Follow Me - New Evangelizers

So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept the door and brought Peter in. The maid who kept the door said to Peter, “Are not you also one of this man’s disciples?” He said I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire because it was cold and they were themselves. Pater also was with them, standing and warming himself.

They said to him, “Are not you also one of his disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it; and at once the cock crowed. (John 18: 16-13, 25-27)

 

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes Lord: you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, 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 John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you fastened your own belt and walked where you would’ but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will fasten your belt for you and carry you where you do not wish to go. (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21: 15-19)

 

Peter denied Jesus three times in the scene above.  How many more times have I denied Him?

Three times Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” How many more times has he asked me if I love Him?

These verses have always struck close to my heart, but it wasn’t until recent years that I have really thought about it and all that goes with it. Even after all he had been through with Jesus, Simon Peter was still grieved that Jesus would ask this of him. Didn’t he hear the answer the first time? Had Jesus become hard of hearing when he was crucified?

How many times does Jesus ask each of us “Do you love me?” What is our response to this question? Is it similar to Peter’s?  Have we denied Christ and want to hide, not confront our failings? Do we get angry when Jesus asks? How can he ask that of us? Doesn’t he know all we do for the church, or the food bank, or newsletters?

I am married and I do a lot of things around the house that go unnoticed by my husband or family. Sometimes I get angry and think I don’t get enough credit for all I do.  And when someone does notice I suspect them of ulterior motives and want to know what they want from me. Then there are times when I do something that I hope none of them will notice. That is when they seem to notice, like when I forget to vacuum up the dog hair or don’t feel like cooking. Then everyone notices.

Peter denied Christ. Did he think no one would notice or they would forget?” I certainly know that feeling and like Peter I would rather Jesus didn’t notice.

However, Jesus did notice and then did the unexpected. Instead of condemning Peter like the apostle probably expected, after confirming Peter’s love and not in an unforgiving way, He just asked Peter to follow him, to continue the mission that He had spent three years preparing Peter for.   There was no “You denied me, now go away, I have no use for you.” Instead he forgave and continued as if nothing had happened.

Jesus does the same for us. Every time we deny him, fall away or just stray for a little while Jesus still welcomes us back, forgives us, gives us the chance to return to Him.

We are all Peter’s in one way or another and like him we will fail, but like him Jesus will welcome us back and say, “Follow me.”

Copyright 2016, Christina Weigand

Christina Weigand

Christina Weigand’s a writer, wife, and mother of four. She is also Nana to three granddaughters. She lives with her husband and youngest daughter in Cranberry Twp. Pennsylvania, returning there after a short sabbatical in Washington. Currently, she’s working on fantasy novels and inspirational writing. Through her writing, she strives to share the Word of God and help people young and old to realize the love and mercy He has for everyone. When she’s not writing, she’s active in her local Church as a lector, Bible Study, volunteering at her daughter’s school helping the children develop a love for reading and writing. Jesus fills her home with love as she shares Him through her writing.