5th Tuesday in Lent
Scripture: John 21:17
NRS 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love
me?" Peter felt hurt 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.
Devotional: At
last we reach the third question. In the English, we seek explanation for the
thrice repetition. We might connect it with the threefold denial, but we would
completely miss the beauty of the original exchange. A beautiful restoration of
Peter that is available to each of us today. Twice Jesus has asked “Peter do
you agape me?” Twice Peter has
responded “Jesus I phileo you.” Twice
Jesus has asked, “Peter, when you said you would lay your life down were you
just posing for people or was it real?” Twice Peter has replied, “I was posing,
but I’m done. All I have is real brotherly love for you.” Jesus asked if Peter was
done with his bold, impulsive claims. Jesus asked a second time to give Peter a
chance to reflect on his answer. Now Jesus asks a third question. In the
English translation, it looks the same as the first two, but the Greek reveals
a subtle twist. Jesus twice asked if Peter loved Him enough to give up his life
for Him. Peter twice responded, “Lord you know I don’t, I couldn’t even pass
the rooster test, but I love you like a brother.” With an assurance that Peter
had the humility needed to be the person upon which Christ would build His
Church and a certainty that Peter had an authentic love for Him, Jesus asked
the third question. It was words of reconciliation that moved Jesus towards
Peter instead of demanding that Peter come to Him. “Peter do you phileo me?” “Yes, Lord You know
everything, how I have boasted and how I have failed, but You know that I phileo You. I love You like a brother.” This
moment was the turning point of Peter’s life. It was his new birth. Jesus
wasn’t demanding something from Peter that he was currently incapable of
giving. He was accepting Peter where he was with all that he could currently
give. Jesus could transform someone with authentic brotherly love into someone
who would lay down his life. In this moment Jesus empowered Peter with humble
boldness. He reaffirms his role as shepherd to Jesus’ flock. Use that same
brotherly love you have for Me to take care of them. As Peter keeps loving and
keeps serving, he will become the person he wanted to be at the Passover
supper. A day will come when the humbly bold Peter will be able to lay down his
life, but that all started when Jesus simply accepted his brotherly love.
Prayer: Lord we
ask you to meet us where we are today. Strengthen us, so we can move from this
place to where you want us to serve You and the Kingdom with our whole heart,
in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Song of praise: Old
For New performed by Hannah
McClure
Spiritual discipline
challenge: Today we find Peter amidst the other disciples, but in a
spirit of solitude as he encounters Jesus. Find a moment today, even if it is
amidst many people, to quietly seek God with your whole heart. Devote time to
Him in a spirit of solitude and devotion.
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