DO YOU LOVE ME?
John 21:15-17 NKJV
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"
And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
This may have been a tough conversation for Peter. To our knowledge, the issue of Peter's denial of Jesus had never been broached. Or it was a private conversation between Peter and Jesus that stayed out of Scripture. We can only speculate. But one thing we know for sure is that Peter was forgiven for his mistake, and Jesus did not condemn him.
Many people think that Jesus asked Peter three times about his love. Peter had denied Jesus three times and now had the opportunity to confirm his love three times. I can't argue with that reasoning, but I want to suggest an alternative viewpoint. Jesus had an assignment for Peter with three different facets.
When Peter responded in the affirmative that he did love Jesus, he was given three separate tasks. Feed my lambs. Lambs are young sheep and need to be fed. Jesus asked Peter to spiritually feed His spiritually young ones. Jesus asked Peter to also feed His sheep. But the words for sheep and lambs differ. They are not the same word. Jesus was assigning Peter to feed the new believers and the ones older in the Lord. Peter would later write, in his first letter, to desire the milk of the word that you may grow. Peter had a good understanding of the need for spiritual nourishment and how to provide it.
The other word that Jesus uses is tend. Jesus asked Peter to tend His sheep. The word tend is a different word than feed, and it means to shepherd, to care for. This is more of an overarching task of what is usually considered a pastoral role. A shepherd was not only responsible for making sure the sheep and lambs were fed but also responsible for their care, well-being, and protection. Peter used this word in his first letter when he wrote to the pastors to shepherd the flock of God. Peter encouraged them to take oversight of the affairs of God's flock. Pastors do more than just preach and teach. They also are responsible for guiding and protecting God's people.
Every time Jesus asked if Peter loved Him and Peter responded with a strong yes, Jesus gave him something to do. The lambs and the sheep were not Peters'. They belonged to the Lord. If Peter loved the Lord, then he was to do the things that helped and nurtured the Lord's people. And Peter did just that.
APPLICATION
I do not believe the question pertained to Peter only. The question of 'Do you love Me?' is still a question Jesus asks today. As we answer in the affirmative, what should follow is, Lord, what can I do for You? Not all of us are called to feed and shepherd God's people. But all of us have something we can do to help God's kingdom. It is important that we find what He wants from us. This is not a drudgery or a chore. This is an act of love on our part for the Lord.
PRAYER
Lord, I do love You. What can I do for You?