John 21:10-19
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Everyone of us have decisons to make on a daily basis but only a few of them have to do with the course our life will take. Jesus will ask each of us the same question He asked Peter. He says to us, "Do you love Me more than these?" When times are going well, when things are smooth and seem orderly, we respond, "Yes, Lord, I certainly love You more than these." But sometimes a very bad situation comes along, or something we think is really good, and we must decide if we indeed love the Lord more than anything and anyone. You read this right. You may have to lose something or give up something you think is just right for you for the sake of following Jesus.
You might be asking the question, "To what is Jesus referring when He says 'these?'" For His question to us, the word 'these' refers to any thought, any deed, any person, any set of circumstances, anything at all. It is possible for us to fall into the trap of misplaced allegiance. Misplaced allegiance means that you will side with a person or thing or idea before you will side with what is right, what is holy, what is of God.
Loyalty is a noble trait, but if that loyalty makes you choose anyone or anything other than the Lord God, then it is time to abandon that loyalty. Sometimes that is painful for us, but we have a responsibility to choose: what or whom do we love more? One thing is certain you can't have your cake and eat it too when it comes to choosing right or wrong. What or whom do we put first in our life? As situations present themselves to us, as we develop friendships or personal habits, our loyalties and allegiances may actually become a barrier to Christian service. The Christian life often requires difficult choices, which may include the will and ways of the Lord over what is comfortable and easy for us.
For example, if you were asked if God's will should be done in your life, if Jesus Christ has first place in your heart, habit would compel you to say, "Of course." But what if tomorrow, it became apparent that a choice had to be made between God's will and, let's say, your job or your friend or your own life? Standing for what is right, for what God wants, is not always pleasant or convenient, but God has a purpose. It is in those moments that we discover if our devotion to the Lord and His will is genuine or merely lip service.
Peter had abandoned Jesus when Jesus needed him most. Later, he denied that he even knew who Jesus was. The reason? Peter chose personal comfort, an attitude of fear, and self above the Man to whom he'd pledged his undying allegiance not long before. Peter had to be confronted, and Jesus asked him point-blank, saying in essence, "Peter, it's time to choose. It's now or never. Do you love Me, truly love Me? Is that love deep enough to abandon everything and everyone that will try to come between you and Me? It's your choice to make. What will you choose?"
Jesus asks that of us who read this today...
See you next blog,
Ted
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