The last Gospel written was penned by a man who was the disciple Jesus loved. John was most likely the youngest apostle, maybe in his teens when Jesus called him. Our Savior seemed to have taken a special interest in this young man who would outlive all the apostles and be the last our King would call home to be with Him.
John tells of the arrest, betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. In my favorite scene in all the Gospel accounts, John tells us in the last chapter of his book that seven of the apostles decided to go fishing, including Peter and him. In a scene reminiscent of a time three years ago when Jesus called Peter to follow Him, Jesus appears to the fishermen.
“Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” (John 21:4-5 ESV).
When Jesus first called Peter, he had been fishing all night with no luck. Jesus asked him to let down his net. Peter, a seasoned fisherman, knew it was a futile request, but out of respect for this Rabbi, Peter obeyed. Then, three years ago, Peter was humbled by this man when his nets were so full of fish that he fell to his knees and asked Jesus to depart from him because he was a sinful man.
Now, Jesus had resurrected and reenacted the same situation that led to the call of Simon Peter. No one knew the man standing on the shore, asking for fish, was Jesus.
“He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.” (John 21:6 ESV).
Immediately, John knows who the man is and tells Peter:
“That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.” (John 21:7 ESV).
Peter doesn’t wait for the boat to get back to shore. He jumps in and swims to Jesus. Nothing can keep him from his Savior. The last few days have been hard on Peter. He goes from being absolutely positive he would stand by Jesus and always defend Him to having betrayed Him while the Jews and Romans arrested Jesus and crucified Him on the cross.
Peter was on the ultimate emotional rollercoaster. When he betrayed Jesus, we are told that as the rooster crowed, Jesus and his eyes locked,
“And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62 ESV).
Have you been there? Have you found yourself betraying Jesus and heard the rooster crow in your own head as you locked eyes with Jesus over your betrayal? I have. I have felt the pain, and disappointment, knowing I failed my Lord. This kind of betrayal is insidious because it can cripple our relationship with Jesus. Not the betrayal itself because Jesus is quick to forgive, but it is we who struggle to forgive ourselves.
This is what Peter must have been living through. He wanted nothing more than to be with His Savior and King, but Jesus had some work to do to help this disciple work through his guilt of betrayal so Peter could put it behind him and rest in the grace and forgiveness that Jesus offers.
Isn’t this what we all want when we fall? Don’t we want absolution and a clean slate with Jesus? But the problem is, we know what we have done to Him and how we have let Him down. Perhaps again. And again. And again…
Sometimes we read the scene on the beach and focus on the wrong thing. Jesus asked Peter three times, “Simon Peter, do you love me more than these?”
You can feel the ache in Peter’s heart as he answers, “Yes, Lord, You know I love you.”
Jesus responds, “Feed my sheep.”
Three betrayals. Three questions of love.
While I do believe Jesus was harkening back to Peter’s betrayals, I think I might have utterly missed the point of what Jesus was trying to do on the beach with Peter. I had thought that Jesus was asking these questions as a reminder to Peter about his betrayal.
But is that what Jesus was really doing? Do we think that Peter really needed reminding of his betrayal the night of Jesus’ arrest? Do we need someone to remind us of the times we betray Jesus?
Unlikely.
If anything, we need someone to help us through the pain and guilt we refuse to release. I believe this is precisely what Jesus was doing on the beach with Peter when He asked three times, “Simeon, do you love me?”
“When 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.” (John 21:15 ESV).
We have one word for love. We use this word for the feeling we have toward a high school crush, for the spouse we join, for the gift we receive, or for the dinner we just ate. The context tells us what we mean. But the Greek language has a different word for each kind of love. It is much more precise.
Jesus asks Peter, “Do you agape me?” Do you love me so much that you would sacrifice all for me?
Ouch. When Peter responds, he cannot use the word agape. He had been so sure the night of Jesus’ arrest that he agape Jesus that he had drawn his sword and used it to defend his Lord. Yet when Jesus needed Him most, Peter had turned his back on Jesus.
So he answers Jesus, “You know that I phileo you.” I have a close-knit, brotherly affection for you.
If we’re honest, we have been here, too, haven’t we? We have fallen in our walk with Jesus with our betrayal, and it’s hard to look Jesus in the eyes and admit that we love Him more than anything, that we love Him so much that we will sacrifice all to Him. That we agape Him. How can we say that when we just proved that we don’t?
