Love: Do You Really Love Me

At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. ⁵ He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. ⁶ Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.  ⁷ Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. ⁸ The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. ⁹ When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.  ¹⁰ “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.  ¹² “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. ¹⁴ This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.  ¹⁵ 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.  ¹⁶ 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.  ¹⁷ 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 21:4-17 (NLT)

In the first part of the scripture above Jesus began with a question that revealed the disciples' poverty (v. 5), he meets their immediate need, provides by giving them inside information.  What normally may have taken all night, they accomplished in a matter of minutes.  Talk about a “hook up”, wow!!  Why were they poor?  Remember, three years prior they dropped everything (their livelihood, businesses and families) to follow Jesus. Apparently they didn’t have a savings, retirement or nest egg put away.  Their needs were met while with Jesus, but now they have nothing because Jesus was no longer with them, almost seems like a waste, huh, but nothing is as it seems?  Lastly, they hadn’t yet been commissioned to go out into the world and spread the gospel so instead of sitting around watching grass grow, they decide to wait while they wait and be productive.

What is the most common things we do with people we love, especially when we haven’t seen them in a while? We share a meal together, catch up on the latest and enjoy each other’s company.  I don’t know about you but to me it screams oodles of love that Jesus would come to their location (He knew exactly where they were); ask if they caught any fish (He knew they hadn’t); tell them where to find the fish (He knew exactly where they were); invite them to breakfast (He had fish and fresh bread ready for them); serve them breakfast (Jesus was just as kind and hospitable as he was prior to his crucifixion).

Victory Nugget:  The hospitality Jesus demonstrated while on earth is an amazing lesson of humility for all of us.  As God elevates us we should never think ourselves above serving.  

Even though this is Jesus’ third visit with the disciples it’s ironic that he shows up when they are discouraged after fishing all night only to catch absolutely nothing.  I am sure they were overjoyed with the fish “hook up” but to hang out with Jesus had to be priceless, but I wonder how Peter felt.  I believe breakfast was a way to disarm Peter for the unfinished business he had with Jesus.    

Remember, Peter was the fighter who would swing first and ask questions later, if at all.  He might have been a hothead, but he was loyal and he had Jesus’ back until he messed up.  While this is not an excuse, you have to consider, we’re reading about the story but the disciples lived it.  Here is an interesting dynamic.  All of the disciples ran and hid, every last one of them, except Peter. He stood and fought the soldiers (Po Po) until Jesus told him to stop and then he followed them as they lead Jesus away.  It was far more than the others did, but he blew it when he denied knowing Jesus and ultimately cursed the people for asking him the same question three different times.  I am not excusing Peter, but this had to be a chaotic time primarily because of the unrest in the atmosphere and the word on the street about the religious leaders being even more devious than usual.  This time they were going to great extremes and breaking the Jewish law they had been desperately trying to protect: 

1. Annas, whose house Jesus was taken to first was the former High Priest with absolutely no authority to question or beat Jesus; and 
2. When Po Po finally took him to Caiaphas, the existing High Priest, he beat Jesus and held a kangaroo court at night which was against Jewish law.  Peter and the others assembled in the courtyard knew or guessed something was off so everybody was on edge, especially the disciples.

Jesus didn’t do anything by happenstance, I am confident he wanted to spend time with them so he could resolve the issues Peter had in his mind (e.g. disappointment, regret, etc.) but Jesus takes his time.  His approach is very passive and nonthreatening and uses this very delicate situation as a teaching moment. Throughout this story Peter has been referred to as Simon Peter (vv. 2-3, 7b, 11) or simply as Peter (v. 7a), the name Jesus had given him but now Jesus calls him by his former name, Simon son of John (v. 15), "as if he were no longer (or not yet!) a disciple".  Peter must have really been on edge.

And finally he does it, Jesus questions Peter by asking the ultimate question of life: do you truly love me more than these? (v. 15). What does “these” refer to? If it’s the net and boat, then this question gets at the central point of discipleship and reveals a person's heart. What do we love the most? Have we abandoned all to follow Jesus? Every time we’re faced with a temptation this question is raised. Every time we become preoccupied with even the good things God gives us this question is raised. While all of this is true, it’s probably not the specific point here. I believe Jesus means "these other disciples."

This line of questioning is spot on, because when you deny someone it is usually because you don’t like them, let alone love them.  In the Gospels, Peter had boasted (probably in arrogance) that even if the others would fall away, he wouldn’t.  Matthew 26:33; Mark 14:29 and Luke 22:33 (NLT) Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”) Jesus knows the answer, but what He is getting to the root of sin, which is pride.

Peter replies, Yes, Lord, . . . you know that I love you (v. 15). He does not claim to love Jesus more than the others do, which suggests he has probably thought about how shameful it was to deny the Lord. This response is typical of true discipleship, because it’s humble and focuses on the Lord's own knowledge.  

I’m out of time so we’ll have to pick it up tomorrow.

In His Eternal Love,


Tania