John 21:15 (LSB) So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, 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, “Tend My sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

What is love? What is it to love God? How do I love my neighbor? 

These are difficult questions. We all crave love. We all desire that acceptance and affection and faithfulness. We also know that love is costly and risky. Many today would rather stay single than marry for fear of being betrayed later on. 

For Peter, who had denied that he knew Jesus the night Jesus was betrayed, love was costly. Jesus called him to a life of loving God supremely and ultimately, shepherding God's sheep thrice over, and to an unpleasant death. Peter is commanded to follow Jesus. Why would anyone do such a thing at such a cost? Why would anyone follow Jesus and lead God's sheep to God's glory instead of his own?

There can be but one answer to these questions: it is the gift of God.

Jesus calls Peter to a life of self-denial, of following Christ, of leading God's sheep, and the cherry on top? Peter, you will be crucified, just like your Master was. 

Why would anyone do such a thing?

Let us consider the gift of God. The gift of God is covenantal love, and it comes as a package deal: life in Him, desire for Him above all else, complete and utter dependence upon Him for righteousness as well as for each breath and heartbeat, the Master's demands for 100% of his or her life and livelihood, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. If you talk to most people, they prefer to stay in charge of themselves than turn over control of their lives to God. As Milton pontificated about Lucifer's thoughts in Paradise Lost: Better to rule in hell than submit to God.

For Peter, the cost of following Christ was a life of constant vigilance over God's flock under God's authority and to God's glory and praise. He was crucified upside down. But he is now in the presence of his Master, singing God's praise, enjoying God's covenantal favor, reigning together with God. Why? Because God first loved him, God has called Peter into that eternal, intra-trinitarian love that God has had for Himself from all eternity and unto all eternity. God loves holiness and righteousness, and He has created us to do the same. We would rather love ourselves than Him. It is costly to give up the delusion of being masters of our own fates, captains of our own souls. 

O, but the return on that cost? Forgiveness of sins, peace with God, truly covenantal love for God and neighbor, a seat on God's throne in perfect submission to Him, and eternal life are just a few of the benefits that far outweigh the cost of anything in this world. 

If Jesus compellingly calls you to follow Him, will you be divided from and under the ire of many, many others in this world? Absolutely. Will it be worth it? Beyond the shadow of a doubt.

I echo Christ's command to Peter: follow Him, no matter the cost.

#comeandseeJesus

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#SoliDeoGloria