.

And that was the Lord Jesus. And as he bore the judgment he cried with a loud voice. My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me. And when he had finally exhausted that judgment he cried with victory. What an object to love.

The one who loves us. But more. When God raised him from the dead. He raised him from the dead with mighty power. He exerted all the glory of his fatherhood. When he raised Christ from the dead. Romans 6.

When he raised Christ from the dead. He was the glorious first fruit. And the first born. When he ascended back on high. He led captivity captive. Gave gifts unto men. And there at God's right hand is a mighty man crowned with glory and honor.

And we hear the challenge. We hear it coming to us tonight. From Galileo. Love it. Love it. I believe the Lord is coming to each one of us in a special way. And he's just saying that to us right now. Then I want you to note not so much the nature or the object.

The Rival of Love and the Call to Put Christ First

But the rival of love. Lovest thou me more than these. It could refer to the fish. What was Peter doing when the Lord called him? Fishing. What was Peter doing when the Lord consecrated him? Fishing. Lucifer.

What was Peter doing now when the Lord weaned him from it once and for all? Fishing. If Peter was alive today and he knew some of the modern poets. He would have said I must go down to the sea again. To the lowly sea and die.

He was a seaman. Within his veins. The voice of the sea was like a message to him. He was breathing. He loved the fill of the net. Loved the hold of the oar. Loved the smell of the sea. Loved the sight of the net.

Now the Lord was going to wean him from it and he said. Peter. There's the hundred and fifty and three. Do you love me more than these? Beloved if you've got a business that can be your greatest net. You know quite frankly when people prosper in business.

They need the prayers of all the church. And perhaps the Lord is saying to us. Lovest thou me more than these? That these could be your hobby. Could be a sport. It's something that comes between you and the Lord.

That's one way of looking at it. Yet I believe he was actually saying. Do you love me more than these? The apostles he said that he did. And what the Lord was saying probably. He was saying this not facetiously but factually.

Peter you said that you basically love me more than these. By saying that you would never be offended. They might. You would. Now Peter you went deeper into darkness than the others. They never let me down with swear words.

They were never sifted by Satan. Lovest thou me more than these? Never imagine that you're the only one that's following the Lord. That mighty prophet of God Elijah said. I am that. He was told to appoint Elijah.

Never become I only. And somehow Peter got that into his brain. That he was the only one. And so in love and tenderness. With poetry Peter the Lord said. Peter. Come on now. Do you love me more than these?

His response is. Yes Lord. Now I love that. Yes Lord. I'm quite sure he wasn't saying yes I do love you more than all these. But the word yes Lord means to acquiesce to what the Lord basically was saying about love.

Yes Lord thou knowest all things. And therefore he appeals to the omniscience of the Lord Jesus. In other words he was saying Lord you know me from my very birth. You know all the details of my life. You've predicted it.

There's nothing that I can hide from you. You know all things. And then if I may now paraphrase what he was saying. He was simply admitting. That he could not come up to Agape land. He could only give the Lord filial love.

Which basically means a family life. An affectionate. And so the Lord says to him. He's mighty. Or less. Then he turns to Peter the second time. And he asks the same question. But now abbreviated. Lovest thou me?

Not more than these. I believe the first question was a test case. The second one was to see his response. And so he says well Lord thou knowest that I love thee. And he uses again a family love. He cannot rise to the heights of Agape.

In other words he was basically saying I love you. I love you as a man. But I cannot enter into this divine love. Then the Lord Jesus comes down. And he says Peter. Do you still love me? Do you really fondly love me?

And because the Lord comes right down to his level. His hurt. His grief. He wants to be lifted. He says Lord thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee. Now my dear friends once God gets our hearts.

He's got everything. Let us draw near. Says the writer to the Hebrews. Not with clear heads. Let us draw near. With a pure heart. And once God gets our hearts. He's got everything. Son give me thy heart.

The psalmist's feet have often slept. But his heart was fixed. And my dear friends once the Lord Jesus has got your heart. He'll get everything. And here he gets the heart of faith. Then I want you to note the course.

Feeding Christ's Lambs and Shepherding His Sheep

First of all he says. Feed my lambs. Secondly. Tend them. Care for them. Thirdly. Feed my sheep. And then he predicts to Peter. That when he was young he girded himself. What did he mean by that? When he was moving in the realm of Simon son of John.

He girded himself. But when he was old the word means when you're mature. Another shall gird you. What does that mean? Instead of moving impulsively and impetuously. And doing the Lord's work in your own way.