More Than These Things

Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

At John Chapter 21, the resurrected Christ interrupts Peter’s work. Peter and four other disciples fished all night and they caught nothing. Jesus appears and tells them where to throw their net, and they catch so many fish they are unable to haul them all into the boat. Jesus calls them to join Him for breakfast on the shore and when they finish eating, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love Me more than these?”

Many think that Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Him more than he loved the other apostles. But Jesus didn’t say, “Do you love Me more than them?” He said, “Do you love me PLEON TOUTON…” which in this case, should be understood as, “Do you love Me more than these things?” Do you love Me more than your nets? Do you love me more than your boat? Do you love me more than your large catch? What Jesus was asking Peter, was “Do you love me more than your work? Do you love Me more than the thing you have found your identity and purpose in up to this very moment?” Peter needed to understand that even though he was a fisherman, his identity and purpose was to be found solely in the Lord Himself. 

The work of the cross must have its way with our compulsion to “do for the Lord.” Like the Lord brought Peter his great haul of fish, He will bring us into a great work and then ask, “Do you love Me more than these things?” Do you love me more than your net and your boat? Do you love Me more than your great haul of fish? The Lord asked Abraham, “Do you love Me more than your Isaac?” And like Abraham, we must be willing to prove our trust in the Lord if He asks it of us, and lay our Isaac on the altar and walk away.  

We must be willing to love Him more than all things.

(John 21:17) Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.”…

(Rev 2:2-5) I know your works and your labor and endurance, and that you are not able to tolerate evil ones…And you have perseverance, and have endured for the sake of My name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

(Matt 22:36-28) “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”