Are You Who You Are Because of Jesus? A question that requires a honest answer !

Are You Who You Are Because of Jesus?

Pastor Calvin Cook

Scripture focus John 21:15-19 – highlighting verse 15

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’” John 21:15 (NIV)

Some mornings I love what the Holy Spirit says into the start of the day. Some days not so much! Today is one of those ‘not so much’ days. It is all because of the convicting question I am hearing in the inner depths of my everything being asked.

The question is “Are you who you are because of Jesus?” The question is so convicting that it is not just about what I believe – but about how I have been transformed, experiencing redemption, answering the call, and living the life, I am called to. It causes me to ask how Jesus has reshaped my everything. While for some it could cause great doubt, not that it is intended to but instead should ask a greater question. Are we living a life that reflects His restoration?

Peter’s story after the resurrection is also all of our stories. Because, we have all failed – and denied Jesus. But Peter’s story should paint a powerful picture that after he had failed and denied Jesus, that Jesus still seeks him out. Jesus didn’t seek him out to condemn, but to restore.

After the meal – Jesus ask Peter three times “Do You Love Me?” And three times Jesus responds, “Yes !” Any of this sound familiar in your life? I know it does in mine. But then the part that we don’t always want to hear unless it is convenient – “Feed my sheep, Take care of my lambs, Feed my lambs.” Oh my, the question is then “Will I receive the transformation you want to do in my life, that is calling me to something more?”

However, Peter was not left in shame. He was called into purpose. Peter became who he was meant to be – because of Jesus. Is that the same for us?

The second thing that happened this morning was my automatic play list. First song up was Casting Crowns – “If We Are the Body”. The lyrics ask an important question –

“If we are the body, why aren’t His arms reaching? Why aren’t His hands healing? Why aren’t His words teaching?”

When Jesus restored Peter, He didn’t just forgive him – Jesus sent Peter! Jesus called Peter, the other disciples and I believe is calling us – to be the Hands of Jesus, the voice of Jesus, and to show the way of Jesus. Not just by words and actions, but by the way we live out the question “Are we who we are because of Jesus?”

All too often, when we meet Jesus in the midst of our life, we leave that meeting unchanged. We sing songs of faith, but we still define ourselves by fear, failure, or comfort. Jesus didn’t save us to stay seated. He saved us to be sent.

“Jesus paid much too high a price – For us to pick and choose who should come.” (Casting Crowns – If we are the Body.)

When we live into what Jesus brings – redemption, restoration, and being re-purposed—we will begin to see the change we are praying for in our revival prayers – we will become courageous warriors for that which Jesus taught and ultimately died for.

I know this is a little longer than usual, but Jesus doesn’t necessarily speak in minutes but in lifetimes. I’d also ask you to pause and ask yourself these questions:

Am I who I am because of Jesus – or just someone who believes in Him?

Do my actions reflect the truth that I am His hands, His feet, His voice?

Like Peter, am I letting Jesus rewrite my story—or am I holding so tightly onto my past that it has become an anchor that keeps me from moving forward?

Let’s pray through this together as the body of Christ and individually as the beloved of Christ that are called to so much more.