Just Serve The Lord

Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus went into Galilee to meet with his disciples.  They had gone fishing in an effort to clear their minds after seeing Jesus crucified and learning that he had been raised from the dead.   Jesus was waiting on the shore with bread and fish already prepared when they came ashore.  Jesus would use the situation to teach a valuable lesson about the spiritual life.  John 21:14-19 gives background for what Jesus is teaching.  “This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.

Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

Just before the crucifixion, In Matthew 26:33-35, Peter had bragged  “…Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”  He was convinced he loved the Lord more than any of the others.   Jesus asked him if he still believed that.  Peter couldn’t say he loved the Lord more than the others at this point.  He just said the Lord knew how much he loved him.  Jesus repeated the question two more times, driving home the point that is not about how much we love the Lord, or even that we have failed him, but that we are to just serve him.  In fact, as pointed out there are times when we have no control of our situation, but we are to continue to teach others about Christ anyway.  We are not perfect, but we can still obey him.    

In an effort to take the attention off himself, Peter asked what John would do, in John 21:20-22.  “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”   Jesus made the clear point we are not going to be judged by comparing us to others, but only on whether we have done what we were told to do.  What others do is irrelevant.  All that matters for us is whether we have obeyed the Lord ourselves.