“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.” (John 21:3 NIV)
(site of his restoration with Jesus)
People get hurt in church. They either get hurt by their own choices (as Peter was) or they get hurt by the choices of others (as Thomas, Nathaneal and the two other unnamed disciples were). We see it in scripture but honestly, we don’t have to look beyond our own experiences to know that hurt first hand. The church is full of people, and people, even church people, inure each other. Jesus was perfect and still, Peter self-injured in his interactions with perfection. Why? Because we are imperfect people. The church will only be entirely without spot or wrinkle when we are each completely perfected in Christ Jesus. Heaven alone will bring about this desired perfection, the complete establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth. In the meantime, church is going to continue to hurt because a bunch of broken people burst through it’s doors Sunday after Sunday, including you and me.
post-resurrection picnic breakfast.
A second observation: leaders can wind up leading people away when they are hurting or when they have fallen. Look at Peter. He messed up. He had denied Christ three full times to a Roman audience. Peter was hurting so deeply that he was ready to abandon the ministry and return to his previous profession, through no fault but his own. He announces his plans like a surly old man; “I’m going fishing.” And four disciples immediately follow suit.
What a warning for us as leaders! We have a influence and that doesn’t stop when we have a bad day or when we make a destructive decision. We are still either pulling people towards Christ or away from Him. Maybe this is why James warns us; not many should teach because teachers will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)
where the small party picnicked.
Remember, Jesus did nothing against Peter. Peter had failed all on his own and then he got his feelings worked up and wounded. When he wandered, he unintentionally tugged believers from the field and into his own boat. Leaders lead. It’s our DNA and we can’t lay it down because it’s become inconvenient. We’ve got to make sure we are headed somewhere worth going. We can’t afford to let our feelings dictate our course or we might find ourselves in dangerous waters with empty nets with people looking to us for answers we don’t have.
Thank goodness Jesus arrived on the beach with forgiveness in hand. No matter how far we’ve paddled away, our Lord is always looking to call us Home, back into right relationship with Him. He issued instructions, divinely provided and eagerly awaited Peter’s soppy embrace. Not only that, but the four disciples watched the entire encounter unfold: the miraculous catch, Peter’s recognition of his Teacher, his leap from the boat followed by the frantic swim to shore and last but not least, the prodigal bear hug on the beach between sinner and Savior.
Peter led people away from the church, but his humble-enthusiastic response and restoration to Jesus led them back. What an example for all of us! Remember, leaders lead. We can model wound-tending and dismemberment OR we can model humility, repentance and pursuit. One course will serve Kingdom purpose, while the other will cause confusion and disconnection from the body. Leaders lead and the only place worth leading is further into the perfect love of Christ.
“Again, Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
(John 21:6 NIV)
Lambs are led, but the tremendous responsibility for their leading lies on the under-shepherd. If we stray, they will follow. If we are set on finding our way Home, they will tag along, too.
Lord, we realize anew the tremendous responsibility of leading people. Start with our hearts. Turn them ever-towards You. Place in us such a desire to be with You that denial or abandonment will never even cross our minds. Keep us close, for our sakes and for the sake of those we seek to lead toward You. Amen.