John 21 opens with Peter and several other disciples going fishing. This was not unusual; after all, they were fishermen when Jesus first met them. It is not unusual, but it is a problem.
Remember that they had spent the previous three years in the presence of Jesus. Of all the people on the face of the earth, they knew more about the Son of God than anyone did. However, instead of teaching and sharing what they knew, they had gone back to their old lives. Instead of influencing others, they were fishing.
At this point, Jesus appears and has an important conversation with Peter. He begins by asking, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” (Verse 15).
Notice that Jesus calls him “Simon”. Simon was his old name, his fishing name. It was Jesus who named him “Peter” (which means, “rock”). However, he was not acting like Peter. He was not acting like the man Jesus had trained, so he calls him by his old name, “Simon”. You can be sure that Peter noticed.
Notice too that Jesus asks if Peter loves him “more than these”. What does he mean: “these fish”, “these friends”, “these things that you are comfortable and familiar with”? The text is not clear about that, but it is clear about this: Jesus wants to know how Peter is going to spend his life. Is he going to take the safe route and go back to being a fisherman, or is he going to live with God’s priorities?
Before he can decide, Jesus tells him (three times) to “Feed my sheep” (verses 15, 16, and 17). In other words, Peter had a job to do if he would just stop fishing and get to work.
Eventually, Peter did leave his “comfort zone” and God used him in powerful ways. He preached the first gospel sermon (Acts 2). He traveled and converted countless people. He even wrote two books of the Bible. Peter had no idea how God was going to use him, but he obeyed, let him lead and amazing things happened.
That leads me to wonder: Am I missing something that God is calling me to do simply because it looks too difficult or scary?
Am I more concerned about the easy way than the right way?
Am I willing to live my life by God’s priorities, or am I only doing what seems right to me?
You may want to spend some time reflecting on those questions. As Peter shows us, the answers will determine a lot.
Remember that they had spent the previous three years in the presence of Jesus. Of all the people on the face of the earth, they knew more about the Son of God than anyone did. However, instead of teaching and sharing what they knew, they had gone back to their old lives. Instead of influencing others, they were fishing.
At this point, Jesus appears and has an important conversation with Peter. He begins by asking, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” (Verse 15).
Notice that Jesus calls him “Simon”. Simon was his old name, his fishing name. It was Jesus who named him “Peter” (which means, “rock”). However, he was not acting like Peter. He was not acting like the man Jesus had trained, so he calls him by his old name, “Simon”. You can be sure that Peter noticed.
Notice too that Jesus asks if Peter loves him “more than these”. What does he mean: “these fish”, “these friends”, “these things that you are comfortable and familiar with”? The text is not clear about that, but it is clear about this: Jesus wants to know how Peter is going to spend his life. Is he going to take the safe route and go back to being a fisherman, or is he going to live with God’s priorities?
Before he can decide, Jesus tells him (three times) to “Feed my sheep” (verses 15, 16, and 17). In other words, Peter had a job to do if he would just stop fishing and get to work.
Eventually, Peter did leave his “comfort zone” and God used him in powerful ways. He preached the first gospel sermon (Acts 2). He traveled and converted countless people. He even wrote two books of the Bible. Peter had no idea how God was going to use him, but he obeyed, let him lead and amazing things happened.
That leads me to wonder: Am I missing something that God is calling me to do simply because it looks too difficult or scary?
Am I more concerned about the easy way than the right way?
Am I willing to live my life by God’s priorities, or am I only doing what seems right to me?
You may want to spend some time reflecting on those questions. As Peter shows us, the answers will determine a lot.
Comments