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A Short Treatise on Love (John 21.15-17)

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, 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.’ He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, 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 all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’" (John 21.15-17).

There was something mighty, mighty important about the question that Jesus asked Peter. This is pretty easy to deduce from the fact that Jesus asked him about his love for Him three times. So obvious was the import of the question and so direct was the question that Peter was grieved because of it. More literally, it can be said that Peter was made uneasy or even offended by the repetitive questions, What was so important about the question? The next two verses in the context contain the implied answer.

Jesus continued, "Most assuredly, I say to you [Peter], when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." (John 21.18). John commented, "This He [Jesus] spoke, signifying by what death he [Peter] would glorify God." The text continues, "And when He [Jesus] had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’" (John 21.19). The challenge that Jesus gave to Peter to follow Him, and the question as to Peter’s love for Christ were both related to the prophetic statement Jesus made about Peter’s death. To say that Peter’s hands would be stretched out and that he would be led by another to places not of his own choosing was to indicate that he would be a prisoner, bound and controlled by another.

The connection between Peter’s love for Christ and the persecutions that he would undergo are quite obvious actually. If Peter’s love for Christ was not strong, he could not endure the persecutions. On the other hand, if his love was what Christ would have it to be, Peter would be able to successfully endure the trials that were about to come his way. Jesus implied this same connection when He warned, "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 24.12-13). There was and is a direct connection between the fervor of one’s love and one’s ability to endure persecutions. One of the great blessings of love is the ability to endure in the face of trouble and persecutions.

In a related passage, but one in which the connection is sometimes lost, Paul promised, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10.13). If our love is strong, we can escape; if our love is weak, we are destined to fail! The way of escape is the way of love!

Questions:

1. What significant events had taken place before Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him?

2. How do we know for sure that Jesus spoke of Peter’s death when he said that others would lead him where he did not want to go?

3. What is the connection between falling away during persecutions and one’s love for God?

4. What type of love is required if we are to escape the temptations that come our way?

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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