Acts 9:1-20
Ps.30
Rev.5:ll-l4
John 21:1-19

3 Easter C--RCL
HE 2A 10:00

THREE CONVERSIONS (PETER)

Credits: Our Church Times 4/13/86 p.3
Interp.Bible ad John 21:1-19
Previous: 86

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The Gospel story today is a fishing story. The disciples are back at their old trade, after the events of Easter. They are fishing with a net off the side of a small boat, the way that men still do today, on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples had no luck, till Jesus told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. Then they caught many fish.

When they come ashore with their catch, Jesus already has fish on a charcoal fire, and bread. The breakfast that is shared reminds us of the Eucharist, for Jesus took the bread and gave it to the disciples.

This fishing story sets the scene for the testing of Peter by Jesus - three times, Jesus asks Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

So often, after receiving Holy Communion, we are tested, as to how we love the Lord - from the way that we talk at the coffee hour, to the way we drive our cars, and work and think and speak and feel all week. Let us see what this testing involved for Peter, for he is like us in so many ways.

"Simon, son of John, do you love me?" That scene has made a very deep impression on the mind of Christendom - the searching, threefold questioning of Peter.

I. The first time, Jesus asks Peter with the words "Do you love me more than these?" What did Jesus mean? Did He mean, "Do you really love me more than these other disciples love me?" After all, Peter had confidently boasted that even though everyone should fail Jesus, he for one certainly would not. (Mark 14:29). But it does not seem like Christ to handle people like that. Peter had denied Christ three times. Would Christ harass a fallen and repentant man, rub salt into his wound, and set him against His other followers - and above all, would He do it in the presence of those others. That doesn't seem right. And so some think that Christ's question meant something like this : "Once on a certain day I called you, Peter; and then you responded, rose up at once, left everything, and followed. That was your first conversion. But you are back at the old life again. And are you going to abandon me? Are you pulling out of the adventure? Having put your hand to the plow, are you looking back? Do the old ties tug at your heart? And are they drawing you away from me? Or do you still love me more than these old ties? You must decide between them and me, today, in this old familiar place. You are in danger of deserting. That is why I am here."

Well, that is like Jesus. For certainly, He has often broken in on us in the very nick of time We were in danger. We were deciding, and deciding wrongly. And suddenly some word of His sprang into our mind. Some remembrance of Him rose up and steadied us. And with that we rallied, and the crisis safely passed. That was Peter's second conversion. And it is ours.

II. Christ's questions to Peter show the test by which He judges our standing or falling. "Do you love me more than you love these other things?" That was the first question. Then twice, "Do you love me?" - that is, do you love me at all, that you could be called "loving"? It is a drastic test. And Peter, in the face of that, does not protest or argue. He knows that if he is challenged, he has small evidence of his affection to put forward. For he has failed Christ, denied Christ, deserted Christ, at every occasion that aggravated his disloyalty. That he does not forget. And yet, though he cannot prove it, though it may not look that way, though many things rise up to mock his claim, he knows that he does love Christ, though, in spite of everything, and he confidently calls Christ Himself as his witness, almost challenging Him to deny it, agreeing that he will stand or fall by the Master's decision in the matter. "You know," he says; and again, "You know," and then in a kind of desperation, "You who know all things, you must know this, that I do love you."

And in the end of the day, what other plea does anyone of us have? We too, have failed and faltered and deserted Christ too often. And yet we also can protest that we love Christ. In the face of failures which we do not deny, failures that seem to make the claim ridiculous - we do love Christ, and He knows it. And with us as with Peter, He accepts that plea.

To the disciple, Jesus gives a wonderful promise, that though he had so sadly broken down, he would be faithful finally unto death. And with that, Jesus trustfully and hopefully, as optimistic for Peter as when He first chose him years ago, Jesus says, "Follow me."

And so it has been with you and me. What strange and persistent faith He has in us, a faith that will not break or die. He called us at first, and He has continued to call us many times besides: We have been converted again and again and again.

III. It is impressive also to notice three times over, the standard which our Lord gives, by which we can measure the value of the affection that we claim we have for Him. That standard is service to others. And that is the third conversion. "Feed my lambs" - "feed my sheep;" and again,"tend my sheep". That is not only our standard, but His. Any affection worthy of the name is no mere sentiment, but is eager to do and give on behalf of the loved one. And so it is between a true Christian and the Master. St. Paul writes, "For the love of Christ controls us, for we are convinced that one died for all; and He died for all so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who died for their sins and was raised" (2 Cor.5: 14-15). One is called by God not to privilege but to service, and the opportunity to serve is a large part of the privilege. We are not called to spiritual back-scratching and taking our pulse all the time, but to service. Feed my lambs ... tend my sheep.

FEED MY LAMBS: It was Christ Who brought to light the infinite value of the child. As a matter of history, few things have been more important than Christ's interest in children, and the passing on of something of His spirit in this matter to His Church. "Feed my lambs, my little ones," said Christ, putting that first. Often it has small results. But more is happening than is realized by mothers, nurses, teachers. In the first few years, what happens to and in us, is of such immense importance that it will shape the direction of our life throughout. "Do you love me?", said Jesus: "Feed my lambs."

And then twice over, He commends the older people to Peter's care (and ours). Many people get tired of life and need help and heartening and direction. And that need continues through life and to its end. "Do you love me?" "Feed my sheep," "Tend my sheep." Do not lose your way among lesser and secondary things, but feed my sheep and tend them. This Jesus says to Peter, and to us.

Peter was converted three times. The first was when he was first called to follow Christ, to become a fisher for people. The second was when he turned to Christ afresh, after he had denied Christ. Then later he was converted to help in Christ's work. He experience is a measuring-stick for our experience as well. As we go through these three conversions, we attain maturity in Christ. If one has not passed through all these conversions in his or her own life, a person can be open or receptive to them; and if a person has passed through or is passing through them, then one can be thankful, and look for conversion at ever deeper levels.

Do you love Me? Do you love Me at all? Feed my sheep. Tend my lambs.