Affirmation and Redemption

John 21:15-17

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’  ‘Yes, Lord,” he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’

Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’

The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’  Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’ “

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Alleluia!  He is risen!  The Lord is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

It feels so good to write those words.  Say them out loud!  Alleluia! He is risen!!

The pain of death from Good Friday is gone.  The emptiness, sadness and fear of hope lost from yesterday has vanished. 

Alleluia!  He is risen!

Our God, Jesus Christ, the risen Lord could have chosen to do many things upon His resurrection.  He could have gone to a mountaintop, appeared to the whole world and shouted in a loud voice which would have echoed across the universe: “I AM the One true God.  Worship me!  Bow down and honor me!”  But He does not do this, even though His infinite power permitted it.  He does not go and appear to Pilate, to Caiphas, or to the other members of the Jewish leadership who condemned Him to death.  He does not appear to those who mocked Him while wearing a crown of thorns, carrying a heavy rough-hewn cross.

Instead, He appears to His friends, those closest to Him; those who would most appreciate the importance of His resurrection.  He spent time with those on whom He would rely to spread the Good News.  He showed them that He had conquered Death once and for all.  He had borne the sins of the world for all time in order that all would have the opportunity to be with God for eternity.

But, for me, one of the most meaningful and beautiful moments we see of the resurrected Jesus, is this individual interaction with Peter.  Once again, Christ can be with all and for all, all at the same time, yet He can also have this personal and intimate relationship with one soul, with you, with me.

Jesus takes the time to allow Peter the opportunity to “undo” what he had done on the night He was arrested.   Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love Me?”  Jesus gives Peter a miraculous and special gift, attesting his Love for Jesus the exact same amount of times for which Peter also denied Him on Good Friday.

In this way, Jesus shows us that through Him, Peter has the ability to be restored and renewed.  Peter no longer has to bear the weight of his sin.  Peter does not have to be mired in the hell of his guilt.  Peter is welcomed with open arms into a loving relationship with Jesus, even though he has fallen down so many times.

How are you…how is every human soul…how am I, any different than Peter?

Heavenly Father,

Through the glorious resurrection of Your Son, You have given us an eternal life with You.

We praise You, we glorify You, we thank you for this gift of redemption.

Help us always, dear Lord, to remember that there is nothing which can separate us from Your Love.  When we miss the mark, when we sin, we can always return to You through our recognition of our sin and our repentance of it.

Because of His sacrifice, when You look upon us, You do not see our sin, but You see Your Son, Jesus Christ, who took on our sin.  We are so thankful for this.

Be with us, Lord, now and for all time, until Christ comes again in glory.

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

We ask and offer all of these things in the name of the Risen Christ,

Amen.