Nancy Walker, member of the Goodwill Class, Go With Grace Bible Study, Altar Guild, Prayer Team

John 21:15-17 (Common English Bible)

When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Simon replied, “Yes Lord, you know I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”  He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?”  He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Reflection:

Simon Peter is one of my favorite disciples. He was the first to declare that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ. Peter’s love and devotion are visible in many situations, but he often jumps into circumstances without thinking of the consequences. 

Go back with me a moment and remember the night Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, by guards and soldiers led by Judas Iscariot. Peter jumped into action several times. His first instinct was to attack to protect Jesus. Pulling his sword, he managed to cut off the ear of Malchus, a servant of the High Priest. Jesus quickly intervened, knowing this was his time. He healed the person and willingly allowed himself to be arrested. 

Peter and another disciple took action and followed Jesus to the home of the High Priest and entered the courtyard where Jesus was being interrogated. It was here that Peter did exactly what Jesus had told him he would do: he denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. When he heard the rooster’s loud announcement of dawn, he realized what he had done. He had denied his Lord! Peter left the courtyard and wept. 

The story in John 21 takes place after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, but the disciples are still unsure of what has happened and what they should do next. The Holy Spirit has not yet been sent to fill their hearts and to lead them. Several of the disciples had gone back to their old way of life—fishing. That night they had not been successful. Not even one fish had been caught in their nets!. They see a man on the shore, sitting on the huge rock. He had a fire going and he was cooking fish and bread.  He tells them to drop their net on the right side of the boat and they caught such a huge load of fish, they could not pull it in. At this moment, John says to Peter, “It is the Lord.” As usual, Peter jumps right in! He throws on his robe and dives into the water, swimming to shore. It seems that this entire event was meant for Peter.    

As Peter helps his team pull a huge load of fish up on shore, Jesus requests that they bring some of the fish to his fire and have breakfast with him. All of the disciples know this is Jesus, not a stranger, so they gather with him to eat breakfast. When they are finished, he asks Simon Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Jesus already knows the answer, but he is giving Peter time to affirm his love for Jesus and move on from the three denials. Since he first recruited the fisherman Simon as a disciple, Jesus has known that Simon Peter will be the rock on which his church is founded. He needs to steady Peter and challenge him to be the leader he is meant to be. It is Jesus’ abiding love and forgiveness that are in action here. 

As we move through our faith journey, let us examine our beliefs and our behaviors. Do we jump into action when we really need to hang back? Do we freeze up when action or speaking up is needed? How often might we be turning away from our Lord Jesus? How often do we need to be reminded of how much he loves us? And, how much we love him?  These are questions that can keep us close to Jesus and continually live out the hope of Easter, the hope of the resurrection.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I humbly ask you to enter my life every day. I often shut you out or even turn my back on you because I was not thinking. Thankfully, your love and forgiveness will be there when I turn back and ask you to come in, forgiving me for my sins and leading me where I need to go. Help keep that doorway open, relying on you for all I do here on earth. I need you every day because you are the risen Lord! I pray in your holy name, Lord Jesus. Amen.