Looking Ahead

If you have ever been around a toddler, you have heard these words before: “I can do it!” They cry out in frustration because they feel held back from experiencing any number of tasks on their own. One of the frustrating things, as a parent, is that these same kids crying out in frustration because they are not allowed to try something on their own will inevitably cry out all the louder when the task left in their hands becomes burdensome. That perpetually state of frustration in toddlers reminded me of a couple of interactions between Jesus and His disciples.

The first conversation takes place between Jesus and two of His closest friends, two brothers, James and John. Jesus and the disciples are on their way to Jerusalem, and Jesus has been warning His friends that things were going to be tense. In fact, Jesus had been predicting His own death in Jerusalem. James and John misunderstood His coming Kingdom and requested that Jesus meet any and all of their demands. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory?” The brothers requested. Jesus responded by asking the two aspiring disciples, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” In other words, Jesus asks if they will be able to bear up under the same sacrifice He will be making… Since James and John don’t understand that Jesus will die on a cross, they assure Him that they can meet the required level of sacrifice.

The next conversation takes place between Jesus and Peter after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Peter, of course, had denied having anything to do with Jesus, not once, but three times. So, perhaps, out of remorse, regret, and fear, Peter had returned to fishing. On the day of this conversation, Jesus appears on the beach. It had been a long night of fishing in which Peter had no luck, so when Jesus asked, “Children, do you have any fish?” Peter’s answer was no! Jesus told Peter to cast his nets on the other side of the boat. When Peter does so, the catch is so big, he is unable to haul it all in. At this point, John realizes it is Jesus on the shore, and Peter flung himself into the water and swam to shore. Around a little campfire, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Jesus. Each time, Peter swore to his love for Jesus, and each time, Jesus responded, “Feed my sheep.” It was almost as if Jesus was saying, “It is going to get hard to follow me again, and when it does, your main job, your one task, is to care for the people around you. You are to feed my sheep.”

On August 16, Wallula will launch three new worship times. We will gather at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. The additional worship service, kids’ ministry times, student gatherings, and adult small groups are all designed to do one thing: feed His sheep. The task is big, the goal is audacious, and the sacrifice is significant as well. To make this endeavor a success, we need families with kids to commit to worship at 8:00 a.m., so that there is plenty of space at 9:30 a.m. for other families and so that any early risers attending for the first time will have a great experience with friends to welcome them in kids’ ministry at 8:00 a.m. We need students and their families to worship at 11:00 a.m. so that students will feel welcomed and have folks to lean on and build meaningful friendships with. We need volunteers at all three hours to enable the ministries available to function at full throttle. Are you willing to accept the mission of feeding His sheep?

- Lance

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know what I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

       - John 21:17