When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."  John 21:15 

 

Occasionally, a talmid grew disillusioned with his rabbi.  Peter reached this point during the night when Jesus was arrested and imprisoned by the Roman guards.  No doubt he felt confused and upset to see his rabbi being led to his death.  In his frustration, he denied that he had ever known his rabbi.

 

For any other rabbi, Peter's action would have spelled the end of his position as a talmid.  Peter seems to have thought he was finished with being a talmid because the Text tells us he went back to fishing.

 

But Jesus was a different rabbi.  After his resurrection, he reinstated Peter, telling him to "feed my lambs."  And by encouraging Peter to take the role of shepherd, a role that Jesus had filled himself, he was telling Peter, "Even though you've stumbled, you can still be like me."

 

What comfort that is for you and me!  To know that even when we fail we have a rabbi Savior who calls us back into service.  Do we heed our second, or third, or ….. call?