Into the Heart of Romans
A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter
The Groaning of the Spirit (2|3)
Pages 139-146
John 21:7-19 (NIV) Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Paul rejects both shallow optimism and cosmic dualism; instead, he calls believers to face a groaning world with Spirit-led lament, patient prayer, prophetic truth-telling, and active participation in God’s healing work. Where do you sense God inviting you to move beyond optimism or resignation, toward lament, prayer, truth-telling, or healing action, in your own context?
Paul suggests that part of the church’s core vocation is to stand in the world’s pain with humility, sorrow, and hope, proclaiming Jesus as Lord while honestly engaging with the world’s turmoil. How does this vision of the church as a community of lament affect your understanding of what the church is for and what faithful ministry looks like today?
The For [gar]s are back for more! Does N.T. Wright’s Greek translation emphasizing the “little connecting words”; help or understand it differently (or maybe deeper)?
Paul uses the image of creation “in labour,” (Wright is British, hence the u spelling), groaning as it struggles to give birth to God’s future. Where do you see “labour pains” in the world around you today, and how might this imagery help you hold together honest sorrow and resilient hope as you participate in God’s unfolding purposes?