LOVEST THOU ME MORE THAN THESE?
John 21: 1-18
After the crucifixion and the resurrection, there were several appearances of Jesus unto his disciples. But these were just appearances, not his abiding self. As they were used to having him with them physically; depended on him for their daily bread and protection, they soon got despair of appearances. Peter said “I go fishing”. This is a major turnaround from following Jesus. This is an admission of inability to depend on Jesus and his ability to provide for the disciples. And they went fishing – going their ways; other than the way the Lord outlined for them before and after the resurrection. They could no longer trust the words of the Lord but in their own arms. But as we see, the arm of flesh soon failed them – they caught nothing after a whole night of toiling.
And so Jesus came. What they toiled in vain for all night he provided easily at the shore. As they ate, Jesus asked Simon Peter, the leader “Lovest thou me more than these?” What a question! What the Lord means is that I know there are many things competing for your attention; but do you love me more than them? Our God is a jealous God. He does not only want to be the NUMBER ONE in our life, He wants to be the ONLY ONE! Thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14
There is an interesting story in Mathew 19:16-24:
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him…if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments… The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Mathew 19:16-24.
The young man would love to follow Jesus but there was competition – he had great wealth. The Lord will want you to put the competitions aside and focus on God. Pour all your love on him. Your challenges; your successes; your people; your possessions; your pleasures and your disappointments should take the back stage when it comes to loving God. Beloved, if there is anything you should focus on in this coming New Year, it is to love God with everything you can. When you do this, you will find God on your side all year round.
MEDITATION: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35
