Do You Love Me?

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 21, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him "more than these." Some suggest that Jesus may be referring to the fish caught in verse 11, symbolizing Peter's occupation as a fisherman, which he had gone back to after Jesus was crucified. Jesus desired Peter to love Him above all else, forsaking his familiar life and committing fully to becoming a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19). The phrase could also allude to the other disciples, as Peter had claimed he would be more devoted than them. Ultimately, we can only speculate on what Jesus meant. The term "tend" in the expression "Tend my lambs" conveys the concept of being dedicated to serving the Lord as a shepherd caring for his flock, emphasizing the continual feeding and nurturing of the sheep. This instruction to Peter disregards his previous denial of Jesus three times. Jesus had acknowledged Peter as a steadfast follower, recognizing that Peter's acknowledgment of Him as the Christ was inspired by the Spirit of God. Despite Peter's past actions, he genuinely loves the Lord and trusts that Jesus understands his heart. Peter is grateful that the Lord is willing to welcome him back, regardless of his doubts about his love compared to that of the other disciples.

In Matthew 16:17-19, Jesus acknowledges Simon Bar-jona, stating that divine revelation, not human understanding, has brought him this blessing from the Father in heaven. Jesus then declares that Peter is the rock on which He will establish His church, assuring that even the gates of hell will not overcome it. He bestows upon Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, granting him the authority to bind and loose on earth as it is in heaven. This passage illustrates the significant power and responsibility given to Peter in the church, a promise that remains unchanged. Jesus instructs Peter to fulfill his mission by tending to His followers, guiding them from infancy as lambs to maturity as sheep in the faith. It is Peter's duty to nurture and teach these new believers, helping them grow into strong and mature Christians.

In the gospel of John 21:16 we find the verse, “He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep." Notice the only difference here in Jesus' reply is He changes lambs to sheep. Peter is to keep the sheep (more mature), Christians in correct fellowship, as well as the lambs. In John 21:17 “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." Peter was grieved. The 3rd time Jesus asked Peter, He used Peter's word for love that signified something less than total devotion, questioning even the level of Peter thought he was safe in claiming. The lessons driven home to Peter grieved his heart, so that he sought for a proper understanding of his heart, not by what he said or had done, but based on the Lord's omnipotence (2:24-25). This is really aggravating Peter, but he should remember that he denied Jesus three times, so now he must reverse that denial into total recognition. Jesus really is telling Peter here, I am setting you over my Church, and you are to see that the pure Word of God is fed to those who believe in me (sheep).

The commission of God for Peter is to oversee the Church. When Peter called Him Lord, it tells all. Peter will now obey Jesus to the utmost. Jesus does know the great love that Peter has for Him and that is why He entrusts the Church to Peter. Finally, verses 18-19 are a prophecy of Peter's martyrdom. Jesus called devotion to Him would also mean that Peter’s devotion would entail his own death (Matthew 10:37-39). Whenever any Christian follows Christ, he must be prepared to suffer and die (Matthew 16:24-26). Peter lived three decades serving the Lord and anticipating the death that was before him (2 Peter 1:12-15), but he wrote that such suffering and death for the Lord brings praise to God (1 Peter 4:14-16). Church tradition records that Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero (A.D. 67-68), being crucified upside down, because he refused to be crucified like his Lord. The question still stands for each one of us that are called to live for Jesus. "Do You Love Me, More Than These?"