Jesus Commissions Peter

Scripture: John 21:15-25(NIV)

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.” 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.” 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. 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.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 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?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 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?” This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 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.

Devotional

They were still on the shore of the sea, the morning after the fishermen spent the night catching nothing before Jesus provided a huge catch. Here, Jesus changes the metaphor for Peter. At his calling, Jesus asked Peter to become a fisher for people. Now He asks the professional fisherman to become a shepherd of the sheep.

God loves to push us out of our comfort zone into a new place where we are challenged do new things for which we have little experience or training. Fishing for people was about being an evangelist. Shepherding people was about becoming the leader of the newly emerging Christian Church. In both instances, Jesus said, “Follow me.”

This passage gives us a glimpse into the past and future of both Peter and John. First, Simon Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times. Now, Jesus asked him to verbalize his love three times even to the point of offending him. Jesus told Peter to be the leader of the Christian movement, making sure the lambs and sheep were cared for. Finally, Jesus reminded Peter that following Him would lead to suffering and a death at the hands of others.

So Peter looked at his old fishing partner John and said, “Lord, what about him?”
John was the self-proclaimed “disciple whom Jesus loved.” If Jesus trusted Peter most as a leader, John was more like a best friend to Jesus. Peter’s question smacks of rivalry and jealousy. But Jesus wouldn’t play the game, saying, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” In other words, mind your own beeswax, Pete.

As for John, he didn’t live until Christ’s return, but he did live another 70 years, outliving all the disciples. In this Gospel, authored by him, he concluded by writing, “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.” And at the end of the previous chapter, John stated, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 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.”

Prayer: Jesus, I believe in you. I believe you are the Messiah, the Christ. I believe you are the very Son of God. I believe you came to earth, fully God and fully man. I believe you lived a perfect life and became a perfect sacrifice on the cross. I believe you rose from the dead and gave us eternal life if we believe in you. Forgive me, Lord. I repent of my sin and accept your offer of forgiveness and salvation. Give me your Holy Spirit. Guide me to a Godly lifestyle and give me a Holy calling. I will follow you wherever you send. My answer will always be, yes. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Poem

Look

Don't look at me right now
I am very ashamed
I've done something evil
I've sullied my name
I thought I was braver
I thought I was strong
I thought I was someone
I see I was wrong
Don't look at me right now
Your eyes see too deep
There's guilt in me hiding
Self-condemning has heaped

You look at me right now
I'm questioning you
Your eyes keep a-darting
But I will pursue
This friendship, this kinship
This intimate love
This call you've been given
By Father above
You look at me right now
Let me make something clear
Wipe the tears from you eyes
My forgiveness is here

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