Do You Love Me?

Read This Week: John 21

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:15-17 & 19 NIV

Do you love me? If this question comes to any of us at any time in life from a friend, spouse, or loved one, chances are there are a myriad of factors that led a person to ask it. This query undoubtedly came from a pattern of behavior and words or omissions of the same. It most likely came from a series of events and circumstances that caused doubt in the mind of someone who previously felt loved. It is a difficult question to be asked, but regardless of its validity, this statement should never be dismissed or taken lightly.

In John 21, Jesus appears to his disciples again, this time by the Sea of Galilee, where they were fishing. Several of them had returned to their profession before the Lord found and called them to follow him. Jesus stood on the shore and performed another miracle for these fishermen struggling to catch anything. He did so out of his power, grace, and kindness to show them who he is and how much he loves them one more time. John realizes it is Jesus on the bank, and they take the boat back to meet him. Then they have dinner together.

After they eat, Jesus asks Peter the question. He said, Simon, son of John, do you love me? There was no doubt that Peter fit the bill of someone who had earned that question. As we saw earlier in our study of John, Peter had denied being a follower of Christ and even knowing him three times at the hour when the Savior needed him most. Peter deserved to be questioned about so much, but Jesus saw fit to ask one. It was the only one that mattered: do you love me? It is the only one that matters because if we say that we love God, it has profound meaning for our lives, actions, and behaviors.

Peter naturally says yes each time Jesus asks him, and each time Christ responds with something a lover of God does. He told Peter to each affirmation to feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep, and follow me. Jesus essentially is saying to him and us that if we love him, we’ll love others. If we love Jesus, we’ll serve others. If we love Jesus, we will meet the needs of others. If we love Jesus, we’ll care for, sacrifice, and stand in the gap for others. If we love Jesus, we’ll follow him and give our lives to bring glory to his name. We’ll read his word, share his good news, be devoted to his family and radiate his goodness, grace, mercy, and love. If we truly love Jesus, no one will ever have to ask us if we do.

This question is a great reminder and challenge to end our study of John and the Gospels. The disciple whom Jesus loved records and shared one of the most important questions we can ever consider: do you love me? Now is the perfect moment to reflect on what loving Jesus is today and if there is any ambiguity about whether or not we do. There is no more fitting season to consider the expression of loving Jesus daily.

7 Comments

  1. Heidi on February 5, 2023 at 8:16 am

    Everyone can feel like there is no more chances in sight, can feel like they blew it way too many times, they made too many mistakes, but the Good News is God knows our heart, it’s all about our heart knowing we need Jesus in our life, knowing how much He loves us, He forgives us and He wants us to be His helpers and when we know how much He loves us, knowing we are saved and forgiven, we know He is right here to help us, He gives us grace and mercy. We will want to feed others, encourage them, love them and help them spiritually too!
    we’ll for me I want to love others because I’m thankful that I get to be apart of Gods family, so I want to keep loving loving our Jesus for the rest of my life, I want to feed others spiritually For Jesus and I hope and pray for all my loved ones and more, that they will want to love Jesus for the rest of their lives too!
    Thank you Jesus that You know our hearts and you keep calling us to come and get what we need from You first ❤️

    Loving my Jesus
    Casting crown

    I was a wandering soul
    Traveling a well worn road
    A sinner so far from home
    No second chance in sight
    I heard You call my name
    I felt You lift my shame
    And I made a vow that day
    That I’d spend the rest of my life
    Loving my Jesus
    Showing my scars
    Telling my story of how mercy
    Can reach you where you are
    And I pray the whole world hears
    The cry of my heart
    Is to see all the ones I love
    Loving my Jesus
    Sin tries to make you hide
    Whispers that same old lie
    Keep all your pain inside
    ‘Cause no one will understand
    The last thing this lost world needs
    Is someone I’m trying to be
    Truth that has set me free
    Is that I’m just a broken man
    Loving my Jesus
    Showing my scars
    Telling my story of how mercy
    Can reach you where you are
    And I pray the whole world hears
    The cry of my heart
    Is to see all the ones I love
    Loving my Jesus
    When all is said and done
    When my last song’s been sung
    I stand face to face with the one
    Who gave all for me
    May all I have to show
    Be all that mattered most
    Making Your great name known
    Let this be my only legacy
    Loving my Jesus
    Showing my scars
    Telling my story of how mercy
    Can reach you where you are
    And I pray the whole world hears
    The cry of my heart
    Is to see all the ones I love
    All the ones I love
    Loving my Jesus

    • Eileen Miller on February 11, 2023 at 10:41 pm

      Thank you SO much for that LOVELY devotional! ❤️️

  2. reachchurch on February 5, 2023 at 1:16 pm

    This Week in the Life: John 21

    For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and the second song.

