Christians don’t just read the Bible. We enter into a life-long relationship with it. We read it over the course of a lifetime, knowing we will never exhaust all there is to know or glean from God’s Word. Often, when we return to passages we’ve read before, we come to them having changed since the last time we spent time with those verses. We go through things that shift how we see the world—vocational upheaval, marriage, divorce, parenthood, miscarriage, life-altering diagnoses, unexpected windfalls of good-fortune, and the like.
As we experience more of the joys and heartaches associated with living in this world, we look at Scripture through different eyes. Sometimes a theological idea we thought we had wrapped up in a tidy bow suddenly becomes shot through with questions we never thought to ask when we were younger and had not suffered much.
This is one of the reasons I am so drawn to the story of Peter’s reinstatement in John 21:1–19. Here we find Simon Peter, who was one of Jesus’s closest friends, sitting with the fact that he had denied Jesus in His greatest hour of need. He had done so exactly as Jesus predicted he would, even though he swore this sort of failure wasn’t something he was capable of (Mark 14:31).
I love the story because it’s about someone who appeared to have as good of a relationship with Jesus as anyone could have, and yet he himself was weak. When Jesus appeared on the shore cooking breakfast for His friends, and caused their empty nets to be filled with more fish than they could handle, Peter recognized Jesus, because this is the same way Jesus first called Peter—with a miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1–11).
When Peter jumped out of the boat and cast his drenched and dripping self at the feet of Jesus, he had no relational ground to stand on. He’d betrayed his best friend, his Lord. And yet, Jesus asked Peter the most simple and searching question imaginable: “Do you love me?” And Peter, paradox that he is, answered truthfully. He did love Jesus. He did. When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” He was hearkening back to when He first called Peter and told him He would make him a fisher of men. Peter’s failure did not disqualify him from Jesus’s love, or from Jesus’s call on his life.
I love this passage because it offers so much hope to people who go through seasons of struggle and failure and wonder if they have lost the love of God. Peter could do nothing but receive from Jesus. On that shore, he had nothing to offer. And yet, he longed to be near his Lord and friend. We know this because earlier, before Jesus was crucified, He taught that people would ultimately need to be nourished by His flesh and blood. It was a teaching many found too difficult to embrace, and they left. But when Jesus asked His disciples if they, too, would leave, it was Peter who said, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
Peter’s story reminds us that the thing we must cling to most, and fear above all else, is the Word of Christ (Psalm 119:161). Though our circumstances change, and even we change, He does not (Hebrews 13:8). Where else can we go?
Russ Ramsey and his wife and four children make their home in Nashville, Tennessee, where he is the pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church Cool Springs. Russ is the author of the Retelling the Story series and Struck: One Christian’s Reflections on Encountering Death. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
God’s love for us does not change!! I love this reassurance! He is faithful. He remains faithful. Even when I’m not.
Churchmouse, last year when my mother-in-law died, I got to write the letter from the children that was shared in hard copy at the viewing and aloud at the funeral. It is amazing to me, (I know you understand this,) how powerfully the Holy Spirit guided to just the right words to offer a humble remembrance of a life lived for Him. It was a beautiful, God honoring service. I’m sorry for you and your husband’s loss of his mom (heaven’s gain), but thankful for the beautiful, God honoring time you all had. I know from experience the healing and peace in that.
So, there is even more beauty in this passage when you know the various Greek words used for love. A pastor explained it in a sermon that the first 2 times Jesus asks Peter he says, “Do you agape me?” (Which means unconditional, sacrificial love). And both times Peter responds, “Yes, of course I phileo you.” (Which means brotherly, affectionate love). So, then the third time, Jesus meets him where he is at and asks him, “Peter, do you phileo me?” And Peter is able to say, “Lord, you know I do.” Even when we just can’t truly agape love God and others, no matter how hard we try, God’s love for us is always agape. But he also understands where we are and comes to us and meets us there. How reassuring is that?! Just thought I’d share with you all in the hope of encouraging your hearts this morning. It certainly makes a difference for me :)
Thank you so much for sharing this. I really needed to hear this today. I am struggling with agape love at the moment. I am thankful that Jesus knows and will come and meet me here. ❤️
That’s really encouraging! Thank you for sharing that.
For some reason, I expected this Psalm to end in a tidy bow, with the psalmist firmly rooted in the Word with no worries. While he does talk about rejoicing, loving, praising, hoping, singing and having peace, he also cries out for understanding, pleas for a rescue, asks for help, longs for salvation, and wanders like a lost sheep. Such as it has been throughout the entire Psalm.
And then it hit me. Of course! Our emotions ebb and flow with highs and lows, yet His Word remains constant. He is the steady rock never changing. I cannot rely on my feelings, but I can stand on the Truth. In suffering, in joy, in lack, and in abundance, He is my strength and salvation.
Amen- Just as it should be. God is our source and our salvation and we MUST remember that. No one and nothing takes His place
Please pray for our school Trinity Christian Academy as we go back in these uncertain times. We are making plans and trying to wrap our heads around what our new normal looks like. Please pray for our kids, teachers and staff that we will remain well. I love these people and I hate to watch any of them so sick. We place our trust in God and watch what He will do.
Abundant peace, Amen❤️
Peter’s story and the way Jesus restores him. How Awesome it is. He does know Peter loves him. Jesus wants Peter to know he is forgiven and still by grace able to do what God created him to do, Feed my sheep. Our sin separates us from God, but Jesus the Lamb of God restores us through his sacrifice on the cross. Like Peter we have all denied in one way or another who Jesus is. But the Truth sets us free. Praying for Lebanon and you Mom to Many. Praying for your family Churchmouse. i am sorry for your loss, but God is holding you all and all those your family has faithfully shared Jesus with. What a legacy and what joy your mother in law has given in her life. Hugs Sisters our God is able, faithful, and mighty in love.
Phew, this reading made me cry. Thank you. It’s a struggle and we’re together with God