Do You Love Me?

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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 a second time, “Simon, son of John, 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 John, do you love me (John 21:15-17a)?”

Peter a disciple of Christ and part of the inner circle of Jesus’ followers wasn’t perfect but someone who experienced ups and downs. From walking on water and declaring Jesus as the Messiah to his disowning Jesus when accused of being one of His disciples. He is a great example of how we can walk with God and yet find ourselves doing things that deny Him and yet Jesus continues to loves us.

Jesus could have walked away from those who opposed him, those who didn’t like him but instead He sought to reconcile relationships through acts of love and compassion. Even when rejected by Peter, Jesus reconciles with him asking him “do you love me”? One might think that Peter’s actions didn’t demonstrate love otherwise he would have conducted himself differently. But instead of focusing on Peter for a moment let’s look at the actions of Christ. Even after Peter’s refusal to acknowledge a relationship with Him, He continues to reach out to Peter and not only to Peter but to us also. This is the example we are called to follow.

Jesus asks you today, “Do you love me”?