grace cube

I've never been a big fan of ice cubes in my drinks, unless it's straight whiskey. But today I discovered this 'grace cube' idea (or, grace cubed)... and I'm kinda liking it.

I've been thinking about John 21:15-19 all day. It's the account where, when Jesus appears to the disciples for the third time after the resurrection, schools them on catching fish, and serves them breakfast on the beach, he then calls Peter aside for a chat. He asks him three times if he loves him. Peter starts to get a little annoyed, because he's yet to drink what Jesus is pouring.

You can say what you want about Jesus telling Peter to "feed my lambs"... "take care of my sheep"... "feed my sheep"... and what all the particulars of those words mean. The thing is though... what Jesus DOESN'T do is... merely say to Peter, "Oh good, I'm glad you've come around and still love me."

You remember, of course, that Peter had denied being a follower of Jesus not too awful long ago. Denied it... three times. So, yeah, there's the aspect of Jesus asking him if he loves him for each corresponding denial. It's also true that three is a number of completeness. Trinity-type stuff.

N.T. Wright suggested there's something more though; something even bigger going on here. When Pete says, "Yes, of course I love you," Jesus doesn't stop there. He extends grace to Peter... in the form of "I still want you with me"... "I still have things for you to do"... "You're still one of us!"

This is what Wright says (p. 165 "John For Everyone - Pt. 2"):

"Here is the secret of all Christian ministry, yours and mine, lay and ordained, full-time or part-time. It's the secret of everything from being a quiet, back-row member of a prayer group to being a platform speaker at huge rallies and conferences. If you are going to do any single solitary thing as a follower and servant of Jesus, this is what it's built on. Somewhere, deep down inside, there is a love for Jesus, and though (goodness knows) you've let him down enough times, he wants to find that love, to give you a chance to express it, to heal the hurts and failures of the past, and give you new work to do.

These are not things for you to do to 'earn' the forgiveness. Nothing can ever do that. It is grace from start to finish. They are things to do out of the joy and relief that you already are forgiven. Things we are given to do precisely as the sign that we are forgiven..."

That's where I got the 'grace cubed' thing. It's the full extent of grace - the three denials, three questions, three affirmations, and three 'get back to work'. Grace is not just this fuzzy-wuzzy 'I've taken care of everything and nothing else matters.' Grace says, "You matter! You still have value! You're still part of the team! Let's go do this!!!"

Of course, you know me, I immediately started to think of all the people I'd denied a sense of grace in the past. People I led to believe needed to step aside, or find something else to do. It's also true that many of us need to understand the way we contribute and participate needs to change over time. And yet I can hear Jesus asking, "So do you love me?"

Anyway, when this first slapped me upside the head it was like a tide swept over me and, I must have got some salt water in my eye because they watered some. I know I need to put my big-boy pants on again and get on with it, but I've always sort of resented the "God still loves you" sentiment. Like, no shit Sherlock. Of course God still loves me/us! What I've been lacking - in my own mind at least - is that I am still worthy. Still wanted. Still valued. The grace that says I'm still expected to be a part of this reconciling of all things business...

So, this was my "shot" in the arm today. With ice!

John was a master writer. Wright is right up there too. Jesus, though... he is THE Master. Cubed.