Then the cold hand of guilt wraps around our heart, and at best, we can tell Jesus that we phileo Him. This was Peter’s response. But Jesus wasn’t shaming Peter for his betrayal. In compassion and grace, Jesus was helping Peter through his guilt and showing him what forgiveness was all about.
Jesus once told Peter to forgive a brother 490 times when someone sins against him. Jesus was not holding a grudge three times before giving this broken man the forgiveness he desperately needed at this moment.
And Jesus is quick to help us receive the grace and forgiveness we need when we betray Him and are broken with godly sorrow. He fixes us. He heals us. He helps us through it. And this is the love He was showing Peter as they ate breakfast together on the beach.
“He 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.” (John 21:16 ESV).
“Peter, do you agape me?”
He’s still not there. Peter still cannot bring himself to stand where he had so recently fallen.
“Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo you.”
Finally, the third time, Jesus meets Peter where he is. And this is what He does for us when we are struggling with the guilt of betrayal we have committed against Him.
“He 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.” (John 21:17 ESV).
This time, Jesus doesn’t ask Peter if he agape him. He asks, “Simon, do you even phileo me?”
From here, Jesus begins the process of healing Peter by helping him learn that the past is the past. Our past does not dictate the future when it comes to Jesus. The Lord just died on the cross for this very thing. He nailed Peter’s denials to the cross with Him.
“You know all things. You know that I phileo you.”
By meeting Peter where he was, Jesus showed the grace His friend needed. He offered the forgiveness that Peter desperately needed from Jesus. Jesus walked with him, and He healed Peter’s broken spirit.
Jesus does not beat us over the head when we betray Him, either. He patiently works with us through the process of healing. He helps us see that we can once again have that agape love for Him, but He will take the phileo love as we heal from the pain our betrayal has caused.
This is the matchless love of Jesus. This is the overwhelming grace He offers. This is the commitment He makes to be with us during our healing process. And He will do it 70 times 7 for us without ever reminding us what we already know.
Jesus will heal us too, just like He healed Peter during a breakfast of fish on a beach 2000 years ago.
I am reading the Gospel of John in my daily Bible reading. There is so much in this book that we could devote the rest of our lives to what is written here and do well.
As Jesus prepares to go to the cross, He has His last discourse with the disciples. As He talks to them about abiding in Him, He tells them how they will glorify the Father:
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 ESV).
I love this. As we abide in Jesus, our fruits will flow from the strength provided by the vine, being the branches pruned by the Father in the true Vine, Jesus.
When we truly abide in Jesus, we will manifest that relationship through the fruits we bear. We will not bear fruit in order to abide in Jesus but because we abide in Jesus.
When we look at our lives, the fruit we bear is a sign of the relationship we have with Jesus. If we cannot see the fruit we bear, it is a sign that we are not abiding in Jesus.
Notice, Jesus never equates quantity or quality to the fruit we bear. We do that. He does say we will bear “much” fruit, but He never says how much “much” is. We are the ones who draw lines defining what is approved and what is falling short.
Each of us will be on a journey with Jesus in our walk with Him, where we will be at different places as God works to conform us into the image of His Son.
Let us all pray for one another that we abide in the Vine, which will enable us to bear the fruit Jesus says we will bear in Him, thus glorifying His Father.
I just finished reading the three epistles of John in my daily Bible reading. If you want to see what God’s power can do for you, read these three letters.
When John was a young teen, Jesus gave his brother, James, and him the nickname “Sons of Thunder.” They seemed to be rambunctious and quick-tempered.
They were the ones who incited anger with the apostles when they asked to be seated on Jesus’ right and left hand in the kingdom.
They were the ones who wanted to call down fire from heaven to burn the Samaritans who rejected Jesus.
Yet in these three epistles, written perhaps 75 to 80 years later, we see John teaching us to love one another. We see an aged pastor who gently looks after the flock’s welfare.
We see one who teaches us to humble ourselves in the presence of our King and uplift Him in our hearts.
In 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John, we see the fruit of God’s transforming power in this man once referred to by Jesus as a Son of Thunder. This is the same power at work in you and me as we submit to the Spirit’s transforming power within us today.
Do you know what amazes me? When we’re in heaven with Jesus, He will be able to have intimate conversations with millions of us at the same time.
I suppose there may never be a line to wait in before we can see Him or an appointment we’ll have to schedule.
I can scarcely wrap my head around His divine nature. Indeed, there is none like Him.
