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We come to our final passage in John’s Gospel. We are in John Chapter 21 at verse 15 and we have spent well over two years in this profoundly revealing book.

We have been reading of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – some of the hard facts of that amazing day. We read of these seven men going back to the fishing, and Jesus waiting for them coming ashore with empty nets. We spent some time reading that incident in the life of Thomas.

Peter had gone back to the fishing, and had caught nothing. Peter had jumped into the water when he realised he had been found out. Peter had denied knowing Jesus, and Peter had met the risen Jesus. He is such a mixture of a man. Aren’t we all? This is the man who had been strong in his affirmation that if everyone else ran away he would be alongside Jesus.

When the breakfast is over Jesus takes Peter aside. There are times when Jesus takes us aside – when He wants us on our own because He has something important to say to us or ask us. We may not always realise that at first when He takes us aside.

He does that now and again – so wonderfully – so personally and almost privately – but always so lovingly and intimately – and yet challengingly.

Do you love me more than these - more than the fishing boats – more than the others – more than all your old ways?

Now remember Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times, and it is as if Jesus knows Peter wants to be rid of all guilt. Jesus wants Peter to know that he can be forgiven and that he is forgiven.

The head of a large Mental Hospital said, “that he could dismiss half his patients immediately if they could be assured of forgiveness!”

Jesus wants Peter to get all this out of his system, or he will never be able to minister. Jesus did not want to see Peter running all over the place from Jerusalem to Galilee – from the Temple to the Lake. Jesus wants him to lead.

Peter needs to talk this out, and Jesus opens the door, whereby it can all be flushed away. What we have here is a brief deep moving conversation.

What we read of here can save hours of counselling – hours of people’s valuable time.

Confess it. Repent of it. Turn from it. Have it forgiven, and that’s that. This takes no more than five to ten minutes. Peter not only confesses his sin, but more importantly, his three sins. He had denied Jesus three times, and three times Jesus gives Peter the opportunity to have that flushed out and forgiven. It is personal, and yet it is written down for our learning. Peter must have told John later.

Do you love me with the same kind of loyal love with which I have loved you? Peter replies. Feed my lambs.

Do you really truly deeply love Me? You know that I love You. Feed My sheep, and take care of my flock. Be a shepherd.

In verse 17, Jesus takes Peter’s word for love, ‘fond of’, and asks are you just ‘fond of Me? No English translation really reaches the profound depths of this conversation. But see how Jesus comes right down to where Peter is.

And Peter is a little hurt with Jesus’ persistent questioning. “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love YOU. Feed My Sheep.

Jesus is looking for more than natural affection. Jesus is asking Peter to give all to Him – everything. And now Peter doesn’t say too much to Jesus. He is not making too big claims now. He knows Jesus knows all about him.

Jesus wants it to be more than words. Jesus wants Peter to show this love and proclaim this love by tending the lambs and the sheep.

Peter was able to do this for the next 30 years or so. He was able to satisfy the sheep and we read of that in the book of Acts. He even saw some lambs being born as he preached and spoke and taught.

Notice Jesus uses the name Simon here. Simon means a reed – something that easily bends – that sways under pressure – something easily shaken. But after Pentecost when Peter is anointed with the Holy Spirit he emerges as Petros – the Rock.

That is what the Power of the Holy Spirit can do in a man’s life.

Jesus relied upon this man to lead others – to feed others – to shepherd this new flock.

Jesus went after this man – this man who had almost misled others – and might have gone on misleading others if Jesus had not intervened. He commissioned him. Remember that came three years after his being called.

Imagine the scene now as they walk along the shore. Peter you have always been a man who has just done what you’ve wanted. You’ve pleased yourself. You’ve dressed you’ve wanted. There is going to come a day when someone else will make you do what you do not want to do.

Jesus knew that one day – some 30 years down the road – Peter would lose his life for his faith in Jesus Christ – and he did.

He is about to begin 30 years of anointed ministry.

This is the real test of a man’s faithfulness and love for Jesus.

He writes in his letter – 25 years later – that suffering makes you solid. You may be bouncy and lively before you suffer, but after you suffer in some way for Jesus Christ and His Word, you become solid and sound. You emerge not a weaker person but a stronger person.

Jesus will bring you out of suffering if you are prepared to go through it.

Jesus takes a Simon – a reed easily shaken or influenced under pressure – and transforms that man into a Rock – who is able to feed and lead and tend lambs and sheep.

John writes a personal word and a personal comment at the end of this account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God sees that this very personal human remark is included in His holy Word.

There can be times too when we are teaching or ‘sharing’ or giving our testimony to the Grace of God, that a very personal word can be just what someone listening or reading so needs at that specific time.

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

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