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Past Ponderings

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

PONDERING... Shepherds of Sheep (John 21:7-25)

BARE-BARE BONES NOTES
Shepherds of Sheep
SCRIPTURE: John 21:7-25

Like I said last week, we have been studying John together for almost three years now (we started in the spring of 2013). I have learned so much from this procress and pray that it translates over into my life.
John 21:7-25  7  That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.  8  The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.  9  When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.  10  Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."  11  So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.  12  Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.  13  Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.  14  This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 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, "Feed my lambs."  16  He said to him 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, "Tend 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 everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.  18  Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."  19  (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."  20  Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"  21  When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"  22  Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!"  23  So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"  24  This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.  25  Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Shepherds are Forgiven by the Master Shepherd....which means we need it! 

Human shepherds are broken people.
Here’s a quick look at Peter. In Luke 5:8, when Peter witnessed Jesus providing the large number of fish, we see him say this:  "But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Then, in the upper room, he said: Matthew 26:33  Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."
John 13:37  Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then, he denies Him three times. Then, he JUMPS into the water.
1. Peter knows he needs forgiven. He covers himself and rushes to Jesus.
2. Jesus forgives him. That's the major focus of this final chapter, the restoration of Peter. Mimicking the three times Peter denies Christ, Jesus calls Peter to show his love by taking care of His sheep. 
Shepherds LOVE the Master Shepherd
With all your heart. We sing it. We say it. But...is it real?
That's the question. Three is a difference between the word for love being used by Jesus and Peter. This may or may not be significant. Either way, the heart here is that we are to love God, and that that love is shown by our service to His flock.

Shepherds Obey the Master Shepherd
153? Goes to get them...alone or with the others...still a lot of fish.

Shepherds Follow the Master Shepherd
Jesus tells Peter to follow him twice in this passage. This mirrors his call the first time. The repetition is important because Peter gets distracted even in the midst of the calling.

1. Jesus has a plan for us. We need to follow Him.
2. Jesus has a plan for those around us, but we just need to follow Him.

Shepherds Tend the Master Shepherd's Sheep 
His sheep. Not the sheep I want.

And... this is more important than life
Peter is told the end result.


* Brief Note on verse 12: "12  Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord." Does this gives us any hints about Jesus' resurrected body, or our glorified bodies? Maybe, maybe not. We know the disciples didn't recognize Jesus when they were on the boats due to distance and time of day (day break), but why is this emphasized when they were face-to-face with Him? Did He look different, or was it just saying now they had no question as to who He was, or were they still far enough away that they couldn't see His face but His words ("Come and dine") made clear beyond doubt His identity? It could be any of these, but the main idea is that they believed without physical evidence. Chew on that. 

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