Where Are You?
“Where are you?” When God asked Adam this question, He wasn’t playing hide and seek. At least, not in the usual way we think of it. As He does in all our lives, God is asking Adam to reflect on his actions, behavior, and, most of all, his relationship with his creator.
Jesus did the same thing with Peter by the seashore after finding him back at his old job. After a miraculous catch of 153 fish, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” Of course, we can speculate on what “these” refers to, but I’d like for you to consider with me one possibility.
Could our Lord have been referring to the large catch of fish flopping around in the nets? What a catch! A banner day for any fisherman. “But Peter, do you agape me? (Love me as your Lord and God) more than these?”
“If so,” he continues, “feed my lambs.” Peter’s response is priceless, and it is one we all struggle with if we’re honest. “Yes Lord, you know that I phileo you.” (Love you in a deeply human way as a friend and brother)
A second time, Jesus asks, “Do you agape me?” Peter once again responds honestly to his Lord’s question: “You know, I phileo you.” “Take care of my sheep,” says Jesus.
Jesus is asking Peter the same question the Lord asked Adam in the Garden: “Where are you?” But there is a huge difference between the response of Adam and that of Peter. Adam makes excuses, going as far as to say to God, “The WOMAN you gave me ate of the fruit and gave some to me.” Classic blame shifting. Peter answers honestly, saying once again, “You know I love you as a friend.”
That’s when Jesus changes the question. Addressing him by his full name so as to get his complete attention, Jesus asks, “Simon, son of John, do you phileo me?” And Peter responds once again, confessing that his love is less than the full divine love that Jesus is seeking. “You know all things,” he replies, effectively acknowledging Jesus as Lord, but saying once again, “you know I phileo you.”
AND JESUS ACCEPTS PETER’S ANSWER!
After a brief prophetic word about Peter’s deep commitment to his Lord, which will be clearly seen in the days to come, Jesus says to Peter, “Follow me.”
Do you see it? Jesus is asking Peter to honestly assess the nature of his relationship with him. In light of the fact that Peter has returned to his old job (and maybe soon thereafter, his old lifestyle) Jesus wants Peter to simply admit where he is in his relationship with his Savior. And Peter does. He cannot honestly tell the Lord that his relationship with him is one of total sacrifice and commitment.
BUT JESUS MEETS PETER WHERE HE IS.
And once again, he speaks those words that Peter heard at their first encounter by that same seashore - “Follow me.”
Not many days later, Peter, the former fisherman, boldly proclaims Jesus of Nazareth as “Lord and God” to the crowd gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
The rest is history.
“On this Rock, I will build my church” were Jesus’s words to Peter after he acknowledged that Jesus was the promised Messiah and Son of God. And in spite of multiple failures, denials, and a planned return to his old job, Jesus did exactly as he said he would in Peter’s life.
He’s doing the same thing in your life. Don’t hide from him. Don’t blame your faithlessness on others. Honestly tell Christ where you are in your relationship with him.
And know this - that Jesus always meets us where we are and leads us to where he’s calling us to be.
In Christ,
Dan
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You can listen to my weekly messages at Embrace Church, High Point.