HE visited them often, ate with them, continued to instruct them, and otherwise eased their fears, their doubts, their discomfort. When it was time, HE gave them THE HOLY SPIRIT to greatly empower them in order to fulfill HIS WILL, and PROMISES...
The Disciples were fishing; they had caught nothing, but THE LORD was on the shore, and as they headed towards land, HE told them to drop their nets. They did not recognize HIM at first, but did so, in which case, they gathered more than a 100 large fish; in the meantime, the Beloved Disciple recognized HIM, which prompted Peter to jump into the water to reach THE LORD quickly. There on the shore, our LORD had a fire going, and shared a meal with them, which HE had already prepared. Afterwards, Peter, whom THE LORD designated as 'the rock' of THE CHURCH, whom had denied HIM three times, was addressed with DIVINE reason:
15+++So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”
16+++He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
17+++He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.
Conscious of integrity, Peter solemnly appealed to Christ, as knowing all things, even the secrets of his heart. It is well when our falls and mistakes make us more humble and watchful. The sincerity of our love to God must be brought to the test; and it behoves us to inquire with earnest, preserving prayer to the heart-searching God, to examine and prove us, whether we are able to stand this test. No one can be qualified to feed the sheep and lambs of Christ, who does not love the good Shepherd more than any earthly advantage or object. It is the great concern of every good man, whatever death he dies, to glorify God in it; for what is our chief end but this, to die to the Lord, at the word of the Lord?
Shall we say (with many) that Peter was here reinstated in office? Not exactly, since he was not actually excluded from it. But after such conduct as his, the deep wound which the honor of Christ had received, the stain brought on his office, the damage done to his high standing among his brethren, and even his own comfort, in prospect of the great work before him, required some such renewal of his call and re-establishment of his position as this.
Each of the terms of the commission, in its threefold repetition, resembles the other; and the whole duty of the pastor of souls and earthly shepherd of the flock is involved in each of the three expressions. Our Lord commences, however, with providing true food, seasonable nourishment, for the "lambs" of the flock. The tender emotion involved in the term cannot be excluded, but it is a comprehensive and suggestive one, and embraces the young converts, the first believers, those who with impetuosity and gladness receive the Word; the little children who will literally crowd into the Church become the highest and sacredest care of the chiefest apostles and most honored of pastors. The first, the main thing they need, is the milk of the Word, and the sweetest pastures. This consideration of the next generation, and gracious care for the children and the childlike of every successive age, is one of the sacred signs of Divine revelation.
Our Lord is represented in the synopties as "suffering the little children" to "come to" him, as "blessing them," and rejoicing in their hosannas. John preserves and glorifies the whole conception by recording this commission of the risen Lord to the greatest of the apostles. If the babes and sucklings had "held their peace, the stones would have cried out," is the pathetic approval of the rejected Lord. "Feed my lambs" is the gracious, unexpected summons of the triumphant Christ and Lord of all.
EACH of us who CLAIM CHRIST JESUS as our LORD, and SAVIOUR, MUST, like Peter, be tested, even by ourselves; we must often, review our CALLING, and renew the intent, and strength with which we serve HIM, and our role in HIS WILL! We are NOT of this world, yet the world is EVER challenging us, distracting us, and therefore, HAS the ability to make us weak in our FAITH, FAITHFULNESS, and so forth! As 'the rock' of THE CHURCH was so challenged when he denied THE LORD three times, each of us IS endangered in various ways by what is common to, and of this world! Therefore, DAILY we should reinforce our commitment TO our LORD, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, and HIS WORD!!!
The GIFT of THE HOLY SPIRIT, for sure, lessens our missteps, IF we are ACTIVELY involved in BECOMING CHRIST-like, and DOING as HE WILLS! We begin to readily, do our part which is to increase in the knowledge, understanding, and utilization of HIS WILL, realizing we ARE CO-PARTNERS WITH THE LORD, and HIS COVENANT: it is NOT a one sided matter, despite the fact that we did not choose HIM, but HE chose us!!!
THE LORD did NOT deny Peter in any way, but TAUGHT him via his falling into temptation; then, HE challenged him TO step UP to his TRUTH, which IS THE LORD!!!
EACH day we are reminded of HIS BEAUTIFUL, and AWESOME POWERS! Let us BLESS HIM, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE for us, and may we HONOUR HIM BY BEING THE REFLECTIONS HE HAS CHOSEN us to be; it IS FOR HIS GLORY that we exist, and in this world, we exist to INSPIRE others TO THE LIGHT! THANK YOU LORD for ALL YOU ARE, and ALL YOU DO; I, for one, AM ever indebted, ever grateful, ever thankful, ever appreciative, and ever humbled!!!
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