John 21: What is That to You? Follow Me!

Today’s reading is John 21.

Peter has been restored, given a role, provided reassurance. But he’s still Peter. So, of course, he’ll obviously do something that needs rebuke. And, he doesn’t let us down.

He can’t just let this interaction stand on its own, take comfort, and follow Jesus. Turning, he sees John and asks, “Lord, what about this man?” (John 21:21, ESV). Peter has just been able to tell Jesus he loves Him three times. He’s just been charged not only with fishing for men, but feeding the sheep of Jesus. Further, he’s been told if he will follow Jesus, he will succeed in his greatest promise. But the specter of competition rises up in Peter’s heart. “What about John? What will he do? Will he go as far as me? Will he suffer as greatly as me? Will he do as much for the Master as me?”

Jesus rebukes Peter, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22, ESV). Whether John glorifies God by serving Him faithfully on earth until the end of time or he also dies a martyr’s glorifying death, doesn’t change Peter’s responsibility. Peter’s responsibility is not to turn and look at John or any of the other apostles. His responsibility is to follow Jesus.

That is our responsibility as well. This week, we’ve learned even if we fail royally after becoming disciples, we can turn back to Jesus, hang on to Him, and find restoration. We’ve also learned we can still be greatly used by Him. Of course, our first thought was, “But will it be as great as I always wanted? Will it be as great as so-and-so?” Jesus says to us, “If I use them to only provide a cup of cold water for my servants or if I use them to convert kingdoms, what is that to you. You follow me!” And, He is saying, “If I use you to convert kingdoms or only provide water for the one I use to convert kingdoms, what is that to you? You follow me!”

It’s not a competition. We are a team. When we win, I win. When we win, you win. Jesus is our Master. He deserves all glory, honor, praise, and service. Let us just follow Him and be amazed that He uses us for whatever part in the glorious expanse of His kingdom. If we can do nothing more than be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord, that is greater than being a king in the world, but outside of Christ’s camp.

Jesus is beckoning, “Follow me!” Will you?

Tomorrow’s reading is John 21.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does John 21 prompt or improve your hope in God?

John 21: He Has a Job for You

Today’s reading is John 21.

Jesus has recreated several important moments in Peter’s life in order to demonstrate restoration. But, let’s face it, this is an example case for all the apostles. None of the apostles stood up for Jesus. They all fled. Those who didn’t deny verbally did not do so mostly because they didn’t go to the trial and weren’t given the opportunity. No doubt, however, Peter’s feelings of guilt and shame were so intense as to be almost insurmountable. At least at this point Peter is doing better than Judas. Judas had only worldly sorrow which leads to death (see 2 Corinthians 7:10).

If you’ve been in Peter’s shoes, you know the horrific feelings of not only guilt and shame, but hopelessness and uselessness. Having failed Jesus in what we knew was most important leaves us believing even if Jesus would accept us back, at best we can come in as second-class, failed citizens. We are sure we will be shunted to the side, never trusted, never used, hoping only that we might barely scrape by in the end.

But see how Jesus responds to Peter. Jesus goes out of His way to bring Peter to restoration. He goes out of His way not only to restore Peter in His own sight, but to make sure Peter can see he has been restored. Further, Jesus didn’t simply restore Peter to the fold, allowing him to be in the sheep pen, but shunted to the side by the more important, more useful sheep. He had a job for Peter. Each time Peter restated his love for Jesus, Jesus charged him, “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.”

Understand, even when your biggest sins come after being a disciple, Jesus wants to accomplish powerful things in His kingdom through you. He doesn’t bring you back in but only barely. He brings you back in to put you fully to work. And if a survey of Bible characters teaches us anything, it is often those who have failed the biggest who have finally gotten to the level of perceiving their weakness that allows them to be most usable by God (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Have you failed the Lord? Don’t abandon Him. Turn back to Him. But also, don’t turn back to Him and then try to fade into the unnoticed background. Turn back to Him and humbly do what you know to do in His service. Humbly do what you can. The Lord has a place for you. The Lord has a job for you.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is John 21.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does John 21 admonish you?

Better than Bulls and Goats

Today’s reading is Hebrews 9.

Over the centuries in which Israel visited the Tabernacle and the Temple, millions of bulls, goats, and sheep were slaughtered to allow God to dwell in the midst of Israel. And yet, the mere fact that there were so many of them was really an indication of one surprising fact. They didn’t actually work. Now, don’t get me wrong. God told the Israelites their sins would be forgiven if they performed these sacrifices, their sins were forgiven. But ultimately, it wasn’t because of these sheep, goats, and bulls. It was because of the sacrifice these millions of animals pointed to. It was because of Jesus on the cross. God forgave all those Israelites not on the basis of the animal sacrifices, but on the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus. Millions of animal sacrifices didn’t really accomplish the forgiveness of one single sin. One sacrifice of one man accomplishes the forgiveness of millions of sins (and more). Jesus is better. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 10.