    1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-0205-Worship1.wav
    2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-0205-Message.wav
    3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-0205-Worship2.wav

    Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect

  3. Alma on February 5, 2023 at 1:39 pm

    This week I have a song in John chapter 21

    Coming together
    Let’s come together to worship our LordLet’s come together to worship our Lord His love is overwhelming he gives us his grace his mercy our Lord will meet us where we’re at when in doubt just ask him he will show us the way our Lord will renew refresh , give us strength his spirit lives inside us Let’s come together to worship our Lord. Let’s come together to worship by Lord becoming closer, being stronger in our faith spreading his Spirit Among us
    Amen

    Our Lord says come to me I’m always here rush on me and in me I will help you through everything. He gives us the strength that we need and refreshes and renews us every day. Amen

    • Trina on February 5, 2023 at 4:15 pm

      John Chapter. 21 v. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish. 153 of them; and [though] there were so many of them, the net was not torn.
      Also, John Chapter 19, verse 23. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified, Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, one share for each soldier, and also the tunic (the long shirt like undergarment). But, the tunic was seamless, woven [in one piece] from the top throughout.
      Next, John Chapter 20, Verse 7
      But the burial napkin (kerchief) which had been around Jesus’ head, was not lying with the other linen cloths, but was [still] “rolled up (wrapped around and round) in a place by itself.
      In chapter 19, the disciples did not want to tear the tunic wrapping the body of Jesus. The seamless tunic was intact and in chapter 20 the burial napkin, the kerchief left behind by itself was also intact. In chapter 21, the 153 fish in the net that Simon Peter pulled to shore was intact despite the weight of the fish. There were no holes and no tears.

      God Is Saying To Me:
      When faith is tested and my miracles are shown, know that your strength is manifested through me. When your faith is unwavering and your faith remains intact,and the weight of the world tries to hold you down, my child, just know, keep believing in miracles, trusting in me and nothing will ever be too heavy.
      What This Means To Me:
      With Christ, wholehearted, faith, belief, obedience and perseverance to share miracles with others will result in a steadfast and unscathed walk with Him. Thank you God for your ultimate love, sacrifice and opportunity to walk with you and to feed your sheep, By doing this, nothing can ever seem to heavy. I will experience precious moments and make memories too.

  4. Javaid Ahmed on February 6, 2023 at 12:42 pm

    This was an extremely difficult week for me. We had a horrific family tragedy that has rocked us to our core. I’m not sure how we would have survived this without the love of God next to us and guiding us through this dark time. What makes it even more difficult is that there was a lot of negativity from a group of people that pushed this tragedy into reality. It was hard not to be angry and want vengeance. As always God came in right on time and helped ease our pain and helped us understand how the world works and why it is not the way to be. He focused my attention on John 21 Verses:
    22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

    God said to me “Your hardest battles are ones that I take for you. I do not expect you to act as Me. Your pain can cloud your judgement but know this- I am always here with you and if you allow me in your heart – even the most insurmountable challenge will become a smaller hill as opposed to a mountain. ”

    God only gives us what we are able to handle. He said it is his fight and that I don’t need to worry. Even when you are going through hell on earth, know that it is NOTHING compared to the heaven on earth that God gives us with His guidance. Me wanting vengeance has nothing to do with walking in God’s path with Him. What He wants is for us is to follow Him and live through His name while we are on this earth. Vengeance has no place for us. God will take care of it. A quote that pastor Ken has given to me is “Hurting people, hurt people”. This means that as despicable and evil as someone could be, think of the hurt and lack of relationship with God that pushed them to that place. The only way to stop that from happening is for us to share our love with God and onto others.

    It’s up to us to respond to God, listen to God, embrace God, breathe God, let God flow within you and if you feel you don’t have the courage to do so; Guess what?

    God will GIVE you the courage even before you reach out to Him even before you know Him fully, even before you let God in your life and you open your heart to God.

    God is still there giving you the strength, encouraging silently, helping you and hoping you respond. We always have his support and it’s up to us to take that in and see that God is lifting us up even when we think we’re invisible. We are never invisible. He sees us always.

  5. Samuel on February 6, 2023 at 8:11 pm

    This week God drew my attention to John c 21 v6
    “ And He said to them, Cast you net on the right side
    Of the boat and you will find [some]. So they cast the net, and now they were not able to haul it in for such
    a big catch (mass,quantity) of fish was in it. (153)

    And what he said to me about that.
    My Son, you have spent your life casting nets
    All around you Trying to catch what ever you can.
    But when you came to Me to learn to be a fisher of men, And responding to Me you see that where I lead you to cast your net. It will always return to you full

    And what that means to me is to always
    Be ready to cast your net. Wherever our Father
    Tells us. In order to catch as many as many
    Responders as we can

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