AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
John 21: 1-17
Rev. Dr. Joe D. Coltrane
Some time had passed since Jesus showed his nail scars and side wound to Thomas and the other disciples. You would think that an experience such as that would be an absolute affirmation of the reality that Jesus was alive. But much as faith failed Peter when he attempted to walk to Jesus on the water, so faith once again became weak. For whatever reasons, these disciples of Jesus had returned to their homes in Galilee. Sometimes when things are going badly, it is nice to “go home;” if not in reality, at least in our minds. But, here they were in Galilee. This is the place where several of them began their careers as fishermen. Once again, when thing are going badly, it is good to have something solid to “fall back on.” Peter said, “I am going fishing.” Many believe that when Peter said this, he was not just going for a little relaxation down by the sea. He was considering going back to his old vocation. This whole thing about “Jesus” did not seem to be going anywhere. This decision by Peter had an impact and influence on the others (six others were there, besides Peter). That is significant. What we do influences someone else –for good or for bad. So, the others respond, “We are going with you.”
The story of their night of “bad luck fishing” I do not have to retell. Their outing was a disaster. I guess they “should have been there yesterday for the fish were really biting!” But, just as day was breaking, they see Jesus on the shore, though they did not recognize him. The distance was great and the light was still very dim. But, he calls to them and instructs them to throw their nets on the other side of their boat. And BANGO! They caught more fish than they could handle. Apparently he had been there for quite some while, since the fire he had started was now burning as hot coals. And he had already started preparing breakfast. So he invites them to breakfast. After breakfast, there must have been some silence, which soon gave way to conversation. The content of that conversation is the focus of our thinking today.
Jesus asks Peter, “Do you move me more than these?” The word Jesus used that is translated “love” in our English Bible means unconditional love; love of the highest order; love like the love God has for us; love without reservation.
Peter responds, saying, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” But, Peter uses a word that means a lesser love than Jesus was asking for. Perhaps Peter was thinking back on a few days before when he had so strongly declared his commitment to Jesus, then within a short time denied Jesus three times. He, at least, was honest. He said, “Lord, I love you, but not with the highest kind of love.”
Jesus asks Peter the second time, “Do you love me (with unconditional love, the highest kind of love, and a love without reservation)?”
Peter’s response was the same as his first response, using the same word for love he had earlier: “Yes, I love you, but not with the highest kind of love and not without reservations.”
The third time, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you really love me even with a less than the greatest kind of love?” Here he used the word that Peter had been using. “Peter felt hurt” our text says. Other translations say Peter was “grieved” or “sad” because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” Why was he hurt, grieved or sad? He was sad because he could not say, “Lord, I love you without reservation.” He was sad because Jesus had dropped down to his level of love in order to allow Peter to be honest and to say to Peter, “I will begin with you where you are and hopefully you can grow in your love.” It has been said that Jesus gave Peter three opportunities to affirm his love even as he had three times denied his Lord. That is the way Jesus is; always extending opportunities for us to become more that we presently are. Even though Peter’s love was not perfect or mature and had a lot of growing and developing to do, Jesus said, three times, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” “Feed my sheep.” If we truly seek to love God, he will give us work to do, ministry to perform in his kingdom.
Now, let us think about the word, “these.” What does Jesus mean by “Do you love me more than these?” Is Jesus asking Peter to declare that his love for Jesus is greater than any of the other disciple’s love? While the grammar permits that possibility, it is unlikely that Jesus would place one of the disciples in the position of playing “one-up” on another disciple. After all, self-comparison is never completely accurate, it is not fair and it is not healthy. Jesus on occasion had to referee conflicts between his disciples over who was the greatest. It is highly unlikely that is what Jesus had in mind or was asking.
Most likely, Jesus was asking Peter to consider whether his love for him was greater than his love for his boat and fishing gear. “Is your business or your security more important than your devotion to me?” To love one’s work and to give one’s best to it is of the highest importance, especially in the present economy. But, it seems that Peter might be considering “tanking” the call to follow Jesus for something that seemed a little more solid, economically. That would have been disastrous for Peter. It would also be so for us, to put business, or anything else before our commitment to the Lord.
“These” could involve numerous other possibilities. Family, friends, and pleasure – all can slip in and sap the love that rightly belongs to Jesus. All of these are valuable and are not bad within themselves. It is only when they take priority over our love and devotion to Jesus that they become suspect. The wonderful truth about all this is that when we seek to love Jesus with “all our heart, mind, soul and strength” there is created a capacity to love all “these” in a greater and wholesome way.
The question Jesus asked Peter is a question he asks us all, “Do you love me?” “Do you love me without reservation?” “Do you love me more that these? And, we can fill in the “these.”
Amen