A Dialogue about Devotion and a Conversation About Commitment
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Joan, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
John 21:9-19 KJV
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We are continuing with the scriptures that heighten those who follow Jesus with their continued experiences of his presence. (1) We began with the assurance that life continues beyond what threatens to destroy existence. The testimonies of Mary and the other disciples discovered that death is not omnipotent but is limited in its capacity to diminish the presence of the life that inspires and energizes them. (2) We then eavesdropped on two persons who were bantering back and forth in conversation about their unmet expectations and were made aware with clarity of understanding how to interpret the reality that seemingly contradicts what they had hoped. (3) Then there was Thomas going from doubting to believing by making himself available to receive what he needed to believe, by being persistent about settling doubts and taking responsibility for making a testimony of faith. (4) Those who believed and followed Jesus were still making sense of the horrific occurrences surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus as they pondered the implications of his resurrection. They went back to what they used to do before meeting Jesus in the place where they met him for the first time; where he told them he would make them fishers of people. They went to the place where Jesus began his ministry; where he was accepted and became popular. Furthermore, they were told to go to Galilee after the resurrection where they would see him. When they were not successful in what they were doing, they heard a voice with directions about how to discover what they wanted to achieve.
Consider how you have been specifically applying the implications of the resurrection for your life since Easter.
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9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. John 21:9-11
Today, on this fifth Sunday of Easter, we continue with the last chapter of the gospel of John with the last scene in that passage. The disciples discovered that Jesus continues to make himself known to them by meeting them wherever they are at any time. We too discover that the Lord meets us where we are in whatever circumstances or situations we are facing. The disciples are trying to figure out what they are going to do. Then, they discover the presence of the Lord with them; providing instructions, insight, and inspiration.
Jesus continues to make himself known to us by meeting us where we are at all times. They were trying to figure out what to do and they experienced the Lord’s presence. They were trying to recapture the purpose that had seemingly evaporated and they experienced Jesus again. When the presence of the Lord is realized, their exercise in futility now becomes an exercise in faith and obedience. Notice that before they recognized Jesus, they did what Jesus said. The Lord becomes known as we follow the directions the Lord gives. It was in obeying what they were told to do, that they were made aware that the Lord was present to them, while remedying their situation.
Consider what it means that the Lord is discovered in following the directives the Lord gives to remedy your failed efforts.
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12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. John 21:12-14
The Lord made provisions in advance for their need, symbolizing the provisions of the Lord are what we need to meet the needs of our lives and the world. The Lord provided an opportunity for them to share from what they have been privileged to acquire. Then, a dialogue ensues about devotion and ends with a conversation about commitment. I remind you of what Bruce Larson suggests in his book entitled, “What God Wants To Know: Finding Your Answers in God’s Vital Questions.” He suggested that we can find what we need to remedy what is wrong in our lives and the world in our responses to the questions the Lord asks. He selects a few random questions on which to focus from both the Old and New Testaments. In this passage, we have a question Jesus asks Peter. Bear in mind this is the only place where Jesus asks this question. It is a question each follower of Jesus must answer.
Jesus asked a pointed question. “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” This is the basis for our relationship with the Lord. Remember the first and greatest commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27 adds, “And with all your strength.”
Imagine the One who loves us is the One who asks us “Do you love me?” This is one of those questions which anyone who has come to know the Lord must answer. “Do you love the Lord?” Of all the questions that the Lord asks his followers, there is no escaping this one. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” and “Who do you say I am?” That was a question of awareness about the Lord’s identity. The Lord also asked when some people turned back from following him, “Will you also go away?” This was a question of loyalty and allegiance. The Lord now asks “Do you love me more than these?” This is a question of devotion. This is the question that gets at the heart of being in relationship. Are you a distance disciple or a devoted devotee? Are you earnestly attached or marginally associated? Are you profoundly dedicated or peripherally participating?
Consider how you respond to the question, “Do you love the Lord more than your acquaintances, attachments, affiliations, and associations?”
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15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17
You must remember that Jesus informed Peter that he would deny him. “Before the rooster crows this day you will deny me three times.” (Luke 22:34) However, Peter refused to admit that the Lord knew him better than he knew himself. When the unnamed disciple who was known by the high priest petitioned the damsel that kept the gate to permit Peter to enter, she said, “Art you one of this man’s disciples?” Peter said, “No I am not,” the first time.
With the disappearance of the sun beyond the western horizon, the light left taking the warmth it provided. The evening shadows engulfed the world in a blanket of darkness bringing with them the chill of night. The cold that filled the air pushed and nudged Peter to seek warmth by the fire in the courtyard. As the crackling flames of the fire pointed their fingers toward a nocturnal sky, darkened by the absence of light, the illumination emanating from their glow exposed the shadowed faces of those seeking warmth. Someone else said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?” Peter said, “No I am not,” a second time.
Finally, one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off in the Garden of Gethsemane asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” (John 18:26) Peter for the third time said, “No,” according to Matthew and Mark using language that was unbecoming as he adamantly denied knowing the Lord.
We as believers want to be close enough to see what is happening but far enough away not to be exposed to danger. Imagine people of faith promoting unjust practices, unfair policies, supporting a judiciary that is biased and based in denial of truth and prejudice that condones violence.
