In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Parakeet | London, England | April 2023
We’re exploring Big Bend National Park. It took an hour to get from our hotel to the entrance of the park, then another 45 minutes to get to the visitor center. From there we made our trek using the maps the park rangers provided us – along with some helpful recommendations. Tomorrow our circuit will be a 5-hour trip, not including any stops, hikes, or delays. I’ve mapped it out on my phone. Should be quite a day. The maps and planning will help us make the most of our time here, and allow us to see the sights we are interested in.
When it comes to our walk of faith, however, roadmaps are seldom available, and often unhelpful. We map out our lives, our plans for job, family, career, and retirement. We may even have a plan for our final days and even our funeral. Those may also be good and helpful.
But there are always adjustments to be made – unless we hew stubbornly to a path in spite of the danger or warning signs we encounter. Tom Peters observed, in fact, that companies that have strategic plans and adhere to them are not as successful as those who have strategic plans and make adjustments to them along the way. We may think we know where we need to go, but we may be mistaken. We may need to make adjustments.
When the disciples ask Jesus if this was to be the time he would restore the kingdom to Israel, he not only didn’t answer. He told them it was not for them to know. A roadmap to the future would be a hindrance, not a help to faith. Jesus would supply a different sort of roadmap. Start in Jerusalem, go on to Judea, proceed to Samaria, and go to the ends of the earth. That’s not a roadmap. But it is a plan they were to follow…one step at a time. He also promises the Holy Spirit to them as their source of power for their journey.
Ours (yours and mine) may not be as daunting as the disciples in Jerusalem. But it is no less a calling, requiring the Holy Spirit’s power and strength. There are no maps for this life’s journey. But Jesus promises to be with us every step of the way. Wherever we go and however we serve him.
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Budding Branch | London, England | April 2023
I’m not really good at waiting…unless I have my iPhone or iPad and a good connection to the internet. I can check my email. I can play a game of solitaire. I can read news articles. I can listen to a book or a podcast. All while I’m waiting. But that’s not really waiting, is it. That’s more like killing time. Filling the void of boredom rather than waiting in the fullest sense of the term.
Waiting in the best sense of the term involves also hoping and trusting. For example, “Those who wait/trust/hope in the LORD shall renew their strength,” says Isaiah (Isaiah 40:31). When we wait on the promises of God, we also hope for their consummation and trust God to fulfill them.
So when Jesus tells the Apostles not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father (the Holy Spirit), he is calling for them to do more than kill time. He is promising them something (someone) to engender trust as well as for which they might hope. He is also reminding them to rest and prepare themselves for the adventure of a lifetime. They will need their energy. They will be pressed into service in ways they cannot imagine. Even Jesus’ promise that they will be his witnesses is beyond their comprehension. How would they witness of him to the ends of the earth? So Jesus says to wait.
I’ve long appreciated the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing people to faith. I love Martin Luther’s explanation to the third article of the Apostle’s Creed: I believe I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel… The Holy Spirit has engendered faith in my heart. Thanks be to God. But that’s not all the Holy Spirit does. He compels me to share my faith. He propels the good news of Jesus to more and more hearts. He furthers the Mission of God. We who are reading this are testimony of the Holy Spirit’s work to that end.
There is a mystery here: we, like the Apostles, are to rest, wait, hope, trust, and prepare for this great work to which God is calling us. We are to engage fully as God gives us the opportunity in witnessing to Jesus’ work in our lives. We are to devote ourselves fully to his work. And it is God who is at work in us to do all this. In other words we are to wait and rest in anticipation and preparation for our work in God’s mission. But it is his work to bring people to himself.
I think I need to wait and ponder, and pray about all this. How am I to wait today, heavenly Father? Help me to see the opportunities you provide and act on them; for your glory, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and in Jesus’ name. Amen.
