John 21:15–25: Jesus Reinstates Peter
A worship service held at Worship Symposium 2018.
John 21:15–25: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
“Welcome into This Place” (Orlando Jaurez)
Welcome and Call to Worship: Psalm 51:15–17
“We Long to See You” (Wendell Kimbrough)
Prayer
“Almighty God” (David Leonard, Leslie Jordan, Sandra McCracken)
Words of Assurance: Psalm 85:8
Passing the Peace
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (Catherine Winkworth, Joachim Neander, Travis Cottrell)
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Scripture Reading: John 21:15–25
“Oceans / I Will Follow” (Joel Houston, Matt Crocker, Salomon Ligthelm)
“Take, O Take Me As I Am” (John L. Bell)
Blessing
“Benediction” (Keith Getty, Stuart Townend)
We are grateful for the planning and leading of this service by the Calvin College Worship Apprentices, directed by Paul Ryan; Laura de Jong, liturgist; the dancers led by Kathleen Turner; the scripture reading enacted by the Northwestern College Scripture Arts Team, directed by Jeff Barker; and Emmett G. Price III, preaching.