One simple question: ‘Do you love me?’
“Do you love me?” Jesus asks Peter in the post-resurrection moment of John 21. After the bewilderment of the crucifixion and resurrection, when they were scared for their very lives, the disciples went back to what they thought they knew.
What did “fishing for people” ever do for them anyway? By now, they were afraid for their lives, and the safer way of life they had abandoned called them home.
All night though, they fished and fished and caught nothing. The voice from the shore told them to cast their nets on the other side. Try something different! They knew his voice, so despite their reticence, one more attempt to fill their nets with the elusive fish was made.
The nets were so full, that they needed help to pull them into the boat.
It is a wonderful story, about abundance, even in the most difficult time. Their dreams had evaporated, their perspective on what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, changing completely. Peter, eager and impulsive after his famous denial, has this interesting exchange with Jesus.
“Peter, do you love me?” he asks just enough times for us to recall his denial, and for Peter to affirm his relationship once more, understanding, perhaps for the first time, that love means service.
What an important lesson! Are we not reminded each time we read those words, that feeding Jesus lambs as Peter is instructed, is what we are continuously trying to do? Nurturing those close to the heart of Jesus, our call, these thousands of years later.
How quickly Peter answers the questions that will redirect his life.
Followers of Jesus all face that predicament at some point. Affirming our discipleship means serving others, sacrificing some of our own freedom and desire, and coming to terms with the fact that many of our acts of service will be without glory and recognition.
Good thing that is not the motivation behind our service! Joe public would prefer the chance to condemn the church and its leaders than to give credit for the hard work of discipleship.
Disciples show up in hard places, extending care to those in grief, offering food to those who hunger, sharing hope in times of despair and believe it or not, sometimes keeping the institutional church afloat. None of those acts of service have anything to do with safety or security or personal financial independence.
The question stares back at each of us. “Do you love me?”
Like Peter, we have to figure out how, if the answer is yes, we will demonstrate that love. If the story of the one who lived to show another way means anything, we have no choice but to continue to teach and serve, to extend care and concern, to offer hospitality and hope to the ones in his heart. Sometimes it means trusting in another way.
A faith for today finds many ways to move us from the fishing boats to the dusty paths of Galilee, washing feet and healing broken hearts. Our actions may not at first glance look just like Peter’s, but the call is extended to this generation to figure out. May we find the risen Christ working alongside us.