Surely not for me?

A third time Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’
Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and so he said to him ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!’
Jesus said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep’.      (verse 17)

Read John 21: 15-25

I am constantly surprised at the large number of people I encounter who find it almost impossible to believe that Jesus loves them. ‘Yes’, they say, ‘I know Jesus died for the world. I know he forgives and cares and is there. But when I think about all that, I think of it in relation to others. I cannot believe it applies to me.’ And these people are deadly serious.

Such folk are like Peter – Peter whose heart still aches over his denial of Jesus and who cannot believe that his love for Jesus can have any meaning any more. Three times Jesus works at getting through to him: that, regardless of what Peter has done, Jesus still accepts him, still wants him as a carer of God’s flock. And finally the penny drops for Peter. He is loved – he, Peter!

Jesus died for you. He loves you, forgives you, is there each day for you. God’s good news is as personal as that. I know there is a lot of the aching Peter in me. So I can’t hear these beautiful words of Jesus enough. Know what I mean?

Holy Spirit, enliven my heart each day with the love of Jesus for me. Amen.

by Bob Kempe, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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