“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me

.... more than these” (John 21:15). It is easy to miss some of the details in this story of Jesus recommissioning Peter who, as Jesus had predicted he would,  had denied Him three times (Matthew 26:75). Peter had told Jesus  "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will" (verse 33).  Peter seems to have given up and had gone fishing.  Echoing Peter's three denials, Jesus is recommissioning Peter by asking him essentially the same question three times  There are some subtle differences however.  Only the first time does He add “more than these,” recalling Peter's words above in Matthew 26:33.

Also, the first two times Jesus used the word agape for love, asking if he loved Him with God's unconditional love. Peter replies all thee times that he loved Him with affectionate,  friendship “phileo” love. The third time Jesus asks Peter do you even phileo love me, and Peter is grieved. “You know that Lord” he replies (verse 17).  Jesus had earlier told Peter “When you return strengthen the brethren” (Luke 22:32). And Jesus recommissions Peter to do this three times ,  telling him feed His lambs, His sheep (verses 15 - 17). Don't you love it that Jesus knows the worst about us, what we will do (have done), yet still loves us with agape, unconditional love.  And He is always ready to recommission us, even when we have totally blown it (Jeremiah 18:1-6). What an awesome God we serve!

You might ask if Jesus could not have recommissioned Peter without reminding him so vividly of his successive failures. But Jesus was wanting to teach Peter something. Peter had essentially been saying “I love you more than these. ” Jesus needed Peter to know two things, firstly that he is exactly like the others. If we don't know this, we will not be able to effectively feed His sheep, we will not be able to feel the feelings of others infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). It was important for Peter, and for us too, to know something of the depth of our depravity. The vast majority of Christians don't seem to know this. They, like Peter, are in denial about it! The Bible tells us that our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked, if we say we believe the Bible, we will need to acknowledge this (Jeremiah 17:9). The second thing Jesus needs us to know is that however many times we fail (three or more) when we return He will always recommission us (three or more). We need to know both these things not to camp in depression about the first thing, giving up like Peter, but rather knowing also that we are loved unconditionally, we will allow the Lord to recommission and strengthen us no matter how many times we fail.

Lord Jesus, we need to know that we are dust, not to be discourage, but rather so  that we will not, in self deception and overconfidence,  open the door for the Evil one to trip us up (1 Corinthians 10:12).  We (I)  also need to know that we are loved and accepted warts and all, and that You love us exactly the way we are, but You love us too much to leave us that way. I want to thank You this morning Lord for the amazing and sure  hope that when we see You,  we will be like You, changed in the blink of an eye. And we  give Your praise and glory in Your precious Name Amen