When our children were toddlers, I would ask them, “Who loves mommy?” And they would shout, “Me!”. Then, I would ask, “Who does mommy love?” And again, they would shout, “Me!”. Now, I was NOT asking my toddlers, “Do you love me?” I knew that they loved me deeply. I also knew that they didn’t question whether I loved them either. Both of these questions were rhetorical. But, by asking these questions, I was reminding them of our deep love for one another.
In the book of John, we see the passages in which Jesus restores Simon Peter after he denied Him three times. In these passages, Jesus asks Peter three times if he (Peter) loves Him (Jesus). Three times Peter denied Jesus and three times Jesus asked Peter to affirm his love for Him (Jesus).
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when” John 21:15-17.
Just like my questions were rhetorical, so are Jesus’s questions to Peter. Jesus knew the heart of Peter. He knew that Peter loved Him. But by asking Peter if he loved Him, he was forcing Peter to think about his love for Jesus. He was requiring Peter to reflect on how deep his love really was for Jesus. And He was forcing Peter to think about how deeply Jesus loved him!
Jesus asked Peter these questions because, despite Peter’s betrayal, Jesus loved him deeply and He wanted to restore Peter to his position of disciple.
After Peter had lied and denied being a disciple of Jesus, he was so overcome by guilt and the loss of his Savior that he stopped doing the work of the Lord. He went back to the life he knew before Jesus. He went back to being a fisherman. But Jesus wasn’t going to leave him there.
He wanted to restore Peter to living an abundant and fruitful life. A life in which he would do the work of his Father in Heaven and glorify Him with his life. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21.
Jesus loves us as deeply as He loved Peter and His desire is that we would have an abundant and fruitful life as well. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” John 15:9-12.
So, if Jesus asked, “Do You Love Me?”, what would your response be? And how would you demonstrate that love?
Jesus demonstrated His love for us by giving His life for ours while we were still deep in sin. “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
He asked Peter to demonstrate his love by feeding His lambs (help your brother and sisters who are new in the faith to grow spiritually by feeding them the word of God). He asked him to tend His sheep (care for your brothers and sisters in the faith, watch over them, protect them). And He asked Him to feed His sheep (help your siblings in the faith to continue to grow, spiritually feeding them the Word of God).
So, if Jesus is asking, “Do you love me?”, do you? If so, are you willing to shepherd His flock?
Jesus, thank You for being our Good Shepherd. Thank You for watching over and protecting us. And thank You that (when we trust you as Lord of our lives) we are reconciled to, and become children of, the God of all creation. Jesus, we love you. Help us to feed and tend your sheep. And help us to increase your flock by glorifying you to those who do not know you. We love you, Jesus!
Do you wonder why people love Jesus? Wonder how you would have a “personal relationship with Him?” Do you wonder how to become one of His sheep? The answers to those questions are on our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/). On that page, you will find a prayer outlined. And when you pray that prayer (or a similar prayer) from the bottom of your heart, God will forgive you. And you can begin your life as a child of God. A beloved and precious child of God. (“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” Galatians 3:26).
Please pray that prayer and, once you have, reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.
Luv Ya!
