Day 304 - The Most Important Qualification of Discipleship

Today's Reading: Ezek. 1 and John 21

At the height of Peter's fishing career, when he had just got the largest load of fish ever, Jesus puts the testing question on the table.

"Simon Peter, lovest thou me more than these?"

In fact three times Jesus asked this question:

The Bible says: "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, loves thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 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. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17)

Why did Jesus ask three times when Peter kept responding yes each time?

Oh course, we could delve into the types of love Peter responded in versus what Christ was asking: Christ was asking Peter do you "agapaō love," me -- a deep earnest love, where as Peter responded, "Yes Lord, I phileō love you" which is more of a friend fondness love." Three times Jesus asked, and three times Peter answered in phileō, and Christ accepted that phileō love.

But the main thing I am wanting to focus on here today is the overall question... for the first and most important qualification for true discipleship is love... DO WE LOVE JESUS MORE?

Ellen White writes the following:

"The question that Christ had put to Peter was significant. He mentioned only one condition of discipleship and service. “Lovest thou Me?” He said. This is the essential qualification. Though Peter might possess every other, yet without the love of Christ he could not be a faithful shepherd over the Lord’s flock. Knowledge, benevolence, eloquence, gratitude, and zeal are all aids in the good work; but without the love of Jesus in the heart, the work of the Christian minister is a failure." (Desire of Ages, p. 815)

So Jesus is asking all of us today, "Lovest though me more than all of these? More than all your fish, more than all you possess, more than every other person? Lovest thou me?"

Tomorrow's Reading: Ezekiel 2-3 and Ps. 119:97-120