Second Chances: "Do You Love Me?"

Foot Washing is theologically layered action.

·      Christianity isn’t a self-sufficiency movement, you can’t wash yourself clean. Salvation isn’t works based, you have to receive it, you can’t earn it.

·      Christianity isn’t a self-serving movement. Jesus uses this act to demonstrate what God’s love looks like and how to emulate that love.

John 13:33-38 (NIV) 33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

John 21:1-3 (NIV) Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So, they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

John 21:4-9 (NIV) 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

You know you are maturing as a Christian when you are able to recognize the presence of God through the actions of God.

John 21:10-14 (NIV) 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

John 21:15-19 (NIV) 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, “do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” [can you hear the emotion in Peter’s voice?] Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you 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 Very truly I tell you, 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.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

2nd Chance Lesson #1: “Follow me” isn’t a one-time offer.

2nd Chance Lesson #2: Failing is a part of the “follow me” process.

The second “follow me” wasn’t a new offer, it was the reaffirmation the first offer was still on the table.

It is emotionally painful to be corrected but it is far more painful to be given up on. Jesus doesn’t give up on anyone for any reason.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2nd Chance Grace is a “do-over” grace and a “keep moving forward in purpose” grace all wrapped up in one!

Philippians 1:6 (NIV) 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

2nd Chance Lesson #3: Jesus is fully invested in our successful completion of this “follow me” life.

2nd Chance Lesson #1: “Follow me” isn’t a one-time offer.

2nd Chance Lesson #2: Failing is a part of the “follow me” process.

2nd Chance Lesson #3: Jesus is fully invested in the successful completion of our “follow me” life.