Continuing on with our ‘last story’ we find in John 21:15
a conversation taking place.
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter,
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord.” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question:
“Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord.” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep.” Jesus said. A third time he asked him,
“Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time.
He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
I tell you the truth when you were young, you were able to do as you liked, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”
Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
This whole conversation is fascinating for me because remember in the garden
when Jesus was arrested, the people surrounding Peter said to him, “You were with him.”
Luke 22:54-62 they approached Peter three times and three times he said, “I don’t know him.”
Then Jesus looked at him and it pierced Peters heart convicting him, vs 62
And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
I think, that Jesus was bringing back to Peter, the conviction of heart
he left in the courtyard.
Jesus knew Peter loved him but he needed to ask him.
It is very similar to the talking to someone who has been unfaithful and bringing them back into the awareness of their first love, their first ‘conviction’.
Jesus was testing Peter, he wasn’t talking about sheep or lambs.
He wanted Peter to think deeper and to use his emotions rather than his fear or his logic.
Isn’t that like our ‘Lord, to come to us when we fail him miserably?’
I found this picture on ‘a search’ and I have no idea whose it is but it fits my ‘writing.’
Jesus took Peter aside, away from the others so he could have an intimate talk with him.
Three questions posed in different ways, three answers returned.
It’s a question of the heart.
I wonder… how would we reply?
when asked the very same questions from the Lord?
insert your name…. then ask the question. Do you love me?
It was intimate. Simon Peter, do you … love me?
Then he waited for his reply.
