Read John 21:15-19
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.” –John 21:17
Today is a continuation of yesterday’s reflection on Ted Lasso. As I said, Ted’s singular gift was his ability to spot potential in others. This was especially true of a character named Nate, who at the beginning of the show was a lowly equipment manager. Ted saw Nate’s brilliant mind for the game of soccer, and he elevated him to become an assistant coach. At first, the players struggled with this decision–Nate had been someone they took for granted and even bullied. Yet they slowly learned to trust his tactical brilliance.
The person who struggled the most to believe was Nate himself. Throughout the second season, Nate grows frustrated with Ted’s relentless optimism. The more the team buys into his “believe” philosophy, the more it highlights Nate’s own cynicism and insecurity. When the team earns a dramatic come-from-behind tie to secure a promotion at the end of the season, Nate does not take part in the celebration. While the team is celebrating on the pitch, Nate goes into the locker room and rips the “Believe” sign in half, as a way of signaling his resignation.
The sign eventually gets ripped even further by Ted himself–not as an abandonment of faith, but as a lesson that “belief isn’t something you hang on the wall; it’s something we carry within us.” Nate eventually realizes the error of his ways, and the Richmond players pursue and convince him to return as part of their team. In the season finale, the team once again finds itself down to a hated rival in a must-win game. This time, though, the half-time inspiration does not come from Ted, but from the players themselves. One by one, they each pull out from a hiding place a small piece of the “Believe” sign that they had saved. Together they reassemble the sign, and the season ends with Nate repairing the sign with adhesive and returning it to its rightful place.
The first time I watched Ted Lasso, I thought of Nate as a Judas Iscariot character. He certainly lost faith in Ted and betrayed his team, briefly signing on as the manager for their most hated rival. But the more I think about it, the more he reminds me of the story arc of Simon Peter. As you know, Simon Peter was the “boldest” of the disciples. He was always the “first through the door,” so to speak. He walked upon the Sea of Galilee while all the other disciples stayed in the boat. He was the first to declare that Jesus was the Messiah. Yet even in these moments of greatness, Peter consistently failed. He sank in the Sea of Galilee when he took his eyes of Jesus; he flubbed the “great confession” by rebuking Jesus for talking about his crucifixion (leading Jesus to famously say to him: “Get behind me, Satan!”)
This pattern was on sharpest display on the night Jesus was arrested. Peter declared at the Last Supper that, even if every other person deserted Jesus, he would stay with him to the end. But Jesus warned him that before the cock crowed, he would deny his master three times. When Jesus was arrested, Peter’s bravery was on full display. He drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the arresting officers (drawing yet another rebuke from Jesus). And while the rest of the disciples scattered, Peter followed Jesus into the chief priest’s courtyard. But that is where his courage failed him. When multiple people asked Peter if he knew Jesus, Peter denied ever knowing him. We can only imagine the guilt and self-loathing Peter felt when he heard the cock crow, just as Jesus had predicted.
When the women brought word to the disciples that Jesus’ tomb was empty, Peter was the first to arrive on the scene. When he saw the linens lying where Jesus’ body had been, Peter began to believe. But he still wasn’t sure what to do with his life–without clear direction, he went back to fishing. So Jesus appeared to him one more time along the coast of Galilee. Again we can see Peter’s boldness–he jumped out of the boat Forrest-Gump-style and swam to the shore while the rest of the disciples struggled to reel in their massive catch. Three times Jesus asked Peter: Do you love me? Each question was a reminder of his failure and denial. But each time, following Peter’s confession of love, Jesus gave him an important task: Feed my sheep. Peter’s failure didn’t disqualify him–Jesus did not cast him away. Jesus still believed in him, and perhaps Peter’s newfound humility would temper his boldness and make him an even better leader for the church.
We all have moments when our faith fails us. And at least for a time following that failure, we feel outcast and alone, unworthy of the grace of God or the love of others. But God never abandons us. In fact, if we will let him, God can work a healing in those moments of failure that will strengthen our faith and deepen our compassion. Even when our faith feels ripped apart, God is working to tell a better story.
Thank You, Lord, for Your continued faith in me. Even when I fail, O Lord, You do not cast me aside. You instead restore me by Your grace and shape me for greater service. Give me humility and grace to share Your love with others whose faith may be shattered. Amen.