Transforming (phase 4) - Jesus appears to the disciples on the lakeshore (step 31) - session 1f

Jn 21 (cont.)

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 

Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" 

The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" 

This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. - (20-24)

It seems to me that this story would be important if, as most scholars hold, St. John's gospel didn't take it's final form - and especially if Chapter 21 were not added - until after his death. Even if he wrote it himself near the end of his life, it would be important for him to address any belief in the community that the Lord would return before his passing.

But the important part for us is probably in verse 22: why do we focus so much on the blessing which others receive? Why do we long for a miracle of our own, or for a certainty in our faith that others seem to possess? What is that to us? We are to follow Jesus in the role he has for us.

But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. - (20-25)

If Jesus is who we believe him to be, it is of course impossible for the world to contain all the books that would be written, in addition to containing itself, all of which he has done!

Transforming (phase 4) - Jesus appears to the disciples on the lakeshore (step 31) - session 1e

Jn 21 (cont.)

"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." - (18-19)

Jesus now indicates to Peter the reason why it is so important that Peter know that he is acting out of love for the Lord, not out of mere obligation. Merely being connected to Jesus because of following him for these years and seeing his miracles - having a sense that this is someone that Peter desperately wants to be dedicated to, to the point of giving his all for Jesus - did not keep him from failing to fulfill his expressed willingness to lay down his own life for the Lord. Peter needs to be moved beyond affection and idealism and obligation to the unwavering north star of love. Any lesser motivation would cause him to ultimately shrink again in the face of the trials to come. And Jesus wants Peter to know that he is not the same man, driven by the same inadequate desires, but is now a true disciple motivated by love.

And now, when Jesus says "Follow me," there is no mistaking what that means. All of those things that he has said - there being no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend; the extent to which he calls us to serve one another; sending the disciples as the Father had sent him - are now in the context of his crucifixion sacrifice and his resurrection from the dead. 

Will I follow?

An unexpected party

(with apologies to Ronald, although my house does look like a baker's dozen of dwarves came through.)

We had a full house again last night. Even on a fairly mild night, it wasn't a good idea for the daughter and grandchildren to stay in a home without power. I hope they're able to resolve it quickly, but the kids will be with their dad until Saturday, so there are a couple days to work it out.

Transforming (phase 4) - Jesus appears to the disciples on the lakeshore (step 31) - session 1d

Jn 21 (cont.)

This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 

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." He 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." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved 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 . . . . " - (14-17)

I presume that this was Jesus third appearance to the gathered disciples. From the other gospels, there is also Emmaus, the appearance to Mary outside the tomb, and an appearance to Simon Peter, all of which would have happened before this appearance. 

I heard a priest once homilize that there is a different Greek word for "love" in Peter's replies than in Jesus' first two queries, and that the third time Jesus switches and uses the same word which Peter had used. This is consistent with a quick glance at the text in an interlinear Greek-English bible online, where it also appears that, the third time, Peter is quoted as using yet a different word in response. 

All of this ignores a key fact: this conversation almost certainly didn't happen in Greek. But since this story was handed down by St. John to his followers, who likely set it down in writing, we should probably accept that the Greek reflects a dynamic in the exchange which John conveyed to his listeners.

Others have focused on the threefold affirmation which Jesus affords Peter in contradiction of his previous threefold denial, but enough has been said about this.

For me, it is more helpful to consider this in light of the things upon which I've recently reflected. (I'm reading between the lines here, and hope you do, too:) Peter must feel that he has been demonstrating his love for Jesus in unmistakable, practical ways: jumping overboard and swimming to shore; hauling the huge catch of fish ashore by himself when Jesus told the disciples to bring him some. How could the Lord now shame him by repeatedly questioning his love? But perhaps Peter's actions were motivated by feeling as if he now owed the Lord a debt he could never repay; painful experience tells me this dedication is not nearly the same thing as love. If this was true for him, he'd be even more hurt by - and defensive about - the threefold interrogation he receives.

When someone has forgiven us the unforgivable, we may respond in a deep, thankful love that sustains our dedication to them for the remainder of our lives, but that dedication may instead arise out of a heavy obligation that eventually begins to feel like a chain binding us in slavery. We can feel as if we must now live up to, or retroactively "earn," the grace we have been freely given. Peter may have been acting out of this sort of motivation, but Jesus needed for him to be motivated by deep love instead of guilt. 

Though it may be true - as Jesus explains in defending the sinful woman who anoints him in Luke 7 - that those who are forgiven more love more, it can be very difficult for a forgiven offender to even think to consider whether they are now motivated by love or by a sense of shame-driven obligation. Perhaps Jesus' intent here is to give Peter an important chance to shift his motivations.

Bifurcated

Listening in on today's Focus on the Family broadcast from both sides of the issue has me feeling ripped to shreds.

As I should, I guess.

Transforming (phase 4) - Jesus appears to the disciples on the lakeshore (step 31) - session 1c

Jn 21 (cont.)

That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. - (7)

This one verse should be a lesson in modesty for us.

John, the one who saw and believed at the empty tomb, is the one who first recognizes Jesus at the seashore. (Of course, he's also the writer of the gospel . . . ) But Peter, to whom Luke says the Lord had already appeared and who had presumably been reconciled, is the one who leaps (now clothed!) into the sea in his eagerness to be with him. The gift of our forgiveness brings us an unbridled enthusiasm and love, as we saw when Jesus was anointed (by either Mary or the unnamed sinful woman). 

But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.  When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.  Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."  So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. - (8-11)

Again, it is Simon Peter who demonstrates his love for the Lord by his obedience. But there must be some other symbolism here, too. Just in case there is a reader who hasn't heard the suggestion that there were 153 known varieties of fish, this has been interpreted to suggest that the Church was meant to include all people. But if that is the case, what does it say that Peter alone hauls the net ashore with its overloaded catch? Doesn't this underscore Peter's role as leader of the early Church?

They didn't ask *me*

Just saw a survey indicating that men want independence and strength for their daughters but not in their wives, and that they feel threatened by their wives having successful careers outside the home.