John 21:15-17
The Only Strong Man: In His Footstep!
(Please, click the player to listen)
The Only Strong Man: In His Footstep!
(Please, click the player to listen)
Introduction: We define “power or powerful” and “strength or strong” in different ways. For instance, in this competitive open-market-society, “information” becomes like power and strength to take one step ahead of others. However, the inner moral strength of each individual—i.e., integrity, truth, love, justice [that man is apparently lacking]—will still remain as the basic need of human society for genuine peace, prosperity and success. Fully equipped with this inner spiritual quality, Jesus Christ is our strong man, who willingly chose the cross for the cause of God’s truth and love. In fact, this is the final call of John’s Gospel to start walking in His footstep to be spiritually strong for God’s Kingdom service.
Recharging of Faith (20:1-31): In spite of their slowness to comprehend the resurrection, their love for [and faith in] Jesus, though apparently weak, never changed. This is the reason why the disciples received several visitations of resurrected Christ that had finally cleared away their doubts and unbelief. At the beginning, Ch. 20 mentions about the empty tomb and doubting disciples as the evidence of the resurrection (vv. 1-9). Then, the several appearances of Jesus occupied the whole chapter. In each appearance, how Jesus cleared away their blindness [doubt] is clearly pinpointed [i.e., calling personal name, v. 16; showing his wounds, v. 20; and letting touch his wounded body, v. 27]. As spiritually dull and dump, we also need this visitation from the Lord in our lives! Yes, this visitation is promised to those who sincerely love the Lord (cf., 14:21, 23), and is fulfilled by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, receive the Holy Spirit! (V. 22).
Ready for Kingdom Business (21:1-25): In a harmonious response to the inner strengthening work of the Holy Spirit, there’s a step we have to keep up. That is the greater love for Jesus Christ, the only requirement for God’s Kingdom business (“much more love,” v. 15). This is the only single topic of the all three times of question that indicates the serious need of this greater love. Being the only requirement for the following assignment, this greater love for God only can make us spiritually strong enough to fulfill this business. Further, this greater love question has twofold dimension—love for God and feed [and take care of] to the lambs. While a greater love is solely due to Jesus Christ, better service to the lambs is its reflection (don’t switch the button between God and men!). This “greater love for God and better service to others” is the way of [and to] the resurrected life.
Recharging of Faith (20:1-31): In spite of their slowness to comprehend the resurrection, their love for [and faith in] Jesus, though apparently weak, never changed. This is the reason why the disciples received several visitations of resurrected Christ that had finally cleared away their doubts and unbelief. At the beginning, Ch. 20 mentions about the empty tomb and doubting disciples as the evidence of the resurrection (vv. 1-9). Then, the several appearances of Jesus occupied the whole chapter. In each appearance, how Jesus cleared away their blindness [doubt] is clearly pinpointed [i.e., calling personal name, v. 16; showing his wounds, v. 20; and letting touch his wounded body, v. 27]. As spiritually dull and dump, we also need this visitation from the Lord in our lives! Yes, this visitation is promised to those who sincerely love the Lord (cf., 14:21, 23), and is fulfilled by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, receive the Holy Spirit! (V. 22).
Ready for Kingdom Business (21:1-25): In a harmonious response to the inner strengthening work of the Holy Spirit, there’s a step we have to keep up. That is the greater love for Jesus Christ, the only requirement for God’s Kingdom business (“much more love,” v. 15). This is the only single topic of the all three times of question that indicates the serious need of this greater love. Being the only requirement for the following assignment, this greater love for God only can make us spiritually strong enough to fulfill this business. Further, this greater love question has twofold dimension—love for God and feed [and take care of] to the lambs. While a greater love is solely due to Jesus Christ, better service to the lambs is its reflection (don’t switch the button between God and men!). This “greater love for God and better service to others” is the way of [and to] the resurrected life.
Jesus Christ is truly the package of God’s grace and love since “this greater love for the Father and better service to others” is always his unwavering commitment. Because of this strong commitment, he dares to take even a death-road to the cross. This way, He witnessed himself to be the only strong man who stands until the end for God’s truth and for our salvation, and so, He is the one we can always trust. However, after all this faithfulness and self-sacrifice, there’s the intervention of God in bringing back Jesus to life from the grave. Therefore, He became not only our Savior by His atoning death but also became Lord [and role model] of our daily life. In fact, running after His footstep, we are called to step into the same path of greater love for God and better service to our fellows. Therefore, in His footstep!
No comments:
Post a Comment