Burunche’s Blog

Acts 3: 11 “While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you surprised by this? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. 14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.”

Hoookaaay!!!! So things are heating up there at the temple. It’s just after 3 PM when many people would come to the temple to pray, That was the main reason the lame man had had someone carry him to the temple at that time. No point in sitting around begging unless there are people from whom to beg. So now the man who got healed is “walking and leaping and praising God,” and making lots of noise while he’s doing so. There are probably hundreds of people pushing and shoving and crowding in to find out what’s going on. And since Peter has an audience, he’s going to explain what has happened. The whole sermon is two or three times as long as the verses quoted here. The main thing is that Peter is mincing no words about what happened to Jesus and how Jesus arose from the dead. It’s not going to take very long for the religious leaders to hear about what is going on and to come and arrest Peter and John.

But Peter is amazing! This is the same man who didn’t even want to acknowledge that he was from the same area as Jesus or that he knew Jesus. Now Peter is challenging the religious leaders on their own territory. What has made the difference?

God sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and nothing after that was ever the same. We don’t know what the other disciples were saying or doing because their actions were not recorded, but it’s quite possible that the other disciples were healing people and witnessing to them just as Peter and John were.

God hasn’t changed! In 1947 Franklin and Aniece McCorkle came to Ghana as Assemblies of God missionaries. One reason Franklin wanted to come to Ghana was because it was a British colony where they spoke English. Franklin was sure that he could never learn any tribal languages. By the time the McCorkles returned to America in the mid – 1970’s, Franklin was fluent in seven of the languages of Northern Ghana and could quote proverb after proverb. Certainly, Franklin worked and studied, but God empowered Franklin to learn all those languages.

God has not changed, neither does God play favorites! The same God who empowered Peter to preach and the other disciples to be fearless in their witnessing is still at work today. Do you feel a stirring in your heart to do something but you are afraid? Find a quiet place and ask God to come be with you. Put your concerns before God and then be quiet and see what He will speak into your heart. Perhaps God will give you new visions of things you have not even thought of. If you don’t ask, you will never know! Peter didn’t become a successful preacher in a day; he followed Jesus for three years and then spent time praying, even before Pentecost. Ask God for His perfect will, but hang on! You might find yourself preaching in the street.

PRAYER: Father, please let us seek Your Face. Lord, open our eyes to see the wonderful things You want to do in our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Acts 3:1 One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked them for money.

4 Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter. 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!c ” 7 Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. 8 He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.

9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

When Jesus sent out the disciples, they evidently did miracles; however, that was when Jesus was still on earth. It’s possible that the disciples kind of figured that Jesus’ power was working long – range. But now Jesus has ascended into heaven, and it’s just the disciples and the Holy Spirit. Will the same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead really work through the disciples if Jesus is no longer here on earth? The answer is YES! ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Once more, Peter takes the lead, even though John is also there and is a man of great faith. But it is Peter – blessed, stumbling, fumbling, but persevering and daring – Peter is the one who speaks up, speaks out, and pronounces the words of faith that lead to the healing. Could John have said those same words? Certainly. Would the man have been just as thoroughly healed? Absolutely. But perhaps John already sensed what was going to happen. Perhaps John might even have been the one who first stopped to look at the beggar.

Why was Peter the one who got used? Perhaps the Holy Spirit used Peter in this fashion because Peter still needed confirmation that he was actually doing the will of God. Failing Jesus as Peter did must have left an indelible impression on his life. And God, ever gracious and loving and kind, was restoring Peter by using him. May God grant us the grace to be used in this fashion!

PRAYER: Father God, help us that we will be willing to be used and that we will not hold back out of fear of failure. Thank you that you are no respecter of persons and that you will use anyone who will yield himself or herself to you. In the matchless Name of Jesus. Amen.

Acts 2: 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

40 With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.

Peter was just a regular guy! In fact, before Peter met Jesus, he was really just a big dumb fisherman – the kind of guy who relied more on muscle than on brains. Everybody in Peter’s home village was dumbstruck when Peter went off to join Jesus as one of his followers, and nobody thought it would last. “Peter? Ah! As for that man, he’ll be back pulling nets within a few weeks! No way is that guy serious about spiritual things!”

But, the nay – sayers were wrong! And Peter did follow Jesus. Oh, Peter choked up and denied Jesus at one point, but after that conversation with Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee just before Jesus ascended, Peter never wavered. And when the Holy Spirit descended on all of the disciples at Pentecost, Peter was the one who stepped forward and explained to the marveling crowds what was going on. And people listened! And not only did the crowds listen, but 3,000 of them “embraced his message” and were baptized.

