John 21:15 - 25

 John 21:15 - 25 

In a way John concludes his gospel at the end of chapter 20. But it is as if this is such an important point and powerful story that he wants to include one more emphatic remembrance.  In that story is the core lesson for us as disciples. After the miraculous catch of fish Jesus has a painful and restorative conversation with Peter. Jesus, after this conversation, tells Peter, “follow Me”. It is sort of a second call to discipleship; the restoration of Peter is completed. But then Peter notices that John, the Beloved disciple, is following as well. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord what about this man?” We can all learn a profound lesson from Jesus's answer. In short Jesus says “Mind your own business which is to follow me”. 

Mind your own business is great advice for the disciple. That is not to say that we are to be unconcerned about the needs of others. This is about staying focused on our walk, our discipleship. Some scholars see in this passage a rebuke directed toward the early church rivalries that apparently existed. Paul mentions such rivalries in 1st Corinthians. How much harm could have been avoided over the years of the church, and in our own lives if rather than attending to the faith walk of others we energetically focused on “our following” Jesus. This is the conclusion to the message of the Gospel of John, and it is the objective of our lives, “Mind your own business and that business is to follow Jesus!”

“Lord, help me make the focus of my life to follow You. AMEN”

John 21:1 - 14

 John 21:1 - 14

We often, and almost exclusively, think of blessings in terms of increase, receiving something, or in having. We nearly never think of blessing in terms of frustration but sometimes in our walk as disciples we are blessed with frustration. In Peter's confused, upset, and chaotic life during the week after the resurrection he returns to Galilee. In the company of six other disciples Peter says, " I'm going fishing". The verb here indicates a linear action, in other words ‘on going and without end’. This was no recreational day trip nor way of getting a meal. Peter was ending his life as a fisher of men to become a fisherman of fish. Life before Jesus was hard, but it was predictable. It may have lacked zest, and that fire in the belly, but at least you didn’t have great hopes crushed by a Roman cross.  Not to mention the confusion of the enigma of a resurrected but oddly reclusive Messiah. He was no doubt emotionally, physically and financially exhausted. His return to fishing would be a blessing. Get a job, settle down, and stop chasing all over the place pursuing a wild dream. With six helpers he would build a fishing business again. He could not have counted on the blessing he did want the blessing of frustration: "and that night they called nothing."

How many times do we look up on frustration as a curse, or demonic effect, or the displeasure of God unfairly directed at us? It is possible that frustration can be wholly negative but it may also be something positive in disguise. If we assume frustration is negative we must assume we are correct in all our assessments and decisions along the way. That is an assumption we should be reluctant to make.

All night Peter did what he was best at; fishing. Come daybreak someone from shore asked for fish. Peter replied, “I got nothing”. In his heart or mind he may have thought “I can't do anything”. Which ironically is the exact place we have to be for God to make the most of us.

“Lord, in Your blessing of frustrations give me strength.  AMEN”