God’s grace shows up in little moments that are often practically unnoticeable. For example, read John 21.
Jesus had died, risen again, appeared to the disciples, and gave them a commission to be sent out into the world.
No wonder Peter promptly declared, “I am going fishing” (v 3)!
I would have done the same.That’s a lot to take in!
While Peter was fishing and thinking things over (or maybe avoiding thinking things over), Jesus appeared again—only Peter didn’t recognize Him. At least, not right away.
It turned out the Lord had some sobering news.
First, the Lord gave Peter his life commission to tend and feed His sheep (vv 15-17). Obviously, that’s a big job. An overwhelming one. Peter would spearhead the Jesus movement across the Roman world at a time when it would face terrible opposition. Can you imagine the responsibility? The lives? The souls? Ezekiel spoke about the responsibility of blood on your hands. Surely, Peter felt that responsibility, too.
Second, the Lord predicted Peter’s painful martyrdom (vv 18-19). Not his success. Not his triumph. Not his easy and comfortable middle-class life. His death.
That’s a one-two punch of heavy news.
So where’s the inconspicuous grace in this episode? I think it comes earlier, in v 12. Notice that before putting all this on Peter’s shoulders, Jesus gave him an invitation: “Come and eat breakfast.”
Jesus fed him breakfast!
Better to get bad news on a full stomach!
That tells you something about grace. Grace can be meeting the risen Christ in all that awe-inspiring splendor. But grace can also be the simple act of eating breakfast on a beach with friends during a time of personal trial.
Grace doesn’t have to be grandiose. It can be those little acts of hospitality, love, and encouragement that are easy to overlook but that make all the difference to the rest of your day—or life.
Alvin
When we don’t live up to our own expectations God’s unconditional love meets us where we’re at.
John 21:15-18
Therefore when they ate breakfast, Jesus, says to Simon Peter “Simon son of Jonah, do you love (agapao) Me more than these?”
He says to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love (phileo) You.
He says to him “Feed My Lambs.”
He says to him again a second time, “Simon son of Jonah, do you love (agapao) Me?”
He says to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love (phileo) You.”
He says to him shepherd My sheep.
He says to him the third time, “Simon son of Jonah, do you love (phileo) Me?
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love (phileo) Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things You know that I love (phileo) You.
Jesus says to him feed My sheep.
I know there are other thoughts on this, but I believe the wording fits the situation perfectly, Jesus meets Peter where he is. He learnt an important lesson, he couldn’t trust himself only Jesus, because Jesus is God, and God is only good.
Kelley Easley
Alvin, since I can’t PM you…could you help me out by clarifying your thoughts on the distinctive uses of agapao and phileo here? I know it’s key to understanding the point Jesus was making to Peter, but I may have had too many carbs this morning! I want to grasp this! Thanks. 🙂
Alvin
We find in this same chapter how that even ONE word can make all the difference, the little word “if.”
John 21:21-23
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
So, the earlier play on words between Jesus and Peter are significant. The opposite of God’s Love is to deny you ever knew Him. Peter had to learn a lesson that his confidence was in the wrong place. And that even though he said he would never deny Jesus he did.
One of the most important revelations we can have concerning ourself is of our own sinfulness, and what we think we would NEVER do we are more than capable of doing. That is why Jesus could say to Peter….get behind Me Satan…our flesh is as evil as Satan himself.
Alvin
Hi Kelly, this is my thinking that Peter really blew it when he argued with Jesus concerning the fact that he would never deny Jesus. But, Jesus told him before the rooster would go cock-a-doodle-doo three times Peter would deny Him. This was a great lesson for Peter because he had to much faith himself. Just as we all do when we think we could never lose the faith. Well when Jesus meets up with Peter later, Jesus reaffirms Peter for service, but when asking Peter if he unconditionally loved Him, that is God’s Love. Peter said he basically had fellowship love for Jesus, that is he liked Him. This to me shows Peter learnt the lesson he needed to learn, at the very heart of it….God is only good.
The last time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, He used the same word that Peter had been using all along. That to me is Jesus was meeting Peter where he was at.
Kelley Easley
Oooh…so Peter learned that only God can love perfectly! Thank you, Alvin!
Tim Amoroso
James 1:2-3
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Trials are not fun. But, this is what God has called us to do in our Christian lives. He has called us to produce in our lifestyle the appropriate verification that we are indeed royal people, chosen by God, destined to rule with Christ in the life to come. So, we shouldn’t get depressed to face trials, everyday. Nor should be get angry at the bad news. Rather, we should rejoice, because we are coming closer to heeding to the call of God. God bless.