John 20-21 is a picture of the power of the resurrected life. N T Wright in his book, Surprised by Hope, walks us through a powerful picture of transformation. It is understanding that the resurrection makes all the difference.

The resurrection means we move from what we are familiar with (fishing) to new territory (shepherding). Jesus won’t leave us in the status quo. He ushers in the new creation. He ushers in the new paradigm. He is unveiling something new and powerful and then says to us, “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.”

But we have to confront our own failing. Peter had to walk through his failing to experience the transforming power of forgiveness. He had to sit with Jesus, knowing his failure. And Jesus walks him through the valley of transformation.

“Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep.”

Give up the default setting in your life. Going back to fishing is the default setting. We’re too settled in our lives, like Peter. We’re content with using our talents to just help people along. But Jesus isn’t about helping people along. He is about transforming them.

Peter had to walk through the transformation of forgiveness, and in that walk he moved into a new paradigm. From fishing to tending sheep.

God is in the process of empowering us as his children for this Kingdom work. We are in new life now. We need to step out of our default settings and realize the new paradigm right in front of us.

The work of the Kingdom is not for Kingdom Come. It is for Kingdom here. On earth… as it is in heaven.