Reflection on Jn 21:17
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
Peter was the first of the apostles to whom Jesus appeared. On Sunday morning, Peter overcame the fear that paralysed the apostles and came to Christ’s open tomb.
At the Lake of Gennesaret, where Jesus appeared to seven apostles, He asked Peter three times about his relationship to Him. The Apostle Peter had publicly denied Christ three times with an oath. Although he immediately repented of his denial and wept bitterly, he lost the office that Jesus had entrusted to him as the head of the apostles, saying, “You are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and on this rock I will build My church.” (Mt 16) By his denial, Peter ceased to be the rock; his faith and love for the Saviour failed. Peter did repent of his sin, but he only did so in private. Even though Jesus forgave him, the public guilt and offence required public satisfaction. How could he remain the head of the apostles if he had publicly renounced Christ with an oath? Jesus therefore demanded public repentance and public confession of a personal relationship of love – namely, divine love (agape) rather than human love – when He asked Peter twice about it. The third time Jesus no longer asked Peter if he loved Him with divine love (agape). He asked him if he loved Him at least with human love (filia). Peter was grieved, and sincerely confessed with sorrow that he did not love Him with divine love: “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You (with human love only).” Jesus then immediately spoke of Peter’s martyrdom, which is associated with divine love, agape.
This verse is part of God’s Word – on a certain level, Jesus asks the same question to every Christian who has believed in Him and decided to follow Him. You can put your name and the name of your father instead, e.g.: “Michael, son of George, do you love Me?” Each of us can stop and think of this serious question. Realise at least once that God sees you at this very moment. He is asking you the same question and waiting for your personal answer. He will take your answer seriously. Tell Him sincerely: “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. You know that I am now ready even to lay down my life for You.” We know that to lose our life for Christ’s sake means to save it for eternity. Christ is the Resurrection and the Life!
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