[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Friday April 28, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotions  Friday, April 28, 2006

The Daily Devotions this week are written by Pastor Ludwig. During this
second week after the Resurrection of our Lord, we will be looking at Jesus
post-resurrection appearances as a spring board to considering how Jesus has
appeared to us in our lives in obvious and subtle ways.

 

John 21: 14-19

This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples  after he
was raised from the dead. 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."

 

Thought

Peter had denied Jesus publicly three times. It had to haunt him. He was a
sincere even if at times smug follower of Jesus. He said again and again and
again, "I do not know the man!" We do likewise publicly every time we curse,
use the name of God lightly or angrily. Every time we display the middle
finger, or gossip about another. Whenever we grumble about our lot in life,
waste natural resources or ignore the world's poverty; again and again and
again we say, "I do not know the man!"  May God forgive us!

This text boldly reminds us that God will forgive. In front of the other
disciples, Jesus gives Peter an opportunity to publicly express his love for
Him. Jesus is giving Peter another chance and this is called forgiveness. He
does not humiliate or embarrass Peter, he just gives him an opportunity to
show his love.

You have been forgiven again and again and again. And in that gracious
process, Jesus gives you an opportunity to publicly show your love for Him.
For Peter it would be public crucifixion (upside down according to
tradition). For you today it might be that visit to the recuperating
neighbor, or that kind word to the one who offended you yesterday. Maybe it
means sacrificing some personal luxury for the health of the planet. Follow
Peter and say, "Lord, you know that I love you."

 

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