Follow Him

Verse: John 21: 15-19
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do your truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Thoughts
This dialogue between Jesus and Peter came after Jesus rose from the dead and was eating fish that the disciples had just caught. Remember that Peter had denied that he knew Jesus three times after Jesus was arrested. Now Jesus is asking Peter three times, in front of the other disciples, if he loves him.

Don’t you just feel for Peter? He thought he knew Jesus and his mission on earth. He thought he was strong and ready for anything that came his way. And then when his teacher was arrested and publicly flogged, disgraced and killed, he was lost and unsure of his beliefs.

I think we have all been there. When I accepted the Lord, I was in my late 20’s. As new believers often are, I was on fire and ready for anything. I told the Lord I would go anywhere and do anything for him. He didn’t tell me to quit my job and go to Africa, instead he wanted me to represent him at home and at work. After a while, I found out how challenging that was! I didn’t always stand up for him at work and being Christlike at home, all the time, was even harder.

So here in this scripture is the good news! Jesus didn’t ask Peter is he was sorry or will you promise to never do that again. He knows Peter and he knows us. He asks Peter and he asks us if we love him. We have to check our hearts. He already died for all the things we have done and will do wrong. Now he wants to know that we love him, right now. If so, then he asks us to follow him.

The best we can do is to follow him at this moment. And then the next. And so on. He wants us to follow him every moment of our lives. If we mess up, we can come to him knowing that he died for us and wants us to return to him. And that is surely good news!

Prayer
Jesus, thank you for your enduring love for us, a love so big that it forgives even when we deny that we know you. We do love you and want to follow you. Help us live that out every day.

Author: Brad Dunn