After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?[a]”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others[b] will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” (John 21:15-19)
There are many statistics out there about the future of the church, about how it is very limited and that the church is dying and more and more people are not going to church. I don’t know if this is true or not, I know that what fuels me as a youth minister is preparing students to be disciples for Jesus Christ and I am beyond blessed to be a part of that journey.
The Journey that we experience now in our lives with being disciples starts in this passage.
Today, I had the awesome opportunity of co-leading a Leadership Lab with with my friend and fellow youth worker, Jason Weaver. Today obviously we talked about Leadership, but specifically we talked about how true leaders are learners as well, that journey is not a destination but a life long process. We really tried to stress that we never know everything about being an effective leader because we are always learning how to better ourselves.
An example in this discussion was the disciple Peter, because we felt that he was a shining example of a leader that was constantly learning, faltering, getting back up and trying again. The passage above is an example of his getting back up and trying again. Jesus is preparing him for what’s coming next which is huge. The creation of the early christian church. One observation that came to me as I reflect on our experience of learning together today:
1. Leadership is uncomfortable.
It doesn’t matter who you are, at some point in time I am sure you have experienced this notion. There are times as leaders where we wonder why the heck are we doing what we are doing, but we are and so we continue. If you are as stubborn as I am then when you have decided to do something because God has called you to it you are going to stick with it to the very end. Nothing is going to stop me from trying again and again, but that doesn’t change the fact that at times God brings me to a very uncomfortable situation and usually God uses my mistakes to my message in this time.
So put yourself in Peter’s shoes.
How many times recently have you denied Christ’s call on your life because it was just not comfortable and not convenient. If you are like me this happens like a lot and if we are honest we are not comfortable with where God leads us, but know this and be encouraged with the simple truth that as He brings you to a tough situation you are being equipped and empowered in this situations!
In this moment Jesus is serious about the task that He has for Peter. It’s not enough that Jesus has shown Peter the best way to live. It can’t end there, Peter must now go and do likewise. This might be the uncomfortable part of being a disciple. When we finally get up to show up and listen to Christ, he has the gall to tell us to leave His presence and share the love and grace with the world.
What do mean leave?
I just got here!
Exactly. Now go and share what you have learned in the showing up.
Jesus, our Lord and Savior has called you to something. It is very unique to you because you offer something that no one has ever offered in the history of world. You were created to do this exact thing. He is dead serious too, so….
Next time you feel that God doesn’t know what He’s doing…..
Be still.
Trust.
And Know that God is with You and everything He does is for the good!
Then all of God’s children together said:
Amen.