A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon,
son of John, do you love me?” And Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you knowthat I love you.” Jesus said to him,
“Look after my sheep.”And a third time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, doyou love me?”

Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a third time,Peter was saddened because Jesus asked
him a third time,“Do you love me?” and he said, “Lord, you know everything;you know that I love you.”

Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep! Truly, I say to you, when Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep! Truly, I say to you,
when you were young, you put on your belt and walked where you liked. But when you grow old, you will stretch
out your hands, and another will put a belt around you, and lead youwhere you do not wish to go.”

Jesus said this to make known the kind of death by which Jesus said this to make known the kind of death
by which Peter was to glorify God. And he added, “Follow me!”

Reflection

In the “You know that I love In the “You know that I love you” confession of Peter, there ismore than a confession of love—
there is the confession of love’sfailings as well. At the successive repetition of the question byJesus, Peter’s confession
revealsa deepening awareness of theim perfections of his love; and at the third time, he would preface it thus: “Lord, you
knoweverything…” Peter knows thathis master knew that his love had holes. His was a love which, even when it boasted
of its fidelity inthe light of the day, would grow cold feet in the dark of the night.Peter now realizes that to love ashis Master loved,
he must let theMaster do the loving throughhim. This confession of holesin his love was enough for the Master to soon pour
in his Spiritof love into him. Peter’s lovewould then grow feet and wings.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2022