From Fisherman to Preacher – Peter’s transformation was nothing short of sensational! And we read that story and think “well, that’s great! But that was then and this is now. God probably doesn’t do that stuff any more.” Nothing could be further from the truth! Each and every day, God is transforming people, taking them from WIMP to WOW! It was not Peter who sat down to think up a message for those people that day. The Holy Spirit spoke through Peter. God used Peter, and God can use each one of us, if we will only let Him.

PRAYER:Father God, we thank you that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. We thank you that you can use any one of us if we will only allow you. And we thank you most of all for sending Jesus to die for our sins, shedding his blood on Calvary. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Acts 1: 1 “In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, 2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 And while they were gathered together,a He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ”

His name was Luke and he was a doctor, possibly a Greek physician. Luke was not one of the twelve disciples, but he was a very careful historian who recorded the Gospel that bears his name as well as the Book of Acts. As a doctor in those times, Luke had to take very detailed histories to be able to diagnose his patients – after all, there was practically nothing else to go on apart from the physical exam. So Luke interviewed as many of the disciples and the other followers of Jesus as he could before he began writing. And now Luke is turning his attention to the time just after the crucifixion.

There was a period of forty days during which Jesus appeared to the disciples and taught them things that they had been unable to understand previously. And one thing that Jesus promised was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Luke had already mentioned this unusual baptism in Luke 3:16 John (the Baptist) answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

None of the believers doubted that John the Baptist was a prophet, and that he was speaking about Jesus. But the disciples were probably perplexed about this second baptism. And now Jesus himself is also mentioning a baptism of the Holy Spirit. The general reaction among the disciples might have been “Huh?” But the one thing the disciples did understand was that Jesus wanted them to stay in Jerusalem and to wait on God to move.

Today many of us are sheltering at home and feeling confined and frustrated. We may have viewed most of the TV programs we wanted. We have read and re – read our books. We may have completed all our home improvement projects. What’s next? May I dare suggest that you pray and ask the Heavenly Father for guidance. Perhaps God is giving you this time so that you can draw closer to Him and know more about Him. Perhaps God has been trying to get your attention but your days were so hectic that it has been difficult to think about anything other than surviving and making it through until the following day. Rather than becoming frustrated, consider that God has given you a precious gift of time in which you can become closer to Him.

PRAYER: Father God, we thank you that you are keeping us healthy. But Lord, we are bored and frustrated and concerned. Please help us to use this time to draw close to you. Give us small tokens of your love. And help us to seek your face as we never have before. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Acts 1: 1 “In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach, 2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 And while they were gathered together,a He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ”

His name was Luke and he was a doctor, possibly a Greek physician. Luke was not one of the twelve disciples, but he was a very careful historian who recorded the Gospel that bears his name as well as the Book of Acts. As a doctor in those times, Luke had to take very detailed histories to be able to diagnose his patients – after all, there was practically nothing else to go on apart from the physical exam. So Luke interviewed as many of the disciples and the other followers of Jesus as he could before he began writing. And now Luke is turning his attention to the time just after the crucifixion.

There was a period of forty days during which Jesus appeared to the disciples and taught them things that they had been unable to understand previously. And one thing that Jesus promised was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Luke had already mentioned this unusual baptism in Luke 3:16 John (the Baptist) answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

None of the believers doubted that John the Baptist was a prophet, and that he was speaking about Jesus. But the disciples were probably perplexed about this second baptism. And now Jesus himself is also mentioning a baptism of the Holy Spirit. The general reaction among the disciples might have been “Huh?” But the one thing the disciples did understand was that Jesus wanted them to stay in Jerusalem and to wait on God to move.

Today many of us are sheltering at home and feeling confined and frustrated. We may have viewed most of the TV programs we wanted. We have read and re – read our books. We may have completed all our home improvement projects. What’s next? May I dare suggest that you pray and ask the Heavenly Father for guidance. Perhaps God is giving you this time so that you can draw closer to Him and know more about Him. Perhaps God has been trying to get your attention but your days were so hectic that it has been difficult to think about anything other than surviving and making it through until the following day. Rather than becoming frustrated, consider that God has given you a precious gift of time in which you can become closer to Him.

PRAYER: Father God, we thank you that you are keeping us healthy. But Lord, we are bored and frustrated and concerned. Please help us to use this time to draw close to you. Give us small tokens of your love. And help us to seek your face as we never have before. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

I Peter 1: 1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

When Jesus first met Peter, Peter was throwing a dragnet into the Sea of Galilee. That first morning, all Peter was thinking about was how many fish would he catch and how were they going to handle things once they caught the fish, and what price could he get for the fish that day. And then Jesus passed by, and nothing was ever the same again.

