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Following Jesus – Do You Love Me? (8/12/2008)

‘Do you love me?’ This is the haunting question that the Risen Christ asked His follower, Peter. ‘Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?’ Three times the questions, three times the reply, ‘Yes, Lord, I love you.’ And three times, the command that reinstates Peter, ‘Feed my sheep.’ There are nuances in the exchange reported in John 21 that are worth reflecting upon. For the moment, let’s focus on a few things. The night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter, in fear for his own life had denied His Master three times. Peter’s self-discovery of his cowardice cut him deeply and he wept bitterly. So deep was his sense of failure that it complicated the already mind-boggling events that followed the crucifixion. It seemed that Jesus indeed had risen from the dead! And now this Jesus whom Peter loved was here with him on the Galilean shore. And He was asking the most embarrassing question, ‘Do you love me?’ After the denial what could Peter say? His threefold act of denial flew in the face of his words, but swallowing hard Peter says, ‘Yes, Lord, I love you.’ To Peter’s surprise, no recriminations but reinstatement! ‘I gave you an assignment. It’s still yours to do. Feed my sheep.’ The threefold question, the threefold reply, the threefold reinstatement! Flawed, fallible Peter went on to serve His Master with distinction, the first great leader of the great and growing flock, the Church of Jesus Christ. During Peter’s lifetime, across the Roman empire and beyond, thousands upon thousands became followers of Jesus. And Peter took care of Jesus’ sheep until he was crucified by Nero, upside down. Jesus alludes to the manner of Peter’s death in John 21.

In this same chapter Peter is reminded that he must keep his eyes on Jesus. Walking along the shore, another disciple followed Peter and Jesus. Peter turns and asks, ‘What about him?’ The Lord replies, ‘Never mind him. You follow me.’

Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote:

"People talk about love as though it were something you could give like an armful of flowers. And a lot of people give love like that -- just dump it down on top of you, a useless strong-scented burden. I don't think it is anything you can give.

Love is a force in you that enables you to give other things. It is the motivating power. It enables you to give strength and power and freedom and peace to another person. It is not a result; it is a cause. It is not a product; it produces. It is a power, like money, or steam or electricity. It is valueless unless you can give something else by means of it.'

If you love Jesus, then that love is demonstrated in following Him. It is an action!

In John 14, Jesus teaches us that love is an ‘action’ word: ‘If you love me, keep my commandments.’ In John 21, Jesus makes it clear that Peter’s love must be expressed in ‘doing his job.’ And for followers of Jesus that job is being ‘fishers of men’: inviting and helping others to join in following Jesus. It was the apostle Paul who said, ‘The love of Christ compels me’ to share the Good News.

If we are going to love Jesus, then we must follow Him. If we are to follow Him, we must keep our eyes on Him. If we keep our eyes on Him, He will lead us in acts of loving service and in helping others on their journey of discovering Him, who is Life itself! You see, the last command that the Risen Christ gave to Peter and to all His followers was this: ‘As you go, make followers of all nations.’ I am following Jesus… His Mission is still Our Mission.

For Christ and His Kingdom of Love,
Pastor Phil

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