Bystander, week four: Beach Breakfast
John 21
Have you found yourself having moments lately where you just don’t know what to do?
- You have so much to do that you don’t know what to do
- You can’t do a lot of what you need to do so you don’t know what to do
- You truly don’t have anything to do and you don’t know what to do
- The world has changed so much and your day-to-day reality is so different that you’re still trying to figure out what you should be doing
After the resurrection, the disciples were trying to fish.
In the absence of knowing what to do, they went back to what they had done before.
Only things had changed…
Jesus reminds them of the change with another enormous catch of fish, followed by breakfast on the beach
After breakfast, Jesus tells them what to do -
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” —John 21:15-19
Feed my lambs - the kids, they’re priority, meet their needs, show up wherever they are
Take care of my sheep - Sheep are easily distracted and prone to wander, keep after them, don’t give up. Jesus called himself the “Good Shepherd” and described a good shepherd as one who would leave the 99 to find the one who had fallen away.
Follow me - Jesus showed us the way, it was the way of sacrifice and unconditional love. He told us to walk that road, wherever it might take us.
Your life shouldn’t look the same as it did before you started to believe in Jesus.
“Joy isn’t just our privilege. It’s our responsibility. Joy is the flag that flies high when the King of our hearts is in residence there.” —Levi Lusko