15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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.” [simple_tooltip content=’15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.’](John 21:15-17)[/simple_tooltip]
This was one of the very last times Jesus was with His disciples before He ascended to the Father. The whole plan of God was just hours away from being committed into the hands of these men. Everything Jesus had accomplished and was yet to accomplish would soon be committed into their trust. What a profound moment!
What would the Lord deem the most important thing to say to these disciples? What last-minute instructions would He give? Surprisingly, the Lord questioned Peter about his love. Three times Peter denied that he had known Him. Now, three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.
The most important issue for all of us is our love for the Lord. Everything else revolves around this issue. It’s easy to get so busy serving the Lord that we don’t have any time to fellowship with Him. Ultimately, this leads to emptiness, frustration, and ineffectiveness.
Prior to his denial, Peter loved Jesus enough to be willing to fight to the death for Him [simple_tooltip content=’But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”’](Luke 22:33[/simple_tooltip]; [simple_tooltip content=’ Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.’]John 18:10)[/simple_tooltip]. But it’s easier to fight than it is to suffer. Peter didn’t love the Lord more than himself. That’s why He asked Peter if he loved Him more than these. Peter had denied Him because he valued the opinion of people more than he loved Jesus.
Do you love Jesus more than anything or anyone? Like Peter, Jesus is asking you that question today so that you can be sure you love Him more than anyone or anything else in your life. His love for you and your love for Him is what will see you through any situation.
