Restored!

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 21 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
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.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:15-19, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
This scene between Jesus and Peter is one of the most spectacular interchanges in the whole Bible. I'm amazed by Jesus' tenderness, his mercy, his wisdom, and his redemptive heart for Peter. To me, the most remarkable thing about this story is that Jesus not only forgives Peter, but gives Peter a job to do. When Peter professes his love, Jesus doesn't say, "Well, that's okay." He says, "Well, then. Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep." 

His thrice repeated question: "Do you love me" correspond to Peter's three denials—three for completeness and three for a reminder of that fateful night. Just as it did on the night of Peter's denials, the smell of the charcoal fire lingers (18:8, 15; 21:9). Peter's night of agony—and Jesus' night of agony—returns. But because of the latter, the former can be dealt with. Jesus is the Passover lamb who takes away the sins of the world (1:29)—Peter's sin included, your sin, my sin, all sin.

But the way in which this sin is taken away varies from person to person, and from case to case. It isn't just a matter of a divine decree being declared, wiping the slate clean. From a legal point of view, that might be just fine. But our sins and failings often linger in our memories and imaginations—they sort of fester there, like old sores. Like a computer with faulty and virus-stricken software, we need to have our sin and failings dealt with before we can operate with maximum efficiency once more.

 

And so, as he often does, Jesus goes straight to the place of pain. He takes Simon Peter away from the others, so the two of them can be alone. I imagine them walking slowly along the shoreline. And he asks the question that goes to the heart of it all: "Do you love me?"

 

Actually, the words he uses vary slightly. When Peter replies, the word he uses for "love" is different to the one Jesus uses in the first two questions. Then, in the third question, Jesus uses the word Peter himself had been using. But this is probably just a minor detail, and not all that important. What matters is that the question is asked and answered. And, even more so, that the answer earns, each time, not a pat on the back—not a "There, there, that's alright"—but a command. A fresh challenge. A new commission. Time to learn how to be a shepherd. Time to feed lambs and sheep, to look after them, to care for them.

 

Not only is this a fresh commission. Not only is Jesus entrusting Peter with a new task, calling him to get back to fruitful work, and to turn his wobbly love for Jesus back to good account. It is more: Jesus is sharing his own work—his own ministry—with Peter.

 

It is, after all, Jesus who is the Good Shepherd (chapter 10). It is Jesus who has the task of leading and feeding his lambs and sheep, guiding them to good pasture and fresh water, keeping them safe from predators. He knows them and they know him. He has now given his life for them. But Jesus' commission of his disciples was quite specific: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (20:21). There's no getting away from it. And this is what it means—Peter is to share Jesus' task of shepherding the flock.

 

I've had many failings in ministry over the years. I've often been selfish, petty, and ungenerous. I've often held grudges and cast stones at others. I've denied Christ before men and I've remained silent when I should have spoken up. I've failed to share the gospel with others, when I've known it to be God's will. And I've been bogged down by guilt because of the way I've treated others or failed to speak out on Christ's behalf. I've also let my shame keep me from both approaching Christ and ministering to others in his name. But I've also experienced, on a number of occasions, the gracious and restoring touch of Jesus. I've heard him ask me again and again: "Do you love me?"

 

And so I speak from experience when I say that this conversation between Jesus and Peter holds the secret to all Christian ministry, yours and mine. If you and I are going to do any single solitary thing as a follower and servant of Jesus, we have to hear and learn the deep truth of this conversation. Somewhere, deep inside, there is a love for Jesus, and though (goodness knows) you've let him down many times, he wants to find that love, to give you a chance to express it, to heal the hurts and failures of the past, and to give you a new work to do. His work.

 

And we aren't asked to do these works as a way of earning Jesus' forgiveness. Nothing can ever do that. It is grace from start to finish. But these are the tasks we do out of the joy and relief that we are already forgiven. Tasks we are given to do precisely as a sign that we are forgiven. Tasks that will be costly, because Jesus' own work was utterly costly. Tasks that will mean following Jesus into suffering, perhaps even to death. Jesus prophesies that Peter will complete his task as a shepherd by laying down his own life, in turn, for the sheep: "When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go" (verse 18). Tradition tells us that Peter was crucified upside down because he considered himself unworthy to be killed in the same manner as his Lord.

 

But even this is not something different from the call that drew the disciples in the first place. The call into service and even suffering is the same as it was on the Galilean shoreline: "Follow me!" (Matthew 4:19). Now that Jesus has already embraced the suffering of the cross, and has proved that death itself is defeated by the life and joy of the new creation, he can ask for everything from his followers, and know that he will get it.

 

Peter went from strength to strength. He still dropped the ball and messed up from time to time (Galatians 2:11-21, for instance). But he became a shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4). He loved Jesus and looked after his sheep. No one could ask for more. Jesus never asks for less.

 

 

WHO AM I?

I am Tres Sansom, and WE’RE SNOWED IN! It’s been snowing steadily since Wednesday night, so we are all huddled together in the Libby’s house. All of us, except our son, who’s loving playing in the snow with his cousins. Snowmen, sledding, tunnels, snowballs, snow angels… he’s done it all.  He even helped Grampy plow the driveway with the Bobcat.  We’ve had a wonderful stay but are looking forward to flying home tomorrow.