Tuesday, May 27, 2025
When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him. He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. John 21:15-19
Finding True Fullness and Joy
The disciples had been through so much – Jesus telling them he was leaving them, Judas’ betrayal, Jesus trials and beatings, Peter’s denials, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the visits by the resurrected Jesus. So much had happened and now, not knowing what they needed to do next, Peter and some of the other disciples went fishing, back to what they knew was safe.
A man standing on the shore called out to them to drop their nets on the other side of the boat. They were frustrated with the results they were getting and decided they had nothing to lose by following the stranger’s advice. They cast their nets on the other side of the boat and they caught so many fish that they could barely drag the net into the boat. Immediately they knew who the stranger on the beach was. It was Jesus. John shouted, “It is the Lord!” Jesus had been seen twice since His resurrection and this makes the third time. Jesus’ response to that was “Come and eat breakfast.” Breakfast on the beach with Jesus. What an amazing invitation! Peter thought about how he had denied Jesus as he stepped out of the boat. How could he face Jesus? Would Jesus bring it up?
Jesus did bring it up, but not the way Peter expected. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Some think Jesus was giving Peter the opportunity to proclaim three times out loud his love for Jesus, just as he had denied him three times. He was also subtly reminding Peter of his sin while giving him an important job to carry on, assuring Peter of His love for him and His trust in him to lead others. In fact, Jesus entrusted Peter with something that was very important to Him – feeding His sheep. What Jesus meant by that was that He was entrusting Peter with shepherding His flock - Christians. He was working to get Peter’s focus back where it needed to be – on him.
Jesus had the chance to condemn Peter, but He didn’t. Instead, He welcomed him with open arms, cooked him a meal, sat and visited with him, taught him something new and challenged him. Most of all, He loved him, and Peter knew that he was loved and forgiven. He knew that Jesus loved him even when he denied Him.
Instead of condemning, he told Peter that he had a job for him, but he needed to make sure that Peter would hold steady in his faith. He called Peter to follow him – again – just like he called him the very first time. He called him to surrender everything and follow him forever.
Jesus is asking Peter to love Him more than the life Peter has known. Jesus is also asking us to love Him more than anything else. He equipped Peter by sending His Holy Spirit to fill and empower Peter for his calling and he will always equip us for the work he has for us. We have the gift of His Holy Spirit inside us and his Word to continually guide us.
When we fail, the Lord gives us a new name and new identity just as he did for Peter. He restores us with new purpose, and he asks us to follow him. He asks us to surrender everything and follow him forever. Only when we do this will we truly find fullness and joy. Only when we surrender our failures to him – past and present – will he be able to use us. When we feel the Lord convicting us of sin, pointing out our failings or uncovering our weaknesses, it's never because he wants to shame us. He wants to forgive us. He wants to heal us. He wants to set us free so we can be all he designed and called us to be.
When we lose ourselves for Jesus’ sake, we will find everything. We have to die to all our idols, to all the things we have put our hope in. We have to die to all our own dreams and desires. We die to everything we love more than him.
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? Mark 8:34-37
True fullness and joy for Christians is found when we completely surrender to him in obedience, giving up our own selfish desires and trusting him completely. We can let go of the ideals we hang onto and surrender to his plan, knowing that he will always do what is the very best for us. We can receive this by surrender and live in it by obeying.
