Do You Love me?

God’s love comes first. God’s love is not fleeting, flaky, or based on what anybody brings to the table. Romans 5:8 puts it plain: while sinners were still sinners, Christ died for them. Christ came to demonstrate God’s love, set people free from the penalty of death, and bring them into right standing with God so that they can come boldly before the throne of grace without fear.

Jesus’ question is not whether God loves His people. Scripture has already settled that. Jesus’ question is whether those who say they love Him will do what He asks. John 14:15 says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” That “will” is not conditional and not forced. The Holy Spirit empowers obedience, but love still becomes an active choice.

Jesus’ commandments put love where it can be seen. Jesus commands His people to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love one another as He has loved them. God so loved that He gave, and love that has no action attached to it is only words. Love for God ought to show up in the way His people respond, talk, live, and treat those around them.

John’s Gospel makes the difference between knowing a command and keeping a command very clear. Knowing that love is required does not mean love is being walked out. Keeping Christ’s words means living with the right motive too, not merely doing the right thing so that self gets lifted up. Christ’s character does what honors God.

John 21 brings Peter back to the charcoal fire, but Jesus begins with provision, not shame. Jesus has breakfast prepared before Peter brings a single fish to shore. Christ feeds Peter, gives him what he needs, and then asks him three times, “Do you love me?” Peter’s denial had been public, and Christ’s restoring question is personal. Peter’s love must become feeding lambs, tending sheep, and following Jesus.

Jesus’ question reaches beyond Peter. Every decision, thought, action, temptation, and response comes under this one question: “Do you love me enough to do what I have called you to do?” Peter’s problem appears when he turns around to look at John and asks, “What about him?” Jesus answers, “What’s that to you? You follow me.”

Peter’s calling is not John’s calling, and another person’s assignment never excuses disobedience. Following Jesus requires eyes fixed on Jesus. A person may look like he is going in the same direction while still not following, because comparison has pulled his attention away from the One he is meant to follow. Jesus alone belongs on the throne. The answer to “Do you love me?” becomes clear when a life goes and does what He has called it to do.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s love settled the question first. God’s love does not rise and fall with human worship, performance, or failure. Christ died while sinners were still sinners, so doubt cannot claim that God’s love must be earned. Love begins with God’s giving, then calls for a response. [01:00]
• 2. Love for Christ becomes obedience. Jesus does not describe love as a passing feeling or a religious statement. Jesus ties love to keeping His commands, while the Holy Spirit supplies the power needed to obey. Obedience is not an attempt to buy love, but the visible answer to love already received. [03:13]
• 3. Jesus feeds before He confronts Peter. Jesus prepares bread and fish for tired disciples before asking Peter the painful question. Christ’s correction is not cruel exposure, because His provision comes first. Peter is restored at a table of grace and then called into responsibility. [12:42]
• 4. Another person’s calling is not yours. Peter turns from following Jesus to comparing his path with John’s. Jesus refuses to make John’s assignment Peter’s concern and brings Peter back to one command: “You follow me.” Comparison distracts the eyes, but love stays fixed on Christ’s personal call. [18:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:17] - God’s Love Comes First
• [01:24] - Christ Brings People Near
• [02:13] - Love Keeps Christ’s Commands
• [03:40] - Love God and Love Others
• [04:32] - Love Requires Action
• [06:20] - Knowing and Keeping Commands
• [08:26] - Peter Goes Fishing
• [10:55] - Jesus Provides Breakfast
• [12:24] - Do You Love Me?
• [15:12] - Peter’s Denial and Restoration
• [17:42] - What About Him?
• [20:29] - A Personal Question for Every Life
• [22:30] - Decide to Follow Jesus

1. According to Romans 5:8, what was humanity’s condition when Christ died, and what does that show about where God’s love begins? [00:41]
2. In John 21, what had Jesus prepared for the disciples before Peter was asked the repeated question about love? [11:00]
3. What response or responsibility did Jesus give Peter each time Peter affirmed his love for Him? [12:24]
4. After Jesus told Peter to follow Him, what did Peter ask about John, and how did Jesus redirect Peter’s attention? [17:42]

1. How does God’s love being shown before people could earn it shape the difference between obeying to gain acceptance and obeying because one is already loved?
2. Why might Jesus have shared a meal and provided for Peter before addressing Peter’s past denial? What does this reveal about Christ’s way of restoring someone who has failed? [13:04]
3. Jesus connects love for Him with keeping His commands. Why is it important that obedience involves both outward actions and motives that honor God rather than lift up self? [07:51]
4. Peter’s concern about John came immediately after he was told to follow Jesus. Why can comparison become a distraction from personal obedience, even when another person is also following Christ? [18:25]

1. God’s love does not rise and fall with personal success, failure, worship, or effort. Where is there a tendency to treat God’s love as something that must be earned, and what would it look like to rest in Christ’s finished work this week? [00:19]
2. Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” in ways that reach every decision, thought, action, and temptation. What is one current situation where that question could bring clarity about the next faithful step? [21:01]
3. Love for Christ should be visible in the way believers respond, speak, and treat others. Which relationship most needs a clearer expression of patient, active love right now, and what specific action could be taken? [05:48]
4. Knowing Christ’s commands and keeping them are not the same. Is there an area where the right thing is already known but has been difficult to put into practice? What obstacle needs to be brought honestly before God? [06:39]
5. Jesus provided breakfast before confronting and restoring Peter. When failure brings shame or discouragement, how can Christ’s grace give courage to receive correction instead of hiding from it? [13:09]
6. Where has comparison with another person’s gifts, opportunities, pace, or calling pulled attention away from following Jesus? What would it mean to hear again, “You follow me,” in that area? [18:13]