|
The
Commission of God
John :
21;15-17
“Feed my
sheep”
In John chapter 21, the story
is all about Jesus appearing to the seven disciples by the sea of
Tiberias. After having a powerful experience with Jesus, disciples
retreated hopelessly to their old profession and ordinary life. Here
again the risen Jesus illumined their ordinary life to a rich and lively
one.
1.Disciples’ new understanding about Jesus.
“Cast out the net over
the right side of the boat”. They made a cast and took so many fish; they
could hardly haul the net. What is the deeper meaning of this
event? It is now that Jesus having entered in to their lives and
illumined them to raise to a new pitch. Now they caught everything.
He raised their ordinary life, ordinary task, and family life. When risen
Christ enters in to our lives He will raise it to a new level. John
the beloved disciple shouts out “it is the Lord”. John recognized
Jesus in this new elevation of Life. So when we obey the commission of
God, we are becoming his friends.
2.Peter’s new understanding about Jesus
Peter put on his tunic and
jumped in to water to come to Jesus. Before the original sin Adam and Eve
walked with God in easy conversation. They were naked but they were not
conscious about it. After they had sinned , they covered themselves
with clothes. On the boat Peter is unaware of the sin. But in the
presence of Jesus, he put on his garments like Adam and Eve. He was
ashamed of the sin that he denied Jesus three times. Your awareness of
the sin can be a sign that Christ’ power is much more operative in you
than it was before. Jesus then invited His disciples for a meal. Sharing
of the meal was a typical move of Jesus. This is precisely what we do at
the Holy Communion. Despite our sins, we are invited to share the
intimacy of eating and drinking with the Lord. After that Jesus does a
brief interview with Peter. He asked Peter three times- do you love me
more than these?(other disciples, possessions , and ordinary life).
Peter was hurt and said , ”Lord you know everything, you know that I love
You”. Jesus made him to affirm the love three times and then gave the
strong commission three times.
3.Our love for God prepares us for service
Christianity is not a
philosophy – not a matter of subscribing to some ideas or to a set of
principles. But it is a personal relationship with Jesus. As disciples,
He is turning our denial in to love, we are sent on a mission- take care
of the sheep, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the
naked, comfort the sorrowing, all the spiritual and corporal work of
mercy are ways of feeding the sheep of the Lord. When you let Him in to
your lives, you are no longer in charge, you will be led by His power to
where you don’t want to go. That means, taking us to a spiritual
adventure- Journeying with Christ to a new pitch.
PRAYER
Dear God, keep me in steadfast faith to you
and in fervent love for others. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
We are never alone when we are alone with
Jesus
Rev. Mathew
John
Christian Education Forum,
Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
|