Reinstated By Love

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”  The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”  He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.  Jesus said, “Feed my sheep…”

– John 21:15-17

After reading this passage of scripture about Peter, can you believe that he once denied Jesus 3 times in a row?!  Yet, what is so Powerful about this scripture is that for every time that Peter denied Jesus, that was how many times he was reinstated!  To reinstate is to restore someone or something to a former position or condition.  Yet what is so Marvelous about this scripture is that Jesus did not restore Peter to a former position with him, instead, he promoted Peter to a Higher position!  Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he truly loved him and after each time Peter replied saying, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you,” Jesus would promote him by saying, “Feed my sheep” and “Take care of my sheep.”  What was Jesus doing??  Jesus was appointing Peter as an apostle to spread the Good News about Him to His children across the world and to look after His children.  Yet, what I find to be the Best part about this passage of scripture is that it shows the heart of Jesus for us all!!  Jesus could have decided not to reinstate Peter due to his denial of him, but he didn’t.  Because of Jesus’ Unfailing Love for us all, he chose to reinstate Peter by Love so that Peter could continue to carry on the message of the Good News that has been perpetuated throughout numerous generations bringing Salvation to every heart who receives it!  So GREAT is the Love of Jesus (Yeshua)!!!