Do You Love Me More Than These?

The scenario: Peter has indeed denied Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed. And ashamed of himself, he had ran back to his hometown and old job of fishing. After Jesus resurrected, one of the things He did in the 40 days before He went back to heaven was to give Peter a visit and to bring him back to the plan He had for Peter…This is a pivotal moment in the bible as it shows so many things about a Christian’s walk and the love of Jesus for us even in our seeming failures.

Firstly, Jesus didn’t tell Peter that he would deny Him 3 times before the rooster crowed to put Peter on the spot. Rather, I think Jesus wanted to show Peter that He knew all things – including Peter’s future. It wasn’t so that Peter would be “embarrassed” but so that Peter would be “humbled” into learning to rely on Jesus and not his own wisdom. Peter had always felt he knew everything and could achieve everything and he was not afraid to show it – including walk on water. But often, he did these things not in reliance of Jesus but in reliance of his own abilities and self-confidence.

After Peter denied Jesus 3 times, he was so shattered at his own inability to stand firm in his faith in Jesus that he decided to retreat to the old life…He was no longer Peter who could do no wrong by Jesus but he was Peter who denied Jesus 3 times. Nobody knew this but Peter did. Peter couldn’t face up to himself. Peter always felt he could face up to the persecution because he answered Jesus swiftly that he would die for Jesus in such a situation…John 22 verse 33 - ”But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” However, when the rubber hit the road, Peter’s reflex shocked himself.

What Peter didn’t realize was this was the final examination for Peter before graduation into the position of the leader of the church…Satan has asked to sift him. However, Jesus was confident that Peter would stand the test of faith…Verse 31 – Jesus said, ”Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus was certain that Peter would turn back as He said “when you have turned back”. And not only would Peter turn back but he would strengthen his brothers. Of course, these words made no sense to Peter at this point. He must be thinking to himself…I would never turn my back against Jesus. No way.

But as the evening’s events rolled on, Peter would come face to face with the crow of the rooster after he has denied he had anything to do with Jesus… 

What does “these” mean?

Which brings us to the theme of my entry…Now, Jesus had come back to life and Peter MUST have heard about it cause it would have been the talk of the town. EVERYONE in Jerusalem and beyond must have heard about the great Prophet who claimed to be God who had come back to life. But why did Peter not go and look for Jesus? Perhaps he was too ashamed to face Jesus. Perhaps, in defeat, he had “given up” everything and wanted to “just go back to life as it was before he met Jesus”. But everyone who has ever been with Jesus will know…you CAN’T go back. When you have tasted the goodness of God, you can’t possibly go back to old times and pretend that you do not miss Jesus. Whatever could have gone on in Peter’s mind, he certainly did not go in search of Jesus. He just went on with life as though nothing had changed.

…Restoration is at hand…Peter was fishing and did not catch anything (John 21). Then, up come a man who instructed him to fish in a certain spot on the right side of the boat. Déjà vu. But Peter keeps quiet and he does as the man instructed…and as had happened before in Matthew 4. John was the first one to recognize Jesus and exclaimed, “It is the Lord!” Upon the realization, Peter reacted almost as if his heart beat a leap of joy and he jumped into the water in haste to get to Jesus. But no one said anything…it was just a moment of awe and amazement. Here was Jesus – alive and sitting on the shore with them. They were too in awe to even wonder where did the burning coal and fish that Jesus prepared came from…They just ate and savoured the moment. And I am sure they must have ate and just stared at Jesus. As for me, if I was one of them…I probably would have cried buckets as I sat there and looked at Jesus.

Then Jesus spoke…directly to Simon Peter (I have always imagined that it was one on one with Peter but reading this again, I realize that the other disciples were there as well). And Jesus asked Peter:

"Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

Now why didn’t Jesus just ask, “Do you love me?” Why did Jesus add “more than these?”

This begs me to question what does “these” mean? I have a feeling that Peter knew exactly what Jesus was talking about. Since the moment, Peter had denied Jesus it must have been going through his mind again and again. The fact that he said he would die for Jesus and then went on to deny Jesus…it was 2 reactions on opposite polar. Peter may have questioned himself – “Can I really go all the way for Jesus? Will I really be able to stand the test of persecutions and challenges? What will we do now that Jesus is no longer with us?”

Maybe, Peter knew exactly that Jesus was referring to the questions he had…just Jesus is referring to the questions that I have – about myself, about the validity of my passion, about my convictions, my ability to stand firm in Him…If I was in Peter’s shoes, I would have answered the same thing too, “Yes, Lord, I love you.” But I may not have said it with much conviction because the questions were still there…the struggles in the heart were still there – wringing about to decide where to stand. All the way or not? Jesus then replied, “Feed my sheep”…then take on the calling I have for your life. Go and be the leader for my people. Get out of this comfort zone and take your place as the leader of the people. Love them as I have loved you…Now that you have learnt to be more understanding, to be more gracious, to understand the pain of being away from me…

Then Jesus asks Peter again, “Do you love me?” – Peter, do you really mean it when you said you love me? Do you understand what you are saying when you say you love me? Do you REALLY love me to take one the responsibilities and calling I have for you?

