Do You Love Me?
15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 Again He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you [really] love Me [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. John 21:15-17 (Amplified Bible, AMP)
Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” We know that Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times at the time of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Therefore, what Jesus was doing here was restoring him back to his Lord. Peter must have certainly doubted himself as to whether he loved Jesus at all.
In this passage, we see that Jesus asked Peter three times, but it is not the same Greek word for love each time. In verse 15, Jesus asked, “Do you love (agapao) me?” Jesus was referrring to agape, the God kind of love that is willing to sacrifice anything with nothing expected in return. But Peter answered, “You know I love (phileo) you.” Peter used the word that means affection for a close friend or brother. In verse 17, Jesus again asked the same thing and Peter replied the same way. Finally, the third time, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love (phileo) me?” And Peter replied that he did.
Not only was Jesus restoring Peter to ministry and to fellowship with Him, but He was also getting to the root as to why Peter had denied Him: his love wasn’t deep enough. He wasn’t rooted in love sufficiently to stand in the day of testing. Peter recognized that he did not agapao Jesus but that he only had phileo love for Him. But Jesus was working on Peter so he would be able to stand in the future.
Jesus went on to say to Peter that his love for the Lord would grow so deep and strong that he would face another test to disown Jesus and would not deny Him. Peter would allow the love of God to grow in him to such a measure that he would die for Him. And die he did. Tradition records Peter also died on a cross. However, Peter requested to be crucified upside-down since he did not consider himself worthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.
My friend, our love for Jesus is always tested. If we have failed this test in the past, the Lord will give us another opportunity to stand for Jesus. When that time comes, let us be rooted and established in the love of God so we will pass the test and openly declare our devotion to our Lord and Savior.
