These
“After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.” – John 21:15 NLT
This moment in Peter’s life, I believe, changed everything.
Up to this point, Peter had been the most outspoken of Jesus’ disciples. He was the one others naturally followed – charismatic, bold, and even brave. Yet, in the chaos of Holy Week, even mighty Peter did what the others had done. Not only did he desert Jesus, but in fear and panic, he also denied Him three times.
In that moment, Peter must have believed it was over. Everything he had hoped for, everything he thought would be, was gone. Even after Christ’s resurrection, Peter didn’t fully understand the weight of it. Instead of stepping into his calling, Peter went back to fishing, the thing he knew and the comfort of the familiar. Jesus had risen, but Peter must have felt he had ruined any chance of being part of what Jesus was doing now.
Let’s pause for a moment and sit with that feeling. Have you ever failed? Of course you have. We all have. We’ve all fallen short, made the wrong decision under pressure, run from the hard thing, and returned to what’s easy or familiar. We’ve all been Peter.
But here’s the beauty: Peter didn’t go looking for Jesus. Jesus came looking for Peter.
In all our talk about pursuing Jesus, we must remember this vital truth: the Godhead is the great pursuer of us. Our hearts are fickle. We stray. We wander. But God is never fickle. He is steady, consistent, and from Genesis to Revelation, He is the One who comes after us. He longs to restore, to heal, to make whole, and to be in relationship with us.
I want to focus on one powerful line from that beachside encounter: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” But only the first time does He add those last three words: “more than these.” That small phrase hit me recently with surprising force. “Aaron, do you love me more than these?”
We all have our “these.”
They are the things we turn to when life doesn’t go as planned, whether it be money, success, recognition, status, comfort, a relationship, a group of friends. We could go on and on about what the “these” are in our lives. They’re different for each of us, but they’re always there.
So let me ask you: What’s your “these”?
Jesus was inviting Peter on an amazing journey, not the kind of adventure we see in movies but a life with deep purpose. Peter would preach to the Gentiles, witness miracles, and ultimately give his life for Christ. But before any of that could happen, he had to answer the simplest and most profound question: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Peter was being offered a life of security, but not the kind that came from full nets. Right before Jesus asked that question, Peter had just experienced the greatest catch of his life. Those fish represented success, money, and stability. But Jesus was asking, “Do you love me more than that?”
Peter made his choice. And I believe that if we ever get the chance to talk to him in heaven, Peter would say, without hesitation, that he made the right one.
Eventually, Jesus will ask us that same question.
“Aaron, do you love me more than these?”
“[Insert Your Name], do you love me more than these?”
May our answer be “yes.”
This moment in Peter’s life, I believe, changed everything.
Up to this point, Peter had been the most outspoken of Jesus’ disciples. He was the one others naturally followed – charismatic, bold, and even brave. Yet, in the chaos of Holy Week, even mighty Peter did what the others had done. Not only did he desert Jesus, but in fear and panic, he also denied Him three times.
In that moment, Peter must have believed it was over. Everything he had hoped for, everything he thought would be, was gone. Even after Christ’s resurrection, Peter didn’t fully understand the weight of it. Instead of stepping into his calling, Peter went back to fishing, the thing he knew and the comfort of the familiar. Jesus had risen, but Peter must have felt he had ruined any chance of being part of what Jesus was doing now.
Let’s pause for a moment and sit with that feeling. Have you ever failed? Of course you have. We all have. We’ve all fallen short, made the wrong decision under pressure, run from the hard thing, and returned to what’s easy or familiar. We’ve all been Peter.
But here’s the beauty: Peter didn’t go looking for Jesus. Jesus came looking for Peter.
In all our talk about pursuing Jesus, we must remember this vital truth: the Godhead is the great pursuer of us. Our hearts are fickle. We stray. We wander. But God is never fickle. He is steady, consistent, and from Genesis to Revelation, He is the One who comes after us. He longs to restore, to heal, to make whole, and to be in relationship with us.
I want to focus on one powerful line from that beachside encounter: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” But only the first time does He add those last three words: “more than these.” That small phrase hit me recently with surprising force. “Aaron, do you love me more than these?”
We all have our “these.”
They are the things we turn to when life doesn’t go as planned, whether it be money, success, recognition, status, comfort, a relationship, a group of friends. We could go on and on about what the “these” are in our lives. They’re different for each of us, but they’re always there.
So let me ask you: What’s your “these”?
Jesus was inviting Peter on an amazing journey, not the kind of adventure we see in movies but a life with deep purpose. Peter would preach to the Gentiles, witness miracles, and ultimately give his life for Christ. But before any of that could happen, he had to answer the simplest and most profound question: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Peter was being offered a life of security, but not the kind that came from full nets. Right before Jesus asked that question, Peter had just experienced the greatest catch of his life. Those fish represented success, money, and stability. But Jesus was asking, “Do you love me more than that?”
Peter made his choice. And I believe that if we ever get the chance to talk to him in heaven, Peter would say, without hesitation, that he made the right one.
Eventually, Jesus will ask us that same question.
“Aaron, do you love me more than these?”
“[Insert Your Name], do you love me more than these?”
May our answer be “yes.”
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1 Comment
Thank you for the insights as I have read that many times without the real understanding of “these”.