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Tulips-III | London, England | April 2023
This really happened…
A small Lutheran church in another state has recently called a new pastor. They had raised money for a needed expansion of their facilities; specifically for a place for the youth to gather, study, and connect. But some have decided that they don’t want to expand their facilities because they like it the way it is. They don’t want more people coming to their church. I’m not making this up!
At a leaders retreat the church secretary grew more and more concerned about the way in which the conversation was going. We were talking about opening the doors wider, inviting more people to attend, and enlarging our church’s footprint and influence in the community. Finally she couldn’t hold back any more. “We don’t just want all these people to come in, do we?!?,” she said…in a fearful and anxious voice. I’m not making this up!
Someone near and dear to me (not Diane!) remarked to me years ago about her church. She said, “I’m not sure I want our church go grow. We’re big enough.” I’m not making this up!
If, in the first and third case the conclusion was to plant more churches that would be one thing. But it didn’t seem to be the case. Self-serving fear and a lack of love will guide such thinking. A smug self-righteousness will prevent people from rejoicing when more and more people come to a church. And don’t even talk to me about getting upset when someone sits in your pew!
Sadly, however, there is a little of the older brother (Luke 15) in each of us. Push hard enough and we’ll all succumb to a selfish desire to have a life of ease where we don’t have to engage people different from us, or welcome real sinners into our midst.
Thankfully that is not God’s attitude. The entire book of Acts is testimony to the fact that God wants lost people to be found, and all people to be saved. God has been on a mission since the Fall into sin. When Adam and Eve hid themselves behind fig leaves and in the darkness of the garden, God went looking for them. “Adam, where are you?” he calls. He seeks them out. All this culminated in the incarnation. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.
Now that Jesus’ work on earth has been completed, he leaves the task to his followers. And he promises the 11 and us, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” You are I are testimony of the truth of this promise. And it must not stop with us.
In fact, it will not stop with us. The message of the gospel will be preached to the end of the world and the end of the age. We can try to stand in the way, but we will not succeed. We will not thwart the plans of God, for this is of the highest priority with him. He wants all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
It could be a selfish desire to have things the way we want it with little care for the lost and dying. It might be fear of people we do not know or who will be difficult to love. Perhaps we just don’t understand the Great Commission and how it applies to all of us. Some of us may just be ignorant of God’s heart and mission.
Whatever the case, we must repent of anything that stands in the way of others learning about Jesus and being brought into fellowship with him, and do all we can to help others to learn of Jesus and believe in him. I’ll be reflecting on this great challenge and awesome opportunity and honor this week. I hope you will too!
Join me in praying these psalms on this Lord’s Day
Psalm 14:1-4
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.
Psalm 44:1-3
O God, we have heard with our ears,
Our fathers have told us
The work that You did in their days,
In the days of old.
You with Your own hand drove out the nations;
Then You planted them;
You afflicted the peoples,
Then You spread them abroad.
For by their own sword they did not possess the land,
And their own arm did not save them,
But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence,
For You favored them.
Psalm 74:18-23
Remember this, O LORD, that the enemy has reviled,
And a foolish people has spurned Your name.
Do not deliver the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast;
Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.
Consider the covenant;
For the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
Let not the oppressed return dishonored;
Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.
Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause;
Remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long.
Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries,
The uproar of those who rise against You which ascends continually.
Psalm 104:1-4
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,
Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain.
He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters;
He makes the clouds His chariot;
He walks upon the wings of the wind;
He makes the winds His messengers,
Flaming fire His ministers.
Psalm 134
Behold, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD,
Who serve by night in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands to the sanctuary
And bless the LORD.
May the LORD bless you from Zion,
He who made heaven and earth.
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.
Tulips-II | London, England | April 2023
What is this that you have done? I hope never to be asked that question by God. Adam and Eve got themselves into plenty of trouble when they took the forbidden fruit and ate it. Their eyes were opened. They felt shame. They hid from God. They started blaming God, the serpent, and one another for their troubles. The results of their disobedience have traveled down through the ages, generation to generation. Blame, shame, disease, and death are their legacy to us. And we perpetuate it ourselves. We can’t point the finger of blame to them. We keep it going, passing along our sinful nature to our children, and they to theirs. The world itself suffers in the wake of their fall.
