ed, wm ofdyr Hh

uly
eine . iw haw

Cmcuieg paranh pole re, —_—s
_— — son
Pareles \isshebk= Dea Ambicspe et ~ wl canna “or
Ayr \oydomr, . REHABILITATED - RESTORED - REBORN
-— Ponca City, OK
e\crrrek. BHPE (ws
a JOHN M. BUCHANAN
a row FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO
“> dus Dour: SCRIPTURE
/ Q Acts 3:1-10
¢
Sp, ‘
eee JoHN 21:1-17
Suse
- heal
WA is
Vo oe c " ",,.DO YOU LOVE ME?...FEED MY SHEEP.'"
dy
yw Ae _ JOHN 21:17 (NRSV)
wh
a wth
ghee - A LONG TIME AGO THERE USED TO BE A DAY
Naas

i WHEN PARENTS WERE INVITED TO VISIT

— SCHOOL. IT WAS CALLED

_ PARENTS’ DAY AND STUDENTS LOOKED FORWARD
_ el
ws i
~ oe wr >

ae

ar Ve ‘eo | b
“a gat - - CA wae Wat tw ew y
h } cou Carne

TO IT WITH A WIDE RANGE OF FEELINGS
FROM EXCITEMENT TO MORTAL TERROR. THE
HIGH POINT OF THE AFTERNOON ON PARENTS’
DaY ONE YEAR WAS TO BE A SPELLING BEE.
IT WAS THE FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE. I HAD
BEEN DOING VERY WELL IN SPELLING BEES,
FINISHING REGULARLY NEAR THE TOP.
UNFORTUNATELY I HAD ANNOUNCED THAT FACT
TO MY MOTHER. IN FACT I HAD PROMISED A
REPEAT PERFORMANCE WHICH WOULD MAKE HER
PROUD ON VISITING DAY. THE MOMENT
ARRIVED. SUPREMELY CONFIDENT, I FOUND
MY PLACE NEAR THE HEAD OF THE LINE (mM¥

LAST NAME~ALWAYS PLACING ME NEAR THE

, Ty

|
+RONT). | THE EASY WORDS CAME FIRST: THE

FIRST ONE WAS “ACRE.") I RESPONDED WITH

-

THE FULL CONFIDENCE OF A NINE~YEAR-OLD -

[nil

- "A...€...E...R" |: REMEMBER THAT
MOMENT WITH TERRIBLE CLARITY DECADES

LATER.

OU. HAVE?

MosT OF US LIVE MOST OF THE TIME

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN OUR EXPECTATIONS OF

OURSELVES AND THE SIMPLE, UNVARNISHED

REALITY OF OUR urves.| WE KNOW, MOST OF

US DO, THE PAIN WHICH RESULTS WHEN WE

aoe,

FAIL TO LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS

OTHER HAVE OF US -- OUR PARENTS,

———2>

oo -_—-

TEACHERS, MENTORS, PEERS < AND THAT

DEEPER PAIN, PERHAPS THE MOST PROFOUND
aie a wii

PAIN OF ALL, WHEN WE FAIL TO LIVE UP TO

OUR OWN EXPECTATIONS OF OURSELVES.

=——-

IF YOU HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS, YOU

\ —_— a

HAVE KNOWN GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. FG you

HAVE EVER WANTED DESPERATELY TO WIN, YOU

KNOW HOW BITTER DEFEAT tastes. \ Ir you

HAVE HELD HIGH HOPES FOR YOUR NATION,

YOUR TEAM, YOUR FAMILY, YOURSELF, YOU

=_—_ a4

HAVE KNOWN HOW DEEPLY .THE PAIN
PENETRATES WHEN HOPES ARE pasnen. | [SEE

ERNEST T. CampBELL, Lockep InN A Room

WrrH Open Doors, .P. 151]

=. THERE WAS A CLASSIC MOMENT AFTER

ONE OF ADLAI STEVENSON’S CRUSHING

%

DEFEATS IN HIS PRESIDENTIAL BIDS. A
sat lsc

REPORTER ASKED HOW IT FELT TO BE

=

DEFEATED SO DECISIVELY\ MR. STEVENSON

-

SAID HE WAS("TOO OLD TO CRY BUT IT HURT

ee

TOO MUCH TO LAUGH.”

