The Insurance Policy

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 25:13B-21 ~~~ Psalm 103 ~~~ 

 ~~~ John 21:15-19 ~~~

Jesus questions Peter about love.
Jesus did not get angry with Peter for denying him three times.
Instead, Jesus puts even more faith and confidence in Peter.

Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?

Jesus has great plans for Peter to be head of his church,
but he needs to first verify Peter's love.
Jesus knew that Peter loved him.
Peter needed to profess his love for Jesus out loud.
Jesus wanted to make sure that there was nothing holding back Peter...
no obstacles that could potentially hamper this love.

Jesus does not take Peter's love for granted.
Sometimes we do not verbalize what is felt within our heart.
It can be very powerful to hear our own voice
speaking our love for another.

My husband and I have this little ritual just
 before we hang up the phone.
We always say 'I love you'.

It is something we have both been accustomed to saying and hearing.
It is a reminder of our marriage commitment to each other.

When you profess your love for another person
it changes how you view them...
It changes how you interact with them.

Jesus had great plans for Peter.
These plans relied heavily on Peter's love for Jesus.
Jesus was not trying to manipulate Peter;
he just wanted an honest answer.

Following Peter's affirmative response, the 'if-then'
statements become the essence of their conversation.

Jesus needed to make sure that Peter loved him
 enough to be willing to 'feed' the lambs and the sheep.

Jesus was leaving, someone had to take the responsibility
 of insuring the message would continue.

Peter was Jesus' insurance policy.
The premiums paid were in the form of forever love.

Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

We have inherited this insurance policy...
if we can also answer the question.
Jesus says to us...Do you love me?
When we answer 'yes'
we are agreeing to be a part of the insurance policy.

Are you ready to feed God's people?
If you love Jesus then that is what you are called to do.

Do not be afraid because
the Holy Spirit is coming to strengthen your love.
Feeding the people of God is a banquet of love.

Blessings come in saying 'yes'
Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
Yes, Lord, I will feed your sheep.

~~~ Peace~~~

"Do You Love Me?"

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 25:13B-21 ~~Psalm 103~~ John 21:15-19 ~~~

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

In the early days of courtship/dating,
 either the woman or the man poses an important question...
"Do you love me?"
We often need the reassurance.
We are looking for concrete signs
 of the existence of the other person's love for us.
The over used words of 'I love you' have become so generic.

Jesus poses the same question to Peter in today's Gospel.
“Simon, son of John, 
do you love me more than these?”

Jesus wants a comparative answer...do you love me more....
How do you answer such a question?
Is it ever possible to gauge another's love compared to yours?
What would be the unit of measure?

Love cannot really be competitive
because there is always room to love more...
more deeply...more completely...and more individuals.

Jesus continues to question Peter each time raising the bar.
If..........then......
Jesus is telling Peter; if you love me then you must do these things...
feed his lambs, tend his sheep, and feed his sheep.

In other words if you love me Peter,
 you must do as you have seen me do while we were together.

To love Jesus is to care for those he loves.

Jesus found so very many ways to show his great love.
We could hardly compare, but he wants us to keep trying.
To love him more is to follow him;
and to follow him is to love others more.
We can never exhaust our supply of love.
Jesus is the constant supplier.
The well of love can never run dry.

Blessed to be given the opportunity to stretch our capacity for love.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

We can best love Jesus if we also love those he loved.
Follow in his footsteps of love.

This is how to answer his question...
'Do you love me?'
Peace

Profess Your Love Now

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 25:13b-21 ~~~ Psalm103 ~~~ John 21:15-19 ~~~

 

“Do you love me?”

 

Peter's reaction makes you think the question was almost frivolous.

Peter is saying Jesus, you already know the answer, so why are you asking the question?

Sometimes we ask a question when we know the answer

just so we can get the other person to say the words. 

In Peter's case, this was after he had denied knowing Jesus three times.

If you love someone why would you deny knowing them?

 

First Peter surrenders to Jesus as all knowing;

then he gives his affirmative answer.

Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.

