Heralds Digest

   “ This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs .” John 21 : 14 - 15 KJV The post resurrection experience of Jesus Christ with Simon Peter exposes the fundamental challenge of the conflict of interest in every believer’s understanding of the subject of love. The pursuit of personal interests in life has always created a conflict of interest in our understanding of heaven’s focus in Christian service and discipleship. When Peter initially responded to the Lord’s call to the ministry as ‘fisher of men ’, he apparently didn’t envisage a point in time when his consecration would experience dryness, distraction and discouragement. And now, with the discouraging ‘disappearance of the Master’ , the urge for ‘I go a fishing ’...

  “But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No .”” John 21 : 4 - 5 NKJV Distraught, dejected, and disappointed will be a mild understatement of the disciples’ emotional disturbances prior to this night of shame. “ But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore “…and Christ is wont or readily characterized by this type of shore showup. It is often said of those who patiently wait on Him “ weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning”. Definitely, when Peter said to the disciples the previous night “ I am going fishing”, everyone of his colleagues couldn’t ignore his personal recipe of vocational engagement towards crisis management. But their disappointment with the sea shield strategy underscored the futility of human management of life’s challenges, without divine intervention. Obviously, Jesus had to st...

  “ So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 .”” John 21 : 15 NKJV For Simon Peter and his accompanying disciples to the fishing expedition, the earlier call from Christ as fishers of men has suffered a colossal setback by the arrest and death of Christ. His main motivation ‘I am going fishing’ wasn’t just a refreshing expedition. It was a retracing of life’s ambition and purpose for living, after a deep reflection on the unfortunate setback. It is a common reality of the living love that family, business, health, and relationship setbacks and the need to make ends meet change everyone’s perspective about life and determination. However, when Jesus came after Simon Peter to ask “ Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” , it was clear Jesus is always calling all His disciples to the ‘lambs’ love, instead ...