Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
The Commission of God
John 21:15-17    

   “Feed my sheep” 
In John chapter 21, the story is all about Jesus appearing to the seven disciples by the sea of Tiberias. After having a powerful experience with Jesus, disciples retreated hopelessly to their old profession and ordinary life.Here again the risen jesus illumined their ordinary life to a rich and lively one.
1.Disciples’ new understanding about Jesus.
 “Cast out the net over the right side of the boat”. They made a cast and took so many fish; they could hardly  haul the net. What is the deeper meaning of this event? It is now that Jesus having entered in to their lives and illumined them to raise  to a new pitch. Now they caught everything. He raised their ordinary life, ordinary task, and family life. When risen Christ enters in to our lives  He will raise it to a new level. John the beloved disciple shouts out  “it is the Lord”. John recognized Jesus in this new elevation of Life. So when we obey the commission of God, we are becoming his friends.
2.Peter’s  new understanding about Jesus
Peter put on his tunic and jumped in to water to come to Jesus. Before the original sin Adam and Eve walked with God in easy conversation. They were naked but they were not conscious about it.  After they had sinned , they covered themselves with clothes. On the boat Peter is unaware of the sin. But in the presence of Jesus, he put on his garments like Adam and Eve. He was ashamed of the sin that he denied Jesus three times. Your awareness of the sin can be a sign that Christ’ power is much more operative in you than it was before. Jesus then invited His disciples for a meal. Sharing of the meal was a typical move of Jesus. This is precisely what we do at the Holy Communion. Despite our sins, we are invited to share the intimacy of eating and drinking with the Lord. After that Jesus does a brief interview with Peter. He asked Peter three times- do you love me more than these?(other disciples,  possessions , and ordinary life). Peter was hurt and said , ”Lord you know everything, you know that I love You”. Jesus made him to affirm the love three times and then gave the strong commission three times.
3.Our love for God prepares us for service
Christianity is not a philosophy – not a matter of subscribing to some ideas or to a set of principles. But it is a personal relationship with Jesus. As disciples, He is turning our denial in to love, we are sent on a mission- take care of the sheep, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, comfort the sorrowing, all the spiritual and corporal work of mercy are ways of feeding the sheep of the Lord. When you let Him in to your lives, you are no longer in charge, you will be led by His power to where you don’t want to go. That means, taking us to a spiritual adventure- Journeying with Christ to a new pitch.
PRAYER
Dear God, keep me in steadfast faith to you and in fervent love for others. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
  We are never alone when we are alone with Jesus
Rev. Mathew John, Bethel MTC, Thalachira

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more