Peter was grieved when the Lord asked him the third time, “Lovest thou me?” It has been suggested that the Lord asked this question three times because Peter denied him three times. And I’m sure the memory of that incident added to Peter’s grief that the Lord should keep repeating this same question. At last, Peter appealed to the Lord’s complete knowledge of all things, of all men’s hearts and thoughts, and replied, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”
This is the vital issue and question of questions for all professed Christians: “Do you love Christ?” It is not, “Do you love the Word, the doctrine, the church, the law, the people of God?”—though you certainly will love them if you love Christ. But do you love him? This is where life and hope and grace are born—love for Christ (1 Cor. 16:22).
Again, the Lord said, “Feed my sheep.” It may be observed from the repetition of this phrase following Peter’s declaration of love for Christ that the only proper persons to feed the Lord’s sheep are those who truly love him! There are pretended shepherds who feed themselves and in time of trouble leave the flock, or who feed goats and not sheep, or who feed them not with the true bread. But since the work is so laborious, the opposition from the religious world so great, the reproach of the world so constant, and conflict with powers of darkness so real, only true lovers of Christ faithfully perform the work of feeding the sheep. They are faithful to preach and teach the word because they love Christ, they love the gospel of his grace, and they love his sheep. They also know that God will bless, honor, and prosper his preached word (Is. 55:11). They are motivated by Christ’s love for them and their love for him (2 Cor. 5:9-15).
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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