I just finished Revelation in my daily Bible reading. It is a book that shows absolute victory in Jesus while everything around us seems lost.
It speaks of eternal peace when everything around us seems chaotic.
It speaks of divine judgment when everything around us seems full of injustice.
It speaks of strength when everything around us seems full of weakness.
It speaks to God’s sovereignty when the evil powers of the unseen realm are forced into subjection by the almighty God of creation.
For those who align with God, walking in Him leads us home with Him and rest from our work and the fight forced upon us by the spiritual powers who stand against God.
If we refuse to look to the powers of the evil one who stands against God and we stay faithful, our God will lead us safely home.
Revelation tells the story of our final victory in Jesus and the final judgment against those who stand against God.
Revelation shows the fulfillment of our King’s words,
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV).
Persevere, brothers and sisters. Victory is near.
I have started another round of reading through the Bible as I jump back into Genesis. In chapters 3 and 4, we read about sin entering the world and how God responded to man about their sins.
While we spend a lot of important time understanding the theological problem of sin and how God foreshadows His remedy for man’s sin, we also see God’s character and disposition toward sin in how He interacts with man who sins.
In Genesis 3, we see the fall of man. Satan tempts Eve, who gives into her temptation and willfully violates God’s command not to eat from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. She eats and encourages her husband to join in the sin with her.
After eating, they both had knowledge they were naked and they fashioned clothing from plants to cover themselves. When they heard the sound of God walking in the garden, their innocence was gone, and fear overcame them, so they hid from God.
“Where are you?” God asked.
“We were afraid and hid ourselves because we were naked.”
“Who told you that you were naked? Did you sin?”
Adam blames Eve and Eve blames Satan. After dealing with Satan, a being who knew better and willingly helped to corrupt God’s innocent children, God turns to Eve and addresses the seriousness of sin:
“Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:13 ESV).
“What is this that you have done?”
Do we understand the fret that must have been in God’s voice? This wasn’t like our six-year-old, who broke a vase and hid the pieces. What Adam and Eve did was an existential threat to mankind.
The paradise where God could dwell with man was corrupted. Man’s ability to never taste death was gone. Banishment from the presence of God would be man’s curse until a remedy could be found.
When God asked Eve, “What is this that you have done?” it was because He knew the tremendous consequences that sin would have upon man. And though they now had the knowledge of good and evil, they were blissfully ignorant of the consequences of their actions until God forced them to lose the life He had given them.
Later, when they had children, Cain gets angry because God accepted his brother’s offering but not his.
“The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7 ESV).
Now that man was experiencing the consequences of living in a fallen world, God is ever-mindful to help his image-bearers navigate the dangers they would face because God still understood more than they just how insidious sin is. That’s why God reaches out to Cain to help him work through his anger issues.
But Cain doesn’t listen to God and fixates on his anger. He invites Able into the field, and many of the ancient manuscripts suggest that it is with premeditation that he murders his brother.
Once again, God has to address man’s sin after He had just tried to help them work through it. So He goes to Cain:
“Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9 ESV).
His parents tried to hide their sins from God, and Cain follows in their footsteps. And just as He dealt with Eve, God has a similar reaction to Cain’s sin:
“And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10 ESV).
“What have you done?”
Again, I believe this is the sheer fret that God experiences when He again has to watch the children He loves experience the consequences of their willful sin.
God never intended man to experience the consequences and curses we must deal with in a fallen world. And for thousands of years, He refused to give up on us. He finally showed the greatest love possible by coming to earth, living among His creation as one of us, and paying the ultimate price for our sins.
I wonder if today, God also responds to our sins with, “What have you done?” Not out of anger or exasperation but out of fret, knowing He fixed all wrongs, conquered death for us, and brought about a union between Him and us again.
Perhaps if we can see God more as a loving Father who is pained over the consequences of our sins and less as an angry, jilted monarch, it will help us come back to Him out of our godly sorrow and not just out of the fear that Adam and Eve demonstrated when they sinned.
An interesting fact I just noticed as I continue my daily Bible reading in Genesis. After the story of Babel, we read about the genealogy of Shem, Abraham’s forefather:
“These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood.” (Genesis 11:10 ESV).
Now, if Genesis 6:3 indicates that God started the countdown to the flood at 120 years, Shem was born 22 years after God told Abraham He was going to send the flood.
“Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” (Genesis 6:3 ESV).
This is speculation, but these things are interesting to me. I love the joy of finding ah-ha moments when I study, even if they are minor discoveries.