Sunday 4 May 2025
And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep." (v. 17)
Background
John’s Gospel differs from the other three in its account of Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection. According to John, Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene in the garden (John 20:11-18), then to some of the disciples on the evening of that day (John 20:24-29). Lastly, as in the passage we read today, Jesus greets his disciples from the shore of Lake Galilee as they complete an unsuccessful night's fishing.
It is a story which is rich in meaning and invites deep reflection. One clue to understanding it seems to be in the number of echoes of other stories in John's Gospel that we might hear, not unlike a musical's finale based on reprised tunes from earlier in the work. The focus of the latter part of the story is on Peter and three echoes can be heard in the repeated question and answer sequence which begins with Jesus asking, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
The first echo is of an incident in the first chapter of John's Gospel (v. 42). When Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, Jesus "looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas' (which is translated Peter)".
The echo is twice repeated. The threefold questioning of Peter reminds us of the three times that Peter said he did not know Jesus (John 18:15-17, 25-27). The recapitulation has a clear message: the denial is forgiven and Peter is free to start his ministry again.
The third echo tells us something about that ministry. Peter is commanded to "feed my sheep" (v. 17). This echoes chapter 10 where Jesus describes himself as "the good shepherd". Peter is entrusted with a share in that shepherding but is warned that it will be costly. "The good shepherd lay down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Peter is also called to service that will cost him his life (v. 18). The deceptively simple phrase with which the passage ends, "Follow me" (v. 19), is loaded with meaning.
To Ponder:
- In the echo of his denial, Peter had to face the reality of what he had done. In post-apartheid South Africa, a truth and reconciliation commission worked to address the crimes that had been committed so the country could move forward. Are there situations you are aware of where a painful truth has to be faced in order that there might be a new beginning? How might that process begin?
- This resurrection appearance of Jesus was a new beginning for Peter. In some churches there is the renewal of baptism vows on Easter Day, a sign of a new beginning in our commitment to Christ. How helpful do you find it to 'go back to the beginning' of your own Christian story at Easter?
(Originally published in 2016.)