John 21:17 (NLT)

“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”  He said, ‘Lord, you know I love You.’  Jesus said, “Feed My sheep”.

It is interesting that in these final verses of the gospel of John that Jesus asked Peter three consecutive times “Do you love Me?”  After each answer from Peter, Jesus told him to serve His people (“tend My lambs”, “shepherd My sheep”, and “feed My sheep”).  All pastors and other leaders of the church are called and commanded to do the same thing. 

In these verses, Jesus referred to Peter as “Simon”, his original name before Jesus changed it (Matthew 16:18).  In calling Peter “Simon, son of John”, Jesus is speaking to Peter as an ordinary man, representing all humankind.  The word that Jesus used for “love” the first two times is “agape”, meaning sacrificial love, the kind of love described in Paul’s love chapter (I Corinthians 13).  Yet, Peter’s first answer to Jesus question in v 15, Peter uses the word “phileo” for love, meaning of brotherly kindness rather than sacrificial love.  When Jesus repeats His question in v 16, Peter again responds with the word “phileo”.  In this verse (17) Jesus uses the word “phileo” and for the third time Peter answered “phileo”.

It is fitting that just as Peter denied Jesus three times before Jesus’ death, Peter declared his love for Jesus three times after Jesus’ resurrection.  Jesus forgave Peter and Jesus forgives you for whatever you have done in your past to deny Him as your Savior and Lord.  But, you must, like Peter, declare your since love for the Lord and follow up your declaration with works of service for the Lord. 

If you read further in verse 17, you read that Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him this question three times.  Why did Jesus do this?  One possible answer is that Jesus was confronting Peter’s true nature, his heart, his attitude toward His Savior.  Jesus does the same thing to each you…..He probes your heart, He reveals the true nature of your heart, He knows the truth about your love (or lack of) for Him and His people. 

After these questions and after Jesus revealed to Peter by what kind of death he would face in order to glorify God, Jesus then commanded Peter to “Follow Me!” (21:18-19).  Peter had failed Jesus earlier, yet now Jesus was forcing Peter to face, feel, and forget his failures.  He does the same thing to each of His followers.            

How would you answer Jesus’ question, “______, do you love Me?”  If your answer is “yes”, then you must follow Him, and following Him means to obey His commandments, and to love and serve other people (“feed My sheep”) (also read John 14:21-23).  Are your actions backing up your words?”