John 21:20-22

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” 

Oh, Peter, Peter, Peter...

Just when it seemed like the climactic ending for our hero Peter, his human-ness gets in the way again.

He's confirmed three times that he loves Jesus, and three times Jesus has told Peter to care for his sheep.

But then...

"Hey Jesus...what about him?"

And Jesus replied, "What's it to you?"

Isn't that just like us? 

Everything seems to be going well. We've hit our stride. Gotten into our groove. Worked out whatever our something is, and then...

Bam.

Someone else comes on the scene and their something seems shinier than our something. Their something is something we wish was our something.

A little more attention.

A little more money.

More praise.

Better looks.

A higher IQ.

More power.

More importance.

Better grades.

Better health.

Less grief.

More friends. Or the friends we want.

A seat at the table.

The council position we wanted.

The job we wanted.

The house we wanted.

The neighborhood we wanted.

The life we wanted.

Maybe it comforts me more than just a little bit to know that even though at the very end...

After the resurrection.

Not long before Peter became the father of the church.

Peter still acted like a regular old human being.

And Jesus trusted him and loved him anyway.

What is it to me, whatever your generosity is toward others? Lord, remind me that your love is sufficient. Amen.