AND PEOPLE WHO PREACH SERMONS

—

UNDERSTAND THE STORY ABOUT THE MINISTER

— - -_—

WHO TRAVELED TO ANOTHER CITY TO PREACH A
CANDIDATE SERMON FOR THE PULPIT
COMMITTEE OF A VERY PROMINENT CHURCH.
WHEN SHE RETURNED THAT EVENING HER
HUSBAND INQUIRED HOW THE SERMON HAD

Co

GONE. "WnzcH. one?" sue ASKED. (re

ONE I PREPARED, THE ONE I DELIVERED, OR
THE ONE I PREACHED IN THE CAR ON THE WAY
HOME?"

THIS PAIN HAS TWO SOURCES. \ Tae

~

FIRST IS PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT. \Ir HURTS
TO TRY SOMETHING AND FAIL, TO BE
HUMILIATED IN FRONT OF YOUR PARENTS,
PEERS, YOUR EMPLOYER, COACH, CONDUCTOR,

SPOUSE. |THE JURY IS IN. \ THE TERRIBLE

TRUTH IS OUT.\ YOU'RE NOT WHAT THEY

=

THOUGHT YOU WERE. \ IT HURTS -- BUT IT’S

-

NOT FATAL. \ You'’LL SURVIVE.
THE SECOND SOURCE IS MORE

COMPLICATED.| IT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR
t \ .

EXPECTATIONS OF YOURSELF, MAYBE YOU
DIDN'T HAVE MUCH BY WAY OF EXPECTATIONS
FOR YOURSELF; DIDN'T THINK YOU COULD DO

—_

mucn. AND MAYBE IT TOOK AWHILE AND SOME

REAL INTERNAL FORTITUDE TO HAVE SOME
REAL EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT
SUCCEED. | MAYBE YOU CREATED AN

EXPECTATION FOR YOURSELF HIGHER THAN

= _
\

|
ANYTHING YOU EVER HOPED FOR. \ You

STARTED TO BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD DO IT.

—

AND THEN YOU DIDN'T. | THE MOMENT OF

TRUTH ARRIVED AND YOU DIDN'T DO WHAT YOU

SET OUT TO DO SO CONFIDENTLY: | YOUR

CAREFULLY REHEARSED REBUTTAL TO THE
ARGUMENT DIDN'T COME OUT rien; \vou
STUTTERED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SALES
PRESENTATION; i Jrou STRUCK OUT WITH THE Au pit

=: det yov
WINNING RUN ON rireo;| on YOU NEVER wee
PARENTED IN ACTUALITY AS SENSITIVELY AND +
INTELLIGENTLY AS YOU DID LATE AT NIGHT
WHEN YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT) THERE IS
PAIN WHICH RESULTS FROM NOT LIVING UP TO
YOUR OWN EXPECTATION.| IT HAS A WAY OF
BECOMING PERMANENT, LOW-GRADE PAIN,

EMOTIONAL SCAR TISSUE, IF YOU WILL. | AND

IT HAS A WAY OF SUGGESTING A METHOD

om,

9

AVOIDING FURTHER PAIN: NAMELY A
REDUCTION OF EXPECTATIONS, A LOWERING OF

SELF-IMAGE, A DIMINISHMENT OF HOPE.

BETTER NOT TO EXPECT TOO MUCH OF MYSELF,
WE REASON; | THEN I won'’T BE DISAPPOINTED
WHEN I FAIL.

