John 21:15-25 More Than These

Yesterday, I read about the first of three pictures of the believer and the responsibilities attached to those pictures:  Fishers of Men and Obeying Him, according to my commentary. 

The second, it says, is the picture of shepherds and the responsibility to love Him, while the third is the picture of disciples and the responsibility to follow Him.

It noted that “Peter and his Lord had already met privately and no doubt taken care of Peter’s sin (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5), but since Peter had denied the Lord publicly, it was important that there be a public restoration.  Sin should be dealt with only to the extent that it is known.  Private sins should be confessed in private, public sins in public.”

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.  The first time, He added “more than these.”  My commentary said the question probably meant “more than these other disciples love Me.”  After all, Peter had earlier said, “I will even die for You,” and “I will never be offended.”  Perhaps, it says, Peter believed that he loved Jesus more than the other disciples when he originally said it.

Jesus, in talking about sheep, changed the picture from fisherman to shepherds, which my commentary suggests includes not just evangelism but pasturing.  I liked this that I read about it:  “While it is true that the Holy Spirit equips people to serve as shepherds, it is also true that each individual Christian must help to care for the flock … to help protect and perfect the flock.”

My commentary saw the three repeated questions as denoting the importance of something:  “The most important thing the pastor can do is to love Jesus Christ.  If he truly loves Jesus Christ, the pastor will also love His sheep and tenderly care for them … A pastor who loves the flock will serve it faithfully, no matter what the cost.”

The third picture really spoke to me, for it mentioned something I’d overlooked while reading verse 20.  Peter was talking to the risen Christ, and being restored to apostleship and leadership, and Jesus was instructing him.  “Peter turned …”  Peter had, after the first great catch of fish, taken his eyes off the Lord and looked at himself (Depart from me, for I am a sinful man).  He’d taken his eyes off the Lord while walking on water to look at the wind and the waves.  This time, he heard John behind them and looked back.  He asked about John.  Jesus told him that was none of his business.

“The Lord rebuked Peter and reminded him that his job was to follow, not to meddle into the lives of other believers … To be distracted by ourselves, our circumstances, or by other Christians is to disobey the Lord and possibly get detoured out of the will of God.  Keep your eyes of faith on Him and on Him alone,” my commentary said.  “God has His plan for us.  He also has plans for our Christian friends and associates.  How He works in their lives is His business.  Our business is to follow Him as He leads us.”

Father, thank You for these wise and timely words.  Help me to apply them to my life and my relationship with You.  And thanks for showing me that You will take care of others.  Mine is simply to follow.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford