I want to focus on a conversation Jesus had with Simon Peter the third time He appeared to His Disciples after the Resurrection, prior to ascending back to Heaven.
The Lord encountered Peter and some of the other Disciples fishing. A conversation over breakfast ensued and the Lord asked Peter three times, if he loved Him? Peter replied each time, as if to say, ‘of course, Lord, I love you.’ Now, there was a reason for the questioning because God never wastes words. He only speaks truth. There is no deceit nor trickery in His speech. Often, we fail to comprehend what He is saying, but His words are precise, clear, and meaningful.
After the Resurrection, the Disciples must have felt alone and were undoubtedly missing the Savior and Friend they had come to know and love. Everything seemed hazy. They longed for the encouraging words Jesus spoke. The comfort of His reassuring them when things looked impossible. They felt like sheep without a shepherd. Not realizing, THE Shepherd, as He had said in so many ways to them, (“He will never leave us nor forsake us”, Hebrews 13:5), was right beside them!
Now what? They must have asked. They didn’t know what to do. Therefore, they do what most of us do, we regress back to what is familiar. In Peter’s case, his occupation was a fisherman. Yours may not be an occupation, but a location, or relationship. In the Bible, the children of Israel, when faced with hardship, and unknowing, they wanted to go back to their previous lifestyle in Egypt. It was as if they forgot they were in slavery and received harsh treatment there. They were not in the palace. It was what they knew. It is funny how we can rationalize, even bad behaviors or situations, to being normal.
Jesus first asked Peter if he loved Him, (John 21:15) more than these? I believe the (these) Jesus is referring to is fishes – Peter’s occupation. I do not believe Jesus was talking about the other disciples. There are different viewpoints we can get from this story but the only one I am sharing is a revelation the Lord gave me personally about it. The KEY word here: is LOVE! John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son. That whomsoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Many want to focus on Peter’s shortcomings and denials. But I do not want to focus on Peter’s failures but the love of God for him! Not only for Peter but for you and me. Every individual. Jesus repeated the commission He had called him to prior, (Matthew 4:18-19, “and Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The Lord Jesus was reminding Peter of the call to ‘Follow Him.” Confirmation of the Lord’s acceptance, forgiveness, and anointing to do the work of the ministry already.
This story reminds me of my own personal testimony. Prior to my sister’s going home to be with the Lord, she had an indoor cat, whom she was very fond of. She knew of her passing, and was concerned first for her adult children, and then for her cat. The cat, in a different way, was of most concern for her because of the helplessness of it. And the cat had a deformity, and she felt it would be hard for someone else to welcome the cat in their home and be kind to it. She worried so much about it, had no peace. The day came and she passed away, but her daughter had compassion on the cat and welcomed it into her family’s home. The cat has children to play with, and a beautiful home, well taken care of!
The similarities are this: the daughter loves the mother and commits herself to take care of what her mother left behind that was of value and cherished for her. The daughter’s family already had animals on their ranch, indoors and outdoors but decided to add one more for the love of the mother!
Jesus loves us so much! Jesus said to Peter and is saying to us now, “If you love Me and the things I love, take care of my loved ones. Take care of each other. Love each other. The definition of tend to:” to take care of them, attend to their needs, or deal with their problems. Giving necessary support and improve their well-being”. Jesus died so we would have eternal life! He knew we would need help in this man-caused fallen world, so He did not leave us alone, but sent another Comforter, (John 14:16) the Holy Spirit!
And Jesus has commissioned us all to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). This is: Be attentive to; care for, love, make disciples, teach, train them to fight the good fight of faith. His sheep. We are His sheep, and He is the Good Shepherd! (John 10).
Moses & Marguerite Wafula
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