Participants: Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP042812
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00:06 From the campus of Andrews University,
00:08 this is New Perceptions with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson. 00:20 O come to the Father through Jesus the Son 00:25 And give Him the glory, great things He hath done 00:50 Rejoice ye pure in heart 00:54 Rejoice, give thanks and sing 00:58 Your festal banner wave on high 01:03 The cross of Christ your King. 01:07 Rejoice! Rejoice! 01:12 Rejoice, give thanks and sing! 01:17 Yes, on through life's long path 01:22 Still chanting as ye go 01:26 From youth to age, by night and day 01:31 In gladness and in woe. 01:35 Rejoice! Rejoice! 01:39 Rejoice, give thanks and sing! 01:45 Praise Him who reigns on high 01:50 The Lord whom we adore 01:54 The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost 01:59 One God forevermore. 02:03 Rejoice! Rejoice! 02:08 Rejoice, give thanks and sing! 02:16 Amen, amen. You may be seated. 02:20 This year we have been blessed 02:23 to see over and over and over again 02:26 the witness of those people 02:27 who have given their lives to Jesus Christ. 02:31 And we get to do that one more time during the school year. 02:35 Celebrate with us the commitment 02:39 and the passion of these people to accept Jesus Christ 02:43 as their friend and personal savior. 02:47 So I'm gonna invite Donna Heyer 02:50 with her dear friends John and Sylvia Baldwin 02:52 to join me right here as we testify to Jesus together. 02:57 Glad to have you here and that is a very lovely outfit. 03:02 Thank you. You're welcome. 03:05 So you have lived in this village of Ohio? 03:09 Yes, I came when I was 10 years old. 03:13 10 years old? So that about 50 years ago? 03:17 Thanks. You're welcome. 03:21 So you came when you were 10 years old. 03:23 And you grew up in this town 03:26 that has gone through some changes. 03:28 What are some of the changes 03:29 you've noticed in Berrien Springs? 03:30 Well, the first thing I have to say, 03:32 I'm the last member of the class of 1931. 03:38 The last surviving-- 03:40 The last member, I'm pastor, vice president, 03:44 treasurer and cheerleader as a class of '31. 03:50 1931, let me do arithmetic, quick, quick, quick. 03:53 What is that 81, 80? No. 03:56 Don't whack your brain, it's not worth it. 04:01 So you've grown up in this community, 04:03 you have seen the changes, the Berrien Springs 04:05 the little village of Berrien Springs has gone through. 04:08 But I want to shift gears now and talk 04:10 to these two dear people who are standing beside you. 04:13 I'm gonna come over to Sylvia's side. 04:14 And Sylvia, so you and John are-- 04:17 you were with your friends, the Webbers. 04:19 Do I have it right? 04:20 Freddy and Joyce. Freddy and Joyce. 04:21 And you're at Rio, you're having just a good Mexican lunch. 04:26 So Sylvia, what-- tell us the real story. 04:31 Well, I noticed this elderly lady by herself 04:35 which is kind of an usual in the Mexican restaurant. 04:38 And I thought to myself, 04:39 I wondered why she is here by herself. 04:42 And about that time we were finishing 04:45 and so I walked over to her and I said, 04:47 "I heard about what happened to you today." 04:49 Because baker to his concern, the owner had walked by and said 04:53 "See that lady, her house burned down today." 04:55 Her house had burned down that very day. 04:58 And she-- lot of what she owned 05:00 was burned up with that including her pet cat. 05:04 So she was very down I'm sure. 05:07 So when I went over to her, I said, 05:08 "I'm so sorry about what happened to you today. 05:11 And is there anything we can do?" 05:14 And she said, "Oh, I'm staying over here in this motel." 05:17 And she said, "The insurance company 05:18 is trying to sort it out." 05:20 So we by this time all of us were walking out 05:22 and we walked toward her van. 05:24 And she was driving, you asked me yesterday, 05:26 how longer that was and I figured it out 05:27 it was--she was 92 and she was driving a van. 05:31 You were driving a van, Donna, bless her. 05:34 I think, Dwight. What? 05:36 Nothing, Dwight. All right, okay. 05:39 And so we stood by the van and talked to her a little bit. 05:42 And John said, "Would you mind if we had a word of prayer?" 05:43 She said, "Oh, I'd love that." So John prayed. 05:46 She got in her van and went across the street to her motel 05:49 and I went home, we went home. 05:51 The next day I decided that I would give her a call 05:54 and see if there's anything that she thought of 05:57 in the meantime that we could do. 05:58 I said, "I'm going into Saint Joe, 05:59 would you like to go with me?" 06:00 Is there anything you need we'd like to do? 06:02 She said "Yes, I have some lamps that need to be rewired 06:05 because they got burned up." 06:06 I said, "Okay, come with me." 06:08 So we went to town and came back. 06:09 By that time it was Friday. 06:11 And so I said, "I go to church tomorrow, 06:14 would you like to go with me?" 06:15 I said, "After church be in my house, we'll have lunch." 06:18 She said, "Oh, that would be lovely." 06:20 And guess what? 06:21 When we got to church, guess what was happening? 06:24 Communion and I thought, how am I going to explain 06:27 the foot washing part of this to Donna? 06:29 Well, that turned out that I didn't need to explain a thing 06:32 she thought it was the most wonderful thing 06:33 she had ever experienced. 06:35 She said, "This is lovely. 06:36 I think every church should do this." Wow. 06:40 So let me get this straight, John and Sylvia. 06:42 You're professor here at theological seminary. 06:45 And Sylvia, you've been a nurse in a community. 06:47 So you're having, you're just having supper, 06:50 enjoying a great meal, and it all begins 06:53 by seeing another patron at the same restaurant. 