“So when they had eaten 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, ‘Feed My lambs.’ 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, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved, because He asked him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” John 21:15-17

Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” Three times, Peter affirmed his love for Jesus and was commissioned by Jesus to feed and tend His sheep.

What is not so obvious in English translations are the different words behind the words “love” and “feed” or “tend.” Two times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved (agapas, or selflessly loved) Him, and Peter replied with the Greek word (philo) indicating that he had brotherly or reciprocal love for Jesus. The third time, Jesus also used the word for reciprocal love in His question to Peter.

In Jesus’ commission to Peter, He used two different words regarding caring for the sheep. Peter was commanded to feed (boske) Jesus’ lambs, to tend or shepherd (poimaine) His sheep, and to feed (boske) His sheep.

Peter was grieved that Jesus would ask him three times about his love for Him, for Peter had three times denied knowing Jesus or being His disciple (John 18:15ff.). Peter, in the strength of his own flesh, had before assured Jesus that he was ready to die with Him (Luke 22:31-34). But, of course, that dependence on his own will and strength failed Peter three times!

And Peter was now being recalled and commissioned by Jesus to bear witness to Him and testify of His person and work before the world — He was to tell all that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16), and that Jesus suffered and died for the sins of all and rose again on the third day (cf. Luke 24:44-49). In fact, Peter would be called upon to suffer greatly for his testimony as a disciple of the Lord Jesus (John 21:18f.). He would need to love Jesus enough to die for Him, as Jesus had loved His sheep enough to die for them and redeem them (cf. John 10:11; Rom. 5:8).

What about us? How many times would Jesus have to ask us if we love Him? We may not have denied Jesus in the same way as Peter, but we deny Him when we fail to speak up in His name, when we fail to follow Him, when we go our own way instead of His, and when we disobey His commandments.

Without love for Jesus, how can we fully trust in Him for our salvation, deny ourselves and follow Him, obey Him and live according to His commandments, or be faithful to Him unto death? The Bible tells us that “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10; 1 Cor. 13:1ff.; 1 John 2:5; 5:2-3; Matt. 22:35-40; Rev. 2:10).

Indeed, Jesus’ love for me is selfless, undeserved love. My love for Him falls so far short of His love for me. It is reciprocal love at best — I love Him because He first loved me and gave Himself for me (cf. 1 John 4:9-10,19).

Every believer and disciple of Jesus is called to love the Lord Jesus and to love those for whom He died and rose again (1 John 5:1; Eph. 4:1ff.; 4:11ff.). Every believer is called to follow Christ, bear witness to Him, and suffer with Him. And it takes love for Christ to love those for whom He died. It takes love for Christ to be willing to give up ourselves and serve the needs of others. It takes love for Christ to be willing to suffer and possibly even die as His followers.

Jesus asks you and me, “Do you love Me?” He knows all things. He knows our hearts. Do we merely pay lip service? Or do we truly love Him enough to follow Him and serve him? Do we call upon Him who knows everything to search and test our hearts (cf. Psalm 139:23-24)?

And, if we find ourselves short in the love department, if our lives reveal a lack of love for Christ, what’s the answer? We can’t generate love by our own efforts or determination. Self-generated love will fail. True love for God is generated by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit through the Word (cf. Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 13:1ff.). “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

When the Holy Spirit reveals our utter sinfulness and unworthiness before God and then shows us God’s great love for us in Christ Jesus — sending His own Son into the world to suffer and die for our sins and rise again — the Spirit works faith in our hearts and love for Christ Jesus as a fruit of His great love for us sinners.

Therefore, if we desire to grow in our love for Jesus, the first step is to consider His love for us. As John writes: “In this way the love of God was revealed to us, that God sent His only Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10; cf. John 3:16; Rom. 5:5-9).

Grant us to know Your love for us, dear Savior, that we may love You, trust in You, and bear witness to You and the salvation You won for all. Grant us an ever-growing love for You. Amen.

[Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]