Do You Love Me?

Yesterday we saw how Peter had gone back to fishing after his three denials of Jesus. We also saw that following the resurrection, Jesus called out to Peter from the shore after a long night of fishing and commanded him to throw his net on the other side of the boat resulting in a great catch of fish. In John 21 we next see Peter and Jesus sitting around a fire on the shore after eating breakfast prepared by the Lord. As they conversed, Jesus asked Jesus three questions:

Simon, son of John, do you love me?

Simon, son of John, do you love me?

Simon, son of John, do you love me?

In the English text, it looks like the same question all three times. However, that is not the case. The first two times Jesus uses a word that means to have self-sacrificial love. The final time He uses a word that is much less in intensity and simply indicates a tender affection. All three times Peter answers, “Yes, Lord, I love you.” But each time Peter simply uses the word for “tender affection.” Because of his failures, he could not look Jesus in the eyes and say that he loved Him with a self-sacrificial love.

But Jesus used this conversation to let Peter know that in spite of his past failures, God wasn’t done with him yet. He would still be involved in ministry in a major way. In fact, Jesus would call him to a new level of commitment that would end, not in denial, but in martyrdom.

I have had the privilege of standing on this actual shore in Israel twice in my life where Jesus and Peter had this conversation. The picture above is me on that shoreline which is one of my most favorite places to spend time in Israel. One reason is because it is on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and I have grown to love the Sea of Galilee more than any other place that I have visited in this world. And second, because in my mind there is no better place in the entire world that communicates forgiveness.

The last time I was on this shore with a group from our church we each picked up a small stone. That stone symbolized our greatest spiritual failure. We carried it in our pockets all day long and every time we saw it or felt it we were reminded that we have disappointed God. That night we took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. As we reached the middle of the waters, we took out those stones symbolizing our failures and we threw them into the water, reminding ourselves that through Christ, our sins have been buried in the deepest sea.

I picked up two fist size rocks from that shore as well and they sit on my bookshelf where I can see them multiple times throughout the day. Why? Because like Peter, I also have failed spiritually. I also have disappointed God. And each time I look at those rocks that come from that exact shore where Jesus and Peter had this conversation I am reminded that I am forgiven through my faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for my sin. The penalty for my failure has been paid in full on the cross. And as a result, God is not done with me.