In the structure of a story, the epilogue serves the purpose of either (1) tying up a loose plot thread or (2) setting the stage for a new story. John’s epilogue serves both functions. It takes place sometime after Jesus’ resurrection appearances to sorrowful Mary, the fearful disciples, and doubting Thomas (John 20:1-31).

Gone Fishin’

Some unspecified time after the events of John 20, we discover Peter, John, and six other disciples waiting for Jesus in Galilee. Growing impatient, Peter spouts out, “I am going fishing.” The others are quick to agree to his plan.

We should not be too hard on the disciples. It must have been incredibly difficult for them to cope with all that had recently happened. The pull to get on with life, return to business-as-usual and resume a “normal” existence must have been very strong. Leaving the strange and mysterious world of miracles and bodily resurrection for the familiar, predictable, and controllable world of boats, fishing nets, and business was tempting indeed. Such things were real, concrete, practical, and understandable. They brought money, stability, and sanity in a world turned upside-down.

Even more importantly, returning to these familiar things eased the guilt the disciples felt for abandoning Jesus in his time of need. Though all had failed him, no one felt the weight of guilt more than Peter, the betrayer. In regard to spiritual leadership, Peter must have felt like an absolute failure. Perhaps, this was as it should be – he was, after all, just a simple fisherman. Maybe he should have left theology for those more qualified. Peter’s deep feelings of failure in regard to spiritual things certainly made it easier for him to consider returning to fishing. At least he knew he was good at it.

Unfortunately, the disciples’ return to fishing did not bring the peace they desired. They did not catch a single fish all night.

At dawn, a strange figure appeared on the shore and instructed them to change the position of their net. When this resulted in an impressive catch of fish, the disciples realized that the person on the beach was Jesus. Ever the impulsive one, Peter left the others to bring the catch to shore and immediately jumped into the lake in order to swim to Jesus.

On the beach, Jesus prepared a breakfast for the disciples. After breakfast, Peter and Jesus went for a walk along the shore to share a long overdue personal discussion. Ultimately, it was for this very purpose that Jesus had appeared. He had unfinished business with Peter.

A Walk along the Shore

During the walk, Jesus personally asked Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” The antecedent to the pronoun, “these,” could refer particularly to the other disciples (“Do you love me more than you love them?” or “Do you love me more than they love me?”) or more generally to things related to his life as a fisherman (“Do you love me more than fish, boat, nets, business, etc.?”), or even more generally to all things (“Do you love me more than all else?”).

Regardless of which option we choose, Peter ignores the explicit comparative pronoun in Jesus’ question. Instead, he simply states, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus then responds with a curious command, “Feed my lambs.”

This pattern is repeated a total of three times with minor variations each time. The most notable variation[1] occurs the third time when we read “Peter felt hurt because Jesus said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’” Apparently, the three-fold affirmation of love painfully reminded Peter of his three-fold betrayal of Jesus. Instead of a simple and emphatic “Yes” response, Peter responds, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”[2] After repeating the command, “Feed my sheep,” Jesus extends his answer with an illuminating (and frightening) revelation, “‘Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me’” (John 21:18-19).

The three questions correspond to Peter’s three denials (John 18:17, 25-27). Each time Jesus repeats his question, Peter is reminded of his failure to stand by Jesus in his time of need. Through his questions, Jesus not only confronts Peter with his sin but also provides an opportunity for Peter to recommit his love to him.

Jesus does not allow Peter’s affirmation of love to remain abstract. Instead, with each affirmation, Jesus invites him to tangibly prove his love by “feeding” and “tending” Jesus’ “lambs” and “sheep.” Tom Wright summarizes, “The most remarkable thing about it is that, by way of forgiveness, Jesus gives Peter a job to do. When Peter professes his love, Jesus doesn’t say, ‘Well, that’s all right, then.’ He says, ‘Well, then: feed my lambs. Look after my sheep. Feed my sheep.’”[3]

Following each profession of love, Jesus reestablishes trust with Peter and gives him a fresh task. Peter is called to shepherd Jesus’ flock – the young and the old, the weak and the helpless. With each command, Jesus calls Peter to truly follow his example – to love Jesus’ sheep as he has loved them (cf. John 10:11-18).

Jesus’ love was suffering love. Like a good shepherd, he gave his life for the good of his flock. Now, Peter must do the same! Jesus warns him that the impulsive freedom and self-determination of his youth will be taken away from him and his life will be cut short by captivity resulting in a painful, sacrificial death.[4] This is the main point of Jesus’ words in John 21:18-19: “Peter will complete his task as a shepherd by laying down his own life, in turn, for the sheep.”[5] The tradition of Peter’s death is early and well documented. The ancient church historian Eusebius quotes Origin (d.254) as saying, “At the end he [Peter] came to Rome and was crucified head downwards, for so he had demanded to suffer.”[6]

This culminates in a return to Jesus’ original call to Peter: “Follow me.”[7] These were the very words with which Peter’s journey with Jesus had started. But things have significantly changed since Peter first answered this call. Now the call is specific and personal. Now, Peter is more aware of its implications and demands. Before, he had been so naïve, so impulsive, so sure of himself. Back then, he would leave everything, go anywhere, do anything. Now, he is confronted with the full significance of positively responding to Jesus’ command. By answering Jesus’ call, he is giving himself completely over to God. During his betrayal, he had lied to protect his hide. He can no longer do this.

By following Jesus, he must deny himself and intentionally pick up his cross. By doing so, he becomes a lamb among wolves. Catching fish is relatively safe compared to the life and death issues of taking care of Jesus’ sheep. Like Jesus, he must “love until the end” (John 13:1). Like Jesus, he must learn to trust God, even in his death!

