Peter, Do You Love Me?

"Do you love me?" Jesus asks peter three times. By the third time, Peter says, "of course I love you, you know that!" Peter had just denied Jesus three times, and here, accordingly, Peter affirms Jesus three times. But what does this imply? Does this mean that for every sin we commit, we must confess, and what then if we forget to confess a sin? Is our destination then hell? Are we not forgiven by God unless we counter our mistakes with un-mistakes?

Jesus does not tell us why he asks Peter these questions. But what if it isn't for Jesus? I mean, Jesus died on the cross for Peter, allowed a dying thief to enter the Kingdom of heaven, and told people their sins were forgiven without any effort on their part and will Jesus then require more of Peter?

In the garden, God clothes Adam and Eve, and I believe that is what is happening here with Peter. Jesus is saying to Peter, "do you love me," not for the affirmation of Jesus but for the restoration of Peter. It is not about restoring Peter's status before God, but about restoring Peter's status before Peter.

Have we not been there? Where we make a mistake and lose ourselves in an array of guilt and depression. Then as we pray before God trying desperately to confess our mistakes, it's as though God asks us, "do you love me?" And what is always our response? "Of course I love you God! You know that! I make mistakes, but you know I love you!" And then comes God's encouragement, "Then feed my sheep."

Move forward. God knows you love him.