6-29-25                                  John 21:15-19. Peter & Paul

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.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt 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 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

As Paul so often wrote: Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This breakfast was the one served by Jesus after his resurrection. He had met with some of the twelve on this morning after they had gone fishing. Those disciples seemed to be at loose ends, not sure what to do and what exactly was expected of them at this point. Jesus meets with them, sharing a meal; a comforting, normal event, perhaps meant to calm and center them after the turmoil of the last week. This establishes a new beginning that ties them irrevocably to the same ministry they had witnessed with Jesus. As Simon Peter is singled out, Jesus asks him point blank about the strength of his love for him. “Do you love me more than these?” He is letting Peter know it will take every bit of that love to keep going in the direction laid out for him by Jesus. He is also directed to feed those lambs and tend to those sheep. The goal of this work, for Peter and all the apostles, will be to nourish and sustain the faith of those who come to believe in Christ. They are to become the shepherds for this flock. 

You are also reminded, by this three-fold questioning, about the weakness Peter displayed in the three-fold denial of Jesus during the time of his trial before Pilate. Having claimed he did not even know Jesus, his effort to remove himself as a collaborator, points out that Peter was no superman of the faith, far from perfect. Yet Jesus places his confidence in Peter and in Peter’s love for him, that he will fulfill the challenge of following Jesus and build a foundation with that love that will support this church that is coming into being. 

Paul also was far from perfect. In fact, as a persecutor of those early Christians, Paul showed himself as an enemy of Christ, a threat to those who followed in the Way. Once he was confronted on that road to Damascus, having that face to face with Christ, as it were, his transformation was drastic. Paul became the champion to the Gentiles, a tireless witness. Then he became the one who was often persecuted, tortured, and imprisoned. Yet his voice was heard with great results, for his experience was often akin to their own and the sacrifices he made to reach out to those people impressed them with the import of Christ’s love. It was not always easy to convince the more traditional of the church leaders to go out beyond the original audience of Jews to bring that evangelical word to Gentiles. But Jesus had said, according to Matthew 28: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 28:18,19)

We know that these two apostles did make a singular and significant impact, that has come even to us through their witness. They did follow Jesus all the way and were martyred. John records the earliest written indication how Peter would die for his efforts. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which (Peter) would glorify God.)

It is assumed that both Peter and Paul were martyred under the persecution of Emperor Nero. The author of 2nd Timothy takes Paul’s voice to comment on his court hearings and refers to his coming martyrdom. As was read in the second lesson: “As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From ow on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

These were two very different men, whose spiritual legacies have gone before us. Their lives have become central to the story of the early church. We remember and give thanks for the ongoing gifts the witness of Peter and Paul impart to the church today. There are others who have shared their gifts of faith with you. The blessing they have been to you, lives on in you, as your own faith grows and guides your life. When you feel doubts build or find faith too hard to be your directing force, you can lean on the legacy they have provided. You can be strengthened by the lives of those two imperfect saints, Peter and Paul, and also, by those saints you have known in person who have brought the witness of the love and grace of God into your life.

I would have you think about one such saint, Zelda Ahlborn. Like all the saints before her, she too was not perfect. There is no saint who does not also carry the taint of sinner. If you knew Zelda, it was her positive approach to life that impressed you, her kindness and gentle speech. That was backed up by the stubborn will that was needed to keep that loving acceptance at the forefront. Sometimes I certainly wondered if she just didn’t see the bad that was there before her in those people. But I have come to realize that Zelda was not avoiding reality nor was she unaware of it. She simply refused to allow that negativity to rule her response and as the consummate teacher wanted to provide the example of another way. She was an elementary school teacher – which said much about her approach, because it was those basic, elemental concerns that she continually highlighted. It was the fundamentals of love, kindness, gentleness, and the joy found in God’s creation, which were important to her. The witness to those, she expected and demanded of herself. Like other saints who have touched your life, you may hear their voice in your head or see in your mind’s eye words and actions that replay the example they have left for you. When those model their faith in Christ, let it be a sign that directs your life.    Just in case we didn’t catch on to the basics of Zelda’s message to us, she added some final words to her obituary in which she summarized what was most vital for you to understand. “Ashes to ashes…dust to dust. Remember who you are!-human, fallible and mortal. Remember also what God offers you – new life, new hope, a future, all gifts through the grace of the crucified Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”  Here is a legacy of faith passed on to you. May yours also be so clearly read, in your life!