Breaking the Word

…And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." (Jn 6:22-29)

Jesus had fed the people. He had walked on the water. He thought that the people would have got the message after seeing these events. These events were communicating to the people that there was a new Passover and a new Exodus. New Exodus and new Passover were taking place right in front of their eyes. But the people did not get the message.

Jesus had done something remarkable. People were excited. But the people came to him wanting more of them. Jesus rebuked them for their wrong motivation.  They were very earthly. They wanted to make him an earthly king. People had worldly agendas. Jesus was/is indeed a king. But the type and manner of his kingship is totally different from what the people wanted.

The sign (feeding the five thousand) was meant to lead them to the true food (Jesus himself). People were worried about what Jesus could do. But Jesus was trying to communicate to the people who he was. Only when we know who Jesus is then only he will do what we want.

…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…

 And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."  (Jn 21:1-19)

One of the most beautiful conversations that we have in the whole Bible, we can say. Peter is given a new mission. But Jesus questions him three times regarding his love for Jesus before giving him the mission. Does Jesus want to remind him of the three times when Peter denied him? May be. It is also said that when a thing is reminded three times, it is only to give importance to the things talked about. So the mission given is important in the sight of Jesus.

All the three times, the duty of Peter as a shepherd is insisted. He has to feed the sheep, tend the sheep and care for them. Here, Jesus shares his own personal ministry, as a shepherd to the people, with Peter. To have a share in the mission of Jesus is the duty of every disciple, in fact every believer.

Whether one has denied the Lord, or sinned against is not the matter for giving a new mission. Love for Jesus is the only requisite for a mission. Forgiveness is totally a gift of God. New mission is a sign having been forgiven.

If there is no love then there is no following. To be a follower one has to love Jesus. That is loving a person (Jesus) is important. So,

 Love is the basis for following,

 Love is the basis for new mission and

 Love is the basis for forgiveness,