In John 21. 15-17, we see a curious conversation (at least at the beginning) between Jesus and Peter.
The conversation begins with a direct question from Jesus to Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others?What does Pedro say? Yes, Lord, do you know that I love you?.
- After Jesus gave Peter an order (we will see him soon).
- Surprisingly.
- Jesus repeats the question: “Simon.
- Son of John.
- Do you love me?What does Pierre say? Yes.
- Lord.
- Do you know that I love you?You? (and Jesus repeats order).
And then Jesus asks the same question for the third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”If we read this text for the first time in our lives, we would probably have the same reaction as Peter. “saddened that I said, for the third time, “Do you love me?”(v. 17).
Did Jesus have any doubts about Peter’s love? After reading the gospels, do you have any doubts about Peter’s love for Jesus? In this same chapter, in verse 7, when someone in the boat announces that the man on the beach was Jesus, Peter has a reaction close to euphoria, he cannot maintain control, as soon as he puts on his clothes, jumps out of the boat and nothing. Shot on the beach. Isn’t this, my brother, a reaction motivated by Peter’s love for Jesus?
I find it obvious that Peter loved Jesus, Peter knew that he loved Jesus and Jesus, more than anyone knew Peter’s love for him.
So I’m led to consider that, perhaps the most important question here isn’t: Do you love me, but “feed me, pastor. “
If we go back to the beginning of Chapter 21. 3, we will see Peter take (as always) the initiative. And what was it?” Simo Peter said unto them, I go fishing. And the others went with him.
Well, if you go with me to Matthew 4, can you see how Peter, along with his brother Andrew, was summoned by Jesus?And he said unto them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishermen of men. “But in Joo 21, Peter fishes (or at least tries to fish) fish, not men.
Now, then, we get to the bottom. Jesus’ conversation with Peter is no longer strange or curious, especially given Jesus’ didactic style. What Jesus teaches Peter is: Peter, if you love me as you say you love, because you are here, doing what you did before me. I called you, that is, working as a fisherman, you were not called, and I did not spend those three years with you so that you could fish again, I have called you and trained you to be pastor of the Church, to dedicate your life to grazing my sheep.
And then Jesus repeats the same order He had given Peter three years earlier: “Follow me?”(21,19).
How many times have we seen men, who have ever responded to God’s call to shepherd the flock, return to the care of a secular life, prioritize a career, seek training for pure status, or?Achieve a youthful dream ?, while trying in parallel, to carry out pastoral ministry.
The question is not that these men don’t like Jesus, if you ask them three times if they love Jesus, will most people respond with three angry ones?Yes? And maybe they’ll start to get outraged, like Peter, when they answer for the third. Time.
The point is that this love for Christ must be?Triple strong? So that the pastor may stand firm in the ministry to which he was called, without falling into the temptation to return to the values that seduced him before being called to pastoral care.
It should also be remembered that, in the text we are examining, Jesus warns Peter that the mission would not be easy (vv. 18-19).
If you are a shepherd, if you were ever truly called by Jesus for the ministry of sheep grazing, you should seek to study constantly, develop, prepare better, but all this must be done in view of the order given to you when you were called, summoned.
Pedro, sure, was an excellent fisherman. But the Lord’s call to him was now another.
As Bonhoeffer wrote, “What good are law teachers, Pharisees, and preachers, if pastors are missing from the community?Is the good shepherd fighting for his flock? You know your problems and weaknesses. Heal the wounds, babies ?? (Disciple, p. 160).
The flock needs a wise and contextualized shepherd, who has a good academic background and who knows how to preach well, but just as importantly, for the flock, is care, attention, loving counsel, patient rescue and discipline with love.
Pastor, prepare for ministry, study, frequent training, but remember your days of professionalism, starting a career, reaching higher positions are behind you.
The Lord’s commandment for today’s shepherds is always the same as that given to Peter centuries ago: feed my sheep.