“JESUS AND PETER!”

 John 21:15-18                    (ESV)

“JESUS AND PETER”

“[15] 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, “Feed MY lambs.” [16] HE said to him 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.” [17] HE said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love ME?” PETER WAS GRIEVED because HE said to him the third time, “Do you love ME?” and he said to HIM, “LORD, YOU know everything; YOU know that I love YOU.” JESUS said to him, “Feed MY sheep. [18] Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”

When I awoke this morning the song “Lovest thou me more than these” was in my brain damaged mind!  So I went to Scripture and tried to figure out WHAT it was about this encounter that needed to be RECORDED in the WORD OF GOD and referred to for the next two thousand years???  The next few words are simply my thoughts. 

Peter had a EXTREMELY vocal personality!!  I can just imagine that JESUS wanted him to CAREFULLY consider what he was saying, KNOWING that Peter would die in the manner that he did?  JESUS, knowing EVERYTHING as HE did, already KNEW the difficulties (and BLESSINGS!) that lie ahead for Peter and HE might have been preparing Peter for the ROAD ahead??

Trying to place myself in the place where Peter was in this post-resurrection encounter with THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, I can’t fathom that JESUS would possibly still LOVE me after I have failed HIM so greatly?  But, like Peter, I may need to SLOW DOWN and let the story of “JESUS AND PETER” change my life to where I can be USED to GLORIFY JESUS CHRIST and not be so concerned about ANYTHING else!!!