•8:15 AM
“Do You Love Me?”
By: Bill Bryant, Wooddale Church of Christ
Have you ever truly hurt someone so deeply that it caused tremendous anguish afterwards?
If so, then you can perhaps identify somewhat with Peter following his denial of the Lord.
The Lord had told an arrogant Peter that he would deny Him three times, but Peter would not believe Him.
But he did (Matt. 26:69-75).
It would be hard for us to imagine the mental anguish that Peter had to endure as he witnessed the events surrounding the crucifixion of the Lord as a coward. When the initial report of the Lord’s resurrection came from Mary Magdalene to the disciples, the first response by the disciples was of disbelief (Luke 24:10-11).
But Peter wanted so very much to believe in her report (Luke 24:12).
Immediately following the resurrection, the disciples were given the message to go to Galilee (Matt. 28:1-10). But the Lord met most of the disciples that same evening and again eight days later (John 20:19ff.). Then the disciples left for Galilee to meet the Lord again (John 21:1-2).
Can you imagine Peter’s thoughts and concerns?
I’m sure he went down “Memory Lane” often of his time with the Lord.
There had been a lot of “highs and lows” in his time with the Lord. But the lingering thought in his mind was what the Lord was going to say and do with him.
Did he have a future with the Lord in the coming kingdom?
Would the Lord soon pull him over to the side and have the “talk” and let him know that he would be better off back in Galilee fishing and supporting the movement locally?
What and when would “it” happen?
Most are aware of the amazing result.
The Lord asked Peter a probing question about his true love for Him, but the end result was forgiveness and the charge to “tend to and feed His sheep” (John 21:15-17).
Peter would never forget this lesson on forgiveness.
Unlike the world, we are not demoted to a far lesser place, placed on a spiritual probation and consigned to medial work for years to come when the Savior forgives.
We still have important work to do and the Lord knows that the tremendous gratitude that comes from this kind of forgiveness can be a tremendous motivation for us and those sinners down the road who hear our story who are also seeking desperately true forgiveness (I Tim. 1:12-17).
Are you seeking the kind and measure of forgiveness the Lord granted Peter?
It remains there for you.
Seek it, learn it, and then respond in loving obedience to the greatest kind of forgiveness the world could ever know – the one that Jesus, the Son of God offers.
The Lord is still asking, "Do you love Me?"
Do you?
