BEHOLD THE LAMB! Message Three
“THE PROCLAMATION OF THE LAMB ”
John 21:15-17

When I was just a child, I remember hearing those simple folks in a little country church sing, “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. O, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow—no other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” That Gospel truth lodged in my heart and years later took root and I was saved.

It is still the only message we have to proclaim today: “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:18-19,25b)

One of the central characters in our text today is the man who wrote that—Simon Peter. The events of the crucifixion and resurrection changed his life and led him to a commitment to the proclamation of the Lamb. Consider then:

1. THE METHOD OF OUR PROCLAMATION (21:1-14) These verses provide us with an illustration of the method we are to use to get the Gospel message out. In this fishing story is an illustration of how to fish for the souls of men. See first:

· FAILURE OF THE WRONG METHOD (v.1-5) These men had the experience and equipment needed to be successful fishermen, but they caught nothing. So the church today has more training and more tools to reach the world than ever before, yet many churches will go through an entire year without leading one soul to Christ. Closely examine the records of many “growing” churches and you find it is often transfer growth and not conversion growth. Someone has said that instead of being fishers of men, we have become keepers of the aquarium. We’re busy with activity. We toil all night. But activity is not accomplishment.

· FRUITFULNESS IN THE RIGHT METHOD (v.6-11) Just listen to Jesus and He will make you a fisher of men. What we see in the disciples is faith and obedience, which always leads to fruitfulness. They could have argued with Jesus, but they didn’t. We delay, we debate, we disobey and so the fish swim away.

· FELLOWSHIP WITH THE RIGHTEOUS MASTER (v.12-14) Jesus told us to abide in Him and we would bear much fruit. We need the strength that comes from feeding on His Word.

2. THE MOTIVE OF OUR PROCLAMATION (21:15-17) The great commandment is to love the Lord with all our being. This is the only motive that will be sufficient to get us off our couches into our cars and off to the community with the Gospel. We hear:

· A MOTIVE EXPRESSED (v.15) Not many days before, Jesus had told his disciples He would die and they would all run. Peter had protested he would stay true and stand tall, even if the others didn’t. But he ran too. Jesus reminds him as He asks, “Do you love Me more than these?” If we love Him, we’ll reach out to the lambs that are lost and feed the little lambs in the fold.

· A MOTIVE EXAMINED (v.16) Now, Jesus doesn’t ask Peter to compare his love with others, but zeroes in on Peter alone. Peter, examine your heart. If you love me, you will shepherd my sheep—guard them and guide them.

· A MOTIVE EVIDENCED (v.17) Peter, where is the evidence of your love? I have asked you three times because you denied me three times. Peter is broken hearted. He smells the charcoal fire on the beach like that in the courtyard where he warmed his hands when Jesus was on trial. But now Peter has another chance to show his love for Jesus by showing his love for the sheep. God can restore you. It’s not too late to serve Him.

3. THE MODEL OF OUR PROCLAMATION (21:18-25) One of the best ways to learn is by a model. Jesus is our perfect model and He calls us to follow Him. To follow Him speaks of:

· OUR TRIALS (v.18-19a) When Jesus calls us, He bids us come and die. As He carried a cross, following Him means we must take up ours. This would be a literal experience of Peter. Following Christ requires a personal Calvary, dying to self.

· OUR TASK (v.19b-23) We have a task assigned by Christ. Too often we’re worried about what someone else is doing or not doing (v.21). You’re not going to answer for me, or anyone else, but you are going to answer for you!

· OUR TESTIMONY (v.24-25) Being a steward means that we are to invest what God has given to us—to exchange our treasure, time and talent for something of eternal worth. But we are also stewards of our testimony. John’s investment is still paying dividends. God wants to use yours.