Peter, Do You Love Me?

This sermon by Rev. Gilbert Jansen focuses on John's account of the events surrounding the disciples waiting at Galilee, after the resurrection, to meet the Lord Jesus, and of the famous post-breakfast questions of Jesus, "Peter, do you love me?"

The texts for this sermon were:

• John 21:1-17 (main sermon text)
• Mark 16:5-7
• Psalm 138

Some points of interest from the sermon:

• The differentiation between agape and phileo love is discussed extensively (trust me: it's not boring).
• Pointing out that John 21:5 is better-translated in the NIV.
• Quote: "I phileo my wife, alright!"

There were many memories evoked for me in the rest of this service, too.  I can hear my brother Peter coming over the top in the choir, and what I presume to be his six-week old son Danny crying throughout.  In the pastoral prayer, Dad prays for Dorothea Meyer and Jean and Jimmy Goodsell.

The apology about the problems with the delivery of the hymn books made me smile, and helped me date the sermon - Dad only labelled the tape "10/4", so the hymn books reference helped me be certain it was 1988.

I also felt, more than ever, the truth of these words for my Dad as I heard him sing them again:

I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath,

And when my voice is lost in death,

Praise shall employ my nobler pow’rs;

My days of praise shall ne’er be past,

While life and thought and being last,

Or immortality endures.

Links:

• The Sermon Only
• The Entire Recording