Do you love Me?

John 21 for the read John in July challenge

After these things Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself in this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas who was called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

⁴ But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” ⁶ And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish.” So they cast it, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish. ⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. ⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net full of fish.

⁹ So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already made and fish placed on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter went up and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to inquire of Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. ¹⁴ This was now the third time that Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

¹⁵ Now 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 hurt 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.

Truly, truly I tell you, when you were younger, you used to put on your belt and walk wherever you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Now He said this, indicating by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had said this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

²⁰ Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who also had leaned back on His chest at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who is betraying You?” ²¹ So Peter, upon 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 account went out among the brothers, 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 about these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ But there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

In yesterday’s meditation we saw that in Matthew 28:20 Jesus says:  “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”   In Matthew 18:20 He says:    “Where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” In Deuteronomy 31:6 God says: “The LORD your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you.”   Jeremiah 23:23-24 says:  “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off? Can a person hide himself in hiding places So that I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.   How often though do we find ourselves apart from God? In today’s text it says:  Simon Peter, Thomas who was called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find the fish.” So they cast it, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great quantity of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”  The disciples had just seen the risen Lord, yet they chose to return to their old way of life, to what was normal to them. Jesus had told them He would make them fishers of men. Now they returned to being fishermen.  Jesus proved His promise was true. Jesus was with them, even when they were not with Him or gathered in His name. When we feel like God is distant and far off, we should consider that He has not gone away. He is both the God who is near and far off. He sees us no matter where we are. It is impossible to hide from Him. He will never leave or forsake us. When we feel distant, the best thing we can do is to look up and call on Him.   

The text says:  Now 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.” 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.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt 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.”   When Jesus asks a question, it is not because He needs to know the answer. He is omniscient. He asks a question so that we will consider our answer. Peter had been quick to return to what was normal and comfortable to him, to being a fisherman. Jesus sought him out and called him to his ministry, to becoming not only a fisher of men, but also a shepherd. How many times will Jesus have to ask us if we love Him before we are ready to walk in what He has called us to do? In John 14:15 Jesus says: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

The text says:  Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who also had leaned back on His chest at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who is betraying You?” So Peter, upon seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” Therefore this account went out among the brothers, 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?”  We should not concern ourselves with what God is doing for or with others. What is that to us? Rather we should be faithful to do what He has called and gifted us to do. In Matthew 25, both the servant who earned five talents and the one who earned two, heard their master say:  ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

Thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit. You are always with me. If I have turned, may I turn again quickly to You. May I recognize that You are always watching and waiting. May I say yes Lord You know that I love You and may I do all that You have asked me to do. May I hear the words:  ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’   Amen.