March 10th, 2023
by Jon Welch
by Jon Welch
Do I really love him?
After rising from the dead, Jesus appears to His disciples on several occasions. Paul lists the appearance in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. He appeared to many people individually– to His leaders on several occasions and even to a group of disciples numbering more than 500. On one of these appearances, Jesus repeats a miracle that had changed Peter’s life early in the ministry. This is the last breakfast with Jesus. See the instructions Jesus gives about being a leader!
Read: John 21:1-25
As you read this story, how do you think the disciples felt? What failures had they recently experienced?
What is Jesus modeling for us about leadership?
What does Jesus expect from His leaders?
Jesus has already met with His leaders two times in Jerusalem behind closed doors (John 21:14) because they were scared to death of the religious leaders and the Roman guard, who were looking to wipe out the Jesus movement. Jesus tells them to head back down to Galilee and wait for Him (Matt. 28:10). They head north to Peter’s house on the Sea of Galilee. Peter gets tired of waiting and tries his luck at his old profession– fishing. He invites those who are waiting to come along. They fished all night and caught nothing. Sound familiar, like in Luke 5? Jesus prepares a breakfast of fish and bread for them on the shore as day breaks, and when they are close enough, He calls out to them, “Catch anything?” They answer, “No!” (probably in frustration). Jesus then tells them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (John 21:6). They do, and 153 fish are hauled in! John looks at Peter and says, “there is only one person who can make that happen!! no way?!”. With that, Peter grabs his tunic, dives into the water, and swims for the shore to embrace Jesus, while the others drag the net full of fish to shore. They all gather and enjoy an early morning breakfast, Jesus’ last breakfast with them. When they finish, they get up, and Jesus leads them down the beach.
As they walk, Jesus asks Peter a series of questions that, at first glance, all look the same. Peter’s answers all sound the same. They are not, though. You have to keep in mind that it has been weeks now since Jesus has risen from the dead. He has come to them two times in a group. Jesus gently comes to Peter, the head leader, and says to him, “Simon [indicating his life before he met Jesus] son of John, do you truly love [agape] me more than these?” Jesus uses the Greek word for love, “agape,” which was the most potent form of love– a sold out, unconditional love, the type of love that took Jesus to the cross. Peter tells Jesus, “Yes, lord, you know I love [phileo] you.” Notice Simon Peter changes the word to “phileo,” the Greek word for brotherly love, a very human love between close friends. Jesus responds by saying, “Feed my lambs.” Who were Jesus’ lambs? And who were the “these” that Jesus refers to in the initial question? The “these” must have been the fish they had just caught lying dead in the sand. I think Jesus asked Peter, “Am I more important to you than these fish and all they represent– your business, vocation, reputation? If so, get to work, telling the lost lambs of the world about me. Tend to them, if you love me, you will obey me”.
As they walk further, Jesus gently asks again, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love [agape] me?”. Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo] you.” Jesus responds, “take care of my sheep.” I think Jesus was talking to Peter, “I need you to step up to the plate and get to work shepherding the followers and disciples in the movement. But you are not doing it right now- if you love me, you will get to my work.”
Jesus then asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love [phileo] me?”. Peter, frustrated, responds, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love [phileo] you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus said that the lambs and the sheep of the world need you to lead them. Get busy! Get your eyes off of yourself and on Jesus! I think Jesus was telling Simon, and us, a crucial thing.
In our flesh, we can do nothing. But Jesus can do mighty things in and through us as long as we take our eyes off of ourselves and walk by faith. Jesus can provide for our needs. These guys fished all night and caught nothing- but at Jesus’ word, they pulled in 153 fish in seconds! Jesus is big, and we are small. If you say you love [phileo] Jesus, then the test is obedience.
Wow- what a lesson for Peter and us. This is the last we hear of Peter returning to fishing. Instead, Jesus tells Peter to lead the disciples (probably some 500) to a mountain where He will appear to them next.
How about you? Do you “phileo” or “agape” Jesus? If you love Him, you will obey Him! I am unsure why Peter was so reluctant to use the word “agape” in his relationship with Jesus. Maybe because he had already said he would die for Him and then denied He even knew Jesus- three times! Perhaps he was second-guessing his ability in the flesh to love Jesus. Spend some time today talking and thinking about the proof of love- obedience. Is it in your life? Are you shepherding Jesus’ lambs and sheep?
