After the Fire: Questions from the Shore of Galilee

I invite you to take a moment to read our lectionary passage this week from the gospel of John 21:1-19 (read the whole chapter if you have time). This final chapter brings us to a difficult encounter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee for Peter. After a night of fruitless fishing, the disciples share breakfast cooked by the risen Jesus over a charcoal fire. And after they had eaten Jesus turned to Peter with a searching question: "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He asks this not once, but three times. This isn't a question to shame him further after Peter's three denials, but to restore him, and I think it highlights a crucial truth that we all should remember, that failure need not be final; that God’s grace is on offer to each one of us.

But if we might consider ourselves followers of Christ, this encounter between Peter and Jesus might prompt us to ask ourselves, ‘Do we truly love Jesus above all else?’ Is our love for Him the number one priority in our lives, motivating everything we do, or do other things, our careers, our possessions, our relationships, our identity, do all of these things take precedence?

For us as a church we might also ask, ‘how does our love for Jesus translate into care for His people?’ Following Peter's affirmations of love, Jesus commissions him to "Feed my lambs" and "Tend my sheep". This is a call to shepherd and spiritually nourish God's flock, remembering that they belong to Christ alone.

And finally we might ask, ‘are we ready to follow Jesus, even when it involves suffering or difficulty?’ Jesus concludes by predicting Peter's death, indicating his life and death would glorify God. Service for Christ often involves a cross to bear, despite the possibility of bearing the cross ourselves, will we still follow Him?

These questions, rooted in Jesus' interaction with Peter after his failure and restoration, prompts us to consider the foundation of our faith and the nature of our calling. We’ll explore these ideas this morning.

May God bless you all.

Josh