RSS

Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

GROWING UP

July 30, 2010

Some of Jesus' last words with Peter are about love, but actually about growing up.

"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." - John 21:18 NRS

Just a few days prior, Peter thought he loved Jesus. But he quickly betrayed him. Now Peter sits by the fire with the resurrected Jesus, and three times Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" And three times Peter says, "Yes," but he's not so cocky as before. Then Jesus goes one step further. As if to say, "Yes, you do love me. But I'm in charge of you. I will lead you to places you may not want to go. That's what it means to love me."

Growing up for Peter meant learning what loving Jesus looked like. I think that is true for us as well. We can easily call ourselves Christ-followers; we can say, "We love Jesus," but Jesus surely leads us to places we do not want to go. That's what love looks like. That's discipleship. That's growing up.
Joyfully,
Dale Patterson