Friday 17th November - John 21

Today’s chapter is John 21

Tom writes:

You get the impression that chapter 21 was added to the 20 chapters of John like the extra bit in a film as the credits are rolling. Why? What does it add? Well, I think it adds that extra bit of texture to our understanding of resurrection life. It’s a texture we love. It is the texture of His Grace Being Sufficient and His Power being Made Perfect in our Weakness; if only we will Love. Back in chapter 20 we saw that Peter wasn’t a very good runner (John beat him to the empty tomb). In this chapter we see that he was a truly rubbish swimmer and an ineffective fisherman. There is also the small thing about Peter denying Jesus three times and leaving him to be killed. But here - just a few weeks after that teeth-gnashing, insomnia-inducing betrayal - Peter is beckoned back to Jesus. They don’t talk about the fish-finger breakfast. Jesus doesn’t seem to care about the paucity of Peter’s ‘earthly talents’. And most shocking of all Jesus doesn’t even bring up the “courtyard episode”. All he wants to know is how much Peter could love. Three times he asks him about his capacity to love. To really love.

I think sometimes I lose sight of that. I start thinking Jesus wants to inspect my sin in great detail and diagnose my latest dysfunctions. Or I get too focussed on perfecting human skills and overcoming my weaknesses. But Jesus talks to Peter about his love. Just his love. His mission is simple; “Take care of my sheep”. Jesus says the same to all of us, I think. Life in him is about love. Love that is greater than what we are bad at or good at. Love that is greater than what we have failed at or succeeded at. Love that doesn’t compare us to others or strive for status or need us to become functional. Just love; the love that washes and weeps and walks towards the cross. The Logos became flesh and he dwelt among us. He showed us what it would be to be reborn of the Spirit, he prayed that we would be reborn of the Spirit and he breathed on his disciples that they could become people of the Spirit. And then he loved them. He loved them when they failed. He loved them as individuals and he loved them in specific moments. Jesus loves you. Do you know that? Have you heard that and felt that and had a moment on a beach (or wherever it might have taken place) where you hear it from him again. He has loved you to the end, and he bids you come with him and become a person birthed in love.

Question for reflection

What has Jesus done in you as you have read through the book of John?