When Jesus Draws the Line

St. Charles | Bob Ingle
May 3, 2026

John 21:15-19

“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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved 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. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:15-19 (ESV)

* Jesus Draws the Line…

1. At Your LOVE.

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”” John 21:15a (ESV)

Jesus will always DEAL with your pride before He DEEPENS your love.

“You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 (ESV)

“Do not love the world or the things in the world…” 1 John 2:15 (ESV)

Jesus will not settle for a PLACE in your life; He demands PREEMINENCE over it.

2. Through Your HONESTY.

“He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”” John 21:15b (ESV)

You don’t come to Jesus by PROVING yourself; you come by HUMBLING yourself.

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” Psalm 139:1 (NLT)

“Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?”” John 21:17 (ESV)

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9 (ESV)

3. Into Your OBEDIENCE.

““Feed my lambs.”” John 21:15 (ESV)

““Tend my sheep.”” John 21:16 (ESV)

““Feed my sheep.”” John 21:17 (ESV)

Love for Jesus is not proven by what you SAY, it’s proven by how you LIVE.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15 (ESV)

Where there is no OBEDIENCE to Jesus, there is no EVIDENCE of love.

4. Over Your LIFE.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”” John 21:18-19 (ESV)

Jesus never hides the COST but always promises it will be WORTH it.