Do You Love Me

John 21:15a AMP

“So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]…”

Peter had denied Jesus even after he told Jesus that he would never leave Him alone. Three times the night of Jesus’s trial he denied knowing Jesus. The Lord was not bitter towards Peter, as He had plans for Peter and He had a great work for Peter to do, but Peter was stuck inside of his own head and pondered his failings instead of moving on.

At this scene in John 21, Jesus sets up a fire on the beach; He had fish placed on the fire and He had been watching the boat that Peter was in with his companions. He called out to the men to see if they had caught any fish, but of course He already knew the answer. Then He created a miracle, one that would alert John, and John would tell Peter that it was the Lord on the beach. When Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to the Lord, no conversation is recorded but I don’t think Jesus had to say anything at this point. After they ate breakfast, the Lord asked Peter, “Do you love me? (Basically, the way that I need for you to love me with total committed type of love). Three times Peter answers the question basically saying, “I love You like a friend.”

The Lord did reinstate Peter that day, it took a bit of time, as we could suppose that it would. The Lord had a mission for Peter, and Peter would go and be who Jesus wanted him to be in a few short days.

Prayer:

Lord, many times we have failed You and many times we believed that we had blown it forever, but to think that way is not Your style, You forgive, You revive, and You rebuild in us who we are supposed to be. Thank You Lord, Amen!