22 – Who Needs to Ask the Question?

Galen

May 2

If you are familiar with Scripture, you know the story of the reunion of Jesus with the disciples on the shore of Galilee's lake. The disciples had gone there after the resurrection, hoping to see Jesus, but he wasn't there. Not living fully in the truth of the resurrection yet, Peter – the ringleader – says, "I'm going fishing" – in short, I'm going back to what I know and understand. Sadly, many of us are not really living in the truth of the resurrection from moment to moment and we slide back into old habits, too.

But what's not what this DayBreaks is about. After they recognize Jesus on the shore, Peter dives in and goes to meet Jesus. And they talk of love. Jesus asks the question three times: "Do you love me?" And Peter responds in the affirmative each time.

Have you really thought about that? Does it seem strange that Jesus is the one asking the question? One would think that it would be Peter asking Jesus: "Do you love ME?" After all, it was Peter – like Judas – who betrayed Jesus by his denial. And if Peter was anything like me (and I suspect he was just as human as I am), I'd be wondering if Jesus still loved me.

Jesus asks the question, but he already knew the answer. Peter needed to think about the implications of his denial and wrestle with whether or not he really did love Jesus after all. And he did. He just didn't know how much. Jesus wanted to hear the profession of love as much as we all want to hear we are loved.

Then again, if Peter is anything like me, after I've betrayed the Lord and I know I've let him down, I find myself saying or asking, "Lord, do you still love me – even after what I just did?" So, I suspect that question was front and center in Peter's mind but he never got the chance to ask it because Jesus made it abundantly clear that Peter didn't need to ask. Jesus simply gave Peter the challenge of feeding and caring for Jesus' sheep. That's not something you do with someone you don't love and trust.

Perhaps today, you've betrayed the Lord through your thoughts, actions and speech. And perhaps you're wondering if Jesus loves you. Go ahead – ask him. But don't be surprised if he asks you first. If it is really true that we love because he first loved us, if our answer to Jesus is that we do love him, it is evidence of the fact that we knew deep inside that we are loved by him. And if we still need further proof, look no further than his hands and feet.

PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for asking us the question as you did Peter. Help us to see and understand that we never need ask the question of whether or not you love us because you've already proven it to us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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