Have you ever had anyone ask you that question? Most of us have. When we were
younger, it may have been somewhat milder, like...Do you like me - yes or no? But, the meaning
of the question carries the same feeling.
Why would someone ask that question and what answer do they want? Obviously, for a
person to ask that is a good indication that they want us to say, “Yes, I love you!” But, is it just
the words that they want to hear? In most cases, the sincere person that asks such a question is
searching for something deeper than a mere statement. Our actions may have confused them. We
may have done something or failed to do something that makes them wonder about our love. In
some cases, they may be about to tell us of a need they have that would require true love on our
part to fulfill.
Jesus asked such a question of Peter. In fact, He asked the question three times (John
21). In light of preceding events, there would be good reason for Jesus to question the love of
Peter. But, as Peter himself said, Jesus did know Peter’s heart and most likely knew better than
Peter himself the true answer to the question. Each time Jesus asked the question, Peter grew
more frustrated to give the answer. It could be that each time his thoughts went back to that night
that Jesus’ eyes had pierced his heart as he lied over and over about his knowledge of the Master.
How could I love Him and do such a thing? Yet, it seems the record bears out that Peter indeed
did love the Lord. His love had to grow and mature. And it did. The Bible indicates clearly that
Peter did indeed feed the sheep and became the great shepherd that Jesus knew he could be.
Jesus asks all of us, “Do you love me?” What are we doing to prove our love?

~Peter Cooper
Evergreen church of Christ, Evergreen, AL
via Chambersburg church of Christ, Chambersburg, PA; via Bulletin Digest