Text- John 21: 15-19
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.”
Message
This text is a very challenging one and has always eluded me. I would interpret in a very simple way. The entire character study of Peter in the book of John is very interesting and is well elucidated in the book ‘Encountering Jesus’ by Cornelius Bennema. He observes that Peter is always subordinated to ‘The Beloved Disciple’. Scholars are of the opinion that John 21 does not fit the larger redaction of John but is a later addition. Leaving rest aside let us consider the characteristics of the text. This text is in the context of Post Resurrection at the Tiberias Sea. I am taking the license to assume that Peter after his tumultuous journey of discipleship returned back to his ways of fishing as seen in John 21:3.this could be due to his disillusionment with his efficacy in the mission entrusted to him. Jesus encounters him in this very context of defection from mission. The scene of miracle of catching 153 fishes intensifies the plot. There are a lot of allusions to Luke 5: 1-11 which described the call of Peter at the Gennesaret Lake. He reveals his Lordship through this act of miracle and providence of feeding the disciples.
This calls for the analysis of the mentioned text. Here Jesus begins the “Do you love me” questions to Peter in the context of his returning to his fishing ways. Bennema says that the conventional interpretation of Agape-Philio does not hold ground as Agape is equated to divine love and philio as earthly love. But in John 5:20 the love between Father and Son, the verb used is philio while in John 3:19 agape is used for man’s love for darkness. So the focus has to be shifted from the “Do you love me” questions of Jesus, to the commissions of “Feed my lambs”(21:15), “Tend my sheep”(21:16)and “Feed my sheep”(21:17). The reluctant Peter is affirmed to be a Shepherd through this commissioning. The verses 18 and 19 affirm the veracity of this claim. Vs18 is an allusion of the future of Peter and vs 19 explains that this indicates the death of Peter with which he would glorify God. This was in conjunction with the claims that he earlier made that he would lay down his life for Jesus(13:36-38; 18:15-17) but defected from it when it mattered. Then he said “Follow me”. Now this entire text should be read in conjunction with John 10:1-18 where Jesus speaks of the “Good Shepherd”. So his death would be that of a “Good Shepherd” as Jesus says “and I lay down my life for the sheep”(10:15b). So “Follow me” is a call to Peter to follow Jesus’ example. To be a Good Shepherd. To lay down his life for the sheep. The fruition of his call can be seen in 1st Epistle of Peter 5:1-4. “Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2 to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.” Here we see Peter challenges his flock to be shepherds. And as we know that tradition says that Peter was crucified head upside down. This is the allusion we find in vs 18 and 19. He lived his call to discipleship. He followed his Good Shepherd who had defeated death by dying and giving us the hope of resurrection. Uncompromising call is to be The Shepherd and to lay down one’s life for the mission and his flock.
In an age where call and mission is seen in very comfortable terms, this text revises us. We, who are called, are like Peter, who keep going back to our comfort zones. Are we sincere in our vocation? Are we doing what we are called for? The Spirit of Jesus is calling us at the Sea of Tiberius to be Shepherds. He is commissioning us. We are called to lay down our lives for His flock. So the call is costly and I ask myself am I ready for this. Do we even care for the flock? This text challenges us to revisit our call and mission mandate. Do we heed this voice? Let me close this deliberation with a story that is very dear and close to me. In today’s age if one takes a poll to know which is that one song that the youths make fun of, I am sure the honour would go to the song Ennod Ulla Nin Sarva Nanmagalkay which is song number 67 in our Kristiya Keertanangal. This is because we fail to comprehend the power and history of this beautiful song written by Sri P. V. Thommi. It is said that Thommi was a zealous and devout Christian who wrote classic songs like Enth Athisheyamme and Innu Pakal Muzhuvan. In 1946 his village was in the grips of a terrible cholera epidemic. He took it upon himself to serve the people in this time of crisis as a witness to God’s love. He also became a victim of it. Death was knocking at his doors. Looking at death in its eyes P.V. Thommi held his daughter by his side and sang this song “Ennod Ulla Nin Sarva Nanmagalkay”. Even at the brink of death he is thankful to God and asks what can he do in return for all the goodness he has seen in his life. He served so as to lay down his life for Christ and facing death he was hopeful and thankful because the Good Shepherd had Risen from the Dead.
Merin Mathew,
Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam
Final Year Student.
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