This time, as I would have, Peter may have taken 2-3 seconds to think before again replying…”Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” (Witnessed by John, “the one whom Jesus loved”)

Meaning it a bit more than the first time, he was starting to believe in himself again…He was starting to open up his heart to Jesus again…Surely, I have not stopped loving Jesus even though I denied him verbally. It was just the situation then…everything was a blur and so confusing. Surely, God’s calling over my life is still the same. Maybe I have not stepped away after all…Did Jesus say that I would turn back and strengthen the others? Yes…I will take care of Jesus’s sheep as Jesus asked him to “Take care of my sheep”. I must do it. I will do it. More determined this time…

Then the third time, Jesus asks again…in front of the others, Peter may have felt a little embarrassed that Jesus didn’t believe his first 2 answers. How deceitful the heart of men…Even when it was probably true that the first 2 answers were out of obligation and “giving the model answer”. This time, Peter answered, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” – Lord, you know that even though I verbally denied you, I really do love you. Lord, you know that though my flesh be weak and I am a little prideful, I do love you…Lord, you know that I didn’t want to…let me be in that situation again and I will NOT deny you this time.

Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.” Then prove it, Simon Peter. Do what you say..mean it! Don’t just say it! If you really won’t DENY me if you face the same situation again, do it. If you mean it that you didn’t deny me on purpose, then continue on in your walk with me…take up your calling to lead the people and strengthen them as I have said before that you would do. “You must follow me” (verse 22).

Do you love me more than the persecutions you will face…do you love me more than your pride? Do you love me more than the weak moments you have? Do you love me enough to survive this, by my grace and the Holy Spirit and take on the calling I have over your life? Do you love me enough to follow all that I have taught you? Do you love me enough to not run away again next time you face a “test of faith” from the sifting of Satan. Do you love me enough to forgive the people who have done this to me and to go to them and reach out to them (as Peter would be the disciple who would go and preach to the Jews)? Do you love me above all else in your life that you will be willing to follow me to the ends of the earth like you promised? 

Do you?

Peter did.

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Additional Resources:

BibleGateway Commentary on Luke 22:

The cosmic battle is not just between Jesus and Satan. Anyone associated with Jesus is subject to satanic attack. Nothing makes this clearer than the section where Peter is warned about his coming denials. Jesus' awareness of events continues as he predicts Peter's temporary unfaithfulness. Verses 31-32 are unique to Luke and follow his stress on prayer. Satan has put in a request to sift all the disciples like wheat. Though Peter is discussed individually in verse 32, the use of hymas, the plural "you all," in verse 31 shows that he is only part of the coming battle. "Sifted like wheat" is an idiom that in our culture would parallel "take someone apart" (Amos 9:9 has the image). Perhaps Satan believes that if Peter is shamed, others will be disheartened.

Jesus' prayer has dealt with the threat through a request not that the failure be prevented but that any permanent damage be averted. His request is that Peter's faith may not fail. Here is our advocate stepping to our defense through a ministry of prayer. Peter will make no total renunciation of Jesus. The disciple's failure of nerve will not come because of a failure of heart, nor will it be permanent. There will be restoration. In fact, Peter will turn from his denial. His call then will be to strengthen his fellow disciples. What he will be able to teach them may well be revealed by his response. Having learned that failure is possible and the flesh is weak, Peter will be able to strengthen the saints. Though failure is regrettable, sometimes our best lessons come in reflection on failure.

Peter is sure that he is ready to serve in prison, even to die, for Jesus. He is perceptive in that he understands that Jesus' suffering will envelop his followers. Yet he is confident that he can face whatever comes. Though such self-assurance might seem commendable, one's own strength is not sufficient to resist severe temptation (1 Cor 10:12-13). Peter is brave in the privacy of a quiet meal, and when the soldiers show up, he will initially take up arms to defend Jesus. But what will he do when those hostile to Jesus ask him where his allegiance lies? Jesus' prediction of a triple denial before the rooster crows shows that he knows Peter better than Peter does. When we try to stand up to pressure in our own strength, we may wilt. Self-confidence when we are not relying on Jesus is deceptive.

Peter will be able to strengthen fellow believers after his fall because he will understand how easy it is to fall. He can call on them to embrace God's mercy, be prepared to suffer and be ready to give a defense because he will have experienced all of these opportunities himself--some with failure and others with success.

Jesus teaches God's grace in this warning to Peter: Do not trust in your own strength, but realize that after failure there will be opportunity for restoration. Jesus intercedes for his own even when he knows they will fail him. Intercession evidences the Savior's love (1 Jn 2:2). Even disciples who fail in a moment of weakness can experience the success of God's work. The lesson is an important one not only for Peter but also for all the disciples he represents. Though Satan will come after all of them, Jesus will be praying for them all.