Peter was a human.
He's not a metaphorical character.
He was passionate.
He was impulsive; in thought, word and action.
I bet the other disciples either thought or said out loud sometimes, "Wait 'til Peter hears
about this," and then laughed about what they thought Peter might do.
I love him so much.
So did Jesus.
He gave room for Peter to be Peter.
He also challenged that impulsive character over and over.
Called it out.
Refined it.
Redirected it.
And even on occasion, praised it.
(I think he does the same for us...when we are listening to him.)
John 21 is one of my favorite chapters in the New Testament.
There's a lot of real stuff going on there.
It's interesting that John concludes his gospel with a story line that is so closely
woven around the "Jesus and Peter" dialogue.
John lets us know that he's there, but the real focus is "Jesus and Peter."
Peter says, "Let's go fishing"
Peter jumps out of the boat when John notices Jesus on the shoreline.
Peter pulls the net full of fish ashore so Jesus can make breakfast.
Peter has an intense conversation with Jesus after breakfast.
Peter is told about his martyrdom.
Peter tries to deflect the conversation to John.
It's a lot to take in.
I want to touch on the one general thought that is reaching out to me today.
Three times..."Do you love me?"
It feels like Peter is fairly annoyed with the process.
And when I've read this before I think I have coupled Jesus responses to communicate
something like, "well...if you really do love me, then feed, tend or take care of others."
As though doing these things would prove Peter's love for him.
However, like I mentioned earlier, Peter was always ready to act.
When reading this passage most recently I wondered if that was really what Jesus
was getting to.
I'm thinking that it may be actually almost the opposite.
I think today that what I hear Jesus saying is this, "LOVE ME!"
Full stop...and then...
It is the only way that you will ever be able to do any of the things you'll need to do in
your life. It will all flow out of your love for me. If you don't LOVE ME...If you can't
live in me and that love, and I live in you, bringing you strength and power
through my love, you'll never be able to feed sheep or completely follow me
because honestly...it's humanly impossible.
It's his love for us, and in us, and our love for him that will sustain us.
It will keep us focused and able in whatever is before us.
Draw us out.
Draw others in.
At beginning and end.
There's no other way.