06:58 You step out of your comfort zone, 07:00 you walk across the room, you initiate the contact 07:04 and these years later here we are. 07:08 Now Donna, you have been, 07:10 I think that Sabbath mark the beginning 07:12 of Sabbath after Sabbath 07:15 that you have worshiped here at pioneer. Oh, yes. 07:18 Then there came "I Perceive". 07:21 That was that little series of nine nights in Saint Joseph. 07:24 And I tell you what, no matter the weather, 07:26 there is no weather that intimidates you. 07:28 You were there every single night. 07:30 Well, thank John and Sylvia for that too. 07:34 They were faith for you. 07:35 I don't drive that van anymore. 07:37 You don't? Well, I'm glad to learn that. 07:38 I'm actually very glad to hear that. 07:43 But you were there night after night after night 07:45 as we went deeper and deeper into scripture. 07:47 And so Donna, there you were 07:49 and every night we were handing out 07:50 little decision cards, you were responding. 07:53 And you made a decision 07:56 at the end of that I Perceive series. 08:00 Yes. And what was that decision? 08:02 Well, I happen to baptized once 08:05 but I decided I'd be baptized again and join this church. 08:09 Now Donna, how old does a person have to be 08:12 to really give her heart completely to Jesus? 08:16 Well, I would say about 2. And how old are you? 08:22 Ninety eight. Are you? 08:24 Going on a 100. Ninety eight, going on a 100. 08:28 How about that, congregation? 08:31 Oh, I can say through me. No, it can't be. 08:38 Donna, isn't that something, 98 years young you are, right. 08:44 What a beautiful testimony. 08:46 To Jesus love for you and your love for Jesus. 08:50 You love Him with all your heart, don't you? 08:52 Oh, yes. So much. 08:54 And with every breath you have, 08:56 you're gonna continue to testify to Him and to live for Him 08:59 in this little village where you grew up. 09:01 Yes. Always. 09:03 We want to give you the official pioneer welcome. 09:05 We are so proud of you. You know what? 09:07 Donna, I've had the privilege of baptizing 09:09 a few men and women and children over the years. 09:12 You are the first 98 year old I've ever had that privilege. 09:15 That's my first experience too. 09:17 And it's your first experience, there you go. Amen. 09:21 All right, pioneer family, let Donna see the way. 09:24 Give her the pioneer wave. Donna, this is your family. 09:28 John and Sylvia and all their friends, 09:30 we're family together. 09:32 I want to pray with you before you're baptized. Sure. 09:36 Dear God, You have walked 09:38 with this friend of Yours all these years. 09:43 And isn't that something, 09:45 You lead some other friends to cross the path of this friend. 09:49 And a contagious witness 09:51 just walking across a restaurant is born. 09:54 This is how You grow the kingdom 09:56 and Donna is living proof that Jesus really 10:00 does work through every day relationships. 10:03 As I place my hand on her head 10:05 may be a symbol of the Holy Spirit 10:07 coming into Donna in a new and fresh way, 10:12 spiritual gifts that she will 10:14 continue to exercise for Your kingdom. 10:17 Give her joy, every step of the way 10:19 and may there be others because of her testimony 10:23 who will find the Lord Jesus as well. 10:25 In His name we pray, amen. 10:29 Give your hand here, there it goes. 10:33 Donna, I'm so honored, 10:36 And get that. Okay. 10:42 What was that? 10:43 That's why I'm telling you, 10:44 you should not be driving anymore now. 10:47 Right. All right. 10:49 You just hold her right there, that's perfect. 10:51 I'm gonna slip this hand behind you, there you go. 10:55 It is such a joy that you've chosen to follow Jesus 10:58 and now the honor for me to be able to baptize you 11:02 in the name of God, the Father, 11:04 God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit. 11:07 Just take a quick breathe and just bend your knees. 11:14 Amen. God bless you. 11:20 God bless you. Amen. 11:31 I love you all. Beautiful. 15:52 Let's pray together. 15:54 Oh God those shades of green we could see them. 15:57 This is the season of green. 16:01 You are the Creator, we are Your children, 16:03 all of us your creatures. 16:06 In Holy Scripture, please, engage our minds, 16:10 address our hearts one last time 16:12 as we head out into the waiting new season before us. 16:18 In Jesus name. Amen. 16:28 If Jesus were to suddenly appear right here in worship, 16:31 right in front of you and got in your face 16:34 and asked this question, what would you answer? 16:39 All right, so He's looking in your eyes, 16:41 you and Jesus and He asks you, 16:43 "Do you love Me?" How would you answer? 16:49 I wonder if we might answer like Golde did to Tevye 16:55 in that classic scene in Fiddler on the Roof. 16:57 You remember Fiddler on the Roof, you've seen it. 17:00 Those of you who don't know 17:01 Tevye is a poor Russian Jewish farmer, 17:03 he's just come in out of that dilapidated barn 17:05 into their little home on a Friday afternoon, 17:07 the Sabbath is about to arrive, 17:10 the three daughters are scurrying around outside. 17:13 But Tevye is inside and he must ask his wife of 25 years 17:18 a question he has never asked her before. 17:23 Do you love me? 17:25 I found a YouTube clip of this moment 17:27 so take a look at this and kind of relive the memories. 17:31 All right, let's go. 17:33 Love. 17:38 Golde, do you love me? 17:43 Do I what? Shh. 17:45 Do you love me? 17:48 Do I love you? Well? 17:52 With our daughters getting married 17:54 and this trouble in the town. 17:56 You're upset, you're worn out, go inside, go lie down. 18:00 Maybe it's indigestion. 18:03 No, Golde, I'm asking you a question. 18:07 Do you love me? 18:09 You're a fool. I know. 18:12 But do you love me? 18:16 Do I love you? Well? 18:19 For 25 years, I've washed your clothes, 18:22 cooked your meals, cleaned your house. 18:24 Given you children, milked your cow. 18:27 After 25 years, why talk about love right now? 18:33 Golde, the first time I met you was on our wedding day, 18:38 I was scared. I was shy. 18:40 I was nervous. So was I. 18:44 But my father and my mother said we'd learn to love each other. 