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Reading John 21 from start to finish reveals a theme that one might otherwise gloss over: Before Jesus tells Peter to feed his sheep, Jesus feeds his sheep. In yesterday’s reading from the chapter, Jesus performs a miracle in which the disciples catch 153 fish. Jesus then prepares and serves these fish to Peter and the other disciples. Along with the fish, “Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them” (21:13), which reminds us of Jesus’ words during the last supper accounts in the other three Gospels. Only after Jesus feeds and communes with the disciples does he call Peter to feed others.

Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” and commands Peter to feed his lambs, to tend his sheep, and to feed his sheep. Jesus charges Peter with shepherding the flock, but Peter never ceases to be a sheep in need of communion with Christ, the living bread.

This is an important lesson for us as ministers, whether we are ordained or lay. Before we can feed others, we must be fed by Christ; after we become shepherds, we remain sheep in need of shepherding. Christ calls all of his disciples to continually become like little children, living in complete dependence upon him so that we can experience the reality of the kingdom of God. As we reflect upon our walk with Lord, let us pray to be both sheep and shepherd.

O Lord, renew in us a childlike dependence upon you, that we who seek to lead might ourselves be fed by the life-giving grace of the gospel through our shepherd, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Leer John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

¹ Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.” They said, “We’ll go with you.” They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. ⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus. ⁵ Jesus called to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” ⁶ He said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” So they did, and there were so many fish that they couldn’t haul in the net. ⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they weren’t far from shore, only about one hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire there, with fish on it, and some bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you’ve just caught.” ¹¹ Simon Peter got up and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. Yet the net hadn’t torn, even with so many fish. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples could bring themselves to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. ¹⁵ When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” ¹⁷ He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.”

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Leccionario Semanal

April 29—May 5, 2019

Resumen de la Escritura

Saul is one of the primary obstacles to the early spread of Christianity. The death and resurrection of Jesus does not fit his paradigm for the Messiah, so it cannot be true. It takes a miraculous intervention by Christ himself to change his mind. Psalm 30 reminds us that the light will always chase the darkness. We experience true suffering and true loss, but God can turn our mourning into dancing in God’s own timing. In Revelation, John takes us to the throne room of God, where angels and creatures proclaim the glory of the Lamb of God who has defeated death and reigns forever. Returning to the Gospel of John, we read more about Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, which here include a seaside breakfast and a quiz for Peter.

Preguntas para la reflexión

Read Acts 9:1-20. Jesus’ resurrection calls us to an embodied faith. How do you bear the gospel?
Read Psalm 30. Recall a specific time when you depended on God.
Read Revelation 5:11-14. Have you ever worshiped the Lamb with your whole body? What keeps you from falling down to worship God?
Read John 21:1-19. The author reminds us that Jesus calls us to be shepherds and sheep. Which role do you most often fill? How can you take on a new leadership role or allow others to lead you?

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John 21:15-19

John 21:1-19

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