“Do you love me?” He (Peter) said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. (John 21:17)
Jesus chose Peter, called Peter, and discipled Peter. The night before Jesus was crucified, Peter insisted that he would lay down his life for Jesus. Within a few hours, three times Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. Then, Peter heard the rooster crow, Jesus looked at him, “and he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). After his resurrection, Peter must have been so embarrassed to see Jesus, knowing how he denied knowing him – which was the opposite of what he vowed to do. In our passage today, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” These three questions, following Peter’s three denials, showed him that Jesus still loved him, chose him, called him and wanted him to be a gospel influencer. Indeed, in Acts, we see that Peter was the head of the new Christian church in Jerusalem.
I was at a park a few days ago with my 7-month-old grandson. I was talking to another mother, who commented how precious babies are. I boldly replied that God had made babies wonderfully lovable, so we are drawn to them and care for them. She replied that mother nature was amazing. I was stunned! How could one give credit to an inanimate force for such creative genius? But that is not what I said – in fact I said nothing, and we both went our own ways. How could I be so bold, then so cowardly in the same couple minutes? Why didn’t I stand up for the truth of the creator?
Like Peter, although my intentions may have been good, the outcome was not so good. Yet, I am encouraged because Jesus didn’t give up on Peter, and he won’t give up on me. Jesus still loves me and I still love him. By his grace and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I plan to be a better gospel influencer the next time.