18:49 And now I'm asking, Golde. 18:52 Do you love me? 18:55 I'm your wife. I know. 18:58 But do you love me? 19:01 Do I love him? Well? 19:06 Oh, I love that moment again, do you love me? 19:12 And if Jesus would ask us that question 19:13 this morning in our face, what would we answer? 19:16 Like Golde, look it, I've been going to church all my life. 19:20 And we turn the tithes and kept the Sabbath. 19:23 What do you mean do I love You? 19:26 No, but do you love Me? 19:31 Everybody who has read the Fourth Gospel knows 19:33 that it ends with Jesus asking that penetrating question. 19:36 Do you love Me? 19:39 The question is for us third millennials, 19:41 what's the answer gonna be? 19:42 Open your Bible, let's go last time, 19:47 last narrative of the last chapter of the last gospel 19:52 on this last Sabbath of the school, your John 21. 19:54 Open your Bible to John 21, 19:55 a fitting episode for the last time 19:59 in this Fourth Gospel, John 21. 20:02 You didn't bring a Bible, oh, you got to track this John 21, 20:06 grab the pew Bible in front of you, it's page 732. 20:09 What are we gonna call this teaching? 20:10 Let's put it on the screen. 20:11 Let's call this Requiem for a loser. 20:16 Requiem for a loser, the last days. 20:21 By the way it's just a reminder. 20:24 The Fourth Gospel series divided into two parts, 20:26 the last word is the first semester, 20:28 the last days, the last semester. 20:31 You didn't get any of these teachings, go to the site, 20:33 all the videos are archived, there are all the study guides. 20:37 Let's pick it up John 21, 20:38 this is the New King James Version as is your pew Bible. 20:43 John 21:1, "After these things Jesus showed Himself again," 20:46 we were just with Thomas and Mary last week. 20:48 So now this is following that narrative. 20:51 "After these things Jesus showed Himself again 20:53 to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias," 20:55 Only John calls it Lake of Galilee, Tiberias 20:58 for reasons known to him, 20:59 "The Sea of Tiberias and in this way He showed Himself." 21:03 Okay, so here is how it happened. 21:06 Verse 2, "Simon Peter," we know him. 21:09 We saw his meltdown. 21:10 "Thomas called the Twin," we were with him last week, 21:13 Patron Saint of Higher Education. 21:15 "Nathanael of Cana" remember him at the beginning of the journey. 21:19 When he came walking in, 21:20 the fellows are all standing around Jesus, 21:21 he points at Him and said, 21:22 I want to see a life that has no smear, 21:25 no stain, he is absolutely transparent. 21:28 This is that same Nathanael. 21:30 "The sons of Zebedee," the first time in the gospel 21:32 and the last it appears. 21:34 John boy and his older James and then two unnamed disciples, 21:39 "Two other disciples of His were together." 21:41 And verse 3, "Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' 21:47 They said to him, 'We are going with you also.' 21:48 And so they went out and immediately got into the boat, 21:51 and that night they caught nothing." 21:54 Requiem for a loser, I have looked 21:58 on the men and women in our community 21:59 and the young adults on this campus 22:01 who have fallen in a moral meltdown. 22:07 I have watched them. 22:09 The shame, the stigma, the sorrow. 22:17 I was going through a stack of birthday letters, 22:20 signing the letters. 22:22 I come to a letter that belongs to a man 22:24 who in humiliation fled our community, 22:27 practically under the cover of darkness. 22:29 And I am ashamed to confess to you 22:33 that when I came to that letter, pen in hand, 22:37 I thought to myself, may be I just, 22:42 scribble, no message at all, I'll just signed it. 22:46 Oh, no. I tell you what? 22:48 I'll scribbled something so eligible, 22:50 he will never be able to read it. 22:52 This of course what happens 22:53 every time I write one of these letters. 22:56 I say, no, no, no, what I'll do, 22:57 I'll deep six, I'll drop in file 13, 23:00 he won't even know that the letter got thrown out. 23:02 He will think look at that, I guess I'm off their list. 23:06 Requiem for a loser. 23:09 Requiem is Latin and it means rest, 23:10 but here's the question, is there ever any rest 23:13 for a brother or a sister who has fallen on this campus? 23:17 Who has fallen in this community? 23:22 What did Peter say here? 23:24 "I am going fishing." I love that. 23:28 Because what happens next 23:29 is a shining testimony to Peter's bros. 23:34 They instantly step out, yo, you're not going alone, 23:36 we're going with you. 23:38 I love that about them. 23:39 Because let's face it, Peter has publicly, 23:41 Peter has publicly shamed the name of Jesus Christ 23:46 in the most humiliating way possible. 23:49 When all the attention around that campfire 23:51 remember, when all the attention 23:52 around that campfire was pinned on him. 23:55 He cried out, "Read my lips." 23:57 And somebody on the balcony was hearing it all. 24:00 Read my lips, I have never known 24:03 that blankety, blank, blank man in my life. 24:11 You can't fall more dramatically 24:17 and publicly in a way Peter has just done. 24:21 I say, I think it is a testimony to his circle 24:26 when he says, I am going fishing. 24:29 We're going with you, you're not gonna be alone. 24:34 Verse 3, "So Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' 24:36 And they said to him, 'We are going with you also.' 24:38 And they went out and immediately got into the boat, 24:40 and that night they caught nothing." 24:43 But once full Passover 24:45 or but it's now and its waning sliver. 24:49 But it's still, it is still picture perfect tonight. 24:53 The lake calm, the silver left of the moon 24:57 reflected on those waters. 24:59 It's beautiful but it's depressing. 25:01 Because guess what? 25:03 Peter's not only morally fallen, 25:05 he is now professionally failing. 