MOST OF US LIVE MOST OF THE TIME
BETWEEN OUR EXPECTATIONS OF OURSELVES
AND THE UNVARNISHED REALITY OF OUR
Lives. | AND IN THAT SPACE THERE CAN BE A
LOT OF PAIN., IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS
WE FIND THE STORY OF PETER SO
COMPELLING.\ HE IS, IN MAY WAYS, THE
MOST ACCESSIBLE PERSON IN THE NEw
TESTAMENT./ AND THE ACCOUNT, IN THE 21ST
CHAPTER OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, OF HIS
ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN CHRIST Is, I
HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT, ONE OF THE MOST
HUMAN, AND THEREFORE ONE OF THE MOST

\

POWERFUL, INCIDENTS IN THE BIBLE. IT Is

CERTAINLY ONE WHICH MOST OF US HAVE NO
TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING.
AMERICAN NOVELIST REYNOLDS PRICE, [camsr
WRITING IN A BOOK OF ESSAYS ABOUT THE
BIBLE, SAYS THIS PASSAGE AT THE END OF
THE 4TH GOSPEL HAS THE FEEL OF
EYEWITNESS REPORTING.

-)

--+-¢.' THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF INVENTED
SCENES IN WESTERN FICTION THAT WIN OUR
MOMENTARY BELIEF. | BUT NOTHING I HAVE
ENCOUNTERED IN A LIFETIME'’S READING,
SURPASSES THE SIMPLE CONVICTION, THE
PURE-WATER FLOW OF JOHN 21."........
[INCARNATION, P. 64]

THE STORY OF PETER IS WOVEN INTO

et

THE NARRATIVE FROM THE BEGINNING. WHAT

—

WE KNOW IS THAT HE WAS A GALILEAN

FISHERMAN, STRONG, ROUGH; | HE HAD A WIFE,

fees oa

A FAMILY, A MOTHER-IN-LAW; HE WAS

ae

AGGRESSIVE, IMPETUOUS;\ HE FREQUENTLY

\ Cal

SPOKE FIRST AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT LATER; =
HE BECAME THE LEADER, THE SPOKESPERSON
FOR THE DISCIPLES, AND WITH/PAUL, BECAME
AN ELOQUENT AND STRONG AMBASSADOR FOR
JESUS CHRIST AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
EXTENSION AND GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY.

— > wna WE NOW ABOUT PETER IS HIS
HUMANNESS.\ HE WAS A MAN WITH A HEART

FULL OF LOVE AND A RECORD OF NOT LIVING

UP TO HIS OWN EXPECTATIONS.
WHEN JESUS INVITED HIM TO FOLLOW,
PETER DID, WITHOUT HESITATION: HE wAS

= \

ONE OF THOSE THE NARRATIVE SAYS SIMPLY,

10

"LAID DOWN HIS NETS AND FOLLOWED."

ALONG WITH JAMES AND JOHN HE BECAME PART

OF AN UNOFFICIAL INNER CIRCLE OF CLOSE

=—=_,

FRIENDS AROUND Jesus. | WHEN JESUS ASKED

—

THEM ONE DAY WHO THEY THOUGHT HE WAS, IT
WAS PETER WHO VOLUNTEERED,( "You ARE THE
CHRIST, ") AND MOMENTS LATER IT WAS PETER
WHO DEMONSTRATED THE DIFFICULTLY THE
WORLD HAS ALWAYS HAD WITH THAT
AFFIRMATION BY REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE
INEVITABILITY OF CHRIST'S SUFFERING AND
DEATH. | AND SO IT WAS TO PETER THAT

~ ~*

JESUS SAID HIS( HARSHEST WORDS, | "GET

— \
BEHIND ME SATAN."
HE WAS ON THE MOUNTAIN WITH JESUS
a

AND SHARED AN EXPERIENCE OF MYSTICAL

POWER AND THEN MADE A TASTELESS

11

SUGGESTION THAT THEY BUILD A MONUMENT TO
THE PLACE ano_occaszon, HE WAS THE ONE
WHO VOICES HIS EMOTION AND OBJECTED WHEN
JESUS WASHED THEIR FEET.| ON THAT
OCCASION, THE LAST SUPPER, IT_IS PETER
WHO DEMANDED TO KNOW THE IDENTITY OF THE
BETRAYER. | AND WHEN Jesus PREDICTED THAT
THEY WOULD ALL ABANDON HIM SOON, IT WAS
PETER, BURSTING WITH PASSION AND LOVE,
WHO PROMISED pravety, "THOUGH EVERYONE
ABANDON YOU, I AM WITH YOU TO THE END.

