Have you ever worked with difficult people? How about supervising difficult people? Imagine trying to supervise John the Baptist, the apostle Paul and, yes, Simon Peter? I remember working with a youth worker intern some years ago. He was a character! His mission seemed like providing the youth with maximum entertainment. While kids had lots of fun, I could not find much 'meat' in his messages. Each time I tried to correct him, he would defend himself. I was supposed to supervise his work, but I was not sure if I could handle him. At times, I got mad at him for his extreme approaches to fun. Clearly, it was bordering on sensationalism. When three years of his seminary studies were over, he moved away to another church, far away. I was glad. But what I did not know, then, was that he was to become one of the most effective youth workers in my circuit of acquaintances! Why could I not recognize his passion and gifts and 'steer' him in the right way? Today he is a missionary in Thailand sharing the gospel with Buddhist youth! I was definitely not like Jesus. He was patient. I was not. Today, I want to talk about how to encourage and build people up Jesus' way.

Jesus calls Peter again
Jesus appeared for the third time now to his disciples after resurrection (21:1,14). This is related, no doubt, to Peter's denying Jesus three times earlier. But, for our purpose before we try to get too much meaning out of these numbers, let us first contemplate upon the scene presented to us here. Peter told his friends that he would go fishing again. Fishing he did, but without much success. Then, came the call of a man from a distant shore, telling Peter where to throw his net. When Peter did just that, up came a heavy load of net filled with large fish. Déjà vu! Didn't this happen before, three years ago, to be precise?

Jesus met Peter at the lowest point of the disciple. Having denied his master, not once, not twice, but three times, Peter was now going back to his old job of fishing. He was no longer the confident man who cut off the ear of a servant. Three years of being with the teacher, it seems, only brought out Peter's weakness, the unrefined part of his personality that he wished to forget. But our Savior knew this all along. Yes, it did not surprise Jesus a bit that Peter was going to fall on his face. Jesus had a back up plan, which is what our passage is all about.

After working all night without any result, how would you feel? Tired, cold and hungry? Exactly! That is why Jesus had prepared a warm bonfire and a nice breakfast (21:9). After the meal was over, Jesus asked Peter the same question three times (again notice this number?), "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"

Depending on how we take the word 'these,' the meaning of this question changes. There are at least three possibilities:

While all three interpretations can be defended, I choose the third to be the most likely option. Remember how Peter was so big on words about laying down his life for Jesus? (13:37) Did he not at least try to follow through with his words when he cut off the servant's ear? (18:10). While all may fall away, Peter did promise Jesus that he would never leave his master. But the fact is that he did fall away, miserably.

So, Jesus asks once again to Peter, "Do you really love me?" Peter was ashamed. All he could say was, 'Lord, you know I do.' Sometimes, in life, we also become very ashamed of what we did before God. We just do not know how to come back to God.

Jesus gives Peter the most important job
While Jesus asked Peter the same question three times, to the point that Peter was really getting hurt, he had a very important reason behind. Jesus wanted Peter to forget about his mistakes and start new. Notice each time Peter confirmed his love for Jesus, Jesus then gave him the most important job Peter could ever have, "Feed my sheep." Jesus was inviting Peter to move out of his own world and to begin noticing the needs and hurts of the flock of Jesus. The best way to come out of one's own failure and shame is by making something out of one's life. True, humanly speaking, Peter had nothing to offer. If I were Jesus, I would be very, very hesitant to give Peter the job of a senior pastor. After all, he has proven that he is unreliable! But Jesus' approach was different. He never gave up on Peter. When we read the books of Acts and 1 Peter, we realize how wise Jesus' decision was: Peter became a responsible and mature leader, taking good care of God's church.

If Jesus is that much trusting of us, shouldn't we also be patient with others and trust in the potential of others? If we were only interested in getting a job done, then, we would look for someone who is already capable of doing the job. But if we were, like Jesus, interested in not only getting the job done but building people up in the process, then we would be more conscious of Jesus' approach.

The leadership guru John Maxwell says, 'There is no success without a successor.' True, If you do not have successor, then you really don't have success. Whatever you built, will crumble in no time. Again, let me quote Maxwell,

"Leaders create and inspire new leaders by instilling faith in their leadership ability and helping them develop and hone leadership skills they don't know they possess" (Developing Leaders Around You, p. 11).

Jesus' act of reinstating Peter is one of the most heart-warming stories in the Bible. We should also examine our lives and give thanks to God for the constant 'second chances' He gives to us. This should move us to accept people more. Rather than dwelling on their problems, we should focus on their potential; rather than counting their short-comings, we should dream about their successes.

I remember when I first became a Christian. Rod, Campus Crusade Staff worker at the University of British Columbia in the late 70's and one of the two who discipled me, used to tell me, 'Minho, see that oak tree by the Main Library? I believe that someday your faith will grow and become as big as that oak tree.' I was a baby Christian at the time, but for some reason I never forgot about what he said. I still have a long way to go. I am no way near that tree (by the way, it reached the top of the fourth floor of the library). But I sure appreciate the trust and dream Rod had in me.

I believe that, as we grow older, our role in society should be increasingly that of encouraging and empowering the next generation of leaders. Why is it that only recently have I been thinking intensely about this topic? As I work with many seminarians closely, my dream is that they will be used mightily by the LORD. What they need from me are faith and trust, not criticism.

Jesus warns Peter about the cost of discipleship
Before we come to the end of the message, there is one more important point to catch. Jesus laid down clearly the real cost of following him. Peter, Jesus said, will not be able to dress as he wishes or go wherever he wants to go. That belonged to the days of his youth. From now on, as he takes on the responsibility of taking care of Jesus' flock, he will have to let go of his personal freedom. Someone else will dress him and someone else will lead him to places he does not want to go (21:18). His freedom will be taken away. There is even a hint of martyrdom here.

Jesus asks us the same. Jesus is saying to us, "Let me reinstate you. Let me overlook your shortcomings. Let me continue my dreams about you. But, let me ask you, do you really love me? Are you willing to give up your freedom and do what I say?"

Two precious thoughts for us
From today's passage, we come away with two precious thoughts. First, Jesus is patient with us. We should be patient with others, especially those who are working under us.

Second, Jesus stands to restore us and offers to give us true freedom in him. He wants us to make the most out of our life for his glory. Let us respond to him in faith and obedience.

May the LORD bless you!