"Do you love me?"

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15 ~ in part)

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:16 ~ in part)

“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:17 ~ in part)

With resounding clarity Jesus had demonstrated His sacrificial love for Peter. He had absorbed the full weight of Peter’s painful rejection, including the blatant verbal denial that ripped through the stagnant air right to the ears and heart of Jesus Himself (Luke 22:61).

Jesus had every right to cross examine this witness.

“Yes Simon, on the eve of the grossest example of unjust brutality in all of human history, did you, or did you not cave in? Yes, you Peter, did you renege on the promise ‘even though they all fall away, I will not’ (Mark 14:29)? Did the weight of your own fear, your own pain, your own doubt overwhelm you?”

But not Jesus. Not the reconciler, the peace giver, the debt payer. Not Jesus. There were questions for sure, but not around guilt or innocence. Reasonable doubt had long since been eclipsed. This was Jesus, restoring, renewing, and yes, revisiting the call.

While the curtain was closing on the earthly ministry of Immanuel, Jesus made certain that the anchor was securely locked on the bedrock of God’s compelling message?

“Do you love me?”
“Do you love me?”
“Do you love me?”

There was no insecurity in the question or the repetition, but rather a profound message of unequivocal importance.

What will galvanize your resolve the next time the question gets asked is not an improved methodology, process or approach, it will be a devout love for Jesus that is transfixed on the assurance that He loves you.

This is grace. No shaming, no payback, no sarcasm, just the simplicity of a question directed to the soul.

Do I love Him?
Do I love Him?
Do I love Him?