Daily Bread 2011 - John 21

Jesus Reinstates Peter
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!”

What Does This Mean?
This is famous scene in the bible where Jesus reinstates Peter. I call it the “First Annual Fish Fry” on the Beach. Earlier the disciples were on the beach and weren’t catching anything, and Jesus calls out and tells them to throw their nets over the side of the boat. Why they hadn’t done this yet, I am not sure. Maybe they had just given it up and chalked it off as a bad day.

Whatever the case, they bring in a huge haul of fish, numbering 153. There are lots of theories surrounding the number 3, including if you cube each of the digits and take the sum of them together it equals 153. With this theory in mind you might call it the “perfect catch”, because 3 is the number of completeness. Since it is the last sign that Jesus shows the disciples it could be the perfect/complete sign, proving He was the Messiah, since it was Post-Resurrection.

But after this scene Jesus takes the time to re-instate Peter, asking him three times if He loves him. Three times Peter says yes, showing his embarrassment a little more each time. One might say this is the perfect restoration because Jesus does it three times.

What Does This Mean for Us?
There is a lot of Peter in all of us I would suspect. We want to do so much for Jesus. We want to be there for him when all is on the line. But often we shrink back in fear. Fear of failure. Fear of looking silly. Fear of not being able to follow through with what we said.

The passage reminds us that we should be careful what we promise, especially when it comes to things we promise to do for God. It is better to make a smaller commitment and follow through that talk brashly and fail to do it.

But the story reminds us that even when we do fall down and deny Jesus, he stands at the beach ready to coach and encourage us back on to the playing field. The admonishment he gave to Peter, “Feed my sheep” is still relevant for us today. Jesus says to Peter, “If you really love me then take care of those lambs I have entrusted to you.” The greatest way we can show our allegiance to Jesus is to nurture someone else’s faith by our own example. Sometimes in the church we worry a lot about church growth, often at the neglect of feeding our sheep. As sheep are fed and nourished they will feed other sheep.

There is no shortcut for the hard work of discipleship. We show our love for God with how we love each other. And the greatest way to love someone is to encourage them to be a follower of Jesus and be an example of that too.

Jesus, you are the faithful good shepherd. Feed us with your life and presence, so that we can be faithful to feed those you have entrusted to us. Amen.