I could list any number of ways in which I’ve added to the guilt, shame, corruption, and brokenness of the world. And so can you – if you’re honest. So let’s be honest. From failing to fear, love, and trust in God above all things to failing to love our neighbor as ourselves. Perhaps this is a good time to remember some of those things (but only for a moment, and for a better purpose than a self-imposed guilt trip). All those sins were nailed to the cross with Jesus. He took them all upon himself. He suffered in our place. And then he rose from the grave to prove his sacrifice was sufficient. He has done many things that adorn this incredible sacrifice and gift of salvation. He has done things in my life for which I thank God.
He gave me godly parents who took me to Sunday School and church each Sunday. God was a part of our family’s life. My earliest memories are of standing on my parents’ bed singing “Jesus Loves Me.”
He brought Jerry and me together in high school. I was standing on my crutches in the hall waiting for our first-period class to begin when Jerry opened the door of what I thought was a closet and invited me to come in and sit down. It was a darkroom! Jerry was a faithful Lutheran Christian who knew he wanted to be a Lutheran pastor. He was instrumental in getting me to become a pastor. Jesus was the center of all of that.
Jesus saw to it that there was a power outage on the night of a crawdad supper at the Lutheran Campus Center. When Diane walked in and saw me working on the crawdads she pitched in and helped. She was a biology major and knew all about crayfish – including how to tell the difference between girl and boy crawdads! She was also a faithful Lutheran Christian. Our marriage two years later was nearly a commissioning service. We would dedicate the next 48 years of our lives to serving in the church. Jesus was right there in the process.
Jesus was also present the day we sent our youngest son to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. What we thought might have been dreaded diagnosis turned out to be nothing. Jesus attended my prayers for the six weeks we waited for tests to confirm a clean bill of health.
Jesus was with me when I sought help from a Christian counselor. I learned just how deep my need for God’s grace truly was, and how richly he provided it.
Jesus has been with me in service as a pastor for the past 44 years (though I’ve been semi-retired for over 2 years now). He has been the center of my preaching and the source of the will to go on.
Jesus has moved hearts to love me, encourage us as a family, support us in mission work around the world, and center our lives on his love, grace, truth and mission.
These are just the highlights of Jesus’ work in my life. There are many more. And there will be many more, for Jesus’ mission is not finished. Until the Great Last Day, Jesus will work in the world and in our lives for the sake of his kingdom. He wants all people to be saved, for he died for the sins of the world. Thanks be to God for Jesus’ ongoing work!
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.
Tulips | London, England | April 2023
Years ago I served on the Board of Directors for The Lutheran Church Extension Fund. It was quite an experience. LCEF as it is known is a sort of credit union for churches. People deposit money in an LCEF account and receive a good rate of interest on their savings. Then LCEF loans those funds out to churches for new buildings, major repairs, and other capital items. One of the things I learned by serving on that board was how little changes in interest rates can impact the funds and required capital reserves balances. To monitor that they ran stress tests. These were major “what if” scenarios to prepare for future changes.
We might do that on a much smaller basis. What if we buy a cheaper car? What if we go on an expensive vacation? What if we send our kids to a private school? What if it rains tomorrow? All these are plans we can manage to some degree. There will always be last minute adjustments and challenges. But to some degree our what-if planning can prepare us for those eventualities.
Peter wonders about a far-more significant what if in his encounter with Jesus.
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?”
Well…when you put it that way, I guess nothing. But I do kind of wonder why he gets different treatment than I do. And it would be really cool to be around when you return. I can imagine Peter thinking those things. Or at least I might think something like that. But Jesus challenges all of that. He simply indicates that it is not Peter’s prerogative to determine when and who, what and where. That’s God’s call. And Jesus – God in the flesh, and now fully glorified will have the last say in all this.
