“Do You Love Me?”

Now 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, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again, 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, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep."  John 21:15-17

In this passage of Scripture, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is meeting with seven of His disciples after His Resurrection. This encounter took place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where He had first met them and called them to be His followers, three years earlier. This is one of the many Resurrection appearances Jesus made before He ascended into heaven, forty days after Easter Sunday.

During the evening before He was crucified, Simon, who was also called Peter, had denied knowing Jesus three times. Peter was full of remorse for what he had done, the Scriptures tell us Matthew 26:75. Peter had met Jesus twice following the Resurrection, we’re told in John chapter 20. Yet, in neither of these encounters did they talk about Peter’s denial.

At the Sea of Galilee, Jesus fed His disciples a breakfast of fish and bread. And then it was time for a life-changing conversation. Jesus had some work to do in Peter’s life, in front of the other disciples who had seen Peter deny Jesus 3 times.

Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Three questions. One for each of the three denials. Three opportunities for Peter to examine His feelings and his commitment to following Jesus. Jesus is also doing this three times for emphasis. And every time that Peter says, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You”, Jesus tells Peter to care for His sheep. Jesus wants us to know that we are called to express our love for Him by loving the flock that He so dearly loves.

Jesus has sheep in the Sunday School and the youth groups. Jesus has sheep who are shut-ins and 
cannot join us in worship. Jesus has sheep in the military community of Coronado. Jesus has sheep on the mission field. Jesus has sheep in your family. Jesus is giving us the opportunity to show our love to Him by showing love to His sheep.

Do you love Jesus? Then take care of your soul by following Him. After all, you are one of His beloved sheep as well.

In Christ,

Pastor David