I've enjoyed diving into this week's story from scripture and ran across a favorite explanation of it from Frederich Buechner, an author whose words are often sublime. It comes from his early work "Peculiar Treasures."
"According to Paul, the first person Jesus came back to see after Easter morning was Peter. What he said and what Peter said nobody will ever know, and maybe that's just as well. Their last conversation on this earth, however, is reported in the Gospel of John.
lt was on the beach, at daybreak. Some of the other disciples were there, and Jesus cooked them breakfast. When it was over, he said to Peter (only again he called him Simon, son of John, because if ever he meant business, this was it), "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" and Peter said he did. Then Jesus asked the same question a second time and then once again, and each time Peter said he loved him -- three times in all, to make up for the other three times.
Then Jesus said, "Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep," and you get the feeling that this time Peter didn't miss the point (John 21:9-19). From fisher of fish to fisher of people to keeper of the keys to shepherd. It was the Rock's final promotion, and from that day forward he never let the head office down again."
We'll explore this fascinating passage this weekend. If you struggle with reconciliation or a sense of belonging, we'll highlight what this passage says about both. You can read it for yourself by clicking here.
See you this weekend,