Read: John 21:1-25
As you read this story, how do you think the disciples felt? What failures had they recently experienced?
What is Jesus modeling for us about leadership?
What does Jesus expect from His leaders?
Jesus has already met with His leaders two times in Jerusalem behind closed doors (John 21:14) because they were scared to death of the religious leaders and the Roman guard, who were looking to wipe out the Jesus movement. Jesus tells them to head back down to Galilee and wait for Him (Matt. 28:10). They head north to Peter’s house on the Sea of Galilee. Peter gets tired of waiting and tries his luck at his old profession– fishing. He invites those who are waiting to come along. They fished all night and caught nothing. Sound familiar, like in Luke 5? Jesus prepares a breakfast of fish and bread for them on the shore as day breaks, and when they are close enough, He calls out to them, “Catch anything?” They answer, “No!” (probably in frustration). Jesus then tells them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some” (John 21:6). They do, and 153 fish are hauled in! John looks at Peter and says, “there is only one person who can make that happen!! no way?!”. With that, Peter grabs his tunic, dives into the water, and swims for the shore to embrace Jesus, while the others drag the net full of fish to shore. They all gather and enjoy an early morning breakfast, Jesus’ last breakfast with them. When they finish, they get up, and Jesus leads them down the beach.
As they walk, Jesus asks Peter a series of questions that, at first glance, all look the same. Peter’s answers all sound the same. They are not, though. You have to keep in mind that it has been weeks now since Jesus has risen from the dead. He has come to them two times in a group. Jesus gently comes to Peter, the head leader, and says to him, “Simon [indicating his life before he met Jesus] son of John, do you truly love [agape] me more than these?” Jesus uses the Greek word for love, “agape,” which was the most potent form of love– a sold out, unconditional love, the type of love that took Jesus to the cross. Peter tells Jesus, “Yes, lord, you know I love [phileo] you.” Notice Simon Peter changes the word to “phileo,” the Greek word for brotherly love, a very human love between close friends. Jesus responds by saying, “Feed my lambs.” Who were Jesus’ lambs? And who were the “these” that Jesus refers to in the initial question? The “these” must have been the fish they had just caught lying dead in the sand. I think Jesus asked Peter, “Am I more important to you than these fish and all they represent– your business, vocation, reputation? If so, get to work, telling the lost lambs of the world about me. Tend to them, if you love me, you will obey me”.
As they walk further, Jesus gently asks again, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love [agape] me?”. Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo] you.” Jesus responds, “take care of my sheep.” I think Jesus was talking to Peter, “I need you to step up to the plate and get to work shepherding the followers and disciples in the movement. But you are not doing it right now- if you love me, you will get to my work.”
Jesus then asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love [phileo] me?”. Peter, frustrated, responds, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love [phileo] you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus said that the lambs and the sheep of the world need you to lead them. Get busy! Get your eyes off of yourself and on Jesus! I think Jesus was telling Simon, and us, a crucial thing.
In our flesh, we can do nothing. But Jesus can do mighty things in and through us as long as we take our eyes off of ourselves and walk by faith. Jesus can provide for our needs. These guys fished all night and caught nothing- but at Jesus’ word, they pulled in 153 fish in seconds! Jesus is big, and we are small. If you say you love [phileo] Jesus, then the test is obedience.
Wow- what a lesson for Peter and us. This is the last we hear of Peter returning to fishing. Instead, Jesus tells Peter to lead the disciples (probably some 500) to a mountain where He will appear to them next.
How about you? Do you “phileo” or “agape” Jesus? If you love Him, you will obey Him! I am unsure why Peter was so reluctant to use the word “agape” in his relationship with Jesus. Maybe because he had already said he would die for Him and then denied He even knew Jesus- three times! Perhaps he was second-guessing his ability in the flesh to love Jesus. Spend some time today talking and thinking about the proof of love- obedience. Is it in your life? Are you shepherding Jesus’ lambs and sheep?
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2 Comments
This hit me hard. I have so much to think about, so many areas of my life that need re-evaluating. How am I being obedient, and what areas do I really need to focus more on the Lord and ask His will not mine.
There is such a magnitude of diffrence in the questions to Peter, I know beyond a shadow of doubt that I Love My Lord, as God and Savior, I so cherish the day seeing Him face to face, But the struggle for me is that (agape) his mission for the world and my willingness to forsake all others and things to follow and obey His call on my life.