By the time Peter was writing his letters to churches, he was writing to churches throughout Asia Minor. Through the years, Peter has matured and has become an internationally recognized leader whose words are carried at great effort to men and women who may have never met Peter.

What happened to change Peter? The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples at Pentecost, and the disciples were transformed. Before Pentecost, Peter probably didn’t fancy himself as a public speaker, but under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Peter preached to crowds in Jerusalem and 3,000 people got believed his words and became followers of Jesus.

Perhaps today you are facing new challenges, challenges for which you feel totally unprepared. You might wish that you were smarter, stronger, more resilient, more patient – the list can go on endlessly. But your shortcomings are not important. What is important is this one question: are you serving the on true living God or are you following something less? If you are serving the one true living God and He has called you to do something, He will also equip you and inspire you as you go.

Peter did not receive all his preparation the day Jesus called him. As a matter of fact, Peter made several glaring errors and even denied Jesus three times. Even after Pentecost, Peter still had to have his vision of what God wanted him to do enlarged. Peter’s spiritual growth was gradual. One of my favorite praise songs starts out this way, “I have made you too small in my life.” The question God is asking today is “how big is your God?”

If you are serving the God who spoke the universe into existence with a single word, then nothing is too difficult for him. Today, go be quiet with God and ask Him what He wants you to do. Then ask Him to empower you. He is faithful. If He calls, He will empower.

PRAYER: Father God, sometimes we are really afraid! We feel that you are calling us to works that are far bigger than we are. Help us to trust that if you call us, you will also equip us as you did Peter and the other disciples. Thank you for your love and your mercy and your watch care. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 1: 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said, 16“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit foretold through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus. … 21 Therefore it is necessary to select one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen 25 to assume this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Poor Peter! Nearly 2000 years later and people are still taking pot shots at him! Why did Peter approve of casting lots? Wasn’t he advocating gambling? Why did Peter decide that now was the time to replace Judas? Was Peter wrong and was Paul the one who should have replaced Judas? The arguments go on and on.

First, let’s look at the matter of casting lots. In that day and age, casting lots was an approved method of arriving at a decision, with the stated implication that God was the one who was in control and that God could give a perfect answer. At no time were the disciples less than reverent about this procedure; on the other hand, this is also the last mention of casting lots as a means of arriving at a decision among the disciples. Shortly after this, the Holy Spirit descended, and there was no more need for casting lots.

Now, what about Matthias? For information, let’s check the Encyclopedia Britannica, which states: “Jesus’ choice of 12 Apostles points to a consciousness of a symbolic mission—originally there were 12 tribes of Israel—that the community maintained after the Crucifixion. Acts reveals that Matthias accompanied Jesus and the Apostles from the time of the Lord’s Baptism to his Ascension and that, when it became time to replace Judas, the Apostles cast lots between Matthias and another candidate, St. Joseph Barsabbas. St. Jerome and the early Christian writers Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea attest that Matthias was among the 72 disciples paired off and dispatched by Jesus. Soon after his election, Matthias received the Holy Spirit with the other Apostles (Acts 2:1–4). He is not mentioned again in the New Testament.

It is generally believed that Matthias ministered in Judaea and then carried out missions to foreign places. Greek tradition states that he Christianized Cappadocia, a mountainous district now in central Turkey, later journeying to the region about the Caspian Sea, where he was martyred by crucifixion and, according to other legends, chopped apart. His symbol, related to his alleged martyrdom, is either a cross or a halberd. St. Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great, reputedly transported Matthias’ relics from Jerusalem to Rome.”

There is nothing to indicate that Peter made a mistake; in fact, if there were 120 disciples in that upper room, this means that 119 other godly men agreed with Peter. And by all accounts, Matthias had a very honorable career. Most of the other disciples were not mentioned in the Bible again either.

Why is the story of Matthias important? Most of us are like Matthias; we live lives of obscurity. Few people may ever hear about us, but that does not mean that God has not called us with a holy calling, nor does it mean that God is not at work in our lives. If God had not wanted Matthias to replace Judas, He could have moved in the hearts of the other disciples to disagree with Peter. No, Peter was carrying out God’s will. And what must it have meant for Matthias to be chosen to replace Judas? Perhaps Matthias had been searching for a sign of God’s favor and calling and now this was God’s way of answering Matthias’ prayers. We won’t know until we reach heaven. But we do know that God has a special calling for each one of us, even in the middle of a pandemic. Today, find somewhere to be quiet before the Lord and ask Him to show you if there is some new thing He wants you to do for His praise and His glory.