25:08 And I have seen it time and time again 25:12 when a man goes through moral meltdown 25:15 and he falls beyond his control there is a professional failing 25:21 that accompanies the moral falling. 25:25 Sad. No fish all night. 25:32 That's a record read, "And they caught nothing," 25:36 zero, not a nothing. 25:38 I tell you what, there's nothing worse than nothing, is there? 25:42 Nothing to show for the class. 25:44 A whole semester and I failed it. 25:48 Nothing to show for sales, the entire month nothing. 25:53 No fears, no sparkle left in your marriage, nothing. 25:58 No advancement, no promotion, nothing. 26:00 No success with your social fishing on campus, nothing. 26:05 No resources, no money, no nothing. 26:10 There's nothing like nothing to make you feel a failure faster. 26:17 And they caught and he caught nothing. 26:21 Very interesting. 26:22 The same Greek word Jesus uses in the upper room 26:25 when He declares to the disciples, 26:28 without me you can do nothing. 26:32 Maybe that's the point. 26:37 Verse 4, "But when the morning had now come." 26:42 Oh, hit the pause button right there. 26:44 "When the morning had now come," I love that. 26:48 Beyond every midnight of nothing 26:50 there is still comes the morning of promise. 26:53 Midnight is not the last word. 26:56 I'm thinking of that gospel song 26:57 that Gloria Bill Gaither wrote and sang. 27:01 You remember this one? 27:02 Then came the morning 27:06 Oh, night turned into day 27:09 The stone was rolled away 27:11 Hope rose with the dawn 27:12 Then came the morning 27:15 Shadows vanished before the sun 27:17 Death had lost and life had won 27:20 For morning had come Hallelujah 27:25 After your midnight there will always come a morning, 27:28 don't give up. 27:30 Look at how this year is ending on your analysis 27:33 and on your spreadsheet of evaluation, 27:35 but don't give up. 27:37 There's a morning always that follows a midnight. 27:42 All right, Verse 4 again, 27:44 "But when the morning had come, Jesus stood on the shore, 27:50 yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus." 27:52 Then verse 5, "Jesus said to them, 27:54 'Children, have you any food?'" 27:56 one translator says it ought to be lambs 27:59 and another says it ought to be 28:00 yo, friends, caught anything yet? 28:04 "And they answered him. 'No.' 28:07 And He said to them, 'Cast the net 28:09 on the right side of the boat and you will find some.'" 28:16 The boys got the story down. 28:21 He's gonna be a preacher, Rodney, that's your boy. 28:25 Pastor, he's gonna be a preacher. 28:27 You go, "so they cast 28:30 and now they were not able to draw it in 28:32 because of the multitude of the fish." 28:35 The commentator suggest that the reason 28:37 the disciple that cast their net on the left side 28:40 is because of the steering ore is on the right side. 28:43 And nobody is gonna cast a net over the ore. 28:46 But Desire of Ages comes along and adds this insight. 28:49 We put it on the screen for you, 28:50 this classic devotion on the life of Jesus. 28:53 I hope you'll read it through some day soon. 28:56 The words on the screen, "Jesus had a purpose 28:58 in bidding them cast their net on the right side of the ship. 29:01 For on that side He stood upon the shore. 29:05 That was the side of faith. 29:08 If they labored in connection with Him, 29:10 His divine power combining with their human effort, 29:13 they could not," read those last three words. 29:15 They could not what? "Fail of success." 29:19 You will not fail 29:21 if you cast your net on the side Jesus is on. 29:24 Look, I know all your friends are over here, they say, 29:26 "Yo, come on over here." 29:28 Jesus says, "No, no, no, cast your net this direction." 29:32 For where I am it is always the right side." 29:35 All your family is over here and say, 29:36 what got in you that university, you're getting fanatical on us? 29:40 Who cares, Jesus said, "I'm over here, 29:42 I'm on the right side, cast your net this way." 29:45 Because when you cast your net on the right side 29:48 you were always casting to Christ Himself. 29:53 How did that line go? They could not fail of success. 29:59 Your career point, hey, you got to go this way, 30:01 now that you're finishing up at Andrews, go this way. 30:03 Jesus said, "No, no, no, no, I'm over here, 30:05 throw your net in My direction." 30:07 It's not about you becoming a grand success 30:10 for the headlines of earth to pick up. 30:12 It's about you becoming my disciple 30:15 and saving this world in this generation. 30:20 Wow. 30:22 Verse 7, "Therefore," 'cause they draw, 30:26 they're drawing in their net and it's full. 30:27 "Therefore the disciple whom Jesus loved as jamboy 30:30 said to Peter, 'Yo, it's the Lord!' 30:33 Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, 30:35 he put on his outer garment, 30:37 for he had removed it and he plunged into the sea." 30:39 He's so excited he did it backwards, 30:40 you don't get dressed when you jump in the water. 30:42 You hold your clothes over your head and paddle to shore 30:44 but he just said, I got to go. 30:46 Verse 8, "But the other disciples 30:48 came in the little skiff, that little boat, 30:49 for they were not far from land 30:51 about two hundred cubits, 300 feet, 30:52 dragging the net of fish. 30:55 Then as soon as they had come to land, 30:56 they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it." 31:00 Isn't that amazing? 31:02 How often we discover 31:04 that while we are fretting about coming up with nothing, 31:07 not a nothing, not a nothing. 31:09 All the while God is already had work 31:12 and Jesus is frying up breakfast for you. 31:18 It looks like nothing to you 31:19 but it doesn't look like nothing to Him, He's ready in advance. 31:23 It reminds me of this great line, jot this down 31:24 because there's no study guide today. 31:26 You need to keep this promise near you 31:27 as you head off into the adventurous summer. 