Beyond the Resurrection
Jesus had risen, and He appeared to His disciples multiple times. These encounters solidified the disciples’ belief in His resurrection, filling them with excitement at seeing the risen Lord. One might expect them to immediately share this wonderful news and transform the world. However, Jesus used this pivotal time to establish the essential foundation for both kingdom living and ministry. Without this groundwork, all other efforts and aspirations would lack true significance.
The important question for our contemplation: Will we continue to build upon this foundation?
The Foundational Principle: Love
The key foundation of God’s kingdom and God’s ministry is love. John chapter 21 addresses this directly, embedding the truth deeply within the disciples’ experience: failure is not the final word. When Jesus was arrested, they scattered, and Peter’s denial was a profound and painful failure. Yet, this was not the end of their service to God, nor did it limit God’s future work through them.
Jesus showed His unwavering love to the disciples, especially to Peter. By extending such love to the one whose failure was most visible, Jesus revealed that nothing can hinder God’s purposes or restrict what He can accomplish through us.
The love Jesus offers is entirely unconditional. There is nothing we can do to diminish it, and nothing we can do to earn more of it.
The Deeper Meaning of Love: Agape
Jesus posed a pointed question to Peter, “Do you love me?” This wasn’t about the strength of Peter’s feelings for Jesus relative to his affection for others or his former life as a fisherman. Instead, it delved into a more profound matter: would Jesus hold the paramount position in Peter’s life?
Jesus employed the term “agape,” signifying a love that is complete and all-encompassing. This agape love transcends mere emotion, engaging the entirety of a person – their mind, heart, and will. Originating from God, it is His very love. This love acts as the glue that holds the church together. And ultimately, agape love shapes us to be more like Christ.
Empowered by Love
So, what is the enduring legacy of Easter? It is the ongoing process of allowing Jesus’ transformative love to permeate our lives. Empowered by this love, we are then called to engage with the world. It is through the genuine expression of His love in our actions and interactions that the world will truly come to know Him.
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