Coffee With The Lord

Jesus could ask such probing questions – questions that forced his disciples to look deep within themselves and examine their motives. His questions still do the same to us when we consider them in our lives!

Simon Peter had denied the Lord three time before Jesus had been crucified. He had been the one who told his fellow disciples, “I’m going fishing!” either out of boredom, disappointment or frustration (see yesterday’s “coffee with the Lord” post). Jesus had performed a wonderful miracle for his disciples and fixed breakfast for them. Now, the breakfast was over and Jesus had a probing question for Peter…

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15)

Now there’s debate about what Jesus meant by the pronoun “these”… Jesus could have meant, “Do you love me more than these guys (your colleagues and friends)?” Or He might have meant, “Do you love me more than the fishing (your old profession before you began to follow Jesus)?” Or Jesus might have meant, “Do you love me more than these other followers of mine love me?”

So the discussion goes like this: Which possibility best fits the context? (I do have an opinion but I’m not going share it today). But I have to tell you, I wonder if this is not a case of “purposeful ambiguity” – something we sometimes find in the Bible. In that case the effect of what Jesus asked would be, “Peter, look deep inside! What do you love that is greater than your love for Me? (I mean, Jesus asked the “love question” three times – it’s an important question!)

A probing question don’t you think? As a follower of Jesus – one who has experienced His miracle-working power and His incredible love – what might I love more than Jesus? What might displace, drain away or dilute my love for Him? What might keep from doing His will and “feeding His sheep (or lambs)”? Yup, good question! You see, anything of significance that we do for the Lord must be “love motivated – love driven”

Most of us either identify with Simon Peter personally or he makes us chuckle. We either see ourselves in him or his impulsiveness mirrors the actions of a close friend or family member. Simon Peter… What a guy!

Several guys (followers of Jesus) were hanging out together after the death of Jesus near the Sea of Tiberias. One morning Peter just up and says, “I’m going fishing!” We really don’t know what prompted that… It may have been simply boredom or disappointment with the fact that following Jesus had resulted in what seemed to be a great anticlimax (After the great buildup, Jesus had died and nothing really had materialized yet!) It also could have been the temptation to return to his “regular job” and make some money (after all before he left everything and decided to follow Jesus, Peter made pretty good money in a family business as a professional fisherman).

So Jesus just appears out of nowhere on the shore and asks the guys a probing question… “Have you guys caught any fish?” The fact is, they had worked hard the entire night and had caught absolutely nothing!

They didn’t really recognize Jesus yet on the shore, but He called out to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you’ll get some!” Incredibly they decide to try it… And miracle-of-miracles, the nets are instantly full – so full, in fact they cannot haul them in! It’s at that moment Apostle John realized it was the Lord! Impulsive Peter throws on some clothes (he had stripped down for work), jumped into the lake, swam to shore, to be with Jesus!

The rest of the guys finally got to shore, Peter helped them with the nets and catch of fish (153 of them!), and Jesus had breakfast prepared for them over a charcoal fire.

When I read this story again this morning I thought about Peter… and me! It’s so easy to allow disappointments and frustrations to dampen faith… even lead to boredom in following Jesus! Then suddenly in a serendipitous moment Jesus shows up! Suddenly the ordinary becomes extraordinary! Deadened faith erupts into flame! He really is alive and active – ordinary becomes adventure! So much for the fishing!

So this has been my prayer today… Oh Lord, help me guard my heart from boredom in following you! Help me press through the disappointments and frustrations that kill faith! Help me to be alert to the possibility you can show up anywhere, anytime in miracle working power! Lord help me never lose the adventure of following You!

Not my usual kind of post… but important none-the-less!

I tremble at the rampant anti-Semitism so evident and increasing today in the world. There are nations and world leaders whose brazen and avowed agenda is the destruction of Israel. Radical organizations with this kind of agenda would not hesitate to behead, rape, maim and destroy. And the tragedy? This is done in the name of religion… radical, blindly zealous, evil religious expression!

To those who would do these kinds of things, God speaks through the ancient prophet…

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel… The Lord roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake! But the Lord is a refuge to His people, and a stronghold to the people of Israel. Egypt will become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion.” (from Joel 3)

I tell you, when God acts on behalf of Israel, I would not want to be in the shoes of those who hate her and want to destroy her! I know what camp I want to be in… I want to be the friend and advocate for Israel! I am not one who believes secular-political Israel can do no wrong. However, God’s redemptive, eternal purposes for Israel stand! I will pray daily for the peace of Jerusalem!