A question Jesus asked

Do you love me?

Q: Where did Jesus ask, Do you love me?

Jesus asked this in John 21:16, by the sea, after peter's denial. Peter had denied Jesus three times. After the resurrection, over breakfast on the shore, Jesus asks him three times, Lovest thou me? It is tender and searching at once, one gentle

“He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”John 21:16 · By the sea, after Peter's denial

What Jesus was really asking

Peter had denied Jesus three times. After the resurrection, over breakfast on the shore, Jesus asks him three times, Lovest thou me? It is tender and searching at once, one gentle question for each denial, not to shame Peter but to heal him. Each time Peter says yes, Jesus gives him work to do: Feed my sheep.

How the question still finds us

Many of us carry a failure we are sure disqualifies us. Jesus does not open the conversation with an accusation. He asks about love. He restores Peter not by pretending the denial never happened but by asking the one question that can carry them past it. To everyone who has failed Him, He still asks, gently, do you love me, and then, come, there is work to do.

Sit with it

If your worst failure did not disqualify you, and Jesus only asked whether you love Him, how would you answer?

Jesus, past all my failures, You ask if I love You. Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. Help my love be real, and use me still. Amen.

He is still asking

Jesus is not only someone people debate. He is someone who asks, and waits for your answer. You can answer Him now.

Begin with Jesus · Ask someone to pray with you · Who is Jesus?

More questions Jesus askedWho do you say that I am?Why do you call me Lord and not do what I say?What are you seeking? All the questions