After that day, everything was different. The first disciples witnessed a dead man walking. Their lives would be forever changed, defined by “life before Easter” and life “life after Easter.” On numerous occasions, Jesus showed up in resurrected form before he ascended. In the season of Easter we will examine six “after Easter” encounters with Jesus. What did he say and do? In what practical ways does resurrection change my daily life? Nothing will ever be the same.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
“You have made us for Yourself. And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” (Augustine)
Creator of all things, hear my voice, for you have made it. You who live in heaven, hear my prayer from earth. I am one person in one little town in one corner of your vast creation. Of all the people on the planet, hear me also. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Confession
O God, in the beginning you made us good, even “very good.” I admit the many things in my life that are far from your good intent. I try to change, and then find myself in the same place once again. Lord, you know me. Have mercy. Make me right. Forgive my wickedness. Bring me back to good, as you intended from the beginning. Amen.
Word
“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.’’’ John 21:16
Meditation
Today’s meditation is by Megan Roegner.
Peter. So emotional, so passionate, so relatable. His acts of faith are bold, and so are his failures—chopping off ears, denials, disputes with other apostles, etc.
The events of John 21 are classic Peter. Although he is not the first to recognize Jesus, when he does, he immediately leaps into the water and charges after him. And yet, even in his enthusiasm to communicate his love and devotion for Jesus, he falls short in understanding. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. The first time he asks, “do you love me more than these?” I am not enough of a Biblical scholar to know what Jesus means by these. Is he asking Peter if he loves him more than the other disciples love Jesus? Is he asking if he loves him more than Peter loves the disciples? Is he asking him if he loves Jesus more than the fish and nets of his former life? Regardless, Peter’s answer is an emphatic yes: “you know that I love you.”
Jesus asks Peter two more times if he loves him, and by the third time, Peter’s feelings are hurt. He knows that Jesus knows everything, even what’s in his heart, so why does he keep questioning his love? Peter is so wrapped up in himself, in his love, in his feelings, in his relationship with Jesus, that he misses the point. Jesus is doing two things in his questioning of Peter: First, he is paralleling Peter’s three-time denial of him, giving him three opportunities to pledge his devotion. Second, he is directing Peter in how to love him. Loving Jesus means caring for others (“Feed my lambs…Tend my sheep”) even when it is uncomfortable, even when it’s dangerous (“ …you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go”).
Then Peter, classic Peter, takes the foreshadowing of his painful death in stride only to trouble himself with comparisons with others: “Lord, what about this man?” Peter’s love is brave but imperfect—competitive and demanding.
Yet, this is the rock on whom Christ builds the church. This is us, a mess of contradictions, the mix of faith and failure that make up the body of believers. As Peter says, Jesus knows all things, and he loves us anyway. His love is large enough to cover our failures.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving us even when we fail. Make us brave and selfless, so we can show your love to others, even when it’s not easy. Amen.
Benediction
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(Rom. 11:33,36))