Do you Love Me?

Reading: Mark 14:27-31, Luke 22: 31-34, 52-62, John 21, I john 4:7-12
If you are familiar with this introduction, just scan to the read more for the essence of this post. Oh and don't miss the second picture.

Have you ever let someone down to the point of great sorrow? Have you ever been in need of reconciliation in a relationship? Have you ever let the Lord down? Are you in need of reconciliation? The apostle Peter did let the Lord down in a way he never thought could ever happen. And it left him in deep anguish and sorrow. Jesus knew that Peter needed to be reconciled to Him and their relationship restored. This story actually begins before Jesus was taken away by the soldiers at Gethsemane. Then we will see what He did after He was risen from the dead. In His final hours of life as a natural human being, like us all, He told His disciples:

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.  Mark 14:27-31 NLT

In Luke, Jesus is recorded as saying:

"' Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.'" Luke 22:31, 32 NKJ

Peter denies Jesus by Carl Bloch

  Peter said he would die for Jesus. He believed that within  his strength, his determination, his love for Jesus that he would never fall away. But, in that terrible night, all the disciples ran away for fear of being beaten and killed. Peter at least followed along at a distance.Yet, when surrounded by soldiers and those who did not like Jesus, He denied Him three times. On the third denial, a rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, 'Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.' And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly." Luke 22: 52- 62 NLT

Oh, the anguish Peter must have felt for not standing up for the Lord in that moment. In all the human strength and determination that Peter had, it all evaporated and he let Jesus down and denied that he even knew Him. Jesus knew ahead of time that this would be a great moment of testing for Peter. Satan must have known something of Peter's potential and determined to attack him. But Jesus knew this and prayed for him ahead of time, that his faith would not fail. That brings us to another visit with the Risen Christ.

Cast on the Right Side by Greg Olson

After the resurrection, the disciples went to Galilee, as Jesus had instructed them. Several of the disciples were there and Peter said, "I'm going fishing." They went with him. All night they fished and caught nothing. As the sun was coming up, a man on the shore called out "Throw out your net on the right side of the boat and you'll get some!" So they did, and the net was so full of fish they couldn't haul it in. Then they realized it was the Lord... He was cooking breakfast for them on the shore, fish and bread.

After breakfast Jesus asked Peter, "'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?', 'Yes, Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know that I love you.' ' Then feed my lambs, Jesus told him". But then Jesus repeated the question two more times... "do you love me?" Peter was hurt the third time and said "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Then Jesus told him to feed his sheep. John 21
It was important that the Lord bring reconciliation with Peter, to let him know that he was still to lead the church. So, He gave him the authority to shepherd the people that God would bring into the church. His strength to do this would spring out of his love for Christ and the promise that would soon follow. (Stay tuned for the Promise, as it is part of this series)

But Jesus' question to Peter... "'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?', could be asked of each of us as well and is probably the most important question we could ask ourselves.

Do I love the Lord Jesus? Do I love God? I mean, really love God? How much?
This is the purpose to life... LOVE... to love God and to love people. Where does this love come from? How do I know if I have it?

"Dear friends, lets continue to love one another,  for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God has loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other, since God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." I John 4:7-12 NLT

The final question is where does this love lead? After Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep He hinted to what kind of death Peter would glorify God. It would be crucifixion, according to church history. (See Foxxes book of Martyrs). Then Jesus told him, "Follow Me." It is as if He was saying, follow Me in life and follow Me in death. He asks for us to deny our self interest in life, to die to self and follow Him where ever He leads us. Here in His own words as recorded by Matthew and Mark:

"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of me. 

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 

 Matthew 10:38, 39 NKJ

"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."  

Mark 8:34 NKJ