Todays Reading: John 21: 15-25 Read the Scripture here: https://biblegateway/passage/?search=John+21%3A+15-25&version=CEB Rarely are two piercing questions ever brought together so closely in any conversation. Some will see this passage as the point rightly where Peter is reconciled to Jesus, forgiven three times for the three times that he had denied knowing Jesus prior to the crucifixion. Following of course is the final discourse with the comment that John’s fate (the one who wrote the book and saw himself as the beloved) would differ from Peter’s. I see the two questions that will serve to guide Peter for the rest of his life until in Christian tradition he gave up his life. “Do you love me more than these?” “… what difference does that make to you? You follow me!” Following the resurrection and the reconciliation, these two questions serve literally to guide Peter in discipleship going forward. That should be a clue to us of how we should treat them. Let’s tackle them one at a time… Do you love me more than these…? We know Simon retreated, reverted to what was familiar from yesterday. Was it simply a default mechanism or a conscious choice? Did Jesus raise his hand and sweep it over fish, boats, setting, career and imply in the question that all of these were in play? Was Jesus requiring Peter to abandon everything with this question or love Jesus more? In that sense, we need to separate question from call. It is a question of first allegiance. The other possibility of course is that Jesus was talking about the other disciples? Friends, companions, relatives, co-workers … was Jesus implying something that is centrally true in discipleship that discipleship of Jesus is foremost a pursuit that others cannot do for us? The question that comes up between sibling rivals, ‘What about that person over there?’ highlights our tendency and desire to want to be measured by the example of another rather than live up to a standard that is principle driven. Peter’s question comes about when he learns that John’s fate might be different than Peter’s. Jesus’ responsive question is one for disciples of all times to hold on to (and for parents to pull out of their pockets on rainy family days where sibling rivalries never seem to have an end to them!) “What difference does that make to you? You must follow…”, reminds us that discipleship of Jesus is always about our own response of faith. It is not enough for my church, my spouse, my children to pick up the flag and live sacrificially in a discipleship response, I must do it! In the end, this must be seen for what it is, the best possible news!!! We come to this reality and it is both demanding and freeing for us. We are responsible for ourselves. Live enough days and you will see the grace in this, this is calling enough. Living in pursuit of a path that Jesus lays down will require everything we have to give. As I have said before, it is simple but never easy. It requires faithful living and supreme trust. Trust that when the rest of the world is going haywire, our living for Jesus matters. Trust that this living is significant, never lost or wasted, sufficient a pursuit and ambition that is worthy of a whole life’s response. And … when all this is given, more is not required. That is freeing for us, especially those of us with co-dependent tendencies, those who feel responsible for everyone else around us. You nor I can make anyone else respond in ways of faith, we can’t convert anyone, change them as we might want, nor take up responsibility for their relationship with Jesus. We might want to, but we can’t. In the end however, this becomes good news. While we may want others to see what we see, experience the joy or call that we experience, etc. it is a gift and enough to be responsible for how we live in response to Jesus loving us. Two questions, enough for one pursuit. Do we love Jesus more than ______ (you fill in the answer here of course), and are we willing to follow regardless of what happens to others? Peace in your own pursuit on a Friday in Christ who loves you, John
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 11:41:42 +0000
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