UNBLOCKING THE WELL OF THE LIVING WORD

John 21:1–35 

Focus verse: ‘When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”’ (John 21:15) 

Old Testament lens: ‘I will also make you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the Earth’ (Isaiah 49:6b) 

John’s Gospel finishes with breakfast with the resurrected Christ. (1) The resurrected Jesus is revealed to His disciples. The ‘resurrection well’ is flowing … The disciples recognise the resurrected Christ. In John 1:10–11, it is said that Jesus came into the world, which He created, but the world did not recognise or receive Him. 

By contrast, in John 21, Peter, who had earlier denied Jesus, now fully recognises Him. Following the breakfast by the sea, where Jesus feeds His disciples with bread and fish (echoing earlier miraculous feedings), Jesus reinstates Peter. In a threefold question parallelling Peter’s three denials, Jesus asks, ‘Do you love me?’ Each affirmation from Peter is met with a charge: ‘Feed my lambs’, ‘Take care of my sheep’ and ‘Feed my sheep’. This restoration is not just personal; it represents a divine commissioning. Peter is being entrusted with leadership in Christ’s Church, and the metaphor of feeding Jesus’ sheep points to spiritual nourishment and guidance. However, the message goes deeper, suggesting that Israel as a nation also has a divine calling, to be a ‘sheep nation’ (as opposed to a ‘goat nation’ in Matthew 25), and to carry on Israel’s call to be a light to the Gentiles. Israel’s eyes need to be opened to recognise Jesus as their Messiah. 

The New Testament passage in Romans 11, particularly verses 25–26, discusses Israel’s partial hardening until the full number of Gentiles come in, and the promise that ‘all Israel will be saved’. The kindness of God, highlighted in Romans 2:4, is emphasised as the path to repentance. May a revelation of God’s kindness draw Israel back to Himself. 

Old Testament prophecies like Zechariah 12:10 foretell a time when the people of Jerusalem will look upon the one they pierced and mourn deeply, recognising their Messiah. Similarly, Jeremiah 31 prophesies the regathering of Israel with joy and repentance, with God leading them tenderly like a father. Hosea 3:5 similarly anticipates Israel’s return to God and to David their king, trembling before the Lord in the last days. These references underscore the prophetic hope that Israel will return to its spiritual destiny. The Gospel of John thus begins with blindness and ends with eyes being opened, individually and prophetically. The call is now to all believers to pray that Israel will recognise Jesus as Messiah, and embrace its calling. 

The Early Church Fathers who inspired the Celtic Church 

Ambrose of Milan (340–397) 

‘When the Church calls, the emperor must obey.’ (2)

One of Ambrose’s most lasting contributions to the Celtic Church came through his influence on Augustine of Hippo, who was deeply shaped by Ambrose’s sermons and teaching during his conversion. Augustine’s theology, especially his doctrines of grace, original sin, and Church authority, became central in Western Christianity, and his works were widely read in the Celtic world. Augustine held Ambrose in high esteem and saw him as a spiritual father. Because Augustine’s writings were transmitted to monastic centres like those in Ireland (eg Clonmacnoise, Clonard) and Iona, Ambrose’s ideas entered Celtic theology indirectly. 

Ambrose is traditionally credited with introducing antiphonal chant and composing Latin hymns for congregational use. These Ambrosian hymns were copied and adapted by Western monasteries, some of which made their way into Celtic liturgical practice. While the Celtic Church had unique liturgical elements, it absorbed Latin hymns and practices as Christianity grew increasingly unified under Roman influence. The influence of Ambrosian chant would blend with local traditions in places like Ireland and Wales.

‘Veni Redemptor Gentium’ (‘Come, Redeemer of the Nations’) is one of the most important hymns in early Western Christianity, and a defining example of an Ambrosian hymn or chant – the style associated with St Ambrose of Milan (c340–397). This hymn influenced the Western Church, and much later, in 1524, Martin Luther created a German paraphrase: ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’ (‘Now come, Saviour of the Gentiles’). 

Jesus Christ is the redeemer of the nations. Although Luther’s views towards the Jewish people were very hostile at the end of his lifetime and the Celtic saints didn’t focus on Israel as a geographic entity, interpreting the Old Testament typologically or allegorically, it is my belief that there is a special destiny for the nation of Israel to shine as a light to the Gentile nations too (Isaiah 49:6). 

Perhaps it is not inappropriate to produce a couple of contemporary songs on this theme of ‘Come, redeemer of the nations.’ As examples, see ‘A light to the nations’ (the song below) and ‘Come and see, come and go’ (the song to be posted tomorrow). We can co-labour with Jesus through prayer and song, that He would come and be a redeemer of the nations even unto the ends of the earth. 

REVIVAL

The path to glory is not around suffering … it is through it. Those who walk it with Him will find themselves at the centre of His story. Tyler Staton, in The Familiar Stranger, talks of redemptive suffering. (3) This was a focus of the Celtic Church. 

Are you willing to allow the Holy Spirit to groan through you, as you share Jesus’ intercessory heart of pain for awakening? The British Isles has a glorious more recent history of revivals and missionaries. Will we stand in the gap for another generation of John Wesleys, Duncan Campbells, Mary Slessors and Rees Howells to be raised up? Will we also pray for a restoring of the hearts of the fathers to the sons? 

The Early Church Fathers understood the wells of salvation to be the Incarnation of Jesus, the Crucifixion of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jesus, the Ascension of Jesus, Jesus pouring out the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the Second Coming of Jesus. Lord we pray that you will unblock these wells of salvation, to the Jews today in the nation of Israel, and around the world! Just as Peter came to recognise Jesus at that breakfast, may the eyes of your chosen people be opened to have a similar revelation.

PRAYER

‘Make me a light to the nations, shining bright through the veil of the night … from the sea to the hills of Zion.’ John 1:14 says, ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ May the eyes of the Jewish community be opened to see You and Your glory today … and may the knowledge of Your glory cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. 

A Light to the nations ( CLICK ON PICTURE BELOW TO LISTEN TO SONG)

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(1) Wright, N.T. John for Everyone, Part 2, SPCK 2025, 158, 159.

(2) St Ambrose of Milan, (paraphrase) Letter 561 to Emperor Theodosius in Schaff. St Ambrose: Select works and letters Legare Street Press (2022)

(3) Staton, T. Familiar Stranger, Hodder and Stoughton, (2025)