“COMMITMENT: SUBMISSION TO CHRIST”

“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.”

John 21:17

What is the best way to learn? Is it, by example, mistakes, or repetition? How can we ensure that a particular task is carried out as intended?

Peter had to learn his lesson from his failures. For three years, not only did Jesus teach him, but the Lord also modeled His teaching. But as Jesus predicted, Peter would eventually deny Him three times. That must’ve been a heartbreaking moment for both the Lord and Peter. However, the Lord has not given up on His vocal, assertive disciple yet. He’s giving him a second chance, and this time, Jesus uses a different approach to get Peter’s commitment: repetition.

We have learned that Jesus restored Peter into the ministry and gave him the order to lead the flock. For a third time, Jesus asked His disciple if he loved Him (using Peter’s word for love, which is phileo). This third and final repetition of the same question upset Peter—kind of how we hate it when we’re being told the same thing again and again.

The task is so great, and the impending persecution unimaginable, that’s why the Lord has to make sure His appointed leader is both headstrong and lion-hearted. Peter cannot afford to renege when the going gets tough. He has to be firm and unshakable, especially because multitudes of people will look up to him as one of the pillars of Christianity. Peter once again affirms Christ’s omniscience and confirms his love for the Lord.

The Greek term for “sheep” in this passage literally reads “dear sheep,” which denotes the passionate love of the Lord for His church. Three times Jesus used the possessive adjective “my” to affirm His ownership of the church. Peter is to understand the church belongs to Christ, the Chief Shepherd.

In the same way, pastors do not own the church. We are undershepherds of the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life to set His people free from the bondage of sin. We must always keep that in mind because even pastors like me are still human beings with a fallen nature. We may think we have absolute authority over the people, but we don’t. The only authority we have is found in the infallible Word of God.

Therefore, wherever the Lord may take a particular ministry, the pastor must remind himself that ”I’m just a servant doing my job.” The glory belongs to our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ alone.

This charge may have been given initially to Peter, then to Christian leaders, but the principles are applicable in a universal sense. Not only is the pastor accountable to God, but we are all responsible for one another (Galatians 6:2, Colossians 3:16). After all, we are collectively the church, and we belong to one God: Jesus Christ.

Pursue the Saviour today!