John 21 and the Challenge of Jesus (Part 3 of 3)
Today we finish our brief study of John 21 and the curious passage of Jesus cooking breakfast for His disciples and His difficult challenge to Peter.
Let's focus on verse 12-17:
"Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said. A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep." -John 12-17
While there are many components to this text that we could ponder and consider today - I want to zoom in on the repetition given by Jesus. It starts with a question, and then a command follows it. Hearing "Do you love me?" would be challenging, especially in light of the drama that went down during Jesus' arrest. John does a great job of illuminating the tension that existed during the arrest of Jesus in John 18. Here is how the narrative draws out the apparent internal struggle Peter was going through.
Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave. But Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?" - John 18:10–11
So Jesus gets betrayed by Judas, and moments before Roman soldiers and Temple Guards arrest him - Peter is willing to fight to the death. Then in just a few verses, we read:
Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, "You're not one of that man's disciples, are you?" "No," he said, "I am not." - John 18:15–17
That's a dramatic change from one extreme to the other. Indicative of a strong internal struggle. When our behavior is inconsistent, when we are torn and vacillating between two opposing realities, that rift can be life-altering. It may give us some insight into why Peter, while fishing with the some other disciples, is willing to jump out of the boat and rush to shore to be with Jesus. Peter appears to be a man of great passion and conviction, and He also needs to hear a word from Jesus.
Now let's return to the scene between Jesus and Peter right after a homemade breakfast by Jesus (wouldn't that be something to wake up to in the morning!). The compassion of Jesus towards Peter is astounding, and at this point in the text, notice what is missing. There is no condemnation of Peter's past actions, there is no stern rebuke, there is no criticism for failure to remain faithful. But there is a hard question followed by a command.
It's this interchange that, for me, is a kind of puzzle. There are elements to the question and command that are obvious. We can easily connect the three denials by Peter with the three affirmative questions asked, and we can see the outpouring of God's grace and forgiveness despite Peter's denial (very reassuring for all of us). The part that gets difficult for me as I consider the implications of Jesus' command - Peter's love for Jesus will be demonstrated in how he helps others grow in their faith.
The language Jesus uses is a word often translated as 'feed.' That same word is used in the third repetition as well. The second repetition is a different word that means to 'shepherd' often translated as 'tend' or 'take care of.'
Here is a simple breakdown:
Do you love me - feed others
Do you love me - take care of others
Do you love me - feed others
The emphasis becomes strikingly clear and carries the weight of what Jesus has said earlier in His life and ministry - that love for God and love for neighbor are the most critical realities God desires in our lives. You can't separate them as we often try to do.
While we would like to believe that our relationship with God is intact and flourishing while we spend little of our time, energy, and resources helping others to grow closer to Jesus - that is tension more akin to the struggle of Peter before Jesus' resurrection than it is Jesus clear teaching. It is right there that many of us find ourselves. Claiming love for God while criticizing the people around us. On the one hand, expressing our strong desire for the things of God while almost simultaneously cutting down the co-workers, relatives, and friends in our lives.
Lately, I have been sitting with Jesus in my prayers and times of meditation, letting His question to Peter become His question to me - "Do you love me?" and then letting His command to feed and take care of others saturate my mind and heart. Another way to ask that question is - how does my love for God manifest in how I love and help others?
It has been a difficult exercise over the past few months, but one that has ultimately become a springboard for surrender and submission to the will of God and for the benefit of others.
As we close this 3 part examination of John 21 and head into the weekend - may the words of Jesus to Peter challenge and inspire us to see the connection between our love for God and our love for others. May God, in His compassion, allow us to see opportunities to love others.
See you Sunday!
-Bradley