Loyalty
Don't you hate having your loyalty questioned?
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. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.” Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus 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 him?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” - John 21:15-22
Imagine how Peter felt.
Jesus included him in experiences that most of the others were not. So, to suddenly be questioned in front of the others must have been hard for him. And he questions him, not just once, but three times.
If there had been any doubt in Peter about Jesus, this questioning would eradicate it.
We may not like it when our loyalty is questioned, but if we think about it, we can understand. Jesus was about to be tortured and killed for all, and surely, anyone who believed in him and followed him would be a target as well.
It is easy to follow when you believe everything will work out well, but when you discover there is danger ahead, and possible death?
That is another thing altogether.
Do you love me? Jesus asks.
When Peter says he does, Jesus gives him a job to do. Take over for me is what he is saying.
Anyone who has built a dream into reality wants the dream to continue after the founder is gone, but not all businesses survive that loss.
In order to take over, you need more than the experience of having lived through the mission. You need to be passionate about keeping it going and helping it grow. You need to be filled with love.
As soon as the first challenge arises, and difficulties mount, the stress of the job presses down and it is then that we are tested.
Did we mean what we said?
Jesus knows if Peter can accept the challenge, the ministry will continue.
He will stumble. Jesus knows that. But he will remember his answer.
“Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
More to come...