I WILL DIE WITH YOU."/ THAT GRAND
GESTURE PROMPTED JESUS TO PREDICT THAT,
IN ACTUALITY, PETER IS GOING TO ABANDON
HIM ToO./ IN FACT, PETER WILL DENY EVEN
KNOWING JESUS THREE TIMES BEFORE

MORNING.

-

12

Wav uw

WHEN THE GUARDS COME FOR JESUS IT
IS PETER ALONE WHO RESISTED, WHO DREW
HIS SWORD AND STARED TO USE rr. | THAT, I
HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT, WAS THE MOMENT HE
WOULD HAVE DIED FOR JESUS,| IN THE_HEAT
OF COMBAT, MAN TO MAN.

HOURS LATER, PETER ALONE IS IN THE

_

COURTYARD OF THE HIGH PRIEST WHILE JESUS
IS INSIDE, BEING INTERROGATED AND TRIED.
It IS LATE AND coup} THERE IS A
CHARCOAL FIRE.| A HOUSEHOLD MAID
RECOGNIZES HIM. "You" RE ONE OF THEM,

AREN'T You?" |» I aM NoT, !' PETER SAID.

Ya
LATER, SOMEONE ELSE ASKED,/ "AREN'T

YOU ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES"? " I AM NOT,"
PETER SAID.
"But I SAW YOU IN THE GARDEN -- YOU

=

13

WERE THE ONE WITH THE SWORD."

“DAMN IT, MAN, LET ME ALONE. I
NEVER SAW HIM BEFORE," PETER SAID.

AND THE COCK CROWED AND WHEN THEY
BROUGHT JESUS OUT, HIS FACE SWOLLEN FROM
THE BEATING, HANDS BOUND BEHIND HIS
BACK, THEIR EYES MUST HAVE MET, THE LAST
TIME PETER WOULD LOOK INTO THOSE EYES.

HE DID NOT DIE WITH Jesus. \ HE DID
NOT STAY WITH HIM, HE DID WHAT THE REST
OF THEM DID ULTIMATELY, SAVED HIS OWN
SKIN, DENIED EVER KNOWING Jesus\\ How
VERY FAR FROM HIS BRAVE BOASTING, HIS
ENDEARING ATTEMPT AT COURAGE, HIS
IDEALISTIC EXPECTATION OF HIMSELF.

PETER MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED THE

PAIN OF JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION MORE

14

EXQUISITELY AND CERTAINLY MORE

—-—s

PERSONALLY THAN ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING IN

—_

HISTORY.| CAN YOU IMAGINE THE GUILT, THE

oe

SHAME, THE EMBARRASSMENT?) CaN You
IMAGINE HOW FOOLISH HE FELT IN THE
PRESENCE OF HIS FRIENDS WHO AT LEAST HAD
THE COMMON Renee NOT TO BOAST ABOUT
SOMETHING THEY COULD NOT DELIVER?

PETER, I SUSPECT, WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM

WITH GUILT AND SELF-DISGUST.

SO IT IS PETER WHO SAYS, "I'M GOING

FISHING." TRANSLATE THAT ... I'LL DO

SOMETHING I KNOW HOW TO po. \ I'LL GO

oe

BACK TO THE LIFE I LEFT, THE

PREDICTABLE, SECURE, LOW-EXPECTATION,

EXISTENCE OF A FISHERMAN.

IF YOU HAVE EVER ENJOYED THE LUXURY

= -

15

OF A DAWN WALK ON THE BEACH, YOU KNOW
THAT IT IS A PECULIAR TIME, ALMOST

wystzcat. | THE OCEAN IS OFTEN QUIET IN

_

THE EARLY MORNING. | THERE ARE A FEW
GULLS, USUALLY A MISTY FOG WHICH MAKES
IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE HORIZON.\ THERE

ARE NO COLORS YET; EVERYTHING IS A SOFT,

ern

PALE GRAY,

A VOICE BREAKS THE SILENCE:

A
"BOYS," THEY VOICE SAYS.( "Laps" -

IT IS AN INTIMATE TERM -- You AREN'T

=

CATCHING ANYTHING, ARE YOU? ,TRY THE

on _

OTHER SIDE.

