Have you tried to be different ...
... do things for God ... and it did not work out?
Have you told others how their lives could or should be ...
... but yours is not like that?
Are you hurt ...
... and just don't know how to go on?

You may feel ... "this is the end...!
... but for Jesus ... This is only the beginning!

You may feel that alone and rejected ...
... but know this ...

… there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
--- Prov. 18:24

One of Jesus' disciples felt like that ...
... and after walking with Jesus for three years ...
... everything seem'd to be wrong and messed up!

Peter had tried to do everything Jesus said, and more ...
… but could not live up to it!
Peter even drew a sword to defend Jesus …
… but even that was wrong!
Peter vowed to defend Jesus unto death …
… but landed up denying Jesus three times!

Instead of being the great disciple Peter wanted to be ...
... Peter had messed up and did not want to go on!
He was hurt and had nothing more to give …
… and for him it was the end of ministering for Jesus!

But for Jesus ...
... it was not the end … but just the beginning!

After His resurrection Jesus ...
... knowing that Peter was hurt ...
... knowing that Peter needed to be restored ...
Jesus did not wait for Peter to come to Him ...
No!
Jesus went to where Peter was!

Then Jesus did something that seems very strange ...
He asked Peter three times whether Peter loved Him …
… which does not to be the way of encouraging or restoring someone ...
However …
… when you realise what Jesus was doing …
… you will also understand why Peter became the great Apostle that He did!

What did Jesus say to Peter …

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
He said to him again a second time,
"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
He said to him the third time,
"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"
And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
--- John 21:15-17

Could being asked three times whether he loved Jesus ...
... particularly when he have just denied Him ...
really help Peter?

Yes ...it could!
… but only if you see it in the light of what Jesus actually asked and said to Peter!
Love ... (Agape)?

Before we look at what Jesus said in John 21 …
… let's have a look at the one central word He used … Love!
In English it looks as if Jesus asked Peter the same question three times…
… "Do you love me?"
But when you look at the original Greek …
… you find that two different words were translated using the English word "love"…

Agape = (love) To give without demand or expectation! (having to give)
Phileo = (love) Affection, wanting to be with, taking pleasure in! (wanting to have)

So … when you read John 21 using the original words …
… the conversation takes on a different meaning!
Let's look at the conversation but using the original words…
Do you love Jesus...?

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of Jonas, "Do you (agape) have something to give me" more than these?
He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo "have affection for you".
He said to him, Feed my lambs.
He said to him again a second time,
Simon, son of Jonas, "Do you (agape) have something to give for" me?
He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo "want to be with you".
He said to him, Feed my sheep.

Twice Jesus asked Peter, Do you agape Me?
... "Peter, do you have something to give?"
and twice Peter said to Jesus ...
... "Lord You know that I need You, I want to be with You!"
Why?
After having denied Jesus, in himself Peter had nothing to give ...
... but was hurt and needed to be restored!

Then Jesus changed His question …

He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas,
… "Do you have need of Me, do you have enough affection to trust Me?"
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time,
... "Do you have affection for Me?"
And he said unto Him, Lord, You know all things;
... " You know my affection for You, my trust and my need of You".
Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep.
--- John 21:15-17

Do you trust Jesus…?

Jesus knew that Peter was hurt and needed to be restored …
Jesus knew that He had to get Peter to reach out to Him …
… in trust, so that He could restore Peter …
… to that place where Peter would have something to give … for Him!

Therefore knowing this ...
... the third time Jesus said to Peter "do you (phileo) love Me?
Jesus was actually saying to Peter ...

… Peter do you have enough affection for Me to let me restore you?
… Peter do you have enough affection for Me to trust Me with your life?
… Peter do you have enough trust in Me to let Me work through you?

And Peter's answer was …
… Yes Lord, You know all things, and You know I trust You!
Feed My sheep…!

Out of Peter's affection and his trust in Jesus ...
... Jesus made the spiritual giant of whom is written in the Book of Acts …

so that they brought the sick out into the streets
and laid them on beds and couches,
that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem,
bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits,
and they were all healed.
Acts 5:15-16

And that is exactly what Jesus wants to do in your life ...

The same way that Jesus met Peter where Peter was ...
… Jesus meets you where you are …
The same way that Jesus restored Peter without judging him ...
… Jesus will restore you without judging you …

And …
… Jesus is asking you the same question today ...

"Do you have enough affection and trust in Me …
... to trust Me with your life?"
"Do you trust Me enough to allow Me to restore you?"
"Do you trust Me enough to allow Me to work through you?"
... The same way that I worked through Peter!