Eastertide

May 5, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-19

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ 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.” John 21:15-17

I have always wondered what Jesus meant by the first question in the above scripture. Is he asking Simon if Simon loves Jesus more than Simon loves any of the disciples or is, he asking if Simon loves Jesus more than the other disciples love Jesus? I do not know what difference it makes but the statement’s ambiguity has always bothered me. Perhaps Jesus is asking both questions at once. Perhaps John, like me occasionally, writes a tongue twisted sentence that does not clearly get at what was intended or the translator missed the intent.

In either case, the question creates consideration of how we set priorities of love in our journey of faith as Christ follower. If we love Jesus, we are to love him, all his followers, and all his potential followers which eliminates any possibility of establishing priorities regarding who we love. Our culture values competition and hierarchies of worth, both of which are alien to Jesus’ way of being. We cannot interpret Jesus only through our cultural lenses. We must learn to differentiate that which is of God and that which is of the world and turn away from those things within the world that are not supportive of our loving God and loving one another.

Prayer: Lord, clear away the film in my minds eye that keeps me from seeing and doing your ways. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.