Do You Love Me?
Request: Lord, open my eyes as I read your word, my ears to hear, my mind to understand, and my heart to be filled with your love. Amen.
Read John 21:1-19
Record your favorite verse and comment if you want to share.
Respond with a prayer to God
This reading describes the third time the disciples have seen Jesus since his resurrection. The disciples don’t know what to do without Jesus physically being there to lead them, so they do what they know and are comfortable with – fishing. The story is then very familiar to another time when Jesus told them to throw their nets into the water (Luke 5:4-6). It was only after Jesus told them, “throw your net to the right side and you will find some,” that John recognized that the man at the shoreline was Jesus. And then he fed them fish and bread as he did the large crowds who had come to hear him preach. Now it gets interesting… Jesus leads Peter through an experience to help remove the cloud of his denial. Three times Jesus asks, “Simon, do you love me?” Simon’s response “you know that I love you” (vs 15-16). Jesus uses the word “agape” for love the first two times. Agape in Greek means self-sacrificial love. Peter’s use of love was the Greek word “phileo,” meaning affection and brotherly love. The third time, Jesus used the word “phileo”. Jesus is asking, “Are you even my friend?”. Jesus’ responses to Peter were “Feed my lambs”; “Take care of my sheep”; “Feed my sheep”. These are all the things that God wants us to do until he returns. Jesus then asked Peter to follow him. This dialogue between Jesus and Peter makes me uncomfortable. If I put myself in Peter’s place, I wonder how I would respond. I know that throughout my life, I have loved Jesus unconditionally and at other times as a friend, and I am sure there are times in my life when he felt that I didn’t consider him a friend. I can be so much like Peter!
My verse: John 21:18-19, “Very truly I tell you, 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.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Jesus gave a glimpse into Peter’s death and told him, “Follow me!” I certainly do not know what my future is – only God knows. I am ok with that because I know that he is in control. God has taught us that we cannot worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). I am by nature a worrier. But today, I need to put worry aside, love God fully, and follow him.
My Response: Lord, when I am doubtful of my worthiness as Peter was, help me to love you with all my heart and to show that same love to others by my words and actions. Amen.
