Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: John 21,15-19. Misericordias Domini

Friday, May 6, 2022

John 21,15-19. Misericordias Domini

John 21,15-19 2622

Misericordias Domini 38

Philip and James, Apostles, Martyrs in Hierapolis, Turkey 80 and in Jerusalem 66

Walburgis, Virgin, Abbess, ✠ 779

1. Mai 2022

1. ℣ The earth is full of the goodness of Yahweh:

℟ By the Word of Y were the heavens made (Psalms 33,5-6).

O Yahweh, our Heavenly Father, You know Your own, the greatest and the lest, from every nation and place; we are certain that we are and remain You children, for You have given us eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. (Es keno her Herr die Seinen elkg 282,1).

2. »When they had finished breakfast, 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.“ He 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.“ He 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. Truly, 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.“ This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. And after saying this He said to him: „Follow Me.“«

3. During His 40 days of His post-resurrection time on the earth, Jesus asked the Apostle Peter: »Do you love Me?« Three times Jesus asked this and three times Peter replied: »Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.«

4. In our Baptism we are likewise asked a series of questions, particularly: do you believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? We answer in the affirmative and are received into God’s family by Holy Baptism. To be in God’s family is to be loved by God and to love God.

5. There are at least 10 Greek words for love, and in John 21 Jesus and Peter use 2 of those words. The 2 words for love they use are the 2 highest expressions of love in the Greek language. Jesus uses the Greek word ἀγάπη: this is Christian love in its highest expression, the love of God that sent His only begotten Son; it is unconditional and sacrificial love that recognizes another regardless of the qualities the other embodies. It implies an ultimate respect for every human being which refuses ever to consider a person as one who can be reduced to a thing or a means. Peter uses the Greek word φιλία in his response to Jesus’ question: this is a brotherly love and affection between family and friends. This love may become so strong that person becomes more interested in the well-being of the sibling or friend than oneself.

6. Jesus meets us where we are. In John 21, the Apostle Peter is probably still struggling with His denial of Jesus. He had promised Jesus, even swore an oath, that he would stand beside Him come what may, even it it meant dying alongside Him. This is definitely φιλία, and Peter probably thought his love for Jesus was also ἀγάπη. But just hours after his promise, Peter failed to live up to his professed love for his friend, his Messiah and his brother. He spoke another oath, one which denied Jesus 3 times. Even after the Resurrection, that denial probably still stings in Peter’s heart, the pain He caused Jesus probably is still raw. Much as he wants to confess his ἀγάπη of Jesus, Peter knows in his heart he isn’t there yet, and the best he can confess is his φιλία of Jesus.

7. To ἀγάπη Jesus is the highest standard asked of a man and a woman. It involves putting all our faith and trust in Him. We love God who first loved us. »Yahweh shows merciful steadfast love to those who unconditionally love Him« (Exodus 20,6). »Yahweh will unconditionally love you« (Deuteronomy 7,13).

8. In Holy Baptism, God brings us into His family where He unconditionally love us, shows us mercy, blesses us and forgives us. To have God as Father is to have Jesus as Brother and Church as Mother. God’s love for us is like David’s and Jonathan’s love, where soul is knit to soul (1. Samuel 18,1). On account of this great love for us God sent His Son into the world to redeem us (John 3,16). Holy Baptism washes away all sin and begins our journey as disciples who follow Jesus Christ. To follow Christ is to follow Him upon the path of suffering and tribulation during this earthly life, but more importantly, to follow Christ is to follow Him to the cross, through the grave and into resurrected eternal life and triumph. The love of Christ sustains us along our earthly journey, and faith in Christ receives all His help and blessings His richly pours upon us in our time in both the good times and the bad. We love Christ who first loved us and redeemed us back to God the Father. We follow Christ who sought us out and returned us safely to His fold.

9. Today we see once more the unconditional love of God outpoured upon James who has been baptized into God’s family. His sin is washed away, and he is now on the path of Christian discipleship. His Baptismal day shares the day with the commemoration of the Apostle James. We also see the unconditional love of Jesus given to us in His body and blood we shall partake of in a few moments in the Lord’s Supper. His shed blood has redeemed us before God the Father. With these 2 Sacraments, the Holy Spirit strengthens us to daily increase in our faith and trust in the Triune God, thus giving us the assurance of our salvation in Christ and enabling us to daily walk in His Word as His disciples.

10. Lord , I will today

On Your love rely;

Let no evil thought

Cloud the clear blue sky

Joyful and content

With life’s simpler things,

Knowing all I need

From Your kindness springs. (Greet the Rising Sun lsb 871,3 Zhao Zichen 1888-1979)

This is most certainly true.

13. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Almighty God, through the death of Your Son, You destroyed sin and death and restored innocence and eternal life through His resurrection, so that we might be saved from the power of the Devil and live in Your kingdom. Grant that we may believe this with all our heart, and in such steadfast faith continually praise You, and give thanks to You. Amen. (Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung undAgenda 289.1 from Martin Luther, Die Gebete Luthers, #15; Stratman 42).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Friday, May 6, 2022

John 21,15-19. Misericordias Domini

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