It is the Lord!

John 21:15 – 25

Many of us are Christians for years and generations. Involved in the life of the church and its activities, live wires, pillars, during the week going listening to many devotional messages on TV, other churches and preachers. Many will say I am born again, I am a committed Christian. But if Jesus came and stood in our midst this morning and looked at us as a church and said, people of God, do you love me? What will our reponse be?

            The source of the Christian faith is found in the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. When Jesus was crucified it meant that everything was lost for his friends who followed him. After the resurrection Jesus appeared to many. Yet there was confusion, there was uncertainty, doubt and fear.

            And so the head of the band decides to go fishing and a few others decided to follow suite. A great miracle had taken place, instead of grasping the amazement of this event they were distracted. It is amidst these distractions that Jesus appears once again. At that moment that we have another affirmation of Peter “it is the Lord”.

            The dialogue between Jesus and Peter that followed is one that changed the life of Peter and restored in him the purpose that God had planned for his life.  

            Jesus asks Peter thrice do you love me? He is actually a little bit cunning. His answer is not a yes. But he says “you know that I love you”.

When Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me?” Jesus is asking Peter if he is willing to love him with that same love that God has for him. One that has an attitude of deep consuming care and concern for others. One which moves beyond barriers. Which moves beyond race, caste or creed, rich and poor. Love which will embrace every individual with a difference.    

            Peter’s answer is only a reminder to Jesus: “Lord you know that I love you”. He had to answer like this because he was only speaking about his affection for Christ. Affection that is found between two human beings. Based on common interests. The interest one person has in some one. Peter was speaking about his friendship. 

So on the third occasion Jesus comes down to the level of commitment of Peter. It is at this point that Peter realizes who he is. It is at this point that Peter realizes that he had very boldly made many affirmations and acknowledgements of who Jesus is. Yet he had denied him. His affirmations were mere words.  

            In this passage Peter acknowledges “it is the Lord”. It is here that Peter realizes the whole event of salvation and God’s love lavished on this earth and what Jesus expects of those who are called to follow him. Jesus was calling Peter and through Peter the community of believers in ages to a concrete action of love. 

The action of love to which Jesus calls Peter is to feed his lambs and to tend them.

Feeding the hungry lamb is the duty of the Christian teacher. The responsibility of promoting the spiritual welfare of the tender young believer is an action which takes a lot of patience and perseverance. This needs more that affection. It has to be done with love.

The sheep, those who believe in Jesus are people with distracting emotions, philosophies, strategies, temperaments, characteristics and judgments. Guarding, guiding, and leading the flock is one which needs a lot of love. So Jesus is calling Peter to guard and guide his people. This care is the spirit directed guidance

It is to such a not so glamorous, maybe unsuccessful, tough and tiring responsibility Jesus is calling Peter. Jesus wants Peter to realize that affection is not enough. Affection is one which will keep the importance of self at the center. Will even deny friendship. Will run away if he sees danger.

But God’s love is other centered, it is sacrificial. It comes from the deep within the heart. It will fearlessly face any danger, even if it is danger to life.

Easter is about a loving re-engagement between God and us, about recognizing our sacred center. The post resurrection appearance of Jesus to the disciples helped them re-engage with their master. It happened to the women disciples. It happened to the other disciples, who were in the Upper Room. It happened to Paul.

And this loving re-engagement continues and includes us. God in Christ through the Holy Spirit is ever wanting to participate intimately and deeply, in our world. God loves through Jesus is a high calling. It is a calling to love – by which you will be known as the disciple of Jesus.

When our lives and actions don’t match the expectations of Jesus, he comes down to our level. When we cannot live upto Christ’s standard he questions our standards. That is the breaking point. The point of realization and change. The point of repentance to which we are all called. 

People of God the one who sits upon the throne the one who was slain is worthy to receive glory and honour and power and praise. And our hope is that we will find ourselves worthy to join the creatures in heaven to fall before him and worship him. But Jesus is telling us this morning, I know you are active in the church, I now you are pillars of the church, I know that you go around everywhere in search of the word, I know that you acknowledge me “it is the Lord” but brother! Sister! Son! Daughter! Friend! Do your standards match mine? Do you love me?