Love Required

John 21:15-20 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
 
JESUS’ three-times repeated question, “Do you love me?” is often considered a complete restoration from Peter’s three-time denial of Jesus, “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:72, 74) In the Hebrew language, a three-time repetition points to completeness. Jesus sought Peter’s complete love and conviction. But Peter, the action man, seemed to be impatient with Jesus’ third question. After all, Jesus knew everything. Why did he need to keep asking, “Do you love me?”
   But shouldn’t a loving, devoted disciple be eager to answer Jesus’ question each time? Jesus was calling Peter to a life devoted to proclaiming the gospel to God’s chosen people. Peter would need a big, deep, wide and enduring love for Jesus to remain steadfast in his mission, even to his death. The time had come to fish for men. To do so, Peter would need to faithfully cast a very large net of God’s love into the deep waters of an unbelieving world. The Lord wanted Peter to hear himself say, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” so Peter, too, would hear his own voice confessing his love. The oral confession would help his love for Jesus to grow more deeply into his heart, mind and soul. Jesus was moving Peter to, “Follow me.” with an eager love-filled heart.
   Now, do you love Jesus? Take a moment and say to the Lord, “Lord, you know I love you.” Say it again. And then speak it a third time. How does that feel? Were you uncomfortable the first time? Did the third time feel more authentic to you? Perhaps after the third time you may have been willing to hear Jesus say, “Follow me.” Occasionally I’ve asked a congregation in the opening of worship to tell someone, “I love Jesus.” It’s a little sad to hear people say, “Good morning.” instead and skip their love confession.
   So then, do you? Do you love Jesus? How many times must he ask you before you’re ready to hear, “Follow me!”