April 10, 2016 - Forgiveness Without Price

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
Jesus said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a 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: 15-17

Our modern eyes are inclined to see this encounter between the risen Jesus and Peter in terms of command.  Jesus appears to be telling Peter three times to perform some service for whoever his lambs and sheep might be.  But this focus on moral commands hides a far more important message. 

Two chapters ago Peter swore he would never abandon Jesus and Jesus predicted he would not only abandon him, but do so three times.  Of course this came to pass as Peter denied he had anything to do with Jesus in three separate occasions as they prepared him for execution.   Jesus is back.  And, instead of demanding an apology, instead of requiring some contrition, instead of making an example of him or incentivizing him not to do it again, Jesus forgives Peter by giving Peter a task he knows even Peter will pass: affirming his love three times.   With that sort of forgiveness; with that sort of love, how can we do anything but tend to the faith of anyone who is hungry to listen?