What Do You Love More than Jesus?

In John 21, as Jesus appears a "third time" to His disciples (v. 14), He confronts Peter directly concerning his love for Jesus: "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?'" (v.15). This is the third question brought up by Jesus in this meeting, and it was designed specifically for Peter.

Note the context: "Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.' Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, 'Come and eat breakfast.' Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, 'Who are You?'—knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish" (vs. 9-13).

This is a "man breakfast." Aside from a few words of instruction, they said nothing. Yet without words, Jesus spoke volumes. When Jesus gave them the bread and the fish, Peter caught the vision—they all did! Their focus is all wrong. They are being "Someday Saints," when they should be living as "Borrowed-Time Believers."

Here we have the third implied question: What do you love more than Jesus? In verse 15, the question Jesus asked Peter was, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" Who or what are the "these"? If "these" are the other six disciples standing there, Peter would sound a little arrogant to say he loved Jesus more than them.

I think it may well be that "these" (v. 15) refers to the fish. As Jesus asked Peter this question, those fish were flopping around in the background. When Jesus said to bring some of the fish to add to the frying pan (v. 10), Peter first took time to count them—one hundred and fifty-three (v. 11a). Peter had fish on the mind. So what Jesus wanted to know was whether Peter loved Him more than those fish.

Are you comfortable as a "Someday Saint"? Are you satisfied just fishing for fish? Are you satisfied with where you are? Or are you ready to step out in faith and become a "Borrowed-Time Believer"? Jesus would challenge us to have that passion and sense of urgency in our faith. He would challenge us to get out of our comfort zone and go fishing for men.

In his video, In My Seat: A Pilot’s Story from September 10th-11th, Steve Scheibner said, "Somebody died for me twice. One sat in my seat, the other hung on a cross in my place." The other pilot saved him for the moment on September 11, 2001. The Lord Jesus saved him for all eternity.

Jesus died in your place as well. He paid the price to buy your pardon. You too are on borrowed time. It is time to quit living as a "Someday Saint" and to start living as a "Borrowed-Time Believer." Amen.