You Need to Answer the Question, “Do You Love Me?”
Twenty years ago, the following words from Scripture played out in my dream. The only difference was that I was the one who walked and talked with Jesus instead of Peter…
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “You know I love You.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “You know I love You.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
A third time He asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
John 21:15–17
I was broken and grieving over a major loss and rejection, when in the middle of the night, the Lord asked, “Do you love me more than these?”
Like Peter, I replied, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”
Loss or rejection were among my greatest fears, and I’d always struggled with Jesus’ words…
“If anyone comes to me but loves his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—or even life—more than me, he cannot be my follower.”
Luke 14:16 (NCV)
I feared that the pain of losing a loved one would be more than I could endure. I loved Jesus but questioned whether I could love Him “more than…”
But in my dream, there was no doubt. I knew that I loved Jesus more than anything or anyone. In retrospect, I know that the Lord knew my heart and gave me that dream so that I would KNOW my heart.
I believe that’s why He had that conversation with Peter, too. He knew Peter had grieved his denial and wept in repentance.
In the English language, we use the word love to mean anything from “I really enjoy this delicious food” to “I would give my life for you.” But that’s not true in other languages. In Greek, Jesus asked, “Do you love me? Do you really love me? Are you even my friend?”
Jesus wanted Peter to dig past his doubt and guilt and face his true feelings. He wants the same for you and me.
The Lord invites you and me to repent of those things that cause us guilt and shame, to look deep into our hearts and minds, and to know we can honestly say, “Yes, Lord, I really love You. Thank you for loving me and for being my friend.”
I knew I’d been visited by the Lord when I woke up and heard Him saying, “Feed my sheep.” I had just finished reading the Bible from cover to cover, and I’d fallen in love with God’s Love Letter to us.
By His grace, mercy, and love, He provided opportunities for me to learn how to blog and prompted me to share my love for Him here at Counting My Blessings.
His grace is sufficient!
Let’s pray…
A Prayer Answering
“Do You Love Me?”
Father, thank you for inspiring John to share this moment between Peter and Jesus. You care about the condition of my heart, and I praise You.
The enemy wants me to define myself by my flaws and failures. He wants to spend my days carrying the burden of my guilt and shame. But Jesus invites us to give the burden of our sin to Him, and He will forgive, removing our shame and giving peace to our souls. (Matthew 11:28)
I am so sorry for my sins. I come to You with my broken and repentant heart, thankful for Your promises to forgive all who come to You in faith and repentance.
My life’s greatest blessing is knowing and loving Jesus, my risen, victorious Savior. Your Spirit planted the seed of faith in my heart and graciously gives me everything I need for it to grow into a heart filled with love.
Thank you for helping me KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST You. Please give me the strength I need to OBEY Your will. Thank you for Your Word and the hope-filled example of forgiven sinners like Peter. Thank you for forgiving a sinner like me. I love and praise You through my Lord Jesus. Amen.
Peter knew his sin. Jesus knew Peter sinned.
You and I know our sin, and Jesus knows our sin.
But because He is loving, gracious, and merciful, Jesus invites us to bring our broken, repentant hearts to Him, trusting His promise to forgive us. That’s who He uses to “feed sheep.”
Solomon wrote…
Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.
Ecclesiastes 7:20
The only people available for Kingdom building are sinners. So, the Lord invites you and me to remember that we are forgiven sinners who love Him. He has forgiven our repentant hearts and empowered us to love Him and love others.
When you hear Him ask, “Do you love me?”
You can reply with humble gratitude, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”
How will you feed His sheep?
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“The only people available for Kingdom building are sinners”. Thank you Deb…I will remember those words, along with “if not now, when?”.
Thank you, JoAnne! God’s blessings! Have a wonderful weekend!
Deb, I am thankful that you listened to His call to blog and share the love of Jesus with us!
Thank you so much, Ken. Your words of encouragement truly bless me. Have a wonderful weekend.
Whenever I read this part of John, I always wondered if Jesus asked Peter the same question three times to match the amount of times Peter had denied knowing Him? I love that your reflection here made me recommit to my love for Jesus, Deb. Blessings!
I agree, Martha! I think Jesus was reminding Peter that He knew how he had sinned but that didn’t change His love and that love was still the basis for their relationship. I am so thankful that He has made it possible for me to KNOW and LOVE Him. Blessings, my friend!
I am so glad that you wrote this today. It hits home with me and you know why! We share some of the same rejection and heartache issues. The Lord asking if I love HIM the way I should is something that gave me cause to ponder. Yes, I know that I love HIM more. He is the Faithful One! The one who loves me unconditionally, even when I have disappointed Him time after time.
Bless you for sharing this.
Hugs to you my dear friend.
I do believe that’s why He asks. He wants us to KNOW how much He loves us and KNOW that we are responding to His love with our complete love. You’re right! He is the Faithful One. We are so very blessed to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST Him. God bless you. HUGS!
Hi Deb, this was a wonderful lesson that resonated with me today. I was struggling with an issue and this met my hearts need. Thank you so much. I plan on sharing this with my Secret Sister’s group!! God bless your ministry.
I’m so very glad it blessed you, Vicky. thank you for taking the time to let me know and for sharing it with your friends. I hope you’ll come back and visit often. God be with you and bless you!
Thank you for helping me see this question, do you love me in this special way, for me to know that no matter the guilt in my heart, the love I have for God is bigger than my guilt . I have to rely on my love for God, and move on in feeding the lambs of God . Thanks.
We are blessed by such a gracious, good, and loving God. I’m so glad you were blessed by your visit here. God be with you!