I imagine that Peter felt terrible when he betrayed Jesus 3 times just as Jesus predicted he would do. No wonder it struck a chord in the depths of Peter’s conscience when Jesus made a point of asking him 3 times: Peter, do you love me? 

Peter knew that he couldn’t hide anything from the all knowing mind of Christ. 

“He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.” John 21:17

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Jesus had forgiven Peter for his denial. He restored him to a place of trust and he gave him a task/duty to fulfill. Jesus will do the same for us. He knows our weaknesses and failures even before we commit then. He also knows our heart’s desires. When we want to love, honor and serve Him, He will pick us up, dust us off, and He will help us to serve Him. He wants to use us and He is perfectly capable of using us in His ministry no matter what our shortcomings may be. 

 He asks us to be devoted to His task and purposes. How human it is for us to compare what our life journey looks like to others. “When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"”  John‬ ‭21:21-22‬ ‭ Jesus reminded Peter that he shouldn’t concern himself with anybody else but only what Jesus asked of him personally. We all have different circumstances, different tasks,different missions and gifts. 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭

Jesus asks the same of each of us that He asked of Peter: Do you love me? 

For each of us He wants an honest answer and He will restore us when we fail and seek His forgiveness. For each of us, He has a purpose that He will help us fulfill. No two lives are meant to be the same. Each life, no matter how broken can be beautifully transformed and bring glory to God. 

 Tuesday, October 13, 2020

 John 21

There is so much between chapter 1 and 21, and I have been blessed with beginning and ending the gospel of John.   And here we are in chapter 21 answering Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?”

Most people probably think John was done in chapter 20 – “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.”  John 20:30-31

It seems like it would be the end, but John had a little more to say – kind of like there is some unfinished business and it is really meant for all of us.  There certainly was some unfinished business for me!

I am going to use some names you are familiar with here at Women in the Word.  There’s Sue, Lisa Moore, Becky, Mari, Lyn, Sandra, and me.  Seven of us.  We are all familiar with studying scripture.  It is a vocation for us, and we know how to do it.  Kind of like these seven men.  They have just been through the Gethsemane encounter with soldiers; Jesus praying; the trial; the crucifixion; the resurrection; and a couple visits with Jesus.  Can you imagine the building up in their hearts? 

So, what is it that they do – they do something familiar – they go fishing.  These men have just endured three years of teachings, miracles, the terrible crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus.  But now what are they supposed to do?  They were sort of frozen and unable to know what the next step is.  It is a great reminder actually for all of us, especially when we become overwhelmed, we should do that one thing we are familiar with, even if it is menial, you’ve got to do one thing.

And that is what Peter does.  He is in touch with himself enough to do something familiar – he goes fishing with his friends – because it is what they knew how to do.  And… they were completely unsuccessful.

Morning dawns and they see a person on the shore, and they hear a voice (v. 4).  Do you ever wonder why they do not recognize Jesus?

But here is the main reason John writes this chapter, Peter has this “thing”.  Peter denied Jesus three times, just as Jesus said he would.  Jesus takes Peter aside and he says, “Do you love me more than these?”

Scripture does not unpack “these”, so what are “these” referring to?  Go ahead and fill in the blank. 

These              =          husband

                        =          children

                        =          home

                        =          job

                        =          ministry

                        =          friends

                        =          vacation

Go ahead – you fill it in – what are “these” for you?

The hardest part is that Jesus asks Peter three times “Do you love me more than these?”

Jesus said, “Tend my sheep.  Feed my sheep.  In other words, “now do something!”

How do you do something with you are frozen/stuck in a serious issue?  You just do not know what to do.  You do something familiar – in my case – you reach out to your sister’s in Christ and ask them to pray.  And somehow you discover the answer to “Do you love me more than these?” is NO.  There is stuff in my life, there are people in my life – or maybe just a person in my life – whom I have put on the throne.

And just like Jesus, we go home to our quiet and secret place and we hear God speak to us; “This isn’t just a matter of being aligned to my desires, this is sin.  If you love anything more than me, let’s call it what it is.”  I confessed that.

The message that Jesus delivered to Peter is a message for each one of us.  Jesus is the only One who deserves the throne!  And we know why He deserves the throne is to protect these people and things we are tempted to put on the throne.

Here is something I learned - if I put anybody or anything else on the throne, I have set them up for failure.  Back in John 1, I confessed that I have been in a season of being buried in my expectations.  You see, all the things I put on the throne will crush me, they will disappoint me, they will fail me.  To protect them, I take them off the throne.

Lord Jesus, forgive us, forgive me, for putting a value on things that have no business being an idol.  Only you deserve that position on the throne.

Thank you that you would remind us who You are.  Don’t ever let us come casually to this throne.  This is holy ground because You are a Holy God.

Blessings,

Lisa