Three Sheep Deep
By Jon Walker
“Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time . . . . He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17 (NIV)
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They were standing at the Sea of Galilee and Jesus offered one more lesson to Peter that through God’s mercy and grace there was forgiveness for our sins, even those committed against Jesus on the night before his death.
Jesus pushed into what remained of Peter’s pride, pricking it in order to release the puss of guilt. He did it in three stages:
First, he asked, “Do you truly love me more than these?”
Peter looked toward the other disciples, who he always considered second to his love and loyalty for Jesus. He said, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” (John 21:15 NIV).
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs,” and echoing in Peter’s head was the thought: After you’ve been sifted, return to strengthen the brothers.
And, the power of the first denial drained from Peter’s body.
Next, Jesus asked, “Do you truly love me?”
Peter looked at Jesus, remembering the last time their eyes locked he’d denied even knowing the man. Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” (John 21:16 NIV).
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep” (John 21:16 NIV).
And, the power of the second denial drained from Peter’s body.
Finally, Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” (John 21:17 NIV).
Peter, hurt that Jesus would ask for a third time, felt the thrust puncture his pride, and he cried, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you” (John 21:17 NIV).
And Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17 NIV).
And, the power of the third denial drained from Peter’s body.
There is always more grace than there is our sin. Rather than relegating Peter to the reject row, he gave him a job: “Get on with it, Peter. You’ve returned; you’re restored. Now strengthen the brothers. Feed my sheep.”
If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2009 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.
