Easter Matters!
The Common Need for Grace, Mercy and Hope
Easter Matters #5
Pastor Kelvin Kauffeldt
May 4, 2025
Easter Matters
-The Common Need for Grace, Mercy and Hope -
John 21:1-22
We all know the disappointing and shameful feeling when our words or actions intentionally hide the truth that we follow Jesus. Despite our unfaithfulness, Jesus extends grace and mercy and continues to invite us to follow Him.
A growing follower of Jesus:
1. Treasures God’s amazing grace and submits to Jesus’ authority (vs. 1-14)
- Celebrate that God graciously, faithfully and personally continues to work in your life even when you are unfaithful (cf. Lam. 3:22-23)
- To experience a closeness with Jesus, listen to Him and obey Him
(cf. Lk. 9:35; Jn. 14:23)
The extent to which you submit to Jesus’ authority in every area of your life indicates how much you treasure God’s amazing grace in your life.
2. Embraces the mercy of God and whole heartedly serves Jesus (vs. 15-17)
- Praise God that “He does not treat us as our sins deserve” (cf. Ps. 103:10; Ps. 86:15)
- Embracing the mercy of God will turn your focus off serving yourself, to serving Him and others
(cf. Mt. 20:26-28; Php. 2:1-8)
The extent to which you are willing to sacrificially serve others, both inside and outside the body of Christ, indicates how much you have truly embraced the mercy of God in your life.
3. Accepts that following Him may mean suffering for His name (vs. 18-22)
- You must live “this day” (today) with “that day” (eternity) in mind (cf. Rev. 21:1-4; Rom. 5:1-5; 8:18)
- As you follow Jesus along the narrow road, you must keep your eyes fixed on Him, even if it includes suffering (cf. Heb. 12:1b-3)
The extent to which you can “be still and know that He is God” in the midst of suffering, indicates how much you truly believe that “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Php. 1:21)
Jesus concisely sums up the life of a disciple for Peter in two words – “Follow Me”
Peter followed…will you?
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