Reading: John 21.15-25
Know those expressions, "I wouldn't trust him in a thousand years" and "I wouldn't trust him with a ten-foot pole"? Why would anyone say that about someone else? There are three possible reasons.
Jesus, we are told in the Gospel record, knew what was in people. In the absolute sense his trust was in the Father, not in people. That's not to say that he didn't trust people in all sorts of practical ways. He did! But in the absolute sense he could only trust the Father!
Peter had been full of confidence. "Lord, I'll lay down my life for you! Even if all the others desert you, Lord, you can depend on me to stick by you to the end." But Jesus knew what was in Peter - much more than Peter himself did! Just now, put to the test Peter would fail - "I tell you the truth, Peter - before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"
And that's just what he did! Big blustering Peter, so sure of himself, said, "I don't know him!", "I'm not one of his disciples!", "I don't know what you're saying!" Three times he denied his Lord, and then - the rooster crowed and Peter went out and wept! He'd been sincere! He had really meant it! He really wanted to stick with Jesus! He really believed that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God"! But he was not as good as his word - and Jesus had known that all along!
Then a Stranger appears and directs them where to cast their nets, and their catch is so great they can hardly get it in! "It is the Lord!" And Peter put on his clothes, jumped into the sea and swam to shore ahead of them. Why? Because he had failed Jesus, he had denied him three times, yet he was very remorseful, he really and sincerely had meant to be trustworthy!
When Jesus had called him to follow, he had said, "I will make you fishers of men." But now - what could he do? - even his old fishing skills seemed not so good any more!
He really wanted to be with Jesus. But - whatever could he say to Jesus? and what might Jesus say to him?
But instead, Jesus says, "Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" Back behind those words lie all of Peter's professions of loyalty. Matthew records Peter's words like this, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will" (26.33). And now it's as if Jesus is saying, "Remember your profession, Peter? Is your love really greater than the others?" Peter says nothing about the comparison, but insists, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
There is a point of contrast in the Greek original that is difficult to translate clearly into English. We use our word "love" to cover so many different things. It translates at least three distinct Greek words - two of which are in the present passage. One of them agape-love is the subject of 1 Cor.l3 and is a strong word which speaks of commitment. The other, philia, isn't so strong and refers to friendship. Yet the Good News Bible translates both of them here as "love". The New International Version gives one as "truly love" and the other as "love" - but you could miss it if you weren't listening for it! Let's separate them out as "love" and "friendship" so that we can really catch the feel of this passage.
Jesus says to Peter, "Simon, do you love me more than the others?" Peter answers, "Yes, Lord, you know that I am friendly towards you." He doesn't use that strong word for "love" to describe his feelings towards the Lord. Then Jesus says, "Simon, do you love me?" and Peter replies, "Yes, Lord, you know that I am friendly towards you." Verse 17 - the third time Jesus says to him, "Simon son of John, are you friendly towards me?" Peter is hurt because on this third time Jesus asks him, "Are you friendly towards me?" It's not just the third question in the light of his three-times denial of his Lord - that was already implicit in the first question - "do you love me more than these?" Peter is grief stricken because third question is different. Jesus understands that the old brashness is gone, that he can only claim friendship, not love. So Peter says, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I am friendly towards you." 0
Jesus could have said, "OK, Peter. So you have failed me. You sincerely wanted to love me with a commitment that was prepared even to die for me. But you didn't make it. I can see that you are remorseful, and I'm glad to have you as one of my friends. But - sorry! - I'll never trust you again! The work still to be done is so important that it wouldn't be fair to you, to me or to anyone!"
But it wasn't like that at all!
Back in the upper room Luke records that, before Peter had made his great profession of allegiance, Jesus made this prediction, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Lk.22.31,32).
And here we have Jesus talking to the same Simon Peter - after he has denied his Lord three times. Simon Peter who has genuine friendship towards Jesus but not yet the deep commitment of love. The disciple who has been sifted as wheat, whose self-confidence has faltered, whose faith in himself has been shattered.
"Simon," Jesus is saying to him, "Feed my lambs!" Did you hear that? Feed my lambs! Simon, I called you long ago to leave those fishing nets because I have work for you to do - and I haven't given up on you! I still have work for you to do. Feed my lambs! Watch out for my little ones. They are precious to my heavenly Father - be sure to feed them!
"Take care of my sheep!" Remember, Simon, what I said about my sheep, the people who believe in me. I came so that they might have life and have it to the full (Jn.10.10). As the good shepherd I have laid down my life for them. "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also..." (v.16) Simon, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep!
Then comes another prediction, for, though Simon has denied his Lord, the time will come when he will give his life for his Lord after all.
Perhaps, like Peter, there was a time when we thought we could answer that sort of question with confidence, but now - well, we're not so sure...
For some it may be that we find ourselves responding to the questions that the media keep pushing at us, questioning the Christian faith, questioning the Gospel record, accusing Christians of all the problems in the world, objecting to the absolute claims of Jesus, casting doubt on the teachings and miracles of Jesus... So we keep a private faith - with some reservations. And here is Jesus saying, "Do you love me?" How do you respond to him?
For others it may be that our doubts are about ourselves. We have cracked under pressure perhaps - or fear a total commitment of our lives to our Lord. We don't practise tithing. Our faith is not only private but secret. We certainly want him to be our Saviour in eternity, but are hesitant about the implications of having him as Lord here and now... And here is Jesus saying, "Do you love me?" How do you respond to him?
Our incredible Lord simply looks to see that we are sincerely turning to him, that we know that we aren't what we ought to be, that we acknowledge the reservations we have wrongly had about him or rightly had about ourselves - and he says, "Feed my sheep!"
Can you handle that? Would you prefer it if Jesus were to say to you, "Look, I know all about you. It's just too bad, isn't it? I'm glad you're my friend. Keep coming along to church. You're welcome here. But don't do anything! Sorry - you don't qualify! But come - to show your friendship!"? Would you prefer that? Do you think that is what he is saying to you?
Well, he isn't! He's saying, "Feed my lambs. Care for my sheep! Feed my sheep!"
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