And there is still more: John (the one to whom Peter has pointed, and who may or may not die before Jesus returns at this point) has a final word for us. He has already declared his intent for writing this biography of Jesus. “These things were written,” he writes, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31) Now he declares that this testimony is a reliable eyewitness account. He didn’t write all that Jesus did; the world couldn’t contain all the books that would be written if that were to be attempted. Jesus did a lot. A whole lot. Maybe you have something to say about that. Perhaps a testimony you wish to write.
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.
Mossy Limb | London, England | April 2023
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us??? How’s this: If something is in the Bible it is true. If it is found two places in the Bible, it is certainly true. If it is in the Bible three times, it is most certainly true. With this in mind I can think of several things that are most certainly true:
Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection (recorded in four Gospel accounts as well as referred to numerous times throughout the New Testament.
Marriage is another thing, specifically the words, “…a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.” That specific phrase is found in Genesis, Matthew, and Ephesians.
The command of Jesus to love one another, especially in John, but also in Romans, 1 Thessalonians, 1 Peter and 1 John.
The Great Commission in its various forms in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts.
Jesus’ promises to hear and answer prayer throughout the Gospels.
On this occasion, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” I believe this is because he wants Peter to think deeply about the question. This is not a throw-away question. Jesus wants to offer Peter the opportunity to consider the question from different three different angles.
Does Peter love Jesus more than he fears those who confronted him the night of Jesus’ arrest? Peter denied Jesus three times that night.
Does Peter love Jesus more than he loves fishing or fish, or hanging out with his buddies?
Does Peter love Jesus enough to follow Jesus wherever he leads?
Certainly by the third time Jesus asks the question Peter catches on: this is not a throw away question. He needs to consider whether he loves Jesus and what that means.
So do we. Do we love Jesus? What is his word to us who say, “Yes”? I think it’s the same as to Peter, “Follow me.”
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.
Lily Magnolia-II | London, England | April 2023
I won a third place trophy in the Punt Pass and Kick competition many years ago. It was one of the only trophies I’ve ever won. But even that isn’t the whole story. There were only four people in my category. I came in third out of four. And I suspect I may have won by only a yard. Or maybe only a foot. Or an inch?!? So I’m not inclined to offer myself as one who is better than others in most every venue.
But I’m surely better than Peter in this regard. He had boasted about his dedication to Jesus even in the face of Jesus’ challenging prophecy: “You will all fall away on account of me” (Matthew 26:31). Peter responds, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away” (Matthew 26:33). In other words Peter says he loves Jesus more fully and is more dedicated than the other 11 apostles.
So Jesus asks, “Do you love me more than these?” Is he talking about Peter’s hubris and claim that everyone else than him would fail Jesus, but he would not. Is Jesus asking, “Do you love me more than these other disciples?” A challenging question if it is so. It is also a legitimate reminder of the danger of comparing ourselves with others. We might be called on it. After all, Peter not only fell away, he denied three times that he knew Christ.
But Peter doesn’t seem to get it. His answers to Jesus each time is simply to claim that he does love Jesus. He doesn’t seem to catch the implications of Jesus’ questions. There must be something here for Jesus won’t accept Peter’s first answer. Three times Jesus asks Peter whether he loves him.
So you might skate by on the matter of comparison with others’ love. You might be able to admit that there are many who love Jesus more than you do.
But there is also another possible reference to the “these” of Jesus’ question. We might paraphrase Jesus’ question this way, “Do you love me more than these fish?” It might not be a matter of comparison with others’ love. It might be a question about recognizing Jesus as the most valuable, most precious, purest, and highest good in all of life, and loving him more than gold, silver, fame, fortune, or any other worldly treasure.
