Page 130 - Fundamentals Ebook Final

calling me by my old name.” That was very uncomfortable for
Peter.

Then Jesus asked him the same question three times. He had denied
the Lord three times. John 21:15, “So, when they had finished
breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you
love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know
that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My lambs.’” John 21:16,
“He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you
love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.’
He said to him, ‘Shepherd My sheep.’” John 21:17,“He said to him
the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ And he said
to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’”

These are painful memories for Peter. Then Jesus says the most
wonderful thing that Peter could hear. John 21:12, “Jesus said to
them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples ventured to
question Him, ‘Who are You?’ knowing that it was the Lord.” He
invites Peter to come and dine at the charcoal fire. It’s as if the Lord
was saying, “Peter, I know all about your past and I know all about
your failures and I know all about your denials and I choose you
anyway. Before the foundations of the world I chose you. I knew
what you would do.” I think when He said, “Come and dine,” He
wants fellowship with Peter. I think what He was saying is, “I’m
comfortable with your past. You should be comfortable with your
past.”

Now I want to come to the main point. Many who have studied this
have called attention to three different Greek words for the word
“love”. There are also different words for the word “feet”. There
are also different Greek words for the word “sheep”. People get lost
in the Greek. That’s not the point. What Jesus asked Peter is, “Do
you love Me? Do you love Me? Do you love Me?” And you know
the record. Peter hesitated and he got caught in his throat. He
couldn’t say it. “Do you love Me enough to die for Me?” Peter
couldn’t say, “Yes.” So, Jesus said it for him.