Do You Love Me?

John 21: 1-17

 

 

          In the movie, Saving Private Ryan, a story of World War II and specifically of D Day, Old James Ryan has returned to Normandy and stands over the grave of Captain Miller, the man who was sent to save his life.  The whole squad was killed trying to save Private Ryan. In his dying breaths, Captain Miller tells young James to “earn this…earn it.” Now, as Ryan stands there some fifty years later, he talks to Miller’s headstone as though he were there. “Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge. I tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I’ve earned what all of you have done for me.” Those men died for Ryan. They died to save a stranger. Five sons had been sent by the Ryan family. Only James returned. Only Captain Miller met him and that for just  for a moment. And yet, they gave all they had for this private.

          In the gospel of John, Jesus shows up on the shoreline for breakfast. It is after his death and resurrection. Seven of the disciples are there. It is daybreak. There is a great catch of fish…153 fish, the same number as there are varieties of fish in the Sea of Galilee. They had breakfast and were sitting around, maybe telling fish stories. Then Jesus spoke to Peter. “Peter,” he said, “Do you love me?” “Yes Lord, you know that I love you,” said Peter. Jesus answered: “Feed my lambs.”

          Jesus asked a second time: “Peter, do you love me,” and for a second time, Peter answered “Yes, Lord. you know that I love you.” Jesus answered, “Feed my sheep.”

          Yet a third time, Jesus addressed Peter saying: “Peter, do you love me?” And for a third time, Peter answered Jesus: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Don’t you know that by that time, it was occurring to Peter that Jesus had asked him about his love and loyalty three times, the same amount of times that Peter has denied Jesus on the night of his arrest. How that must have stung! And for the third time, Jesus answers: “Feed my sheep.”  

          Do you think the disciples were listening this time? Do you think Peter was? I think he was. We do that a lot, don’t we? We listen really well after the sun goes down on our mistakes and failures. Failure is such a splendid teacher.

          John gives us two wonderful word pictures here in this 21^st chapter of his gospel, a chapter many think was added later by someone else. I really don’t care, for my thought is that God kept it for us to read and share regardless of who wrote it. The first lesson is in the catch. John gives us the number (153) for a reason. First of all, the net is full. It can’t hold any more. Secondly, the catch is of every variety of fish in the sea. If the catch were men and women, they would be from all walks of life. They would be from all nations and continents. They would be men, women and children. And there will be many…enough to fill heaven.

          But Jesus saves the greatest lesson for his friend Peter. And Peter was his friend, regardless of what Peter had failed to do in the past. The god who became man, who brought us everlasting love, who taught us how to give love, who gave his all to prove that love, asks Peter if he got the message.  For the message of our Savior is love…love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus asks us not once but three times: Do you love me? In the gospel of John, this is the last time they, the disciples, saw Jesus. And Jesus acted not like a god, but a friend. He could see the swirls of fish from the shore and told them where to cast their nets. He probably helped them pull in the haul. He made breakfast for them. Then, knowing he was not to see them again on this side of heaven, he chose Peter to whom he would give some final advice. The advice he gave to Peter that day has been written down and preserved for the ages because it was that valuable. It was not just advice; it was a commission. If we love Jesus, as we say we do, then we can show that love by the way we handle our lives.

          It is as though Jesus is talking to us as his friends, but that is no accident. Jesus is our friend. Earlier in this same gospel, Jesus tells us that “greater love hath no man, than he lay down his life for his friend.” Do you love me? he asks. The answer is not just yes. We must realize just as Peter came to realize it, that to love Jesus is to spend that love on someone else. Love is the currency of heaven and not unlike a bank that pays interest on your investments, when you spend the love of Jesus on your fellow man, the Holy Spirit that dwells within you grows you a bigger heart.

          Feed my sheep, says Jesus. Peter heard him. The others heard him. They spent the rest of their lives finding lost sheep and feeding them. Jesus didn’t care about what Peter had done wrong. He doesn’t care about what you’ve done wrong, either. Jesus cares about what you have learned and what you do with that information. He doesn’t want you to do a thing for him. He wants you to do for others. That’s the way you show that you love him. Peter got another chance and he cashed in on it. He loved Jesus by loving others until his death.

          You know, Private Ryan had the right idea. He tried to live his life earning the gift he was given. He couldn’t pay for it, but he could pass it on. He came home from that terrible war and got a job and fell in love and married and raised a family. He showed up every day and tried to be a good man. He did what Captain Miller had asked him to do. He earned the investment of his fellow soldiers by living his life in honor.

          Jesus came to teach us love. Today of all days, on Easter Sunday, we realize that sometimes real love comes with great sacrifice… and always with steadfast diligence.  “Feed my sheep,” he said to Peter… and to us.

Happy Easter. He is risen!