Do You Love Me?
John 21: 15-17 (NIVUK)
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.
This week we’ve looked at a few questions Jesus asked. All of them provoke heart-searching, but uniquely today’s question is one he asks three times: Do you love me?
Jesus asks Peter this question after the resurrection, as he sits on the beach cooking fish, with his disciples. He asks it three times after Peter has, three times, publicly and aggressively denied even knowing Jesus. These questions are a gift to Peter.
Peter has blown it big time - there is a good chance he is wondering if Jesus could ever trust him again, let alone use him to build his church. Yet, as this question rings out three times, Peter publicly affirms the truth that he loves Jesus. On the third time we hear that ‘Peter was hurt…’ – I wonder if afterwards he realised just what had happened. Instead of having blown it, he is blown away by God’s grace, mercy and kindness. He is forgiven, reaffirmed and reinstated.
I regularly feel that I’ve messed things up with God – in the things I’ve selfishly done, or carelessly left undone. Sometimes I wonder if God will get sick of me getting it wrong yet again. However, the repetition of these questions shows me that God will keep forgiving, keep reaffirming, keep reinstating every single time.
God asks us questions not because he doesn’t know the answer but because he wants us to think for ourselves, to repent, to listen carefully, to turn towards him and to engage our mind, body and spirit in the 'made-whole' life that he offers us.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, what matters is that you quietly and honestly answer his question: Do you love me?
Prayer — Lord I love you, teach me to love you more.