Day 2
The passage I read was
John 21:15-22
You can find that
passage here:
My summary of the
passage is this:
Jesus asks Peter to compare his love for Him with that of
the disciples. He says, “do you love me
more than these?” To which Peter says
yes and that He does love Jesus. Jesus
asks him two more times if he loves Him and both times Peter responds again
that He does in fact love Jesus. Jesus
also instructed Peter 3 fold to take care of His sheep/lambs. Jesus then goes on to speak with Peter about
his future almost as if in a riddle indicating the kind of death that Peter
would have. Then Peter notices John is
following them and he asks Jesus about John.
Jesus advises Peter that it’s not Peter’s business.
These are my words.
Please read the passage for yourself and write it as it has meaning to
you.
As I reflect:
I see this passage as being about two major areas. One is about comparison to others. The other area is about comparison to self
(in a way). Peter, if you recall is the
one who denied Jesus thrice before the cock crowed. 3 times before Jesus’ death, Peter was asked
if he knew Jesus and all three times he denied the Lamb of God. This passage in chapter 21 however takes
place after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
And so as Jesus here asks him 3 times if he loved Him because I believe
He wanted to offer Peter a chance at restoration and to encourage him in the
road that would follow. 3 times now
Peter had to affirm His love to Jesus (2 different types of love also. The Greek used implied he was asked of
brotherly love as well as of agape).
Each time Peter responded, Jesus followed his response with a command to
feed or take care of His sheep or lambs.
This shows the Lord giving Peter reassurance and encouraged
direction. Peter eventually gives his
all to the ministry for Jesus and is killed by crucifixion. So Peter went from life of selfishness to life
of selfless servitude for Christ. This is the restoration Jesus offers us
all. I was offered this restoration from
being a fake that did drugs and all sorts of evils and yet claimed Christ as my
Savior. I have been restored and
encouraged. I have been given
opportunity to serve Christ with my life.
I am reminded as Peter looked back at John, that we needn’t compare
ourselves, our deeds or failures with other Christians or the unsaved. We instead are to follow after Christ
wholeheartedly and in the pursuit of the Kingdom, may we reach and bring with
us as many as we can as well as edify and encourage those already headed to the
same place.
My response to the
Lord:
Lord, I can’t lie to you, nor do I have desire to. You know my sins. You know my heart. You know that judgment is a area of sin in my
life that requires and receives a great amount of attention and constant effort
to control. Lord continue to mold me in
this and help me daily not to judge others saved or unsaved any differently
than by the mercy and grace you have shown me.
Thank you for restoration Lord.
You deserve all praise and worship for simply being you, but may I add
that I will give you glory always for the restorative work you have done and
continue to do in and through me. I have
heard your call to follow you and I daily answer. Lord help me to answer more boldly and do
more as the day of your son’s return draws near. May I stay humble, not ashamed. May I be effective by your might, not my
weakness. May I be lifted up on your
wings, not my pride. In Jesus name.
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