If You Love Me…

Whenever I’m going through something, I always try to find someone in the Bible who went through a similar experience. Job, Paul, Jonah, Ruth – there’s always someone I can relate to and learn from.

This time, it’s Peter.

We all know Peter. The walking-on-water, Jesus-denying, ear-slicing, ever faithful Peter. Peter was enthusiastic (to say the least) about pleasing Jesus. He wanted to make Jesus proud and offer his fully devoted service. He wanted to show just how much he believed and how faithful he was. Yet, he was always tripping up. Always failing. Always falling.

But hiccups and all, he kept pursuing Jesus.

One of the last conversations Jesus ever had on earth was actually with Peter. The story takes place in John 21. This is when Jesus repeatedly asked Peter if he loved Him, and if so, to feed His sheep.

Like most of the Bible, there is actually so much you can get from this short, little story – from the significance of Jesus asking the question three times to the original translation of the word “love” that was used. But lately, I have had a fairly specific image come to mind.

The Last Will & Testament

Have you ever watched a movie or read a book where a character is dying and declaring their last request to someone hovering over them? Maybe it’s an old medieval movie where someone was shot by a flying arrow, and a fellow soldier rushes to their side. They might stutter something out such as, “Take care of so and so.” And from the moment they pass, the person who witnessed their last breath immediately makes a lifelong decision to be completely and absolutely devoted to taking care of said person. It seems as if a request spoken at death locks in some pact that cannot be broken.

Now let’s go back to this scene with Jesus and Peter. While Jesus wasn’t dying, He was soon to be ascending back to heaven. And I would like for you to view this particular moment as His final request.

Of course, understand that Jesus is God, and He had already served His human time on earth. He likely had little humanity left to Him other than His body. I am not in any way trying to change or place my own interpretation on the Bible. But just for a moment, try to view this story in a different way. Really try to imagine this setting.

Do You Love Me?

Peter and some of the other disciples had been fishing one morning when Jesus appeared to them yet again after His resurrection. After hauling in a multitude of fish, they all sat down and enjoyed a nice breakfast. If you can just imagine for a moment that the conversation Jesus was about to have must have been weighing on His mind through the whole thing.

Picture Jesus very solemn, very serious, knowing what heavy words were about to take place.

“Peter, do you love Me?”

Peter was probably finishing off his breakfast, maybe burying the fire, not paying too much mind to the conversation. After all, to Peter, it was a silly question. “Lord, you know I love you.”

Peter probably didn’t even notice the sincerity of Jesus’ demeanor.  

Jesus asked him a second time, “Peter, do you love Me?” As if He couldn’t get out what He really wanted to say. As if His throat choked up over the thought.

We can only imagine how close Jesus had grown to Peter. He had cried over the death of Lazarus, even though He probably knew he would be resurrected. Now here, He knew far worse was coming for Peter. And though Jesus had already born His cross and had been resurrected, just for a moment picture that this had to be a difficult conversation.

I am no theologian, but I do know that God can be angry with us and happy with us. So perhaps it isn’t too far-fetched to say that He feels sorrow for us.  And perhaps sorrow is exactly what He felt at this moment – sorrow for the fact that sin had so infiltrated His beautiful plan to where Peter would now have to endure this.

How Much Do You Love Me?

“Peter, do you love Me?” Three times, Jesus asked. Of course, by now, Peter was very much listening and growing quite flustered. Again, think of the scenes you have seen of someone hovering over a dying soldier, begging to help, desperate to fulfill their dying request.

“Lord, you know all things! You know I love you!” He would do anything for Him. What is it, Lord? Say it! Anything!

Jesus would be gone soon. But first, He had to make one thing clear, one final request for Peter before His departure. “Feed My sheep.”

In complete solemn desperation, with Peter hovering over Him, “Promise Me, you will share Who I Am. Promise Me, you will spread the gospel. As My ‘dying’ breath, My last request, promise Me you will continue to serve and follow Me.”

And that pact was sealed. And Jesus knowing all, knowing how final that moment was, knowing the honest devotion behind Peter’s acceptance, proceeded with what He really needed to say this whole time – that Peter would be crucified for it.

And this is why I cannot imagine this conversation was easy. Whether Peter fully understood or not, Jesus did. And I just can’t envision that whole conversation being easy to deliver after how close they had become. You know Jesus would have so much rather there be another way. He may have even asked the Father for that cup to be removed. Who knows. I just can’t imagine it was easy. I know God does not wish ill for any of us, and Peter could not have been an exception.

But that said, think of what Jesus told him.

Follow Me

When Peter was younger, he lived a fun and carefree life. He did whatever he wished. But a day would come where he would be led where he never wished (foretelling Peter’s crucifixion).

This part of the conversation applies so much to those of us who face struggles (especially those with chronic illness). Some of us used to live such pleasant carefree lives. We did whatever we wanted. But then one day, we took up a cross that we never intended to take up. We never asked for this. Yet, here it is.

Some of us never got that final request from Jesus to follow Him. Some of us did. Either way, will we take up this cross for Him? Will we use our sufferings for His glory?

Jesus is trying to have this same serious conversation with us. Do we love Him? Do we love Him enough to feed His sheep? Do we love Him enough to sacrifice our lives completely for His glory?