PRAYER: Father God, we thank you for the example of Matthias! We thank you that you call the humble and the obscure to do your bidding. Lord, here we are. Please use us as you see fit. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

John 21: 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

Whew! Of all the questions Simon Bar Jona, a.k.a. Peter, had ever been asked in his life, being asked three times by Jesus whether or not he loved Jesus had to be the worst! He would far rather take a beating than gaze into his Master’s eyes and face the reality that the love he had for Jesus was only at a the level of a brother and not of any degree higher. How wonderful it would have been for Peter to be able to say, “Yes, Lord, I love you with a sacrificial love and no act of bravery will be too much for me.” But Peter had already made sweeping declarations like that one, only to find himself denying Jesus when it really counted. But was Peter alone the night he denied Jesus?

No, Peter was not alone. It’s likely that Peter accompanied John to the high priest’s house. John later described the scene at the high priest’s place in great detail.

John 18:15 “Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.”

It was while Peter was in the courtyard at the High Priest’s house that he denied Jesus three times. John was a very modest man and frequently referred to himself indirectly in the third person. John was probably “the disciple known to the high priest.” If John was known to the high priest, the household probably also knew that John came from Galilee, making it more certain that Peter was probably also a Galilean. John may have been standing close to the religious rulers when they queried Jesus. While Peter went away to grieve over his failures, John followed Jesus all the way to Calvary.

John 19:25 “Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.” John was the disciple to whom Jesus gave the care of his mother.

Perhaps Peter, although thankful to be reinstated by Jesus as a leader, was also just a trifle jealous of John and his close relationship with Jesus. Who knows? Anyway, Peter asks Jesus a question that so many of us want to ask when the Holy Spirit is convicting us of our sins. “Hey, Jesus! Give me a break! I’m not such a bad person. What about that guy/girl over there?” And Jesus’ answer to us is the same answer he gave Peter. ”What is that to you? Follow me.”

Jesus wasn’t actually saying that John was going to live until Jesus returned; he was telling Peter that his will for John should be of no interest to Peter. Rather than envying John for his closeness to Jesus, Peter was to focus on his particular calling as a leader.

Comparisons are both harmful and useless. God has given each of us special gifts that fit us for the calling He has on our lives. If we waste time grieving over the gifts we don’t have, we will never achieve anything with the gifts that we do have. And this was Jesus’ final personal lesson for Peter before ascending. “Peter, follow me! Feed my lambs. Shepherd my sheep. Feed my sheep. Don’t worry about anybody else’s calling; go forth and fulfill the one I have for you. I am telling these things to you alone; don’t worry about someone else’s purpose.”

Perhaps today you feel sidelined. Before the COVID – 19 threat, you were active and working and now you are stuck in your house, wondering if you will even have a job when all of this is over. Perhaps you are tempted to compare yourself to others. Stop it! God has a special purpose for every part of your life, including this time. Perhaps this is the time when God wants you to “be still and know that I am God.” Perhaps this is the time that God wants you to become closer to your family members. Perhaps this is also a time when God wants your prayer life to deepen. Never worry that this time is wasted! Simply ask God to reveal what He wants for you.

PRAYER: Father God, today we come to you asking that you show us what you want us to do during this time of uncertainty. Lord, help us to draw close to you. Help us to serve those around us. And if there are things you want us to do or people who need us to be your hands and feet, please show us these things also. We thank you that you are a God of infinite variety and that you are always doing new things! We praise you and bless you, that you are going to show us daily your perfect will for that day, to the praise and glory of your Name. In the mighty and matchless Name of Jesus. Amen.

John 21: 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.”Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone elsed will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”

For years I wondered about these questions. What was going on here? Actually, per usual, Jesus was accomplishing several different things at once:

1. The number of the questions was significant. Peter had denied Jesus three times. Now Jesus was giving Peter the chance to affirm his dedication to him three times. Peter’s affirmations canceled out his three denials. Jesus was giving Peter a chance to redeem himself, and Peter rose to the challenge.

2. Jesus addresses Peter as “Simon, son of John” or “Simon Bar – Jona.” Previously Jesus had called Simon “Peter” which means a rock. But Peter had forfitted that name when he betrayed Jesus. Now Jesus was giving Simon another chance to prove that he truly was Peter, “Petros,” a rock. And Peter rose to the challenge.

3. In the past, Peter had sworn that even if all the other disciples fell away, he would not; yet, Peter denied Jesus before a courtyard full of people. Now Jesus was allowing Peter another chance to affirm his love and commitment. Jesus was doing it to have Peter confront his sins, which had to be addressed and removed before he can be commissioned to tend to the Lord’s sheep.

