Yes, Peter had repented, and wept bitterly; but Jesus' question is not how much you regret the past, not how many tears have been shed -- but do you love me. It is His preeminence in our heart that makes the other expressions acceptable.

Or the words might be taken to mean "more than these things" -- more than the comforts of home, more than the acclaim of a good reputation, more even than the work you are doing for Him. Not that these other things are undeserving of love, but that Jesus expects to be loved more. The giving of Himself for us precludes any rival to our devotion. We may not have much, but whatever we have, He wants all of it.

Interestingly, on the last occasion, when Peter affirmed his love, he added: "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you" (21:17). With his memory of past failure, he could not appeal to his record but he could appeal to his Lord's understanding.

What a comfort to the soul! Jesus knows all about it. We don't have to explain our situation to Him. In His infinite knowledge, He interprets the thoughts and intents of the heart; He knows when we truly love Him.

I remember a time years ago when my son made this truth so real to me. It was a hot afternoon at the end of the harvest season, and I was out in the backyard cleaning my garden. Jim, who was then no more than three or four years old, saw me working, and it occurred to him that I was thirsty. So he pulled a chair up to the kitchen sink, got a dirty glass, and filled it with water from the faucet. The next thing I knew my name was being called. As I turned around, there was my son coming across the garden holding that smudgy glass of warm water, saying, "Daddy, I thought you were thirsty, so I brought you a drink." And, as he held up the glass, a smile stretched across his face from one ear to the other.

You might think, couldn't he do better than that? Why, that was not cool water; it was not even pure water. And you would be right. But when you looked at his face, you would have to say that was pure love. He was doing the best he knew to please his daddy.

In some similar way, that is how every disciple of Christ can love in this world. Though we continually make errors in judgment, and fall woefully short of our desire to be like Jesus, still in our heart we can do the best we know to please Him. Can you appeal to His perfect understanding today, as did Peter, and say with all your soul, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you"?

II

But the affirmation, sincere as it may be, needs expression in more than words. So each time Peter confesses his love, Jesus says, "Feed my sheep." He underscores that love overflows in ministry to the world.

Love for Christ, you see, cannot be self-Contained for it "comes from God," and thereby reflects something of His own nature (1 John 4:7-8; cf. Rom. 5:5). It is the kind of love that would not let us go, even "while we were still sinners" (Rom. 5:8). Calvary is His witness.