THURSDAY: JESUS RESTORES US IN LOVE
KEY PASSAGE
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 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.”
DEVOTIONAL
If my best friend asked me three times “do you love me?” I would be frustrated and offended. What do you mean?! Of course I love them! But Jesus’ intent here was not to offend. In fact, the repetition of Jesus’ “do you love me” question to Peter was to intentionally restore.
The disciple Peter was one of Jesus’ closest friends. Just a few days before this moment, the morning before Jesus died on the cross, Peter denied Jesus three times. He denied being Jesus’ disciple and friend. He even denied ever knowing Jesus at all. In our story today, Jesus’ repetition of “Peter, do you love me?” provides Peter the opportunity to restore his three denials with three confessions of love.
Not all these confessions of love were the same. In the original Greek, the first two times Jesus asks, “do you love me” the word He uses for love is “agape.” Agape love is a love that welcomes people in and finds contentment in others. Here Jesus is asking Peter, “Will you welcome me in? Do you find contentment in me?”
But when Jesus asks Peter the third time, He uses a different word for love: “phileo.” Phileo love is the love we find in friendship. Here Jesus is asking Peter, “Am I your friend?” So, not only does Jesus restore their relationship as teacher & disciple, He intentionally restores their friendship as well.
CHALLENGE
Before we ever do anything for Jesus, I believe He asks us the same questions as well:
“Will you welcome me in?”
“Do you find contentment in me?”
“Am I your friend?”
Take five minutes to sit with Jesus. Start by asking Jesus the three questions. What is His response to you? Then, allow Jesus to ask you the three questions. What is your response to Jesus? Use all five minutes to allow a conversation with Jesus to take place. Set a timer if you need to. Keep these answers in mind the next time you go to do something for Jesus.