Isn’t it interesting how often this question is asked? A child asks their parents, a lover asks their beloved, a wife asks her husband and vice versa. We want assurance that we are loved. Sometimes, we want more than words. We want some evidence.
We have an interesting example of this in John 21:15-17: “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You’. He said to him, ‘Tend My lambs.â€Â He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, ‘do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said the third time, “Do you love Me?â€Â And he said to Him, ‘Lord, Your know all things; You know that I love You.â€Â Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep’.
I have heard and read many opinions on the exact meaning of this exchange between Christ and Peter. I think nobody knows for sure about all of the nuances of this Scripture. It seems that Jesus wanted Peter to think about his previous denial of Jesus. Also Jesus, knowing all things, was asking the question not because He didn’t know the answer, but in order to cause Peter to commit to the ministry of Christ.
Today, Jesus asks us the same question, “Do you love me?â€Â It is easy to glibly answer, “yes, of course, I love Jesusâ€. However, He may need to repeat the question. He wants us to think about it. No matter how long you have been a Christ follower, your love for Him should always be joyous and all-consuming. Love involves a commitment. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandmentsâ€. John 14:15. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life to save us. We must give Him all of our love.
LOVEST THOU ME, MORE THAN THESE MY CHILD?
WHAT WILL YOUR ANSWER BE?
OH PRECIOUS LORD, I LOVE THEE MORE THAN ALL OF THESE
MORE THAN FAME, MORE THAN WEALTH, MORE THAN THE WORLD.
William J. Gaither