"John 21:1-25
‘Crazy love’ for Jesus
This is the third time Jesus has appeared to his disciples (and his fourth appearance altogether if you include Mary Magdalene).
It is an extraordinary and wonderful event as Jesus first tells his disciples where to catch fish and then cooks breakfast for them. Here is Jesus risen from the dead – the one through whom the whole universe came into being – saying to his friends, ‘Come and have breakfast’ (v.12). The God who is revealed in Jesus Christ is world-affirming and such fun!
When John recognised Jesus he exclaimed to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ (v.7a). Peter is so filled with excitement, enthusiasm and zeal to get to Jesus as quickly as he can that he acts in what appears to be a rather bizarre fashion: ‘he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water’ (v.7b).
The other disciples, rather sensibly, ‘followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards’ (v.8). Sometimes in our enthusiasm and zeal we may do some rather crazy things. But what matters is a heart of love and zeal for Jesus.
In Jesus’ conversation with Peter after breakfast, we see what it means to have this passionate love for Jesus:
Supreme love
Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ (v.15). Jesus was calling him to make his love for Jesus his supreme love. Our love for Jesus should be more than our love for anything else.
Peter’s zeal had not been without its obstacles. He had denied Jesus three times, so Jesus gives him the opportunity to affirm his love three times. Three times Peter tells Jesus; ‘I love you’ (vv.15–17).
Sacrificial love
Jesus hints to Peter that his love and zeal for Jesus and his church is going to be costly. Indeed, it would cost Peter his life. Jesus says to him, ‘ “When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God’ (vv.18–19). This is the earliest evidence for the martyrdom of Peter by crucifixion.
When Peter is told this he turns, sees John and asks about his future. Jesus ‘politely tells him to mind his own business’, Joyce Meyer writes, ‘When you are tempted to compare yourself with others or be jealous, remember this advice!’
Servant love
Each time Peter tells Jesus ‘I love you’, Jesus tells Peter, ‘Feed my lambs … Take care of my sheep … Feed my sheep’ (vv.15–17). Then Jesus says to Peter very simply, ‘Follow me!’ (v.19). This crazy love for Jesus means following his example of love. Jesus showed the supreme example of servant love. He said, ‘Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’ (John 15:13). He gave a very practical example of what this kind of servant love involved, when he washed the disciples’ feet (John 13).
Jesus calls us to the same kind of love. We express our passionate love for Jesus by a passionate love for other people, by giving our lives to take care of his sheep, to feed, serve and love them.
Peter was willing to make Jesus the supreme love of his life; he was willing to pay the price and to follow in his footsteps of servant love. He loved the one who did so many things in his brief life on earth that ‘if every one of them were written down … the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written’ (John 21:25).
Lord, help me to love you as Peter did – to be zealous for you. Help me to feed your lambs, take care of your sheep and be willing to pay the price, whatever it is, to follow you to the end."
1. Thank You for the push to express the kind of love that You did for us. Really help me to feed your lambs, take care of your sheep and be willing to pay that price regardless of my situation.
2. Thank You for the life of my brother as he gains another year of blessing for the family.
3. Thank You for the excitement to try new things in this country, a different kind of Jellyfish soup.