We deny the Lord every time our faith accepts atrocities that are abhorrent in attitude and action to maintaining and sustaining life. We deny the Lord when the practice of our faith demeans human dignity. We deny the Lord when we disqualify human beings as equally made in God’s image and fashioned in God’s likeness with the way we ignore or mistreat them. So often our privilege eclipses expressing our love for the Lord because we want to avoid being hurt.
Believers deny the Lord all too often. It has been said that there is a wide gap between the Lord’s church and the church’s Lord. The only way to diminish that gap and shrink it is for believers to measure what they do by the standard of the spirit of Jesus. We warm ourselves in our comfortability and respectability, justifying our incivility and insensitivity to prejudice with policies, practices, and principles that promote toxic expressions of faith rather than authentic expressions of the One we claim to follow.
Consider that maybe the Lord continually asks us if we love the Lord because our devotion to the Lord is not matched by our activity and actions.
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15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17
Jesus asked Peter this question three times. It has been suggested that it was because Peter denied the Lord three times that the Lord asked him three times if he loved him. However, there is another reason the Lord kept asking Peter.
Another way to understand why the Lord keeps asking is because of the responses Peter makes. Three times Peter is queried by Jesus about his devotion and three times the Lord connected responsibility to loving him. Peter’s responses used a variation of verbs for love in the Greek.
In Peter’s first response, he says nothing about the superiority of his affection for the Lord over that of his colleagues. Peter acknowledges that the Lord knows his innermost heart. Peter also changes the word that Jesus uses for love to be more consistent with his capacity. The Greeks have more than one word to describe love. Agape was unconditional love. Phileo was friendly affection. Eros was physical attraction. Jesus was using the term ‘agape’ and Peter was using the term’ phileo’. Another way to say it would be that the Lord asked Peter, am I worthy of your unconditional love? Peter responds saying, “I love you such as I am able.”
Imagine the inadequacy of our responses when the Lord asks us to love the Lord unconditionally. Rather than respond with the same love that the Lord loves us, we in all honesty acknowledge that I love you Lord, such as I am able. You love me through faults, failures with all of my foibles. You accept us as we are and love us into becoming what we have the possibility of being. Like Peter we must admit, we may not love the Lord like the Lord loves us, but we can start where we are and love the Lord as we can. I’m going to continue to let your love for me grow me to begin loving you like you love me. I grow in confidence, faith, and trust in your love for me, I will begin to love you like you love me.
Consider what it means that our response to the Lord is we love you such as we are able; which questions the depth of our devotion and the capacity of commitment; because the Lord wants us to love the Lord like the Lord loves us, unconditionally.
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18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. John 21:18-19
Notice that each time Peter was asked if he loves him, the Lord attached an activity to loving him. Loving the Lord is not abstract, emotional, intellectual, or theoretical. The Lord commits to Peter certain responsibility. Jesus attaches activity, action, and attitude to loving the Lord. Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited with the quip, “What you do speaks so loudly, I cannot hear what you say.”
What activity is attached to your loving the Lord? Well, that is what each believer must ask himself/herself. Jesus did say, “People will know that you are my disciples if you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12).
I am convinced that the Lord wanted Peter to know that he would be tested again, and again and he wanted this dialogue about devotion and conversation about commitment to be indelibly etched in his imagination, so that when the time came that he was tested again, he would remember that you do what you do because of the Lord’s love for you. You fulfill your responsibility as a believer because of the Lord’s love for you and your love for the Lord. Ponder how you have experienced the love of the love in your life and the actions and activities that were attached. The Lord requests a response as to whether or not you love the Lord.
We like Peter respond saying; “I love you such as I can.” The community of faith is constantly answering its love for the Lord with, “Such as I can.” The circumstances, predicaments, and situations of life continually challenge us to answer whether we love the Lord like the Lord loves us (unconditionally). We show time and time again that we love the Lord with our lips but not with the attachment of the actions and activity that the Lord expects. We just love the Lord, “such as we can.”
Consider what it means that the Lord wants you to have a depth of devotion and a capacity of commitment that will sustain you to fulfill your responsibility through being tested.
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The Lord says, “Do you love me more than your acquaintances, your affiliations, your attachments?” Like Peter, we don’t answer with our lips. We put it back on the Lord, “You know I love you.” In common vernacular, we say, “The Lord knows my heart.” The Lord asks again and we wish the question would go away. “I answered that already.” Then the Lord asks again and we get to be a bit irritated and realize that the Lord wants us to love him like he loves us, unconditionally, and we keep responding, “I love you such as I can.”
The Lord loved the little children and took them in his arms and blessed them. He did not ignore and isolate them.
Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart.
The Lord showed compassion to a vulnerable person caught in an indiscretion and shamed the religious mob from hurling stones at her by having them reflect on their indiscretions.
Lord I want to be more loving in my heart.
The Lord did not permit himself to be deceived, defiled, or disillusioned by disinformation and divisiveness.
Lord I want to be more holy in my heart.
The Lord embraced the poor, the broken-hearted, the captives, the bruised, the weak, the sick with loving care and concern.
Lord I want to be more like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.
Lord thank you for loving us unconditionally, as we answer about loving you with a “Such as we are able,” response. May we forever strive to love you like you love us and that this dialogue about devotion inspires us to build the capacity of our commitment against whatever would try to dissuade us from being a faithful follower of yours.
Consider what it means for you to become a follower of the Lord as you strive to match the Lord’s devotion, commitment and faithfulness to you.
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