Closing out our journey through the Gospel of John
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!”20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
22 Jesus answered, ”If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ”If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
I like how Jesus waited until they finished eating before ‘reinstating’ Peter.
Peter was welcome at the table to dine with Christ even before declaring his love or responding to any call to feed his sheep
I’m not sure if Peter fully understood what Christ was telling him about the consequences of following him – but it couldn’t have sounded like good news. Sometimes we need to go where we do not want to go.
“Lord, what about him?” – This is our question as we’re following Christ and things are tough. We want to live out our unique divine calling, but we often get lost in comparing and wondering about others.
How about you?
