Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Friday, April 25, 2014 Read John 21:15-19 The second story that the final editor of John’s gospel has added to the original ending of John’s gospel really is attached to the previous fishing story. In fact, it may well be that these two stories have always been together and that they are in fact one story. As we listen to our story today we need to be reflecting about the denial of Jesus by Peter when Jesus was put in custody at the home of the high priest. In that story three times Peter crumbles under pressure and denies Jesus. So, we have a story where once again Peter is put on the spot. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Three times Peter says that he does. Three times Jesus tells Peter to feed the flock. And in the end Peter is told that he will be bound and taken away just like Jesus and that he will die. And the story ends with a call to Peter – “Follow me!” As we listen to this story we can’t help but notice the frustration of Peter as he is put on the spot by Jesus. Was Peter remembering his denial too? We can’t know that for sure, but likely the editor of John’s gospel wants us to be thinking about the denial. Peter is really squirming as the story unfolds. “Please, Jesus, don’t remind me of my failure.” But in the end Peter is rehabilitated and the story can move on. John’s first readers likely heard this story and thought about their own denials and failures. We are invited to do the same. And so the story not only functions to tell a story about Peter and Jesus and about the rehabilitation of Peter, but it also speaks to readers of John’s gospel. We deny and we fail too and Jesus comes to us and asks, “Do you love me?” Jesus does not give up on deniers and failures. He calls them once again to follow. What grace for God’s people.