Your response?
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?
Continuing our exploration of the Gospel according to John
1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way:2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymust), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.3 ”I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, ”Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.6 He said, ”Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, ”Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.12 Jesus said to them, ”Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Peter went back to fish. After following Christ for three years and being taught to be a ‘fisher of men’, Peter went back to fish. To what he knew. And he brought his friends back along with him.
But even has Peter returned to the familiar he came up short. Ever been in this spot?
“Friends, haven’t you any fish?” – Jesus’ sense of humor once again – almost taunting them.
It was when they saw the great number of fish that they recognized it was Christ. Seeing the miraculous reminded them of the God they once walked with.
While the disciples were out waiting for fish, it seems as if Jesus already had some on the fire.
Beaten, ridiculed, mocked, abandoned, and left on a cross to die. Next scene – now we see him cooking up some fish. Who kind of person or God is this?
Continuing our journey through the gospel of John
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name
Two huge truths in this passage.
First, there is so much more to Christ than what is recorded in the Scriptures.
The gospel of John also ends with this statement
21:25 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.
Even in Christ’s short physical life on earth the world cannot contain all that Christ accomplished (though I wonder how that would apply in a digital age)
How much more would there be to the God of all eternity that is not recorded in the Scriptures alone?
Secondly, without taking one bit of the Scriptures importance away, John says that what is written in this book is that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that you might have life in his name.
The Gospel of John is a story of the life of Christ so that you might believe and in turn find unending abundant life. * note this doesn’t refer to life some time later only, but life right here right now.
Continuing our journey through the book of John
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ”Peace be with you!”20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, ”Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”22 And with that he breathed on them and said, ”Receive the Holy Spirit.23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymust), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ”Peace be with you!”27 Then he said to Thomas, ”Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, ”Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Of all the words the resurrected Christ would have for his followers – it’s peace that he declares upon them, twice. If we could imagine for a moment peace being the centre of Christ’s message – how does that shape you and the way you live your life?
It’s interesting that the Holy Spirit was breathed on them. Very much like the Genesis account of humanity itself. If the Holy Spirit is to be ‘received’ though – could it be denied?
v23 is also troubling as it elevates the importance of our own capacity to forgive. Could we literally be damning others by our lack of forgiveness towards them?
Thomas couldn’t believe until Christ showed him his scars. Maybe we need to begin showing our scars too.
