Title: Do You Love Me? / John 21:17
Content Do you love me? / John 21:17
“The third time he said, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” The third time the Lord said, “Do you love me?” Peter was grieved and said, “Lord, you know everything, and you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. "(John 21:17)
Peter denied that he did not know Jesus three times, and he incited his colleagues to return to his old job as a fisherman. They became traitors and instigators. But Jesus did not forsake him and came to Peter again like dawn with a resurrected body. After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves me. Let's try to think of these three questions in different ways.
The first question is, do you love me more than these? These are the things of this world. Boats, nets, and many fish caught. If you love the riches of the world more than the Lord, those riches become idols.
The second question is, do you love me more than these people? Who are these people? Parents, wives and wives, all close neighbors. We must love the Lord more than anyone else. If there are people who love more than the Lord, they are idols. If you fall for human idols, you will not be able to enjoy the holy water on Sunday and you will distance yourself from the church. Your love for the Lord is slowly fading away. But only those who love the Lord can give freely to the Lord.
The third question is whether you love me more than yourself. Those who love themselves more than the Lord cannot serve the Lord well. Rather, they try to use the Lord. But those who love the Lord more than myself can do martyrdom for the Lord. It's about giving everything you have to yourself.
'You alone receive the honor and glory and all authority, and I will carry the cross of thousands of contempt. This is only the confession of those who love the Lord more. The Lord wanted to hear this confession of love from Peter. He also wants us to receive this confession of love today.