"WHO WAS THAT?" ONE ASKED, IN THE

-

BOAT, ANNOYED, STARTLED, AND ANOTHER ONE

WHISPERED, "IT LOOKS LIKE Him!"

AND NOW PETER, WORKING HARD,

16

STRIPPED TO THE WAIST, DIVES IN AND
SWIMS THE HUNDRED YARDS TO SHORE.

THERE IS A CHARCOAL FIRE, AS THERE
WAS IN THE COURTYARD. \ HE OFFERS FISH
AND BREAD. \ THE WRITER WISELY DOES NOT
DESCRIBE WHAT THEY SAID AS THEY ATE,
THEREFORE LEAVING THE IMPRESSION THAT
THEY SAID NOTHING ~ JUST STOOD THERE
AROUND THE FIRE, EATING BREAD; \LOOKING
DOWN AT THEIR FEET, SHIFTING THEIR
WEIGHT FROM ONE Fooff To THE OTHER -
WAITING... AND PETER STANDING THERE WITH
THEM, HAVING AGAIN DONE SOMETHING BRASH
AND IMPETUOUS, DRIPPING WET IN THE CHILL
AIR, SHIVERING IN SPITE OF HIS ATTEMPTS
TO BE CALM AND STRONG. ) AND FINALLY

THEIR EYES MEET AGAIN AND JESUS,

17

SPEAKING TO HIM, ASKS: "DO YOU LOVE ME
MORE THAN THESE?" | It 1s, I THINK A

=

‘GENTLE TEASING: "Do YOU ACTUALLY LOVE
ME MORE THAN THESE OTHERS po?" )

AND PETER, DAMNED BY THE REALITY OF
HIS DENIAL, THREE TIMES, DOES NOT BOAST
ANY Loncer.| ("You KNOW THAT I LOVE You" )
IS ALL HE CAN THINK TO SAY.

HE DENIED JESUS THREE TIMES; \ FAILED
TO LIVE UP TO HIS OWN EXPECTATIONS twee
TIMES. SO THREE TIMES THE QUESTION
COMES.

"Do YOU LOVE ME?" AND THREE TIMES
THE HUMBLE RESPONSE, "YES LORD, YOU KNOW
THAT I Love you.”

AND THREE TIMES, THE CHARGE, THE

COMMISSION -

18

“FEED MY LAMBS." "TEND MY SHEEP."
“FEED MY SHEEP."

PETER SPOKE AND ACTED BRAVELY. En—
THE-FERST—LESSON—WE-HEARD-ABOUT_HIS-BOLD-
WETNESS—IN-JERUSALEM. PETER BECAME WHAT
HE WANTED TO BE.\ AND HE WAS FAITHFUL TO
THE END. | HE DIED, AS HIS LORD DIED,
TRADITION HAS IT, CRUCIFIED.

BUT HERE, IN THE PALE GRAY LIGHT OF
DAWN, A DEVASTATED, GUILTY, HUMAN BEING
WHO IS FAMILIAR TO EVERY ONE OF US IS
REHABILITATED - RESTORED - REBORN.

REYNOLDS PRICE ASKS:

{ “HOW CAN A RATIONAL LIFE YIELD TO
AN OLD AND PREPOSTEROUS PAMPHLET WHICH
ASKS NO LESS THAN A SEISMIC CHANGE OF

MIND AND HEART?" | AND THEN ANSWERS WITH

\

19

THIS STORY, "...THE SCENE THAT MOST

—
-_

DEFEATS MY DOUBTS, THAT BEARS THE

, eet
= J

HOMELIEST SIGNS OF STRAIGHT REPORTING."
[IBID, p.65)

IT IS THE UNDENIABLE HUMANNESS OF
THIS STORY (WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE) AND
THE MIRACLE OF GRACE AND REBIRTH. | Jesus

DOESN'T CRITICIZE PETER, | DOESN'T EVEN

\
MENTION HIS MISERABLE BEHAVIOR, \DOESN'T

MULTIPLY PETER'S GUILT BY cREETAG
ATTENTION TO THE oBvrous,. INSTEAD
DEMONSTRATES THE SAVING POWER OF
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. | FORGIVENESS,
ACCEPTANCE, RESTORATION, ARE THE FIRST
RESULTS OF EASTER.

