Do You Love Me More Than These?

 My wife, Chris, loved to tell tell us that she loved us to the moon and back. It was her way of saying that she loved us more than anyone else. As the time drew closer for her to go and be with the Lord, she started saying that she loved us to heaven and back. I think that was her way of adding that she would always love us more than anyone else. At my kitchen sink I still have one of her wooden hearts that says, "The secret ingredient is always love." These things always remind me of the importance of loving others well.

Peter had denied that he knew Jesus 3 times on the night before Jesus' crucifixion. After the resurrection Jesus met with Peter and some of the other disciples at the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:15) 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. I believe it will help us to explore why Jesus asked Peter this and apply it to our own lives.

Peter was a fisherman, and they were eating some of the fish he had just caught at Jesus' command. Jesus could have been asking Peter if he loved Jesus more than his occupation, his fishing for fish. That was a fair question because Peter had acted like he was going back to being a fisherman, after being told by Jesus to start fishing for people, instead of fish. Also, Jesus could have been asking Peter if He loved Him more than the other disciples loved Him. Either way, Jesus was saying to Peter and to all of us, as His disciples, that we should love Him more than anything or anyone else

Also, this question is revealing because of Peter's denials of Jesus. He denied Him 3 times, and Jesus asked him this question 3 times. Why did Jesus focus on love and not on the forgiveness of his sins? I believe that Jesus knew that if Peter loved Him more than anything else, he would always stay true to Jesus and the mission He had given him. That is why Jesus concluded His questions with the admonition to feed His lambs. It is true that if we really love Jesus more than anything else, we will be faithful to fulfill His will for our lives. Let's set out to love Jesus totally every day and do His will out of that love.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 1-3.