The backdrop to what happens in this passage (v15-20) is how Peter denied Jesus three times. Now Jesus asks Peter three times does he love Him (v15-17)? Three denials now need three statements of love and commitment. When we have failed the Lord, we need to recommit ourselves and confess our love.

In the original Greek of this passage what Jesus asks Peter gets weaker each time. He moves from asking Peter if he had unconditional love (agape) more than the rest of the disciples, to asking if he had unconditional love (agape) to finally asking if he had affection (phileo) for Jesus.

What Jesus is saying here is that while He recognises and Peter needs to recognise that Peter hadn’t as great a love as he first thought, Jesus will not reject him but use him even with the weak love Peter had. Jesus would use and meet Peter where Peter was at, but Peter needed to be humble.

The love which Jesus wanted was a love that would inspire Peter to feed and tend Jesus’ sheep (v15-17). Peter would so respond to this challenge that it would take him to his death (v1849).

Does your love for Christ lead to a sacrificial caring for His people?