LOVE IS…
These devotionals are based on the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Join us this week as we explore the nature of God’s love, given to us and working through us.
Sunday – Love is Patient
John 21:15-17
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.” Jesus 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.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt 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.”
I suffer from a condition that has plagued me since early on in life, since about the time I could hold a conversation. This ailment is known as Foot-in-Mouth Disease. It’s when the words that I speak cause immediate personal embarrassment, regret, and scorn from anyone within earshot. The condition can strike at a moment’s notice, and there is currently no known cure, only preventative measures. Side effects include repeated apologizing, increased awareness of God’s grace, and newfound humility and caution when speaking to anyone about anything.
I would like to imagine that Peter had an early iteration of this disease, for which he was all but directly diagnosed in the Gospels. Peter’s words are consistently getting him into trouble, and none more regretful than when he is asked if he is an associate of the recently arrested Jesus. Peter infamously denies any knowledge or connections to Jesus not once, not twice, but three times, out of fear of being similarly persecuted. All this after he tells Jesus directly that he would never do such a thing! This is a textbook case of Foot-in-Mouth Disease!
It is this previous episode that makes the above passage so powerful. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, which equal the number of times Peter denied Jesus. In this way, Jesus restores Peter’s standing and forgives him for his Foot-in-Mouth moments. Jesus is patient enough with Peter to forgive him, and provides Peter with a way to demonstrate the love he once denied but now claims. Jesus tells Peter to feed His sheep, which we understand to mean those that Jesus cares for: the last, the least, and the lost of this world. The love of God, demonstrated through the words of Jesus is patient with us, patient enough to wait for us to answer the question, “Do you love me?” even when we have turned our backs and averted our eyes so many times before. This love patiently restores us and sends us out, trusting us to feed God’s people with the same love that has been graciously given to us.
Prayer: LORD, we have denied you, and we ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for being so very patient with us, as we say one thing, do another, and then profess our love for you all over again. Give us humility and grace to continue to feed your sheep, and care for the world the way you care for us: with patient love. Amen.
-Zach Hutchinson
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