1. Forgiveness comes after the judgement

Last week we lectured upon the first part of chapter 21 from the Gospel according to John. This chapter was added after the original conclusion of the book. It was because John wanted his own church members to know that the resurrected Lord Jesus appeared after His crucifixion to encourage the Disciples, not only in Jerusalem but also in Galilee. There is a stress on ‘obedience’ in this the fourth Gospel.

At the meeting in Galilee, after sharing a meal, Jesus entrusted His group of believers to Peter. This scene is described in the second part of John 21. Today we will reflect upon the raison d’être of the Church by reading verses 15-25.

John tells us that when they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

Thrice Peter affirms his love (the verb is ¦Õ¦É¦Ëέ¦Ø ), Jesus uses ἀ¦Ãά¦Ð¦Ç twice and the third time ¦Õ¦É¦Ëέ¦Ø. “Are you really my friend?” This might be the distinction from the first two questions: “Do you love me?” In this scene, Peter becomes the disciple who truly loved Jesus, and here he receives authority to be a shepherd in the church.

“Lord, you know all things” might also suggest that Jesus knows how Peter’s love was so weak, because he once failed. We can define here his feeling of guilt. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times in the courtyard of the High Priest. Now, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” We could perceive Jesus’ compelling question to be an invitation for Peter to admit his weakness, and receive forgiveness. And Jesus is calling Peter to show his love by loving his sheep, as Jesus has loved them.

Forgiveness is not unconditional. We must first sincerely admit our mistakes, and accept some form of restitution. Jesus followed this course of action, however, His aim was not to punish, but to offer new life. Therefore, He said to Peter “Feed my sheep”. We meet God through our mistakes and failures. Only those who admit their own faults and sincerely repent can ever receive God’s love. And so it was that Jesus trusted His flock, the Church, to Peter.

I think this concept is the most important prerequisite to becoming a Pastor. It is not the biblical knowledge or the theological studies, nor one’s leading ability. No, it is being the recipient of the same experience as Peter’s. Recognizing our own weakness and receiving forgiveness is necessary to receive God’s calling to be a Pastor. Because, such experiences should prevent us from blaming others for their failures. Those who don’t know the desolation of being weak, and the gratitude of forgiveness and love, could not forgive others.

2. Obedience Follows Forgiveness

After trusting the Church to Peter, Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (John 21-18).

“someone else will dress you,” suggests that Peter will be arrested and bound with rope. And “you will stretch out your hands,” represents the crucifixion position on a cross. In the following verse John determines Peter’s martyrdom precisely: Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:19). That prediction was realized 30 years later in 63, Rome, under Nero’s rule.

Even though his death was destined to glorify God, Peter remains reluctant, which is a normal reaction as a human. So much so, When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21). Perhaps he wanted to know if the cross was chosen for other disciples as well, or only just for himself. To that question Jesus answer, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? Follow me! ” (John 21:22). This verse reminds us that apostles should attend to their own calling and get on with their immediate duty.

To become a disciple of Jesus. However there are several different ways to do so, according to each one’s gifts. Some would be martyred like Peter, and some would stay alive to die a natural death. John, the gospel writer, belonged to the latter as it is recorded: “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true” (John 21:24).

The authorship of the Gospel is not yet clarified. Certain scholars think the contents of the book was told to Church Fathers by John the Apostle, son of Zebedee himself, as a memoir of Jesus , and attribute the writing to John the Presbyter. *

As Jesus said “Follow me!” to Peter, He was about to show God’s glory through his death on the cross, but some others might be destined to stay alive to achieve the work of the Gospels, as God’s trusted work. Each one is given different gifts and missions in accordance with their talents in order to testify to God’s glory.

The same can be said for us who live in the modern world. Some are given talents in speech or in music, for example, and others are willing to serve with daily routine matters. Each one takes part in the great divine work by doing one’s best, and by sharing, all of which forms the Christian Church community.

3. The Church founded on forgiveness

Today’s invocation verses are taken from Ezekiel, chapter 18:30-31, which gives us another aspect to the lecture. “Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel was a prophet and a priest in the Bible who prophesied in Babylon, where Jewish people had been captivated**. In 586 (or 587) BC, the second uprising of the Judaeans against Babylon caused destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem and a number of the leading citizens were removed to Babylon. During the exiled period, Jewish generations changed, and people who were born and grew up there began to complain about the captivity as a punishment from God. Because they thought it was not fair to be burdened by the of sin committed by their parents and grand parents. The Prohpet Ezekiel tried to rectify their way of thinking by delivering God’s message: “I will judge you, each one according to his ways”.

God’s way is always right. If they remain under captivated conditions it’s because they themselves are unfaithful, guilty, and sinners, not because of the sins their parents and grand parents have committed. So Ezekiel exhorts them to repent.

Very often we too offer the same argument as they did. We deny our problems by putting responsibility on exterior elements. But as long as we insist on our irresponsibility by saying, “I’m not wrong. The harsh conditions of my life are caused by other people, and the current social structure.” We won’t have any positive vision of a healthy, loving life.

Moreover, such an attitude draws us into a vicious circle by becoming more and more pessimistic, because we can’t find any justification for our present suffering. But once we admit our own faults or mistakes and repent, forgiveness begins to flow, and the way of salvation is opened. Trials are given by God. Trials which we must accept in order to receive God’s mercy and salvation.

Jesus will ask repeatedly, “Do you love me?”. Because He will never abandon those who fail. And God’s mission will be trusted only to his faithful followers, who have failed and learned from their mistakes. Humans at best are frail and powerless.

Forgiveness is freely given to those who recognize their failure and sin, and sincerely repent. A guilty conscience will lead us to salvation. Peter overcame the feeling of guilt by obeying Jesus’ words, and accepting the new task of shepherding the flock.

All humans are possessed by sin, weakness, and foolishness. But we can be re-born and begin a new life by understanding that God loves, accepts and forgives.

Jesus’ love allows us to try again.

The Church is founded upon forgiveness and love. Therefore it is a place, in which those who fail can find a new way of life - something that can’t be found within the secular world.

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* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_John
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Presbyter

** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel