•Fully known and loved by You• “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward." Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” John 13:35-38 ESV We’ve all been a Peter at least once in our lives. On fire and zealous for the things of God , but also great talkers falling over our zeal in piles of shame 🤦🏽♂️(face palm emoji) Peter says He was willing to lay down his very life for Jesus. Jesus’ knowing the weakness of Peters heart still asks him, “will you lay down your life?” See Jesus question was sure and true. He could have phrased it differently and said, “Do you love me? He had earlier on said that “there is no greater love than this that one would lay down his life for another.”(John 15:13) He was asking Peter if He loved Him! Was Jesus his supreme joy, his greatest treasure forsaking all other pleasures?! Jesus knew what was going to happen and so later on He purposes to see Peter in (John 21:16-18) and asks Him three times. “Do you love me?” Each time with a different expression of that love, three times for three condemning crows of that clock and each time Peter, a redeemed Peter said, “Yes Lord I do.” To which Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs, take care of them, feed my sheep.” Jesus was intentional with Peter, patient, merciful and redeemed him for his life long purpose of laying down his life for others. He loved him to the uttermost. Peter was fully known and fully loved. There are ten thousand things we could learn and talk about from this scripture. Buts let’s focus in on this challenge and great standard of love we are given. Have you been truly loved? You cannot experience it and not be driven to give it. Do you love others? Will you lay down your life so that they might gain theirs? Will I? #fomug #beohrtsbeard (at Uganda)
