DO YOU LOVE ME?

Dearly Beloved, DO YOU LOVE ME? “The third time [Jesus Christ] said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep’” (John 21:17 NIV). As a matter of fact, most of the followers of Jesus Christ were following Him because of what they could get from Him (see John 6:26). No wonder, when it seemed to them that His teaching was hard, many of them no longer followed Him (see John 6:60-66). From that incident, it seemed His twelve disciples were different because they stood by Him (verses 67-69). However, as Jesus Christ predicted, one of the Twelve - Judas Iscariot - betrayed Him (verse 70; 13:21-30; Luke 22:1-6, 47-48) and Simon Peter - the spokesperson of the disciples - denied Him trice (see Luke 22:54-62). This same Peter led some of the disciples to go back to their old profession after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (see John 21:1-3). When Jesus Christ appeared to them, He asked Peter that important question three times: “Do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus could ask him this question three times. Then, Jesus told him what was required of him if he truly loved Him: he should act in favour of Jesus Christ, NOT in his (Peter’s) favour. The Valentine’s Day for this year has just been celebrated. Many people (especially men) asserted that they love some ladies. Most of such ladies have been used and dumped after such assertion. The real meaning of the day (that is, sacrificial love as demonstrated by some people that were coincidentally named Valentine between third and fourth centuries AD that were killed because of their love-related actions) has been defeated. If anybody asserts that he or she loves you, you should ask him or her again and again, “Do you really love me?” If he or she answers in the affirmative, then let him or her prove it by acting in YOUR favour. Jesus Christ demonstrated the real love by laying down His life for us. We also ought to do likewise for our fellow human beings (cf. 1 John 3:16). Why are you following Jesus Christ? Is it not to get something from Him? Are you ready to really surrender your whole being to Him and do His biddings? Why do you love that person that you claim to love? True love is rooted in what a man or woman can give, not what he or she can get from the object of his or her love. Do you really love me? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).