31:29 Isaiah 65:24, God speaking, 31:32 "It shall come to pass that before they call I will answer." 31:37 Before you even ask I'm answering. 31:40 "And while they are still speaking, I will hear." 31:43 It may feel like nothing to you right now, my friend 31:47 but good news he has already made provision for you. 31:53 Now we come to the heart of the story. 31:57 Verse 10, "Jesus said to them, 32:00 'Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.' 32:02 So Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to the land, 32:05 full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three." 32:09 And scholars have ragged their brains, 32:10 there's some mystical, there's some mysterious, 32:12 there are some divinely 32:14 significant reason for this number. 32:15 No, not at all. 32:18 Listen, when you are poor fisherman, 32:20 you are poor fisherman 32:21 and the deal is we split the catch among us. 32:25 You will remember the total amount of fish. 32:29 Divide by 7 and that's what I get 32:32 and so John, that number just stuck with it. 32:34 153 we caught in a tiny little net. 32:38 Obviously miraculous. 32:40 "Although there were so many, the net was not broken." 32:42 Keep going, verse 12. 32:43 "Jesus said to them, 'Come and eat breakfast.' 32:46 Yet none of the disciples dared to ask Him. 32:48 'Who are You?' Knowing that it was the Lord. 32:50 Jesus then came and took the bread 32:52 and gave it to them, and likewise the fish." 32:54 Wouldn't you just love sitting around a campfire with Jesus? 32:57 Having Him pass the food to you, 32:59 the toast never burned, the fish. Wow. 33:06 Now Verse 14, "This is the third time 33:09 Jesus showed Himself to His disciples 33:11 after He was raised from the dead." 33:14 So, here we go now. 33:16 "When they're eating breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 33:21 'Simon, son of Jonah, son of John, 33:26 do you love Me more than these?'" 33:31 Scholars believe, He's pointing at the fish. 33:33 More than these, do you love Me? 33:38 "Peter said to Jesus, 'Yes, Lord, 33:41 You know that I love You.'" 33:44 No, no, I'll tell you what 33:45 everyday everybody else may desert you 33:47 but I will die for You, it's all gone, 33:49 it's gone, ashamed by his failure. 33:52 That's required. You know Lord, that I love You. 33:57 "Jesus said to Peter, 'Feed My lambs.'" 34:01 Verse 16, "Jesus said to him again a second time, 34:04 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me?' 34:07 He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.' 34:11 Jesus said to him, 'Tend My sheep.' 34:15 Jesus said to him the third time, 34:16 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' 34:21 Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 34:23 'Do you love Me?' 34:26 And he said to him, 'Lord, You know all things, 34:30 You know that I love You.' 34:34 And Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'" 34:38 Three times, three times You declared with curses 34:44 that You never knew me, three times in public. 34:48 I also ask you, do you love Me? 34:52 Three denials, three confessions, 34:57 three restorations, do you love Me? Do you? 35:07 Verse 18, Jesus speaking now, 35:11 "Most assuredly, I say to you," 35:13 oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, there it is, number 25, 35:16 the last of that literally device of John's 35:18 we've been tracking them all through this gospel. 35:20 Double Amen. Amen, amen. 35:23 When you see two amens right side by side, 35:25 you know that something huge is about to be spoken. 35:28 The last number 25, you just read it, 35:31 "Amen, amen, I say to you, Peter, 35:33 when you were younger, you girded yourself 35:35 and walked where you wished 35:37 but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, 35:39 and another will gird you 35:41 and carry you where you do not wish. 35:43 This Jesus spoke, signifying 35:45 by what death Peter would glorify God. 35:47 And when Jesus had spoken this, 35:49 He said to Peter, 'Follow Me. Follow Me.'" 35:58 I know we all have to admit, we must admit. 36:01 that the story of Jesus forgiving and restoring Peter 36:04 into His inner circle of disciples 36:08 is truly one of the great finales of all sacred history. 36:11 How can you think about, 36:12 John opens his gospel with a call of Peter. 36:15 John dutifully records the fall of Peter and now hallelujah, 36:19 John ends his gospel with a forgiving of Peter. 36:23 I tell you what ladies and gentlemen, 36:24 all over it are the fingerprints 36:27 of the profound lover of Calvary the Savior of the world, 36:32 His fingerprints all over this ending. 36:37 No matter how awful your sin, 36:41 no matter how far you will fall. 36:46 My grace is sufficient for you for we're sin abounds. 36:53 Grace does much more abound. 36:59 Forgive you. Restore you. 37:04 Follow Me. If you want to. 37:10 But there are some who fall 37:12 and this is what is so heartbreaking. 37:15 There are some who fall, who do not want to un-fall. 37:22 You can't believe it. 37:24 But so strong is the draw of the dark kingdom. 37:32 Thus is the tale of two men that early Friday in Gethsemane, 37:35 they both fell, they both to be restored 37:38 at this moment around the same campfire. 37:41 One fell and begged to be unfallen, 37:44 the other fell and determined to stay fallen 37:47 and that's difference between Peter and Judas. 37:50 Same master, same grace, same drawing. 37:56 But Judas says, I'm not going back. 38:01 What a tragic, tragic contrast. 38:04 Requiem for a loser, are you kidding. 38:06 This is restoration for a sinner, hallelujah. 38:09 Restoration that begins with do you love me 38:12 and ends with follow me. 38:14 And that ladies and gentlemen is the last truth 38:16 of the last story, do you love me really means. 38:22 I'll put this on the screen for you. 38:26 Will you follow Me? 38:27 That's the truth of what we just read. 38:33 Robert Smith in his wonderful book, Wounded Lord, 38:37 reading the Fourth Gospel through the eyes Thomas. 