Do You Love Me?
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John 21
15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more
than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my
lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I
love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he 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.
18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you
are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead
you where you do not want to go."
I want you to notice two things about Peter tonight:
First of all, Peter had failed miserably!
In Matt 16, Peter made a very spiritual observation. When asked who they thought He was, Peter said, “You
are the Christ (the Messiah – the Promised One), the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus said, “Well done!
God revealed that to you.”
Then when Jesus started talking about his death, Peter said, “No Lord. That cannot happen.”
Mt 16:23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not
have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (NIV)
Isn’t it amazing how Peter could be so spiritual one minute and so worldly the next? Does that ever happen to
you?
In Matt 26, Peter failed even worse. Jesus was being tried and Pe-ter was nearby watching. Three times he
was recognized as one of Jesus’ disciples, and three times he denied it.
Mt 26:69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a ser-vant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus
of Galilee," she said. (NIV)
The third time, Jesus turned and looked at him. Peter was so ashamed. How could he ever face Jesus again?
What a miserable failure he was as a Christian!
But now, in our passage in John 21, Jesus speaks to Peter after his resurrection. Three times he said, “Simon,
do you love me?” (Simon was Peter’s name before Jesus changed it to Peter.) Three times Peter said, “Yes
Lord, you know I love you.” I believe Jesus was giving Peter a chance to clear his conscience for denying him.
I want to point out, also, that the word Jesus used for ‘love’ the first two times was a weak word for love. It
meant, “Do you like me a lot?” The third time, the word Jesus used was much stronger. “Peter, do you really
love me?” Jesus was calling Peter to a deeper commitment of love than he had known before.
Then Jesus revealed to Peter that that love would cost him. That love would be tested. That love would involve
sacrifice.
18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed
yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will
stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead
you where you do not want to go."
The second thing I want to point out about Peter is his name. His name was Simon. The name ‘Simon’ means
‘hearer’. Simon was a hearer. He listened to what Jesus said. He liked to hear God’s Word.
There are a lot of hearers – people who are casually interested in God. Lots of people are interested in God,
but who is committed?
Jesus called Simon and changed his name. (God did that some-times – He called Abram (father) and changed
him into Abraham (father of nations). He called Jacob (deceiver) and changed him into Israel (God prevails).
Now he changes Simon (hearer) into Peter (rock).
Joh 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be
called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).
From that time we see Peter emerge as a leader of the church. He was a powerful preacher and minister of
God.
I have noticed that, though Jesus changed his name to Peter, He only called him Peter four times in the
gospels. I believe there is a reason for that.
The first time was when he changed his name. He said, “You have been Simon (a hearer), but I’ll make you
Peter (a rock).”
The next time was in Matt 16:
Mt 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will
not overcome it.
He is saying, “Simon, I will use you. I will make you strong. You can make a difference.”
The next time he called him Peter was just before Peter denied him.
Lu 22:34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you
know me." (NIV)
I believe Jesus used that name for a reason. He was saying, “Peter, you will fail tonight, but just remember that
you are a rock. Re-member who you are Peter. You are my rock. I will still use you.”
The next time he called him Peter was when Jesus spoke to women at the tomb after his resurrection. He said:
Mr 16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, `He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just
as he told you.'"
He was saying, “Tell Peter – let him know that I still love him and I’m still counting on him. He is still my rock.”
Soon after that, they are sitting by the lake and Jesus says, “Simon, do you love me?” I know you denied me,
but do you love me. I know you failed me, but do you love me. I still love you.
Peter, how much do you love me?