John 21:15-19 NRSVue
15When 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.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
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Reflection on John 21:15-19
Inspiration from 2026-05-22 Daily Prayer
It can’t have been easy to have been asked three times – as Peter was – ‘Do you love me?’ Peter probably felt fairly vulnerable regarding his relationship with Jesus and doubted whether he would ever repair the rupture. One of the wonderful things about such a relationship is that we have been told constantly that the rupture is never permanent – at least from the Lord’s side. We ask you, Lord, to pardon us our denials and reinforce our wish to stick to you more closely.
Further reflection
/Simon, son of John, do you love me?/ Jews do not have to love Moses. Moslems are not asked if they love Mohammed. But Jesus asks Peter, as a condition of his mission: /Do you love me?/
Lord, I want to answer like Peter: /You know all things. You know that I love you/. Maybe my life does not square with that - neither did Peter's, when he denied you. But you know my heart, and make allowance. May I grow in your love.
At the end of all Jesus' instructions to his followers, he asks the simple question which grounds all discipleship; about whether we love him. We may sometimes wonder about the strength of our faith and our love. Like Peter we just hope at times that the Lord knows we love him as we try to live out this love in our lives.
Jesus asked Peter the question three times. Perhaps it was not that he wanted the answer, but he wanted Peter to hear himself profess his love. As I engage in conversation with Jesus in my prayer, he hears me. As I listen to myself, I notice what is deep in my heart.
Not all of my love is expressed in my words. My faith is sometimes stumbling and inarticulate. I give thanks to God who attends to me at a level that is deeper than my words, who looks even beyond my actions, who values what is in my heart. I pray that I may give expression to God's very presence in me.