 

As a parent or a spouse we still like to hear the words...

'I love you'.

When an angry child screams, "I hate you"

 that can really hurt your heart for a minute.

 

But then you realize the child was just angry

 and really does not mean what they said.

 

So I truly believe that Jesus knew Peter loved him

in spite of the previous statements of denial.

 

 Jesus knew that Peter spoke out of fear and not out of love.

 

Jesus invites us to 'follow him' in the good times and in the bad times.

When the chips are down.

When the easy way out is looking more attractive.

When everyone else is taking an easier path.

 

Jesus says, "Follow me".

He will be the light for the path.

He will lead the way; as a shepherd leads his flock.

 

 

Paul follows Jesus and finds himself being wrongfully accused;

facing the official leaders.

 

'...lead you where you do not want to go.'

 

Paul like Jesus was led where they did not want to go...

ultimately to their own death.

 

We too are susceptible to being led where we do not want to go...

more often then not due to our own selfishness...

or in response to peer pressure.

Yes, even adults can make poor decisions when in the company of others.

Paul and Jesus were physically being led.

Paul and Jesus submitted to their accusers.

We, however, are in control of our own actions...

we do not have to allow other to lead us astray.

 

 The old saying

'the devil made me do it'

is really nothing more than an excuse.

 

Following Jesus because he loves us gives us reason

to make good decisions.

Our actions reflect the attitude of our heart.

The Easter Blessings close with the greatest gift we have from Jesus;

and that is love.

 

“Do you love me?

When was the last time you told Jesus that you loved him?

Tell him right now, please!

How Will YOU Answer?

~~~ Acts 25:13b-21 ~~~Psalm 103 ~~~ John 21:15-19 ~~~

Poor King Agrippa, even when he is on the road traveling he gets presented with the flimsy charges against Paul. Paul's accusers just wanted someone...anyone besides themselves to condemn Paul for his preaching about Jesus' Resurrection.

The King admits he is ill-prepared to rule on the charges made against Paul.

How many times do we find ourselves in situations where we are not prepared to make an important decision? And how many times do we seek counsel? How often do we jump to an incorrect decision?

I have heard that we should never make hasty decisions. The King was reluctant to give his decision because he knew the charges were not under his authority.

Jesus gives Peter three times to profess his love for him.

"Do you love me?"

Peter's three confident answers of 'Yes' are in stark contrast with

 his three denials of Jesus in the courtyard.

 I have no doubt that Jesus knew how much Peter loved him,

but he still wanted to hear Peter speak the words.

When you hear your own voice speaking it somehow makes the words more real.

You are using your sense of hearing when you speak aloud. When I was teaching reading in elementary school; oral reading was a vital part of my reading class.

When you speak out loud you are focusing your attention

on the words you are saying.

Peter did not once, during this conversation with Jesus, even hesitate with his response.

Peter already had his response in his heart.

It was only when Peter was paralyzed with fear for his own safety

did he waiver with his answer to knowing Jesus.

To Peter's credit he now answers with conviction each time Jesus asks,

 'Do you love me?'

Each answer is followed with an assignment from Jesus

to feed...to tend....to feed again.

Jesus says if indeed you love me as your words indicate then you will take care of those who are in need. You will watch and care for the others who also love me.

Finally Jesus speaks a prophecy to Peter

about his own death where someone else will dress him and

lead him where he does not want to go.

Jesus went to his death because

the Father sent him. He willingly submitted to being led

through the streets humiliated and scorned.

If Jesus stands before you today...

looks into your eyes

and asks the question...

"Do you love me?"

How will you answer?

Will you immediately answer, 'Yes'?

Will you hesitate?

Will you be anxious as to what Jesus might ask you to do?

Will you first need clarification?

Will you question in your heart, 'what will I be asked to do?'

Love is an action word; it requires the lover to do something.

What are you willing to do for Jesus because of your love for him?

How are your actions aligned with your profession of this Love for Jesus?

King Agrippa was not prepared to give an answer...Peter gave an answer that earlier he had not been able to speak aloud.