John 21.17
Jesus said to Peter 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.
After their breakfast on the
beach (see yesterday) Jesus asks Peter three times whether he loves him. It is
the first conversation they have after the resurrection, and Peter is all too
aware that he had let Jesus down when he denied knowing him. Peter’s sense of
regret and guilt are surely triggered by Jesus’ questions to him. Although
nothing is said directly about Peter’s denial of Jesus, they both know what
they are talking about. But Peter discovers that, not only has Jesus not
rejected him, his call to him has not changed. He is to “feed the sheep”. Indeed, perhaps the experience of failing so
completely ends up being the making of him as a leader. If he still thought he
was invincible and unshakeable, he might have no understanding of what life
really felt like for others, and be dangerous in leadership.
·
Think of the “failures” in your life. What have they
taught you?
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