Feb 8
Do You Love Me?
John 21:15 ….Jesus
saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me …
Yesterday we looked at the same
event and focused on the unending mercy of God. Even after Peter denied Christ
three times he was forgiven and restored to fellowship. But there is more to this event.
Today we will look at the three
times Christ asks if Peter loves Him to see what additional lessons we can
learn.
Christ does not berate Peter and ask “Peter why did you deny me?” or remind
him “See, Peter, I told you. When will you learn to trust me” Instead of providing an opportunity to make
excuses, Christ went to the heart of the matter. Before Peter denied Christ he had said;
Mt 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men
shall be
offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Therefore Christ asked Peter “Lovest
thou me more than these?” But Christ did not call him Peter, but Simon, his name
before Christ had called him to follow.
Simon, are you still filled with pride so you think you are the most
faithful? Peter will not now brag about
how humble he is. Instead he appeals to Christ’s omniscience. Thou
knowest! The love Christ asks about is
the highest form of selfless love (Agape)
Peter does not trust himself to
answer in kind, but only with the love that is a lower form. Brotherly love
(Philos) He is told “Feed my lambs.” The word for feed here is to just provide
fodder.
The second time Christ asks Peter he uses the highest form of love again
and Peter’s response is “I love you with brotherly love. This time he is told
to feed My sheep. The word used here is more than just feed – provide fodder.
It is used of someone who is in charge of doing everything to nurture the sheep
and keep them fed, healthy and safe. Shepherd my sheep!
Christ has asked “Do you have superior love for me” and then “Any love
at all”, and this last time he asks “Do you even have affection for me?” The
third time Christ asks Peter He uses the same form of love that Peter has
responded with. Simon, do you have brotherly love to me – are you fondly
affectionate to me? When Peter heard Christ ask “Are you even fond of me?” he
was grieved.
Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me?
Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third
time, Lovest thou me? …
Again Christ tells Peter to feed my
sheep. Peter has learned a very hard
lesson. The great physician has cut into Peter’s heart and though a painful
procedure for Peter his prideful heart has been repaired. He has been forgiven,
restored and healed of his pride.
Why did Christ say to feed my sheep? He was talking to fishermen, his miracle that
night resulted in the Apostles catching a large number of fish, and he had
originally called them to be fishers of men?
So why not talk about “fishing for men”?
It was because salvation is just the start of the Christian life. Christ
wanted Peter to be a shepherd, a pastor, and care for the flock.
I was once in a
church where they announced 1500 people had been saved the previous year. There
were about 450 people in attendance that morning. I wondered where the 1500
were? The pastor had created a church which was only focused on salvation. Please
forgive me if I am skeptical that everyone who repeated the sinner’s prayer and
were never seen again in church had actually experienced salvation. Salvation is important, but this portion of
scripture is not so much about salvation (fishing for men) as it is about new
born babes (lambs) being brought to spiritual maturity.
Also note that Christ’s response to Peter was always about “my”
sheep. Christ is the great Shepherd and
they are His sheep. The under-shepherd may forget that and begin to believe
that the sheep are his. His church. His flock. That kind of thinking may lead to
neglect.
Christ wanted to know that Peter loved him before he would
let him care for Christ’s flock. Men who do not love Christ will not be
diligent in the care of Christ’s flock. Pastors who do not call, do not study
diligently, and make little or no attempt to bind up wounds, seek those who
have strayed, or work at their calling might benefit by Peter’s example here in
John 21. Do they love Christ? That is
not a question I will ask or answer.
Christ can ask them. How will
they answer? What evidence will they
present as proof?
Too many churches today have professional pastors. They have
a vocation. A job! They have attended college and been given the head skills to
be a minister. But do they love Christ
and have the heart of a pastor?
There are hard working, Christ loving, self denying pastors
across America. They love their people, do the work of a shepherd, care for Christ’s
flock and lead exemplary lives. Unfortunately there are too many who do
not! If some pastors cared for real
sheep the way they care for Christ’s flock they would be arrested by animal control
agents for neglect. Before we condemn
any of them let us ask ourselves if we love Christ. What is your proof?
More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to
Thee!
Hear Thou theprayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!