38:39 Put Smith's words on the screen for you, 38:40 take a look at this. 38:41 This was insightful for me, "Only in the Fourth Gospel 38:45 is the bond uniting disciples to Jesus described as 'love.'" 38:50 Nowhere in the synoptic is He called love. 38:52 John says, "No, no, this is love." 38:55 "When Jesus three times asked Peter, 'Do you love Me?' 38:58 He is really asking, 'Will you be my disciple 39:01 whatever the cost or not?" 39:03 In other words, "Will you follow Me?" 39:07 You see, "Do you love Me?" 39:11 really means "Will you follow Me?" 39:16 Craig Keener in his majestic two line commentary 39:19 that we've been tracking through this entire series, 39:21 puts it this way, put Keener's words on the screen for you, 39:24 "The point of the passage has nothing to do with 39:28 a supposed difference between two Greek terms for love." 39:31 But some try to make it to be, there's no difference there. 39:34 But the--the point the passage has 39:36 "Everything to do with the way love for Jesus 39:38 is expressed in this Gospel." 39:41 How is it expressed in this Gospel? Obeying. 39:44 John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments, obey." 39:49 That's how love to Jesus is expressed, you obey Him. 39:52 Keep reading which implies by the way you see this line, 39:57 "Which implies utter self-sacrifice 39:59 and potentially death." 40:03 You see, "Do you love Me?" 40:05 really means, "Will you follow Me even to death." 40:13 But by the way not only follow Him 40:16 to the death of martyrdom that Peter is going to die. 40:20 Most of us here, no doubt will not die the death of a martyr 40:25 which means for us, okay, for most of us here. 40:28 "Will you follow Me to death means the death of old age. 40:35 If times you last and Jesus doesn't come soon. 40:38 Old age, I want you to change your glasses. 40:42 Excuse me. 40:43 I want you to change your glasses and re-read verse 18 40:47 because with new glasses on, you're gonna see 40:48 a classic description of old age, watch this. 40:53 Verse 18, again Jesus speaking, most assuredly, 40:55 "I say to you Peter, 'when you were younger 40:58 you dressed yourself and walked where you wished.'" 41:01 Boy, is that true on this campus. 41:02 When you were young you dressed yourself, 41:05 kind of wish sometimes may be, no. 41:11 "When you were younger you dressed yourself 41:14 and you walked where you wished but," 41:17 now hold on, here it comes. 41:18 "But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands 41:23 and another will dress you and carry you 41:25 where you do not wish to go." That is old age. 41:32 I've had a chance to see it up close in personal. 41:37 With my mother-in-law, such a classic regal woman 41:42 by the way Karen's mom, Virginia Oswald. 41:46 Just a sweetheart, I've known her for years 41:48 and always well manicured 41:50 and dressed with such taste for beauty. 41:53 But as she aged, she was living with us here in this community. 41:57 As she aged her mind and her memory began to dim. 42:05 Until she couldn't remember 42:06 which dress to wear or not to wear 42:08 or how many days in a row she's already worn it. 42:12 And so her daughter had to become her dresser. 42:16 No, mother not that dress again. 42:18 Let's try this one today. 42:21 And there she was all dress up and no where to go. 42:26 Sitting in that easy chair until we would come 42:30 and we would take her by the hand. 42:33 And we would lead her to the car 42:35 and we would lead her to church. 42:38 And we would lead her to the house. 42:40 We would lead her to the wheelchair. 42:45 Until the day she died this last September. 42:48 It was a Sabbath evening just before Sunday. 42:52 I'm so grateful we both were there, 42:53 we were holding her hand on either side of her. 42:57 Holding her hands, her eyes open. 43:00 And then she breathed her last. 43:04 That's what happens in old age. 43:07 When you're young dressed yourself, 43:09 you go wherever you want. 43:10 But when you become old somebody else dresses you, 43:12 somebody else takes you where you don't want to go, 43:14 but you have to go anyway. 43:20 "Do you love Me? 43:23 Will you follow Me even unto death?" 43:27 Even to the death that comes at the end of what Nietzsche 43:31 calls a long obedience in the same direction. 43:35 Now look, I'm not in the habit 43:36 of quoting atheist from this pulpit 43:37 but I'm gonna do it today 43:39 because Friedrich Nietzsche quietly profound these words, 43:43 so we're gonna put it on the screen for you. 43:44 The great atheist of 20th century, 43:47 "The essential thing 'in heaven and earth'" Nietzsche writing. 43:50 "The essential thing 'in heaven and earth' 43:52 is that there should be 43:53 long obedience in the same direction." 43:57 I'm gonna hold that screen in front of your eyes for a moment. 43:59 I want you to lock that phrase in your mind. 44:01 "Long obedience in the same direction. 44:07 There thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, 44:10 something which has made life worth living." 44:15 A long obedience in the same direction 44:20 really does make life worth living, doesn't it? 44:24 I think of the hundreds of you in this community 44:28 who live in a community dedicated to the young. 44:31 Everything we do here is for the young. 44:34 And what you do, you who have sojourned long on this pathway. 44:39 I'll look at you with utter admiration. 44:42 Talking about a long obedience in the same direction. 44:46 Look at the way you faithfully live, 44:49 quiet, no fanfare as you follow after the same Jesus. 44:54 You're obedient to your Lord and your master and your work. 44:57 You're obedient to Him in your marriage. 44:59 You're obedient to Him in your worship. 45:02 You're obedient to Him in your retirement. 45:06 A long obedience in the same direction 45:11 and I think to myself 45:12 how lucky this congregation is to have people like you. 45:19 'Cause life isn't only about the young, 45:22 it's about those who are aged, slowly but surely. 