It was early morning on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, after the Lord’s resurrection, and He had just treated His disciples to a rich repast—one that they will never forget.
After they had dined, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?” Peter replied, “Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” He said unto him, “Feed My lambs.”
Then He said to Peter the second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?” and Peter answered, “Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
Jesus said unto Him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?” Peter was grieved because the Lord said unto him the third time, “Lovest thou Me?” And he said unto Him, “Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love thee.” Then Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
When the Lord asked Peter the third time, Peter replied as it were, “Lord, I have failed Thee completely, and there isn’t anything outwardly to prove what I say; but I know that Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that deep down in my heart I love Thee.”
Yes, Jesus knew that Peter truly loved Him, even as it had grieved His heart so sorely to hear Peter’s denial three times over, so now it is sweet to Him to hear his humble confession of love.
It cost Peter a lot to have to make that confession there in the presence of all the others, and that three times over. But how worthwhile it was to know that Jesus trusted Him with the charge of the lambs and sheep of His flock, those sheep that were so precious to Him that He laid down His life for them.
Peter had seen Jesus hang in suffering on the cross, and he knew a little bit how precious the sheep were to the Good Shepherd. He never forgot the charge given to him, and he never forgot that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and that he, Peter, was only an under-shepherd. Years afterward, when an old man, he wrote a letter in which he reminded the other under-shepherds that they must feed God’s flock. Then he told them of the bright crown, the crown of glory that will never fade, which they will receive from the Chief Shepherd when He comes in His glory.
ML-11/28/1976