The apostle John always got the last word. His writing begins twenty years after Peter and Paul’s end. He writes the last epistle (3 John), he writes the last gospel, and he writes the conclusion of the whole Bible. In his gospel, his magnum opus of apologetics, he seems to have two conclusions. Despite wrapping up with a textbook restatement of his thesis (“But these things have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”), he continues to chapter twenty-one.
In this seemingly misplaced chapter, John tells us many things, such as an exact count of the fish caught by the disciples and Jesus making breakfast. Embedded in these details is a key, a key to experiencing John’s gospel, and a key to our whole Christian life.
Then when they had eaten 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. He said to him again 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, Shepherd My sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved that He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep. –John 21:15-17
Here at the very end of his book, John slips in the answer to countless seeking Christians. What does a proper Christian life look like? Loving Jesus, and taking care of his sheep. And if that seems like an unsatisfying and general answer, that is intentional. We would all love specific direction from the Bible, a verse that says, “Go minister in Uganda or Bangladesh or Temple, Texas,” because then we could know that our calling was from God. But the specifics of our living, where we will be loving Jesus, what form our shepherding and feeding will take? The Word doesn’t tell us, because our calling from the Lord is specific and personal.
The Lord begins to speak to Peter about his calling, even what kind of martyrdom he will face for the Lord’s sake. And Peter falls into the same trap as many other Christians do: comparison. “If this is happening to me, what about John? Does he suffer a similar fate? And if not, why not? If I have to die for the Lord, everyone should have to too.” Again, our calling is both specific and personal.
Jesus said to him, If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.
The lesson is striking. If we truly realize that what matters in our Christian life is loving our Lord Jesus and feeding our fellow believers, it won’t matter what that looks like. It won’t matter if we speak to thousands, if ministry is our profession, if we flip burgers, if we live in India, Capetown, London, or Austin. Our life has purpose and meaning and is pleasing to God because we continue in the two things that He has called us to, wherever and whatever that looks like.
Never fall into comparison. Don’t denigrate your calling. It is from God and it for you. It has nothing to do with what He has called your roommate to do, your sister to do, your parents, anyone. He has called you to love Him and to feed His sheep, wherever and however.
For myself, almost 2 years ago, I felt a very strong call to serve the Lord with my full-time on the college campuses. It wasn’t what I had intended to do, but I accepted and have been serving for a year and a half. I have loved it, and I thank the Lord for the opportunity to do so. And now the Lord is calling me to love Him and shepherd my fellow sheep in some other capacity, probably with a conventional full-time job. I fully believe that this is His calling, and I don’t question it. I have not been called to a less vital role, I have not been “assigned down to the AAA team”, what I will be living for is no different. I’ll just do it in an office instead of UT, with co-workers instead of students.
Thanks to all the blog writers, and my fellow editors. I’ve loved working on the site. To all the students and fellow staff members, thank you all for pursuing Christ with me the last year and a half. Above all, thank You Lord Jesus, for giving me this opportunity.
By: D. Fulton
- The Last Word - May 15, 2015
- Why Do You Read the Bible? - February 12, 2015
- Letter From the Editor - December 16, 2014
I like that point that if we love Jesus, the way we express that love is to feed His sheep. Also, “you follow Me.” We don’t have to worry about what anyone else is doing, all we need to pay attention to is feeding His sheep, wherever He puts us.
This sharing relates that the Lord Jesus has called us to love Him and care for our fellow believers. For this purpose, He has arranged each believer’s life on this earth.
I really can testify that in order to realize the Lord in a deeper way, we have to “flock” together, and feed His sheep. The Gospel of John is so experiential to me because we can clearly see God in this book, and at the end we get commissioned. By faith, we allow Him to flow out of us to others.