45:28 "Do you love Me?" 45:30 really means "Will you follow Me?" 45:32 And will you follow Me means till your last breath. 45:38 So Jesus is explaining all this to Peter. 45:40 All right, it's okay, so Peter 45:41 and they're walking, having a very private conversation, 45:43 walking along the Sea of Galilee 45:45 when Peter suddenly notices some movement behind him 45:47 and He rolls around, it's John boy, 45:50 what, you've been eavesdropping on this whole conversation? 45:52 Of course he did, that's why we have the conversation. 45:56 But Peter and John are friends fortunately 45:58 wherever they appear in Acts they always appear together, 46:01 in the Synoptics they are always together. 46:03 Young boy, older man but fast friends. 46:06 So Peter has got me instructions about he is going to die. 46:09 So he turns to me and he said, "Jesus, Jesus, look at him. Him. 46:11 Tell me, how is going to die?" 46:15 Now listen to how Jesus responds. 46:18 Verse 22, "Jesus said to Peter, 46:20 'If I will, if I wish that he, John boy 46:22 remain till I come, what is that to you?'" 46:26 Polite way for saying, it's none of your business. 46:31 You, three words in the Greeks, three words in English, 46:33 "You follow Me." 46:39 Wow. 46:41 Apparently you can die two very different deaths 46:47 and the ending is the same. 46:48 Peter, we know the story about Peter, don't we? 46:50 Church tradition tells us that Peter, 46:52 when he was taking to the imperial city 46:53 on those Seven Hills of Rome. 46:55 When he was led to his execution, 46:57 they said, we're gonna crucify you. 46:59 He said, you can't crucify me. 47:01 In the manner of my Lord crucify me upside down. 47:04 He was nailed upside down. Head down, feet up. 47:07 He died. Because I cannot follow Jesus. 47:10 I who denied Him. Peter dies a bloody death. 47:17 John, John boy becomes John the elder, 47:19 the only one of the twelve who did not die a violent death. 47:23 John the elder, an aged pastor 47:26 who finally quietly breathed his last 47:29 there in his parish in Ephesus. 47:35 Two very different deaths alluded to here 47:37 at the end of a Fourth Gospel. 47:38 Where you see "Do you love Me?" 47:40 really means "Will you follow Me?" 47:41 No matter how you die because it doesn't matter how you die. 47:44 The critical issue is how shall we live? How you live? 47:49 Which is why the last record of words of Jesus. 47:52 Can you believe that, you just read them. 47:53 If you ever read that of Bible, 47:54 are there any red words after those three? 47:58 "You follow Me." 48:02 The book ends with a call, "You follow Me." 48:11 The year ends with a call, "You follow Me." 48:18 So how should we answer? How's your answer? 48:24 In this last moment we have together, 48:25 I wish you take out your connect card right now. 48:28 I like to give you a way to answer 48:31 at least two boxes to check. 48:33 Take out the connect card, you know this one 48:34 that chaplain Jose just talked about Pastor Jose a moment ago. 48:37 You filled in this part, make sure we have your e-mail 48:40 because you're gonna want something 48:41 that you're gonna check I believe, you're gonna want it. 48:43 So put your e-mail for sure on the front. 48:45 Now turn the card over, my next step today is-- 48:49 and I hope everybody here and those of you watching 48:52 on television or live streaming, 48:53 we got these cards on our website, 48:55 you can get this, you can make the same response. 48:57 I hope everybody here checks, 48:59 I chose to follow the Jesus of John 21 49:02 to the end of my days no matter how I die. 49:05 Isn't that you? 49:07 Oh, I want to put a check mark there. 49:09 And then look at here, here's number two, 49:10 this summer I would like a strategic plan 49:13 to focus on Jesus while I'm away from campus 49:15 because I'm coming back. 49:17 But this summer, I'd like a way 49:18 to focus on Jesus in my prayer life. 49:20 Please send it to me. 49:21 If you put your e-mail address on the other side, 49:23 we will send you that strategic plan all summer long. 49:27 You can focus on Jesus. 49:28 What does it mean to follow Him? 49:29 You can focus on Him, you'll be fine. 49:32 Some of you saw a baptism or two or three today 49:35 and Holy Spirit is speaking in your heart and he saying, 49:37 hey, listen girl, boy, you follow Me. 49:42 And the time has come for you to make a decision. 49:44 You're saying, Dwight, look it, 49:45 I'm leaving, I'm leaving campus. 49:46 Don't worry about it, we'll take care, we can wait. 49:49 But why not make the decision 49:51 on the cusp of the next chapter of your life. 49:53 Over here in this little box, 49:54 I want to begin a relationship with Jesus, check there. 49:56 I want information on baptism, check there. 49:58 We'll get the information to you, 49:59 we have to have your e-mail address 50:01 but we will get the information to you. Why wait? 50:05 Why not in this last moment 50:06 make it the first moment, you and Jesus? 50:09 Whether you've walked with Him all your life 50:11 or you're saying I want to start a new chapter? 50:14 In fact here's how I want to end today. 50:15 You don't do this with the connect card 50:17 but I'm doing it today. 50:19 I want to sing a little chorus 50:20 and I want to invite you if you're student. 50:24 To commit yourself to walking with the same Jesus. 50:30 Bring a card, you turn in just a second 50:32 but just hold your card with you. 50:35 Would you mind coming forward 50:36 and let me have a prayer with you, 50:38 a prayer that sends us out. 50:40 We're gonna sing a chorus, you know, 50:41 this I have decided, you know that one? 50:44 Yeah, lets sing that together. 50:46 And while we're singing if you're student, 50:49 chaplain Jose has already mentioned the categories here, 50:52 but you know what if you're a student at the University, 50:54 undergraduate, graduate, it doesn't matter. 