Do You Love Me More Than These?
Scripture Passage: John 21:15-25 (NASB)
15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”
20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.
SUMMARY
In this third manifestation after Jesus’ death, Jesus appears to some of His disciples. Jesus prepares breakfast for the disciples with the plentiful harvest of fish caught under His command at dawn. Jesus asks Simon Peter three times whether he loves Him. The first time, Jesus asks, “Do you love Me more than these?” During the second and third time, He asks, “Do you love me?” Simon Peter responds in the first two questions affirmatively stating: “Yes Lord; you know that I love You.” On the third time, Peter is grieved due to Jesus’ reiteration responding: “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus’ responses to these three questions were: “Tend My lambs,” “Shepherd My sheep,” and “Tend My sheep.”
Jesus’ conversation continues with Simon Peter telling him that when he was younger, he used to gird himself, but that when he is older someone else will gird him. Thereafter, Jesus says, “Follow me.” Simon Peter is confused by Jesus’ command and instead of focusing on Jesus’ direction for his life, he focuses on how the other disciple will turn out. Jesus wisely responds, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
In this passage we can see that Jesus is loving and always faithful even when we are not, allowing Simon Peter to redeem himself from having denied Jesus three times in the past. This allowance of confession is freeing, that even when we mess up, God allows us to come back to Him.
When Jesus asks Simon Peter if he loves Him “more than these,” I understand that “these” are either the other disciples or either the fish they caught at dawn. This means to me that Jesus is asking me, “Do you love me more than all the material possessions, riches of the world, and even the people around you whom God gave you as family, friends, and community?” This question made me ponder if I have the same confidence to affirmatively state that I indeed love Jesus more than “these.”
I was convicted to check my heart. I feel I love Jesus, but do I truly love Jesus more than these? I am humbled by how Jesus did love us more than “these” as He could have had anything He wanted when He was tempted in the wilderness, yet He overcame all spiritual battles without sinning. Not only that, Jesus died on the cross for love, because He loved us to the point of death and death on the cross, which was a painful and humiliating death. If Jesus loves us this much, why is it so hard for me to reciprocate? why am I so shortsighted into understanding the depth of His love?
Seeing how Jesus asks Simon Peter three times whether he loves Him, and seeing Peter’s grief due to Jesus’ reiteration, I was humbled to see how frail we are, how many times we think we love Jesus, how we think we have arrived, yet we fall short of His glory in our actions.
As I read these verses over and over again, I was even more humbled at Jesus’ love for us, as it didn’t really end with Jesus expecting a “unilateral” love towards Him alone, but a humbling, multilateral, all-embracing calling to love His children, just as He states: “Tend My lambs,” “Shepherd My sheep,” and “Tend My sheep.” It reminded me of the level of selflessness and pure love that Jesus had for us and how He expects us and requires us to love each other.
The second part of the story shows how Simon Peter doesn’t really understand what Jesus is asking him. Instead of focusing on following Jesus, and seeing what Jesus is asking him to do, he focuses on one of his peers. This part spoke to my heart showing me how many times we do this, as well. Jesus is asking us if we love Him, if we will follow Him, if we will tend to His sheep and honor Him, but instead of focusing on our own calling, on how God wants to bless us and transform us, we inadequately focus and compare ourselves to our peers, without realizing that Jesus’ call is the same in essence, but different and personal in shape and meaning for all of us, according to our gifts, talents, abilities, and life experiences.
I was really humbled to remember, “What is that to me?” If Jesus’ calling, standards, and expectations are different for me than for others, I must trust God that He is sovereign and He knows better. I must remember that Jesus’ calling is personal and not generic, that Jesus blesses me abundantly according to my needs, that Jesus’ grace, mercy, and forgiveness is lavish if I were to think of my sins. I must not forget that God works differently in all of us based upon how unique and special He has made us all.
APPLICATION
Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him (Matt. 4:10-11).
With the extension of the coronavirus stay-at-home order and the current economic uncertainty, it has been really difficult for me to focus on loving God, loving God’s children, and obeying His commands. As I find myself in a constant roller coaster of anxiety regarding the economy and God’s provision, I see the frailty of my faith and trust in God. Though my love for Jesus and my trust in God should be unconditional, despite my circumstances, I find it hard to quiet my heart and experience God’s peace that transcends all understanding. I feel that in the midst of this crisis, God has positioned me in a place to love His children, honor His name, grow spiritually, and trust in His ways, yet everyday I find myself in spiritual lows and highs, questioning God’s plan and His direction in my life.
I hope to continue diligently reading the scriptures to be able to worship the Lord and serve Him only, by truly loving Jesus in everything I do, therefore prioritizing Him and loving His sheep that He has entrusted to me during this time. Instead of worrying about the economic downturn and strategizing on my own strength, I need to focus on the imminent need of loving His sheep that He has brought into my life. Knowing that Jesus will fight my battles, I need to be still and know that He is God.
PRAYER
God, thank You for loving us so selflessly that You sent Your only Son to die for us, who are so unworthy of Your love. Thank You for the privilege of making us your children, and showering us with Your unconditional love.
I am sorry that I always fall short of Your grace, that I am selfish, self centered and have a hard time listening to Your voice, and worse, even when I do hear Your calling and I know You are speaking to me with specifics, I have a hard time trusting in Your will and following through.
Lord, help me love You by surrendering everything before You. Help me love You more than anything You have given me. Help me love Your sheep the way You love me. Give me wisdom to love according to Your ways. Help me see what You see in Your sheep’s brokenness so I can understand and guide them to Your path. Lord, please fill my cup, so I can love the way You love me with patience, kindness, joy, and hope. Help me understand Your unconditional, unchanging love. Let me experience Your lavish grace and mercy in the midst of this crisis. Help me not compare myself to others and compare my path to their circumstances. Help me focus on Your will for me, for I know You have great plans to prosper me. Help my unbelief so that I can have unshakable faith and continue walking on Your path. Help me not to fall into social conformity and follow the plans You have for me. Help me follow the process of becoming myself and the perfect me in Your image. Help me trust in Your perfect timing and help me to wisely and patiently wait for You instead of taking matters into my own hands, and knowing that You are God. Help me overcome my struggles, my trials, and tribulations, please grant me victory, for what is impossible for men is all possible for You.
Please share your personal meditations on this Scripture passage with the HolyWave community in the comments section below. (We reserve the right to moderate comments.)