Do You Love Me?

My last post was kind of a ‘downer,’ as we used to say. Hating one’s life is not an uplifting message. Jesus said His disciples would be known by their love (not their 'hate'!).

But we must be careful to explain that Jesus did not mean “self-love.” No, the antidote to self-loathing is not self-love. It is love of God for us, and our love for God. John says we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

How much do you love Jesus? One indication of how much you love Him is whether you are obedient to His teaching (John 14:23). As you look at your own shortcomings, you probably question your love for Him and you realize how much more you need to love Him.

Such was the case with Peter. After Peter had greatly disappointed Jesus (and himself!) by denying Him at the defining moment of commitment, Peter was embarrassed and ashamed. He must have felt like a complete failure. So at the end of the John’s gospel, we find Peter leading a partial band of disciples back to the Galilee to go fishing. Perhaps Peter thought “at least this is something at which I am not a failure.” But guess what? Peter and the disciples failed to catch a single fish. Standing on the shore, Jesus (whom they did not recognize) called out for them to cast their nets to the other side. And of course they had a huge catch. At that moment, they recognized Jesus. And Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. Can you see how much Peter must have loved Jesus?

But then, as they sat around the fire, eating the fish Jesus has prepared for their breakfast, Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me?” Peter is unable to answer, using the same word for “love” that Jesus uses. Jesus says: “Do you agapao Me.” The word agapao could be translated “joyful obedience and commitment.” Peter answers: “Yes, Lord, I love You,” but using the word phileo. The word Peter uses is a weaker word for love, used generally for “friendship.”

It seems to me that Peter was embarrassed to say the he “loved” Jesus, after failing Him. Peter self-perception of past failures and the subsequent self-loathing distanced him from Jesus. He felt unworthy to receive Jesus love. And he felt he had failed in his love for Jesus.

Do you distance yourself from Jesus in the same way? Let us remember that is His love for us—an unconditional love—that is the basis for our love relationship. Whatever sins you have committed, the worst thing you can do is to distance yourself from Him. Do not let this keep you from receiving His healing love at that moment, and to pursue Him with all your heart.