Over the past several years a lot of attention has been paid to how organizations create a succession plan. When an organization has been led by a deeply devoted missional leader, succession planning addresses not only how the organization keeps the mission, the passion, and the devotion alive but also how the vision captures more and more people.

Myles Monroe, the Bahamian pastor and leadership guru, points to the 21^st chapter of John as a boilerplate for succession. To put the situation in context, Jesus has been crucified and raised. According to John this is the third time that the risen Christ has appeared to his disciples. It takes place along the Sea of Galilee. (Yes, the New Testament writers, particularly Luke, Matthew, Mark, and Paul, differ in the details and number of times Jesus appears, but for the sake of this discussion, I am going to stick with John's take.) They have been out fishing all night, have caught nothing, and in the wee hours of early dawn, there is a voice from the shore that instructs them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. They do and they have a miraculous catch - 153 fish!

This early dawn episode is an epiphany. In that moment one of the disciples recognizes Jesus as the voice from the shore. It generates great excitement. Peter, who is naked in the boat, puts his clothes on and then jumps into the water and starts swimming to shore. (I have often thought that I would preach a sermon one day with the title, "When the Lord caught Peter with his pants down.") As he arrives on shore, there is a charcoal fire pit. No doubt it reminded him of the night in which Jesus was betrayed. Peter had ventured into the courtyard just outside where Jesus was on trial. As it was cold, he stood by a charcoal fire, and when confronted, he denied that he ever knew Jesus. Three times he denied knowing Jesus. Perhaps when Peter now comes ashore and sees the pit he thinks, "Now I am going to hear about. Now I am going to be chastised and have my face rubbed in my shame."   But that is not what happens. Jesus is cooking breakfast and begins to serve them.

Here is the where the DNA of a succession plan is revealed. After the meal, Jesus takes Peter aside. Three times he asks him, "Peter, do you love me." Three times in exasperation, Peter says, "Yes! Yes! Yes, Lord, you know I love you." Jesus' response is, "Feed my sheep." In other words, according to tradition, this is where it is that Jesus turns to Peter as the one entrusted to be the early leader of the Jesus movement, that is, the church.

Think of the exchange between Jesus and Peter as a job interview. It is interesting what it is that Jesus asks. It is only one question. Do you love me? He did not ask Peter the sort of questions we would ask. What's your vision? How are your organizational skills? Are you good at motivating people? Can I get three references?   He did not even ask Peter these questions: Peter, do you like my power, my charisma, my authority? Nope. Just one question in the interview: Peter, do you love me?

We who are called by the living One to heal and bless the world in his name really only have one question that matters, only one question that we must get right and answer right. Do you love Jesus? The question is not: Do you love being Lutheran? Or, how well do you know the Bible? Or, do you love being the church? Or, do you love our liturgy and music? Or, are you saved? It is one question: Do you love Jesus? There is only one answer: YES!

Then, using Jesus' language, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, we carry Jesus' DNA in the world.   We see what Jesus sees, get troubled by what troubles Jesus, have our hearts break over what breaks Jesus' heart, and we respond with the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus. When we do this and give our lives to this, we soon discover just what Jesus was always talking about when he offered us eternal life.

That ALL might thrive and serve!

Pastor Rick