Question Asked and Answered – Maybe! Jesus is showing up and asking an important question!

Question – Asked and Answered Maybe
Pastor Calvin Cook
May 14, 2025
Scripture focus John 21:15 – “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,….. “Do you love me more than these?…….. Peter replied…. “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” (ESV – paraphrased)

Something happened at the lake shore. Jesus showed up once again and asked the question “Do You Love Me?”. In the lakeside scenario the question continues with the words “more than these”. Jesus asking Peter are you willing to love me more than you love anything else. More than these means so much more than I think Peter could understand.

In our modern-day lakeside experience with Jesus, with us all the time, the question is continually asked “Do You Love Me?” In our minds it seems that we have been conditioned even instructed through the whole God is Love theology that we don’t have to choose to answer “the more than these” part of the question. We have become so accustomed and conditioned to God is love that we forsake how we respond to God with an answer to the question.

How are we loving God? I know we have talked, that we love God through keeping the commandments, moving from sinful lives to holiness, through service, praying, worship, devotion time etc. etc. but for us what is “more than these?”

What are we forsaking in our love for God and making God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit our priority to love God first with mind, body, and spirit. Or have we become so accustomed to teaching that might not be accurate that we need to do nothing to love God back, specially making God priority in our lives.

We further discover by reading on John 21 16- 18 that Jesus asks this question three times. Three times he asks Peter “Do you love me?” Wasn’t once enough? It would be for us in our busy lives, because we have such full schedules that we certainly can’t be asked and answer the same question three times. We even see a hint of sarcasm in these questions by Peter. What about us? When Jesus keeps asking us the same question over and over – do we become sarcastic, impatient, and even grieved that Jesus will have to continually ask us if we love Him?

But wait there is a bit more. Jesus gave Peter after each question asked and answered further direction was given in three different ways. The three being: feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep. What Jesus was asking Peter is being asked of us.

I am completely convinced after reading this passage of scripture for 40 plus years, praying on and over it that this becomes and is the anchor along with Acts 2:42 of ministry and living out our call.

Plus being able to answer when Jesus asks if we love Him, that we can answer with our whole heart, mind and soul we will show our love to you by being completely committed to caring for, sharing with, loving, giving consideration to those who Jesus loves. Being in ministry and mission in the name of Jesus before anything else.

How will you ask and answer the question that is being asked of you today?