Breakfast

In chapter 21 of the Gospel of John, some of the disciples are fishing on the Sea of Galilee. They are catching nothing when the risen Lord appears and tells them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. They obey and the net is filled with fish. John is the first to recognize Jesus. Peter ties his outer garment to himself and jumps in and swims to shore. John and the others stay in the boat and row in with the fish. When they get to shore the risen Christ serves them. He has built a fire and asks for some fish to cook. He serves them bread and fish for breakfast. God serving man! After they eat Jesus pulls Peter aside and asks “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” Do you think that Peter might have thought that swimming to Jesus with his clothes on proved that he loved Jesus more than the others? Peter answers “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus reply’s “Feed my lambs.” Jesus tells Peter to do the work. If you want to show your love for me do the work I have given you. Jesus asks Peter the question again this time differently, without the comparison to the other disciples. “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” Peter replies “yes”. Jesus answers “Feed my lambs” Jesus asks Peter the third and final time “Do you love me?” Peter is hurt but again answers yes. Jesus replies “Feed my sheep”. But this time Jesus tells Peter he is being sent to places he will not want to go, he will not feel like doing the work. Peter notices John and asks Jesus “Lord what about him?” It’s as if Peter wants to know Christ’s plans for John and if they include the difficulties that Peters will. Part of Jesus reply was “what is that to you? You must follow me.” Do the work I have for you.
Sometimes I expect other Christians to behave like me, to have the same concerns I have, to serve Christ the way I serve him, but we are all part of the body and have different roles. So Jesus asks me and you individually “Do you love me? Do the work I have for you. “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”1 Corinthians 12: 18.