John 21:15 (ESV)
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
It is a long narrow path. We have been traveling faithfully with Jesus. Surely with him, we do expect the unexpected. Simon Peter was struck unexpectedly when Jesus whom he just had fellowship over breakfast asked him a very simple and direct question, “…do you love me more than these?”
Do we hear the Lord asking us the same question today?
Do you love me?
Do you love me?
Do you love me?
Simon Peter must be offended. How could Jesus ask such a redundant question? He was quick in his response. How about us? What do we say to him today? We may, like Simon Peter who thought this is not pertinent at all. Outrageous. Why would God question our devotion when we are faithfully going to church, and now online church despite all odds, reading the bible and praying regularly, tithing and giving to charity, leading and serving in various ministries? We kept ourselves busy in the mundane following his track and now he turns around and asks this superfluous question. Whuttttt?
This very crucial question is central to our life on this ancient path. Everything we think, feel and do hinge on this one question. It is the centripetal force that holds all in motion when we throw a ball out attached to a string and try to keep it moving consistently in rhythm. Without that force, that motion comes to a halt after a while. Everything will not make sense. The efforts will be futile. The momentum ceases. The ball drops. We will be standing motionless wondering what happened!
How much we love the Person determines the momentum we run. Do we love Jesus? That is the simple question which demands a direct truthful interrogation into our heart. Simon Peter was challenged three times altogether in subsequent verses of this very simple four words, “Do you love me?” Can you sense the indignation in such interrogation? What do we think Jesus was trying to do? Was he being insecure? That is a common issue in many relationships – insecurity. Insecurity leads us to manipulate love in relationships. LOVE. A force which is unstoppable. It is unquenchable. Yet a word used so often, so carelessly. Replacing many diluted forms of loose expression. Love has lost its essence. Is it really an insecure God putting us in this awkward situation? Can God be insecure? Has he caught up with man’s insecurity of this love web?
Today, the Lord asks us the same simple question, “Do you love me?” Hear it ring in our spirit. Think deep. Ponder on it before we are too quick to answer. Search out our answer before we
move on…
“Lord, search my heart…In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
© Pr Selina Khoo Lim, Gateway City Church, Penang. 26 April 2020