"Peter, do you love me?" are the famous words of Jesus to Peter. Jesus spoke these words to Peter after His resurrection and Peter's subsequent denial of the Lord, not once but three times. Before the trial and crucifixion Peter made the bold claim, "though all men deny thee Lord I will not." Peter soon discovered that his boldness was founded in self-confidence and not in relationship.
Jesus encounters Peter on the shores of the Sea of Galilee for the purpose of doing a restorative work in him. It is there, around the fire, after breakfast that Jesus asks the pointed questions, "do you love me more than these?" And what you see is a different man, one who is not resting in self-confidence but who is aware of his own follies and weaknesses.
Barnes has this is to say: "Peter now made no pretensions to love superior to his brethren. His sad denial had convinced him of the folly of that claim; but still he could appeal to the Searcher of the heart, and say that he knew that he loved him. Here is the expression of a humbled soul--a soul made sensible of its weakness and need of strength, yet with evidence of true attachment to the Saviour. It is not the most confident pretensions that constitute the highest proof of love to Christ; and the happiest and best state of feeling is when we can with humility, yet with confidence, look to the Lord Jesus and say, "Thou knowest that I love thee."
May our boldness be grounded, not in our self confidence but in our relationship with Jesus!
This is Today,
Pastor Gary
