In the Footsteps of Jesus #24

Scripture: John 21:15-19

¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said
to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." ¹⁶He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." ¹⁷He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." ¹⁹(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."

"DO YOU LOVE ME?"

On the shore of the Sea of Galilee is the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy. Outside stands a large statue of Christ reaching out to a kneeling Simon Peter and putting a shepherd’s staff into his hands. As I consider the picture of that statue again I find a special comfort. How often like Peter I have turned away and denied my Lord. How often I have neglected to do what He wanted me to do. Like Peter I know the shame of failure. Yet I also know what it is to find forgiveness in the loving eyes of my Risen Savior. When I fall, He is always there to lift me up and recall me to His service.

Friends, all of us are less than we ought to be. We each have a bit of Peter lurking in our lives. We stumble along the narrow way. Denying and defying. In our hearts the rooster still sadly crows. But there is Good News. Our failures are not final. Jesus still has a word for us. “Do you love Me?”

If you truly love Him, know that He has a ministry for you as well. We all have sheep we can feed. It may be our spouses, our children, our friends or our neighbors. Let them know God loves them and so do you.

Question: Who are the sheep you can feed?

Prayer: Lord, you know that I love You. Help me to love Your sheep. Amen.