03/02/2025 –
This morning let’s explore why Peter was grieved when Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him. I am also considering Peter's response; "Lord, thou knowest all things." This is a powerful moment and fuels Peter's ability to answer his calling. Is it a moment which fuels our own?
“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17 KJV
Peter went on to deny Jesus three times, but that wasn't because he didn't love Him. As a matter of fact, Peter was hurt when Jesus questioned his love, because he truly did love Him with all of his heart. He misunderstood what was happening in this exchange. As Jesus asked "do you love me", He was asking Peter a rhetorical question... he could have easily said..., "since you love me, feed my sheep", but he wanted a verbal response from Peter; a commitment; a pledge of love. Oswald Chambers explored this as well when he wrote:
"He was awakening to the fact that in the real true center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus, and he began to see what the patient questioning meant... it was a revelation to him to realize how much he did love the Lord, and with amazement he said - "Lord, Thou knowest all things."" - Oswald Chambers
Peter came to the full realization of his love for Jesus in this moment. He had previously recognized Him as the Son of God, so he understood that as such Jesus could see his heart, which made this response appropriate.
“He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 16:15-17 KJV
So, Peter knew that Jesus could see his heart... what would be the point of arguing the degree of his love? After all, the Lord would already know the answer to the questions He was asking... what frightened Peter was a sliver of doubt... was it possible he didn't love Him enough?
Satan has a way of interjecting question into our minds as we face moments of challenge to our faith. In times when we are asking of Jesus in faith, or professing our love, Satan will place that irritating sliver of doubt into us... "Do I truly have unwavering faith? Is my love complete?" This sliver of doubt is often all it takes as we allow it to fester and rob from us the joy and promise in that moment... pull the sliver from your flesh and cast it away before the irritation grows into a sore, or a beam of wood in our own eyes.
“Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:3 CSB
So, we see how in this exchange of questions and answers Peter comes to realize the fullness of his love for Jesus, and he receives his calling. However, it was only in His later denials that he saw how easily he could be undone in his faith and came to understand how wary and on guard he needed to be. The combination of these two epiphanies made Peter the rock that Jesus said he would become. Have we realized this in our own lives? Have we become a rock like Peter did as we live out our own lives of faith, or are we falling victim to that sliver of doubt? I pray that each receive the same revelation and blessing that Pete received.
“And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Mathew 16:17-18
Prayer:
Father, thank you for strengthening me as you did Peter; and for giving me the tempering of faith and commitment to his love for you that he underwent. Lord, if I should deny you, let me see it for what it is... let my heartbreak and disappointment in that moment harden my resolve to follow you more closely. In my failures teach me to succeed. Holy Father, I thank you for your Son Jesus, and I am humbled to be sitting at His feet. Teach me to love you more each and every day as I learn from examples such as Peter's. Then, as Jesus asks me "Do you love me", give me the confidence in my love to answer "thou knowest that I love you." Lord, remove any sliver of doubt that might undo me in this moment of faith and love, and give me the strength and perseverance to answer your call and the say. "Here am I."
Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who leads each of us along different paths of life, love, and faith, and yet bring us all together in the end, in the moment of our judgement before you. Holy are you who knows each of our hearts and how to best deal with them. Help me father so that the plank in my eye doesn’t blind me and cause me to inappropriately judge others as you teach and deal with them in their lives and levels of belief. Who am I to say that I am better, or love you more? Help me to love, praise, and worship you the best that I can, and to pray daily that it is enough. Help me to follow you today and to love you with all the heart, mind, soul, and strength that I can muster. Help me to see that we are all not given the same loads to bear, and to see that to whom much is given much is expected. Show me clearly the lesson you once taught Peter and do so in a way that I am able to grasp it as fully as my ability and gifts from you will allow.
Praised be your name Father, for you are wise and see the goodness in me and in every soul around me. Merciful and full of grace are you who sees beyond our shortcomings and directs each of us down the road you have chosen for us, to our perfect belief and faith in you. Jesus leads us along this way Abba by showing us how we can travel it best, and which route serves your will perfectly. Isn’t this the cup of the new covenant? Aren’t each of us drinking our sip, and taking our piece of the bread from the same cup and the same loaf? And yet, aren’t we doing so individually, and tasting it with our own senses as you offer it to us? Blessed are you our God and your Son Jesus Christ for the hard questions of faith that bring us near to you. and for the lessons we learn in answering them such that they define our relationship with you, and please you most. Let us learn by our failures so that we can glorify you in our successes… our fallible flesh having become hardened rock. Amen!
“When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!””
John 21:21-22 ESV
Rich Forbes