Here is the account of a very strange job interview. The person to be interviewed had jumped out of his fishing boat into the sea in order to get there quicker! He didn’t realize that the interview was going to offend him!
Immediately after they had breakfast on the beach Jesus began the interview with Peter.
“Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?” (verse 15.)
Just a few days earlier Peter had claimed that his love for Jesus was the greatest! “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will,” he had said. (Matthew 26:33.) But later that very evening he had denied the Lord three times! (John 18:15-18, 25-27.) Perhaps Jesus question sounded like this; “Do you truly love Me more than these?”
Although Peter had miserably failed to prove his love on that occasion, he had been truly sorry for his failure, and had turned back to his Lord for forgiveness and acceptance. Now he could answer, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”
The repentant Peter really was forgiven and Jesus was giving him the responsibility of caring for those young in their faith in Christ.
God calls YOU to “repent”, to turn away from your sinful ways, and to ask Jesus Christ to forgive you. Then you too will be forgiven, and accepted by Him, and He will have something for you to do for Him.
Peter’s interview was not over yet! Again Jesus asked him what seemed to be the same question, but maybe this time it sounded like this;
“Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?”
Again Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love You.” (verse 16.)
When you truly love someone, you prove your love by your devotion and faithfulness to that person. You do not want to hurt or grieve that person in any way. You will want to do those things that please Him. Jesus had said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did it for Me,” (Matthew 25:37-40. John 13:34-35.) So Jesus wanted Peter to prove his love, and told him how he could do that - “Take care of My sheep” He told him. (verse 16.)
But then Jesus repeated His question to Peter for the third time! I wonder did He say it to sound like this;
“Simon son of John, do you love ME?”
“Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time. He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; You know that I love You.’” (verse 17.)
Jesus had already taught His disciples, “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15.) You see, you prove your love for a person when you delight to OBEY that person. Jesus said to Peter, “Follow Me.”
All who truly love Jesus will trust Him alone to forgive them, and will want to please, obey and follow Him.
Could you truly answer as Peter did in this story? “Yes, Lord, you know that I LOVE YOU.”
Read about Peter's heart-searching interview in John's Gospel chapter 21, verses 15-19.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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