By John 21:15-19
When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Feed My lambs,” He told him.
A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.”
“Feed My sheep,” Jesus said. “ I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me!”
“Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
The time has come in Peter’s life to show forth evidence he has repented. Peter had always been the first in the crowd to have a quick response. He is the one who (while in the midst of his fellow disciples) told Jesus that even though all of the other disciples might forsake him, he never would. He then became the only one of the disciples that denied Jesus three times. John himself was at the foot of the cross when Jesus was hanging there; but where was Peter?
Jesus waits until his disciples had warmed themselves by the fire and had a nice breakfast of bread and fish before he brings up to Peter his previous denial.
Peter, you are the one who said that even if every other disciple forsake me you never would, remember that? Now, do you love me more than these disciples do? Will you tell me again that you love me more than your friends love me? This would have stung Peter. Then Jesus’ three questions to Peter. I am going to say it the way Jesus would have originally…
“Peter, do you feel kindness toward me? You know that I love you dearly. Peter do you feel kindness toward me? Yes Lord, you know that I love you dearly. Peter do you love me dearly? Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you dearly.” The fact that Jesus asks Peter the third time was the stinging and penetrating blow. Peter had denied Jesus three times and now Jesus is giving him the opportunity to reaffirm his love for Jesus three times.
Jesus will not place his sheep in the care of just any shepherd. The shepherd’s primary qualification for being in their position is love for Jesus. Jesus does not want his sheep to be under the guidance of a Pastor who does not primarily love Jesus first above all.
Christians have a tendency of falling into pride. It is grievous and wrong, and I wish that was not the case. We have a tendency to compare ourselves with ourselves, like Peter did. Jesus does not want us to do this, he wants us to love him. And how we show our love for Jesus is not comparing ourselves with ourselves, but it is caring for, nurturing, and feeding the little sheep in Jesus’ pasture. Parents, this is your chief duty as a disciple of Jesus, to feed and minister the Word of God to your children. To protect them from harmful ideas and situations; to feed them with good food and drink; to mend them when they are hurting; to comfort them in their distress; and to lead them in path’s of righteousness for His names’ sake!
- Children, my chief duty is to lead, and feed you. Your chief duty is to be lead and fed by us your parents. Any resistance and rebellion against our authority is rebellion against Jesus as our Chief Shepherd.
- This is a good time for each of us to think about and confess any areas where we need to seek repentance from Jesus. Jesus asks you, do you love me more than…these?
Leading Family Devotions 