“Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep.” John 21:16
Lord Jesus, I will forever remember, return to, and rest in this story. Apart from the context, it just seems like a normal conversation between you and one of your disciples. But it’s actually…
A demonstration of the only love better than life.
A celebration of the restorative reach and riches of the Gospel.
A grace-ing of our hearts when we feel the shaming power of our failure.
Peter blew it big time, in fact three big times. After your arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, he denied he even knew you. But after your resurrection, you pursued his heart, not his promise. You knew Peter’s weaknesses when you first called him. Just like you know ours.
You didn’t ask Peter for a pledge to do more try harder. You didn’t withdraw your love from Peter. You asked him three times, “Do you love me?” For this is the one question that will always drive us to the Gospel.
Do we love you, Jesus? You know everything. You know, like Peter, we deny you every time we sin. For what are our blow ups, blow offs, and “blowing it’s” but failures to love you as you deserve? We grieve it Jesus, and we’d despair is the Gospel wasn’t true.
We only love you because you first loved us and gave yourself on the cross. We will only love you perfectly when you return and perfect us. But you love us perfectly right now—in this very moment. Grant us quicker repentances, Jesus. You get the last word; guilt and shame do not. Receive our humble and glad, Amen.