AND THAT I PROPOSE, IS VERY GOOD

NEWS INDEED.

--

20

You DON'T HAVE TO LIVE OUT OF YOUR

ec

PAST,
You DON'T HAVE TO LIVE OUT OF YOUR

NEAR MISSES OR COLOSSAL FAILURES.

=

YoU DON'T HAVE TO GO ON LIVING OUT
OF YOUR SIN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE OUT OF THE

im

SHAME YOU FEEL BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN

ABLE TO LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS

OTHER HAVE IMPOSED ON YOU - OR YOUR

_

EXPECTATIONS OF YOURSELF.

YOU ARE LOVED - FORGIVEN - RESTORED

— . rr, — ™

- AND IF YOU WILL GRASP ruts: (rF You
WILL STAND THERE WITH THAT SO..VERY HUMAN

FISHERMAN, ON THE BEACH IN THE EARLY

eg

MORNING Lrent,\ wrt NOTHING TO OFFER BUT

eee

YOUR CRUSHED HOPES FOR YOURSELF, YOUR

=

21

INTENTIONS, YOUR UNREALIZED
EXPECTATIONS, YOUR LOVE, YOU WILL BE
WELCOMED AND REBORN.

How GOOD IT WOULD BE TO STOP NOW;

So

TO END THIS SERMON WITH GRACIOUS
ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE ALL AROUND, TO SING
“Just As I Am... O Lams oF Gop, I
ere...”

THE TROUBLE IS THE INCIDENT DOESN'T
END HERE.
ve “Do you LOVE ME"? -

ee.

"Yes, LorD. You KNOW I LOVE you."

"FEED MY SHEEP." Aud So lis Sermon,
~ = ete uh ot
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF- , Wes Com

|
FULFILLMENT IN THE SECULAR SENSE, \ AND

WHAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH MEANS BY

-_

\
SALVATION IS HERE. \ JESUS FORGIVES PETER
- 7 Cwk yor

22

—

AND IN THE FORGIVING "ENABLED" PETER TO
_ Z ——-

FORGIVE HIMSELF ,\ ACCEPT HIMSELF, MAYBE

-_—

EVEN LOVE HIMSELF AGAIN. | THAT'S WHAT WE

WANT FROM THE THERAPIST )\ BuT THERE IS

¥

ANOTHER DIMENSION WHEN JESUS IS

INVOLVED. \ IT'S CALLED FEEDING THE

=

SHEEP. | FRED BUECHNER WROTE ONCE:

"THIS IS WHY WE TRY TO MAKE THE TOMB AS

|

SECURE AS WE CAN. _ BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT
HE ALWAYS SAYS. | 'FEED MY SHEEP...MY
LAMBS.' / THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD MAKE
OURSELVES SECURE FROM, KNOWING THE
TERRIBLE NEEDS OF THE LAMBS AND OUR

ABUNDANCE, KNOWING OUR OWN TERRIBLE

NEED." [THE MAGNIFICENT DEFEAT, P. 81]

SO THE POINT OF THIS IS NOT SIMPLY

FEELING GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES AGAIN IN

23

SPITE OF FALLING SHORT OF OUR SELF-
expectarzon. | THE POINT OF THIS IS A NEW
BEING, \CREATED_IN THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
oF JESUS CHRIST, AND COMMITTED TO THE
TASKS OF FEEDING THE SHEEP.

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
IS GIVEN TO PETER -- NOT MERELY FOR HIS
REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION, BUT ALSO
HIS REBIRTH -- HIS NEW LIFE.

SO THE EXPERIENCE OF THE
RESURRECTION ‘ACTUALIZED IN YOU AND ME AS
WE FIND OURSELVES ..4NGSSE?... IN HIS
NAME WITH HIS PEOPLE.