But the question at hand, in the end, isn’t about how much more we love Jesus than others do, or than the things of this world. It’s about whether or not we love Jesus. Period. To that we must answer, “Yes. But not perfectly. Not consistently. Not sufficiently. But that’s when Jesus’ love for us becomes evermore precious. And that engenders our love for him.
That’s why I love Jesus. He loves me. And you. His love is perfect and perpetual, steadfast and sacrificial. So, yes, Jesus, I love you because you loved me first and gave your life for me and sacrificed yourself for me and all who do not love you as we ought, but trust your promises. That’s the source of the true love for Jesus!
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.
Lily Magnolia | London, England | April 2023
I’ve overcome it, but for years I had difficulty saying that I loved God. I didn’t hate God. But to say I loved him seemed presumptuous. For if I loved God surely I would obey him. I would put him truly first in my life. I would be a saint. I didn’t want to presume to say that I did all those things. I knew all too well that I was a sinner. I didn’t think I could claim to love God truly. I fell far too short in that regard.
Since then, however, I’ve embraced the idea more fully. In fact there came a time when I was facing some large challenges in life and ministry that I declared my love for God unashamedly. Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heartbecame my favorite hymn. Many a morning I would go to the sanctuary and sing that hymn, with the the thought of Martin Luther, “He who sings prays twice.”
Speaking of Luther, he once said, “Love God?!? I hated him!” He struggled so much with his sinful nature, God’s justice, and the conundrum: Is God just? Yes. Does he punish sin? Yes. Am I a sinner? Yes. Must he punish me? Yes. His wise confessor turned him to scripture where Luther discovered the beautiful truth that “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17). He learned more fully of God’s love for him and all people and his grace in forgiving and saving us for the sake of Jesus, and not for anything we have done.
God’s love for us inspires our love for him. Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” We’ll deal with the “more than these” tomorrow. But let’s just consider Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” Peter boldly says, “Yes Lord, you know I love you.” Three times Jesus asks. Three times Peter affirms his love for Jesus.
I believe there is a fine line between being quick to claim that we love Jesus and failing to confess our love for him altogether. It’s not a simple question. It’s one we should ponder deeply. Do I love Jesus? Why would I say that? Is there any evidence of that love in my life? What does it mean to love Jesus?
My answer to these questions is summed up in the answer to the final question. To love Jesus is to desire his presence, guidance, mercy, grace, truth, love, favor, and blessing above all things. It means that I recognize that Jesus and all he is and all he wants from me is my highest good. It means I deeply need and joyfully acknowledge his love for me, a lost and condemned sinner apart from his mercy and salvation.
Do you love me? Jesus asks. Yes. Not as fully as I ought. Not perfectly. But I do love you more than… (How will you fill in that blank?)
Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart
1 Lord, thee I love with all my heart;
I pray thee, ne’er from me depart,
with tender mercy cheer me.
Earth has no pleasure I would share;
yea, heav’n itself were void and bare
if thou, Lord, wert not near me.
And should my heart for sorrow break,
my trust in thee can nothing shake.
Thou art the portion I have sought;
thy precious blood my soul has bought.
Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord,
forsake me not! I trust thy word.
2 Yea, Lord, ’twas thy rich bounty gave
my body, soul, and all I have
in this poor life of labor.
Lord, grant that I in ev’ry place
may glorify thy lavish grace
and help and serve my neighbor.
Let no false doctrine me beguile;
let Satan not my soul defile.
Give strength and patience unto me
to bear my cross and follow thee.
Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord,
in death thy comfort still afford.
3 Lord, let at last thine angels come,
to Abr’ham’s bosom bear me home
that I may die unfearing;
and in its narrow chamber keep
my body safe in peaceful sleep
until thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me
that these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, thy glorious face,
my Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
and I will praise thee without end.
Join me in praying these psalms on this Lord’s Day
Psalm 7:11
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Psalm 37:3-6
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[b] 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Psalm 97:1, 6-7
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. 7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!
Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children[a] of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
David Bahn - Reflections 