Personal Jesus

“This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.”   (John 21:14 ESV)

What drives me to follow Christ as Lord?  If nothing else, I am driven by the fact that Jesus is a "personal" Jesus.  I don't mean that He is my Jesus and no one else's.  Neither do I mean that Jesus is at my beck and call.  But I realize that He is there when I need Him the most, even when He has every right to not be there.  Even when He's extended grace upon grace already.

I think it was this same thing that drove the apostles of Jesus.  After Jesus' death, the apostles were scattered and disillusioned about their future.  They staked everything on Jesus and it failed, they thought.  That is until He was resurrected.  Rumor has it that it was the resurrection that caused the apostles to re-engage.  I know that was one reason, but I don't think it was the primary reason.  I believe the thing that drove the apostles was the realization of a "personal" Jesus who genuinely cared about their well-being and their discipleship.  Jesus who died for them and who lived for them, yes; but even who came to rescue them from themselves and their mediocrity when they were not driven enough to do so themselves.  A Jesus who not only saves the lost people, but intercedes for and "Saves the saved" people too: even after they've turned away from Him or lived in mediocrity.

This is the story of John 21.  It was not simply the resurrection.  John tells us that the apostles had already seen Jesus twice after He had been raised.  But they still went fishing.  I have hinted that it was mediocrity that caused the apostles to go fishing and be on the lake, we still haven't talked about why Jesus was on that beach.  It seems that Jesus was on the beach just for Peter.  They had unfinished business.  Peter had denied him and it seems they had not talked about that yet, even though Peter already knew Jesus would accept Him.  Jesus came just for Peter, to "save" Him from a life of mediocrity.  They had a deep, heartfelt, personal conversation.  Not about the church, not about the group, not about the inner circle of three (Peter, James and John); but just about Peter and Jesus.  Simon...do you love me? Then feed and shepherd my sheep.  But Lord, what about that guy over there? ...What does that have to do with you Peter, You follow Me.  It was Jesus kindness and perseverance that continued to pursue Peter even after Peter received over extended grace from Jesus.  He pursues us just the same when we need it.  He is your personal Jesus.