"...do you love me more than these?"
The Lord Jesus took care of their physical needs first. Then when they were warm and had eaten, He turned to Peter and dealt with spiritual matters. Peter had publicly denied the Lord three times. Since then, he had repented and had been restored to fellowship with the Lord. In these verses, Peter’s restoration is publicly acknowledged by the Lord.
It has often been pointed out that two different words for love are used in these verses. We might paraphrase as follows: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these other disciples love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I am fond of You.” Peter would no longer boast that he would never forsake the Lord, even if all the other disciples did. He had learned his lesson.
A practical way of demonstrating love for Christ is by feeding the young ones in His flock.
Just as Peter had denied the Lord thrice, so he was given three opportunities to confess Him. Third time, Peter appealed to the fact that Jesus was God and therefore knew all things. He said the third time, “You know that I am fond of You.” And for the last time he was told that he could demonstrate this by feeding Christ’s sheep. In this passage, the underlying lesson is that love of Christ is the only acceptable motive for serving Him.
Dear friend, have you repented like Peter did, for denying Jesus Christ by your words or actions? Jesus is asking each of us the same question, “_________[Fill in your name here], do you love me more than these?” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” You can also share the Word of God to a friend or a family member or a colleague, who is hungry for the Word of God. You can send an email or share the Word on the facebook or talk to them personally.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” [Romans 10: 14].
