Breaking the Word

When they had finished 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 then said to him 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, "Tend my sheep."  He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he 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. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."  (Jn 21:15-19)

Jesus asks Simon whether he loves him. Since Jesus asks him three times, this question of Jesus takes importance. Anything asked for three times is of greater importance. Not only the question is important but the content of the question is also important. Jesus questions him about love for Jesus. So to be a follower of Jesus, love for Jesus is important.

Peter’s answer is also important. Because all the three times Peter answers him affirmatively. Peter tells him that not only he loves Jesus but also Jesus knows that Peter loves him (You know that I love you). Jesus becomes a model disciple (follower). At the end of this conversation Jesus tells Peter to follow him. Only those who have love for Jesus can be followers of Jesus.

Mission is also explained to Peter. He has to feed ‘my’ lamb; tend ‘my’ sheep; and feed ‘my’ sheep. The sheep belong to Jesus and they are his. So the work that Jesus was doing to his sheep now he is asking Peter to do. Peter has to enter into the shoes Jesus. He has to play the role of Jesus. The follower becomes leader. He has to be like Jesus. This he has to do till the end of his life (till he is old). 

"I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known,  that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."  (Jn 17:20-26)

Jesus prays for those who will believe in him through the teachings of his disciples. In a sense Jesus prays for the generations that will come after him. Jesus prays for all the disciples and all the followers of the future generations. His prayer is always for unity of the followers. And the model for the unity of the disciples is same as ever. As the Father and Son are united so also should the disciples be united.

Perfection comes in unity. (“so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one”). This perfection and unity are the signs that God loved Jesus and God sent Jesus and Jesus loved the people.

The disciples are a gift from the father to Jesus. Since they are gifts they are loved and the name of the father is revealed to them. Each one is a gift from God and everyone should be loved and all together should form one unit and this is what the perfection that God wants.