Do You Love Me

John 21:15-17 NRSV

“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.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

“Do you love me?” Peter had to get real with himself. The first time Peter was flippant, how he think he could love Jesus more than the disciples did? The second time he was concerned. The third time grief and remorse set in. Now he’s getting real. But each time Jesus gave him a mission to care for the lambs- the babes in Christ, nurture and teach them the way to go. Pasture the sheep- show them safe places to rest. Feed the sheep, give them what will nourish their souls.

When we get real with ourselves, we can get real with God. When we get real with God, we get real with self. That strengthens the vertical connection with God. And then we are ready for our mission. 

I can relate to Peter. A deacon at my home church in Detroit used to ask me, “Rev, is Jesus in your heart?”The first time he asked, I answered rather flippantly, “Well yes.” 

He shook his head and walked off. The next Sunday when he saw me, he asked me that same question again. I wasn’t so flippant that time. I couldn’t understand why he was asking me.

He was a very nice deacon but what was he doing?

And again, he shook his head, but said, “Don’t tell me, show me.”And again, he walked off.

And then I begin to wonder what was wrong. Why would he ask me that? Why couldn’t he see it? After all, I was a preacher. And why was he singling me out? 

I had to think. I had to get still. I had to hear from God. Then I got it. 

And after that, the next time he asked, and the times after that, “Is Jesus in your heart?” I just smiled, and he nodded and smiled back. He taught me a lot with that simple question. 

It wasn’t about what I said or did, but what he saw from within. And when you have Jesus, there is something that causes you to smile from within. You don’t have to say a word, you don’t have to prove anything. enough for now.