Do You Love Me?

So 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 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, "Tend My sheep."  John 21:15-17

Do you love ME? Do YOU love Me? Do you LOVE Me?

Yes—Yes—Yes.

Tend My lambs. Shepherd My sheep. Tend My sheep. 

 

Look out for the spiritual well-being of My followers.

Feed My followers.
Keep and feed My followers. 

This “repeated” directive was after Peter denied Jesus. Imagine how he must have felt? He let Jesus down. He didn’t stand up for His friend, His teacher, His God. Jesus tells us…But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:33. Do you want to hear Jesus say to His Father, “I never knew him/her” or are you hoping for that “well done good and faithful servant” phrase? I think Jesus was telling Peter that He forgave him for denying Him, and that He wanted to be sure that Peter knew he had a big responsibility ahead of him—to care for and direct Jesus’ followers. Through his obedience, determination and boldness we have a great example in Peter. Do you see any of his Christian characteristics in yourself?  

RSVP:  Like Peter, Jesus is asking us if we love Him and is calling us to tend and feed His sheep. How will you show your love…Jesus’ love today? How will you respond to Him today? 

Prayer ~ Jesus, as our shepherd leads us, help us to obediently follow Your way. May we always love one another.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.