A common classification for the world’s population is that there are two types of people in the world: people who enter a room and say, “Here I am!” and people who enter a room and say, “There you are!”
In John 21, the risen Jesus comes to Peter and asks three times, “Do you love me?”
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
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Three times Peter denied Jesus. Even though Jesus had risen, Peter (Rock) reverted back to being Simon (Sand). Three times he denied, and three times Jesus gave him the chance to say, “I love you.” Jesus saw in Simon what he couldn’t see in himself. Jesus saw Peter. Jesus brings forth who Peter can be. The emotion was likely similar to this clip from Hook. Peter Pan has grown older. With no memory of who he once was, the smallest of the lost boys stares in his face for a long period searching, until, within Peter Panning, he finds Peter Pan, Pan The Man. Here is an excerpt from Hook on Youtube.
Jesus keeps after Simon knowing that sooner or later, Simon will see himself as Peter, the Rock, and then get busy loving those that Jesus loves, as Jesus loves, no matter what the risk. Often, like Peter Panning and Simon Peter, we not only lose our ways in life’s journey but lose ourselves. Fortunately, Jesus is clearly a “There You Are!” Savior.
