Reflection: John 21:15-19

John 21:15-19 – 7th Week of Easter

Today Jesus asks Peter a difficult question. He asks Simon Peter if he loves Jesus more than “these.” I wonder how Peter reacted to this question? Was he upset that Jesus asked this question? Did Peter wonder what Jesus was getting at? Was he concerned that Jesus did not trust that Peter loved him?

Regardless of his thoughts or questions, Peter simply answered: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you!” Jesus then tells Peter: “Feed my lambs.” Then a moment later, Jesus again asks Peter the same question and Peter once again told Jesus that he loved him. Jesus then says to Peter: “Tend my sheep.”

However, then Jesus asked Peter the third time: “Do you love me?” Clearly Peter was deeply disturbed that Jesus once again asked him this question. By asking this question three times, he must have some doubts about Peter’s loyalty to him. Peter’s frustration, pain and dismay had to be clearly evident to Jesus. Finally with great frustration in his voice, Peter says: “Lord, you know all things! Clearly you know that I love you!”

Jesus does not respond directly to Peter’s statement. Rather, He quietly, simply tells Peter: “Feed my sheep.” Jesus also tells Peter that he will be led in a new path, one that is unfamiliar to him. In the future, Peter will not be leading, rather, he will be led. And he will be led to a place where he will not want to go. Peter did not know what to make of Jesus’ statements.

At times we also may not understand what Jesus is saying to us. However, no matter who we are or what positions we hold, we still are not in charge of our life. Nor can we control what our future will be. However, there is one area of control: we can make the decision to walk with Jesus daily and to trust Him with all our hearts.

Jesus loves us and is with us every second of the day. Are we willing to give up our illusion of control and place our hand in Jesus’ hand? Jesus loves us and will walk with us every step of the way. Jesus will guide us and strengthen us when we need help to deal with life.

Jesus’ final statement to Peter was: “Follow me.” Today Jesus speaks those same two words to us! Will we follow him? Jesus longs to walk with us each day! The question is: will we walk with him?