50:57 I'm gonna invite the others in a moment to join you, 50:58 but I'm gonna invite you first. 51:00 Would you mind just coming forward 51:01 and let's have a prayer right here. 51:03 I'm gonna start singing and as we sing bless you. 51:06 As we sing come forward, all right. 51:08 I have decided to follow Jesus 51:15 I have decided to follow Jesus 51:23 I have decided to follow Jesus 51:30 No turning back, no turning back 51:37 You're sitting in the balcony, good, 51:38 I see some of you going for the stair, 51:40 come on down, just come on down. 51:41 This is a rap moment, 51:42 you're in the overflow, you come as well if you like. 51:45 If you're student particularly, 51:47 if you're a student undergraduate or graduate, 51:51 come to the one who says you follow Me. 51:56 Though no one join me, yet I will follow, 51:58 let's sing that. 51:59 Though no one join me, yet I will follow 52:06 Though no one join me, yet I will follow 52:14 Though no one join me, yet I will follow 52:21 No turning back, no turning back 52:29 Before we sing one more stanza, 52:31 some of you have not come to Jesus before. 52:36 I'd love to have you today 52:38 with this connect card make that connection to Christ. 52:41 If not been baptized, 52:44 you don't have to wait to be an old man, elderly woman. 52:50 You can make a decision, 52:52 all the energy of your young adulthood 52:54 but you'll make it for Christ. 52:56 You will never be simpler than today. 52:59 If you need to check one of those boxes, 53:01 I wish you do it right now. 53:03 And bring the box with you, 53:04 we're gonna sing one more stanza, come on up. 53:07 And you who are here just go and pull it up all the way, 53:09 come right up to the stairs 53:10 'cause we have people behind you. 53:12 Come right in, bless you. 53:14 And let's sing, how it's go, 53:15 the cross before me, the world behind me. 53:18 All right, let's do that. 53:19 The cross before me, the world behind me 53:26 The cross before me, the world behind me 53:34 The cross before me, the world behind me 53:42 No turning back, no turning back 53:51 And how about the rest of us, 53:53 this is a perfect time for us too 53:56 to make the commitment. 53:57 You know what Jesus, You said you follow Me, 54:01 I will by Your grace follow You, wherever You lead me. 54:05 Wherever the next chapter is 54:06 I'm with You and You are with me. 54:10 You want to join these who have made their confession clear. 54:13 Stand to your feet, you can't crawl in the aisle now 54:16 but just stand to your feet if you wish to say Jesus, 54:19 count me in on this. 54:20 You said, you follow Me, I follow You. 54:29 Oh, Christ, risen Lord, soon coming Savior 54:36 two millennia have fled by 54:39 since that fireside moment by the Galilee. 54:46 But somehow amazingly it says if you're calling us right now. 54:54 Do you love Me? 54:56 Do you really? Then follow Me. 55:01 And so we've responded, 55:02 these who have come forward and now filling the aisles. 55:05 Oh, Christ Jesus, seal that decision, 55:09 they go out a committed man, a committed woman to You. 55:14 Hold on to that commitment. 55:16 Fresh way to focus on You, 55:18 every day of summer, send that to them. 55:22 Make it the chapter that's been waiting to be written. 55:26 And dear God, some are saying I come, 55:30 I want to follow into the Jordan River 55:32 with Christ Jesus my Lord, seal that decision. 55:37 How many weeks that go by between now 55:39 and the ratification of that decision stay close, 55:42 hold her close, hold him close. 55:46 But we stand because we wish 55:47 in solidarity release to share the journey. 55:52 Some of us are nearing our last breath. 55:55 We can't yet say how it is we will die. 55:59 But Jesus, if You don't come soon, we will die. 56:03 But when that moment comes, please hold our hand. 56:10 And we will follow You straight into eternity one day 56:14 on that resurrection morning. 56:16 Seal it all Jesus, seal it all. 56:20 We pray in Your name. Amen. 56:25 I'd like to take a moment here at the end of the service 56:27 to tell you about one of the most 56:28 important groups of people that make this ministry possible. 56:32 They're team of people, they're not afraid 56:35 to get down into the thick of life itself 56:38 which is why you're gonna find them, 56:39 you will find them moving forward on their knees. 56:42 They are our prayer partners. 56:44 A group of men and women and young adults 56:47 who believe that this humble television ministry 56:50 has been raised up by God for such a time as this. 56:52 And so they pray earnestly that God will use the preacher. 56:55 And God will use me 56:57 and God will use the countless other volunteers 56:59 to spread the everlasting Gospel and the word of God 57:02 in ways we could never have imagined before. 57:05 They're the ones who are praying 57:06 that God is gonna open up the hearts of people, 57:10 open up the hearts of viewers around the world for the message 57:13 the critical message for this end time generation. 57:17 And what I like to do is ask you, 57:19 would you be willing to be a prayer partner with us? 57:22 A prayer partner with New Perceptions. 57:24 You don't have to call a toll free number, 57:26 you don't have to go online to register. 57:27 All I need to know is that you'd be willing 57:30 to lift this little ministry up day after day after day. 57:36 Pray that somehow through radio and television and the web, 57:40 God will open up new doors, new regions on earth 57:45 where the everlasting gospel can be proclaimed. 57:47 There is no question, the power of prayer 57:49 has potential to take this ministry to places 57:52 we could never have imagined before. 57:55 So that's it, would you please be willing 57:58 to partner with me in prayer. 57:59 The times are urgent, the need is critical. 58:03 And I hope you will say yes. 58:05 Until we're together next time, 58:07 may the prayer answering God accompany you 58:10 every step of the way. |
Revised 2014-12-17