January-February 1999
How Long Will God Put Up With You?
by J. Michael Feazell
| When they finished eating, Jesus began asking Peter a series of questions.They must have been embarrassing questions for Peter. Why single him out? Why put him on the spot? Why draw more attention to his failure? |
Have you ever gotten to the place where it's hard to believe that God is going to keep putting up with you? I think Peter might have felt a little like that in the days and weeks following his three denials of Jesus on that fearful and confusing night when Jesus was arrested and condemned.
Weeks later, on the Sea of Galilee, Peter and six other disciples had been hard at work all night, but every hopeful cast had been pulled in empty. As dawn broke, someone appeared on the shore, telling them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. They did as he said and caught so many fish they could barely haul the net ashore.
By this time, the disciples realized that the stranger on the shore was Jesus. He already had a fire going, with fish on the coals and bread ready to eat. He invited them to eat with him.
When they finished, Jesus began asking Peter a series of embarrassing questions.
Before his arrest, Jesus had told the disciples that they would all fall away. But Peter had argued vigorously. "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will stand with you. Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you!" he insisted. Yet he failed -- three times.
Now, together on the seashore, Jesus asks of Peter, "Do you really love me more than the other disciples do?"
Peter must have felt ashamed. He answered, "You know I love you."
Jesus responded, "Feed my lambs."
Peter must have been surprised and a little chagrined when Jesus asked again, "Do you truly love me?"
"Yes, you know I love you," came the pained reply.
"Feed my sheep," Jesus repeated.
The Gospel writer tells us Peter was grieved when Jesus asked him for the third time, "Do you love me?"
"Lord," Peter pleaded, "You know all things. You know I love you."
"Feed my sheep," Jesus told him again.
Three denials, three failures. But rather than condemnation, Jesus gives Peter three invitations to restoration, followed by three affirmations of trust and confidence.
Jesus saw what Peter could not see. He knew Peter's failure. He was under no illusions about Peter's ability to be faithful under pressure. Yet Jesus came to him precisely in that failure, forgiving, helping, encouraging and lifting -- not only accepting Peter in spite of his weakness, but entrusting him with duties of the kingdom and giving "Peter the Failure" the love and faith of "Jesus the Conqueror."
Peter felt unworthy. And he was. But Jesus made him worthy.
That's why Jesus gave himself for us -- so we can be worthy, not because of ourselves, but because of him. Peter had failed because he didn't have what it took. But now Jesus tells him that the day will come when, not by Peter's own power, but by Jesus' power in him, by the Holy Spirit, Peter will indeed have what it takes to go to the wall for Jesus.
Jesus not only brought value and meaning to the disciples' long hard night of fruitless work, he invited them to share intimate table fellowship with him. The disciples' weaknesses and disloyalty did not destroy their relationship with him. His love had not diminished in the slightest. He was still their Lord, their Master and their friend.
Even in our unworthiness, Jesus has made us worthy. And when Jesus makes
one worthy, one is worthy indeed -- full of worth to the One who gave himself
for us, who never stops loving us, who will bring the dawn to our long dark
night and who invites our famished souls to "Come and have breakfast"
with him.
J. Michael Feazell, M.Div., is executive editor of Plain Truth and a candidate for the doctor of ministry degree at Azusa Pacific University. Mike also serves as director of denominational publications for the Worldwide Church of God.