HANS INS. aurps SOMEWHERE
THAT THE LIST OF GREAT PEOPLE WHO LOVE
JESUS BUT WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE

_

CHURCH WOULD BE LONG AND DISTINGUISHED

24

INDEED. | AND EVERYONE ON IT HAS MISSED
THE POINT. | You CAN'T LOVE JESUS WITHOUT
FEEDING THE SHEEP AND THAT GETS YOU

— =

MIXED UP WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND BEFORE

YOU KNOW IT YOU'RE IN CHURCH.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM WE DO
AT FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IS OUR
TUTORING PRoGRAM.| IT'S NOT REALLY VERY
FAIR; apersy-aneract, TO lke fu [hel

‘

L. RVBNASI EZ eee EVANGELISM. | WE
RECRUIT WELL-MEANING ALTRUISTIC, YOUNG
URBAN PROFESSIONALS TO TUTOR A YOUNGSTER
FROM THE CABREE-RRRN HOUSING PROJECT
ONCE A wank. | THEY LOVE DOING rt. | It's

om

A WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY -

-

- ALSO A WAY TO MEET OTHER INTERESTING

~

25

4 i} er

IVA ©

, jek 4
$7u¢
Yor’, AND WOMEN. |.AND SO THEY MEET A &
-_ * 4 DV

YOUNGSTER-ONCE~A» WEEK AT °THE CHURCH AND

——*

PROVIDE THE MOST_BASIC AND USEFUL

-

|
SERVICE; HELP IN READING AND WRITING:

AND THEN THEY BEGIN TO SEE THE HUMAN

—

BEING, THE LITTLE BOY OR GIRL, HUNGRY

FOR Love: \ THE HUNGRY SHEEP, AND THEY

\4 THEY Aec Demy
BEGIN TO CONNECT WwW 4-FHEM AN

22. WITS, aT Jesus - MAYBE FOR THE

-_

~
FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES, ) AND BEFORE

YOU KNOW IT THEY ARE IN THE NEW MEMBERS
CLASS, ..44XSWS4 >>) .... MEMBERSHIP
QUESTIONS, AFFIRMING THEIR FAITH,

NEnCAm cop BAPTISM.

You DON'T HAVE TO LOOK_FAR FOR

LAMBS WHO NEED FEEDING....

26

THE POINT IS NOT MERELY FEEING
BETTER ABOUT OURSELVES, NOR IS THE POINT
MERELY ENGAGING IN DOING GOOD AND
SHOWING MERCY.| THE POINT IS BOTH. THE
POINT IS BECOMING A NEW BEING - IN
CHRIST.

AND IT BEGINS WHEN, | LIKE PETER, \ WE
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR NAKEDNESS, WHEN WE KNOW

THAT STANDING BEFORE HIM WE HAVE LITTLE

=e

TO COMMEND US.\ BUT NEVERTHELESS THERE
WE STAND, SHIVERING IN THE COOL, GRAY
LIGHT OF DAWN.

AND WHEN, LIKE PETER, WE KNOW THAT

HE ACCEPTS US, FORGIVES US, WELCOMES

US. ...6.

28

AND WHEN, LIKE PETER, WE CONNECT

THAT MIRACLE OF LOVE AND GRACE WITH THE

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LIVING FOR Vs 4

OTHERS” = WHICH IS ALWAYS; LIVING FOR
HIM.
AND WHEN, LIKE PETER - WE ARE FED

BY HIM,| FOOD FOR OUR BeP\E?. 4... AND
THAT FOOD FOR THE HUNGER DEEP WITHIN US
-- TO KNOW HIM AND LOVE HIM AND LIVE OUT

OUR LIVES FOR HIM.

=

Lovd
Do YOU KNOW ME?

LorD, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW WE

LOVE YOU.

FOR YOU.

29

We dik wh sau Ha works $ Bob as le drdneb

=

Qo wee sogetu- . (words of Ly fe +Sclvatin

is Ve yr Dor Dre =

; Voliod oved __
ae ~ hw You