4. Jesus was allowing Peter to face the level at which he (Peter) was committed. The key thing here is the language. The answer is found in BibleVerseStudy.com https://www.bibleversestudy.com/johngospel/john21-do-you-love-me.htm

“Are the second and the third questions same or different? The language is critically important. Regarding the three questions, BibleVerseStudy.com has this to say about Jesus’ questions to Peter: “Although they read the same in English, they are actually different in the original Greek. While English has only one word for “love,” there are quite a few in Greek. There is eros for erotic love (none of the Greek words in the New Testament translated, “love,” in English is eros), philos for friendship, storge for affection from familiarity among family members or others brought together not by their choice, philostorgos, which combines philos and storge, and philadelphia for brotherly love. And then there’s agape, the sacrifial, unconditional love. In the passage above, Jesus uses the verb form of agape in the first two of His three questions and the verb form of philos in the third, while Peter responds with the verb form of philos all three times.

So what really is happening?
Jesus initially asks Peter if he loves Him sacrificially “more than these” (John 21:15). Instead of addressing the comparison, Peter answers by claiming his love for Jesus as a friend; after betraying Jesus, there was no way he could claim anything more than that. Jesus then drops the comparison and asks Peter if he loves Him sacrificially. Peter sticks to his claim of friendly love. With His third question, Jesus drops the level of love down to Peter’s, and there’s a match. Jesus will start working on us with whatever level of love we have for Him, but He does demand humility, which is what Peter displayed in John 21:15-17, in contrast to his prideful declaration in Matthew 26:31-33 above.“

Today, if Jesus asked us these questions, what would we say? Most of us would be lucky to make it to the philos level, never mind anything else. But what is important is that Jesus will always meet us where we are and help us change, if we will allow Him to do so. Eventually, Peter died by crucifixion, being crucified head – down at his own request because he felt unworthy to die in the same fashion as his Lord. Peter may have started at the philos level, but he made it to agape, sacrificial love.

PRAYER: Father God, today many of us are not even certain that what we feel for you can be described as brotherly love. Our faith is small, and our love is equally small as well. Lord, please help us realize that You will meet us where we are and that You will lead us into a far greater agape love if we only will allow you. Change us into the image of Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’s precious Name. Amen.

John 21:1 “Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus. 5 So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?”

“No,” they answered. 6 He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.”

The disciples were stressed out! It had been a rough week! Even though Jesus had already appeared to the disciples, they still really wondered if He had actually risen from the dead or if they had deceived themselves. And it was at that point that Peter suggested a fishing trip.

Three of the men in that boat were professional fishermen: Peter, James, and John. If Andrew was along, that would make 4 fishermen. Why were the disciples in Galilee? Jesus had promised that he would meet them in Galilee. Perhaps they had been there a few days, waiting for Jesus and he had failed to turn up. Perhaps they had anticipated a more dramatic reunion. At any rate, nothing was happening, and the boat and nets were there, so they went out on the water and spent all night casting their nets, but they caught nothing.

By this point, Peter might have been muttering under his breath, wondering why nothing seemed to work. All he wanted was to just enjoy the night air, catch a few fish, relax, listen to the sound of the water and feel the gentle rocking motion of the boat on the waves. Peter was conveniently forgetting the storm squalls that could churn the lake into a froth and sink the boat. But all their efforts literally netted them nothing.

Were the disciples in the wrong place? No. Jesus had ordered them to go to Galilee and they had gone to Galilee. Were the disciples poor fishermen? No. Peter and James and John were professional fishermen before they went to follow Jesus. Had the disciples missed God’s timing? No. God was about to give the disciples an experience none of them would forget, an experience to last a lifetime, an experience to remember when they were being tortured and killed later on. Because Jesus was about to cook breakfast for the disciples.

There are many times when we can identify with Simon Peter. We have shown up where and when we were supposed to. We have carried out our stated duties. We have fulfilled all the conditions of performance …..and nothing is happening! We are not seeing any results, despite our best efforts, despite all our expertise. Have we gotten the whole thing wrong?

No! Our problem is the same as Peter’s: we need Jesus to show up in our situations. Once Jesus appeared, everything changed, including the disciples. Perhaps today you feel angry and frustrated. All your best efforts in a situation have proved fruitless. Don’t give up! Wait for Jesus. If you are in the right place at the right time, He will show up. And your life will never be the same again.

PRAYER:Lord Jesus, please come! We need your mighty power! We need your inspiration! We need your grace. We need your courage. Help us to completely fulfill your plans for our lives. In your mighty and precious Name, King Jesus, Amen.