This is the reason Jesus appeared to the disciples. By directly confronting Peter’s failure and provoking a reaffirmation of love and commitment, Jesus reinstated Peter to leadership and called him to mission and service. Like before with Thomas, Jesus has appeared for Peter’s sake. He personally appeared to Thomas in order to move him from doubt to faith. Here, he appeared to Peter in order to move him from faith to action.

Different Plans for Different People

In the midst of this tender and sober moment, Peter responds in typical Peter-style. He immediately takes his eyes off of Jesus and changes the topic of conversation. He turns and looks behind him and sees John following at a distance and asks Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”[8]

Jesus responds, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”[9] To paraphrase, “Mind your own business, Peter! I have different plans for different people. Part of accepting your call is to follow me wherever I lead you, not wherever I may lead others.”[10] Peter must “keep his eyes on the Lord whom he is following, not on those to whom other roles and responsibilities may – or may not – have been assigned.”[11]

Three Insights on Ministry

Three points concerning ministry arise from this story:

Ministry is not performed by perfect people, but by flawed – yet forgiven – people. Following Jesus is the loftiest possible calling. It is inevitable that Jesus’ followers will consistently fall short of his high calling. When they do, it is worth remembering the way Jesus treated Peter. Jesus confronted Peter’s sin, but did not chastise him for it. Instead, he demanded that Peter’s reaffirmation of love be evidenced by concrete deeds of love toward others. He did not respond with a feeble, “There, there now – no harm done. It will be alright.” Instead, he responded with a call to a greater level of love expressed in a higher level of responsibility. William Loader summarizes well,

Peter is not disowned. Peter is legendary. His rehabilitation is a celebration of divine grace. He also symbolises leadership, the shepherd appointed by the true shepherd, to do as he did, to care for the sheep. There could be no arrogance here, no lofty superiority, no graceless dogmatism. Instead, a frail human person brought again to his feet, enriched with stories of Jesus, and brought to life and leadership by God’s generosity. Such is the image and the possibility.[12]

Failure is difficult to deal with, but Jesus provides us with a pattern for confrontation, reconciliation, and restoration. We can all be thankful that Peter was rehabilitated, not discarded.

Ministry to others is rooted in love for Jesus. The chief means through which Peter will demonstrate his love for Jesus is by sharing Jesus’ task of shepherding. It is not Peter’s flock; it is Jesus’ flock. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd; Peter is the under-shepherd. Peter’s love for Jesus must be matched by love for Jesus’ flock. Jesus’ probing question and straightforward command effectively dissolves any distinction between loving Jesus and serving others.

Tom Wright’s comments are insightful and practical:

Here is the secret of all Christian ministry, yours and mine, lay and ordained, full-time or part-time. It’s the secret of everything from being a quiet, back-row member of a prayer group to being a platform speaker at huge rallies and conferences. If you are going to do any single solitary thing as a follower and servant of Jesus, this is what it's built on. Somewhere, deep down inside, there is a love for Jesus, and though (goodness knows) you’ve let him down enough times, he wants to find that love, to give you a chance to express it, to heal the hurts and failures of the past, and give you new work to do.[13]

Comparing our ministry to that of others is unwise, unfruitful and unfair. Although we are responsible to one another, we must ultimately answer for ourselves. Not everyone shares the same gifts, calling, or destiny. When Peter questioned Jesus about John’s future, Jesus told him to mind his own business. Comparing ourselves with others, questioning who gets what and why, and evaluating our contribution in regard to others is silly, useless, and demoralizing. Who truly knows the reasons why one ministry flourishes and others fail? How can anyone possibly dream of packaging a program that guarantees results? When has God ever acted in such a generic, bland, predictable fashion? It is virtually impossible to ascertain our effectiveness by comparison with others when God chooses to reward the long, hard ministry of some of his most faithful servants with a martyr’s death (in Peter’s case, crucifixion).

Comparisons give way to pride or despair. The better path is the path of love. Not all will be martyrs, but all should be disciples. Not all will know success, but all must love as Jesus loves. We do not know in advance where our faith may lead, but we can certainly know that following Jesus is worth it. We cannot fail if we continue to follow Jesus, wherever he may personally lead us – and in spite of where he personally leads others.

The Story Continues…

Remember that an epilogue serves the purpose of (1) either tying up a loose plot thread or (2) setting the stage for a new story. John has now tied up a loose plot thread. Peter and John – two significant leaders in the early church – have been restored to leadership. They have different callings and different destinies, but one mission: to witness of the love and life of God in Christ by the Spirit.

John’s epilogue also sets the stage for a new story. It concludes in this way: “But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).

John reveals that God’s story in Christ is not over. John’s Gospel is not the final word! The risen Jesus continues to appear and transform human lives. God’s story in Christ is bigger than the whole world – and thus it embraces us and the world![14]

The story of Jesus continues in and through God’s people. Words alone can no longer do justice to the Word made flesh.

Once the Word has become flesh, all the books in the world can’t do justice to it. Nothing less than flesh can now do justice to the meaning of the Word: your flesh, my flesh. Books can reach a small way out into the world. Our lives, in the power of the spirit, can reach a lot further.[15]

The story of your life adds a unique and unrepeatable thread to God’s story in Christ. Do not waste it by giving up when you’ve failed or comparing your contribution with that of others. Instead, do all in the love of Christ, and as you do, others will experience his grace at work through you.

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© Richard J. Vincent, 2006