Have you ever let someone down? I sure have. It's hard to show my face. If someone trusted me, believed in me and was confident in my reasoning process and I failed them, would they accept me back? Sure, they would be nice enough to include me again but will it always be a hesitant relationship?
Maybe Peter had the same issue as me. In the last chapter of John, Jesus is asking Peter if he loved Him. Peter answered, "Jesus, you know I love you." Of course Peter loved Jesus but maybe it hurt to say because he had failed his Savior. How could Jesus ever trust him again? Then Jesus asked it again, "Do you love me?" Peter loved his Savior more than you could know but Jesus would never believe him now. He had been so boisterous, so confident in his loyalty and so defiant in his failure. Was this the reasoning behind Jesus' continued questioning?
Was it going to be hard for Peter to go back out and be strong for Christ if he felt useless? Maybe Jesus had to build Peter up again so he would be that rock to establish His church. Maybe Jesus wasn't asking Peter about different kinds of love because Peter didn't get it, maybe Jesus was asking to build Peter up. "Peter...you love me with all these kinds of love, don't you think I love you unconditionally? You failed me but it doesn't affect my love for you. Don't hide from me! Let me help you be that strong rock. Hold on....let's build my church!"
Jesus always gives us a new foothold instead of a stifling stranglehold.
Do you love Jesus? He loves you more that you could imagine. Step toward the Savior and leave your failure behind.
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